Bunnychick Haven of Navarre: Operation Grant Report

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

With the generous support of the Petfinder Foundation, Bunnychick Haven of Navarre provided critical veterinary care to over 100 rabbits, including essential spay/neuter services, emergency treatments, and medications. This funding directly facilitated 40-plus successful adoptions and enabled the launch of our "BunRun" community transport program, which provides affordable medical access to local families.

By removing financial barriers to life-saving exams and recovery support, this Operation Grant improved the quality of life for our most vulnerable rescues while strengthening our community outreach and education efforts.

How many pets did this grant help?

Well over 100

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

Marteen was brought to us in critical condition (first photo). As a rescue, our standard protocol for extremely sick rabbits is often humane euthanasia to prevent suffering when funds for intensive care are unavailable.

However, while Marteen was being transported to the clinic by a friend of the Haven, that friend’s daughter formed an immediate, deep connection with him (second photo). Seeing the potential for a “happily ever after,” we decided to fight for him.

Thanks to the Petfinder Foundation Operation Grant, we were able to immediately authorize the necessary medical treatments and cover his veterinary bills. This funding bridged the gap between a tragic end and a new beginning, allowing Marteen to recover and find a loving forever home with the very family who stood by him from the start.

A local family recently faced a heartbreaking crisis when the mother lost her job. At the same time, their beloved rabbit, BunBun (third photo), had begun showing aggression — a common hormonal issue for unneutered rabbits.

Unable to afford the surgery and struggling with these behavioral changes, the family felt they had no choice but to surrender BunBun. This would have been devastating for the children during an already difficult time.

Using Petfinder Foundation funds from the Operation Grant, we stepped in to cover the cost of BunBun’s neuter surgery. By removing this financial barrier, the grant did more than just help a rabbit; it kept a family together, ensuring the children could keep their best friend in a stable, loving home.

Two-day-old Baby Lucky (fourth photo) was found on a patio late at night, suffering from severe cuts. Though the tiny rabbit appeared deceased at first, a faint movement showed she was still fighting for life.

We rushed Lucky to an emergency vet, where she received life-saving sutures and stabilization. While Baby Lucky unfortunately did not survive her injuries, the Operation Grant ensured that she didn’t spend her final hours alone or in pain. The funding allowed us to provide her with professional emergency care and dignity in her final moments.

This experience highlights the vital role of the grant in supporting our mission: giving even the smallest and most vulnerable animals every possible chance.