“[T]hey’d been out there for a couple of weeks with temperatures dropping lower and lower.”
As winter gripped Ohio with below-freezing temperatures, two domestic rabbits found themselves abandoned, left to fend for themselves in the bitter cold.
For weeks, they huddled together in a front yard, exposed to fast-moving cars, roaming cats, and the harsh elements—until a kind-hearted neighbor noticed their plight and called Snickerdoodles’ Rabbit Rescue for help.
“They’d been out there for a couple of weeks with temperatures dropping lower and lower,” said Lauren Keller, founder of Snickerdoodles’ Rabbit Rescue and a veterinary social worker.
Unlike wild rabbits, domestic bunnies lack the instincts and survival skills to live outdoors. Without intervention, their chances of making it through the winter were slim.
Determined to save them, a rescue team led by Cody Keller, the organization’s treasurer and field rescue coordinator, sprang into action. Using treats to lure them and a net for a safe capture, the team quickly secured the frightened pair.
It was immediately clear that the rabbits shared a deep bond. They clung to each other for comfort, grooming one another even as they were placed in carriers. Rescuers named them Apple Juice and Cow Tale.
The moment they arrived at the rescue, the depth of their relief was undeniable.
“We had never heard a bunny whimper and scream from both despair and relief before,” Keller recalled. “Apple Juice knew he was safe—and when he saw us take Cow Tale out of the carrier, he realized she was still alive, safe, and there with him too.”
As the weight of survival lifted from their tiny shoulders, the exhausted bunnies finally allowed themselves to rest.
“Apple Juice did a huge flop on his side from sheer exhaustion,” Keller said. “For the first time, he was at peace, safe indoors, and could rest his sweet mind and body from the chaos and trauma.”
After receiving medical care, including flea treatments and spay/neuter surgeries, Apple Juice and Cow Tale moved into a foster home. But it didn’t take long for their fosters to fall completely in love with them—ultimately deciding they couldn’t let them go.
Now, as beloved members of their forever family, Apple Juice and Cow Tale get to enjoy the warmth, safety, and love they were always meant to have.
From abandoned and afraid to cherished and safe, their story is a reminder that love—and a second chance—can make all the difference.