Sammie

Rescue Story

Sammie is a cottontail rabbit, the kind you often see here in Ontario, but her beginning was anything but ordinary. She was born on April 26, 2024, in a small nest in my parent’s garden. When a heavy storm flooded the nest, all of her siblings were lost. At only a week old—eyes barely open, fur still slick—Sammie crawled halfway across the lawn before I found her.

I tried to return her, but her mother had been struck on the road. With no rescues open over the long weekend, I rushed out for kitten milk, syringes, and blankets. By the following week or so, Sammie was nibbling fresh grasses, hopping around, and showing the stubborn spark that would carry her through.

Becoming Family

The plan was always to release her, but Sammie grew too comfortable with people, my birds, and even my parent’s dog. A wild rabbit without fear of predators couldn’t survive outdoors. With approval from my vet and the Ontario government, Sammie was officially deemed unreleasable and became a permanent part of the family.

She was spayed and vaccinated in her first year, and now enjoys regular vet checkups where she’s a favorite among the staff.

Personality

Sammie is smart, energetic, and endlessly curious, more like a working dog than a domestic rabbit. She thrives on training, knows several tricks, and insists on a strict routine. If her mind isn’t challenged, she’ll invent her own adventures: scaling shelves, exploring desks, leaping onto couches, and even trying to climb the bird cage.

Though she doesn’t enjoy being petted (her fur is coarse and she’s a little bony), Sammie loves climbing all over me, hopping onto the bed each morning for ‘treaties’, and demanding attention in her own way.

Favorite Things

Sammie’s play style is all about running and climbing, but she does have a few favorite toys. She adores her stacking cups, baby chain links, and especially her Grogu plush from Disney World. She’s had it since the day she was rescued—it travels with her to the vet and serves as her comfort toy.

Diet & Care

Like her domestic brother, Sammie enjoys:

  • Unlimited orchard grass and hay blends

  • Oxbow “Forage Wise” pellets

  • Fresh daily salads

  • Pea flakes as training treats

She’s neat with her litter box habits, though a little territorial—if her brother leaves a stray poop outside the box, she’ll circle it with her own just to make a point.

Why She’s Special

From a fragile one-week-old survivor to a healthy, thriving companion, Sammie’s story is one of resilience and luck. She’s one in a million, and the reason I fell in love with having bunnies!

Thank you for taking the time to learn about Sammie, and please check out the Cottontail PSA!