Florida Keys SPCA: Other Animals Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

This grant allowed our organization to provide habitats for five rabbits and 10 small animals, such as hamsters, gerbils, or mice, to live in during their time at our shelter and to give to adopters once adopted. Due to our remote location, we have a severe lack of options to purchase adequate and safe enclosures for each species. This grant ensures that these 15 animals were provided a proper habitat and all that they would need to for their new homes. It also educates pet parents on what their small animal needs to live a happy and healthy life.

How many pets did this grant help?

15

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Babs (first photo) was found as a baby bunny in May 2022 and brought to our shelter. Once she was old enough to be adopted, she was promoted heavily because she was sweet, full of personality, and a bun who loved a little adventure. However, our organization takes in 20 or more rabbits each year and, with limited interest from a smaller population, there is a lot of competition to be adopted as a small animal. Finally, three years after Babs came into our care, we were able to find her a home and a hus-bun.

During her transition into her new home and while she was getting to know her new bun-friend, her rabbit habitat was critical in giving Babs a safe place to adjust. Since she had been at the shelter almost her entire life, she needed a space to call her own and retreat to in order to feel safe. Since her adoption, she has flourished with her new family and has bonded with her new hus-bun (second and third photos).

Noodles (fourth photo) is another rabbit who is greatly benefiting from this grant. Noodles was surrendered in October 2024 due to his family moving and no longer able to keep him where they were going. However, that was not going to stop Noodles from being the star of the show. He showed his social skills by visiting local schools and was an active role model at our Critter Camps, helping to educate children on the care of rabbits and how to be a responsible pet owner.

He recently entered a foster-to-adopt situation with a previous adopter who is looking for a hus-bun for their female bunny they rescued from our organization a year ago. Thanks to this grant, we were able to send the proper habitat for Noodles to his foster home to give him a space to call his own while entering another bunny’s territory. This will help them to socialize and cohabitate while still giving safety to both rabbits. We are hoping this is a match and for Noodles to find his furever home!