Sometimes listening to your instincts can lead you to great things.
Or in Benjamin’s case, to a little ball of fur.
Benjamin and his wife had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to their beloved bunny in 2025. They were feeling the absence and missing him dearly. So, when they felt it was the right time, they decided another rabbit should join the family.
“Something told me to check to see if the SPCA might adopt small animals, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were indeed rabbits available to adopt. That evening I showed my wife the pictures of the available buns. When we saw the listing for Willow at our local SPCA, my wife said, ‘Oh, she’s beautiful! You have to meet her!’ So, I decided to try to meet Willow on my next day off. And I’m glad I did,” Benjamin remembers.
Willow was surrendered to the Kings Shelter in September 2025, where she spent a couple of months before being transferred to the Yarmouth Shelter. And what a great decision it ended up being because in December, she met Benjamin.
“The first time I met Willow, the poor girl was nervous. It makes sense: I’m a large guy and it was December, so my jacket would have made me look even bigger. When I came into the room, Willow hid toward the back of her enclosure and snuggled down behind her hide, trying not to be noticed,” Benjamin says about their first meeting. The staff was encouraging and told him Willow is a fan of treats.
He continues, “Thankfully, the staff gave me plenty of time to lie on the floor and let Willow get used to my presence while I fed her and spoke softly to her. After a while, she stopped rushing back to her hide and she let me gently rub her head and ears. I don’t know the exact moment it happened, but some time during that first meeting I fell in love with this sweet, nervous, snack obsessed little bun.” 
So, just in time for the holidays, Willow found her home. “Willow was understandably nervous when she first came home. After all, she had just left all that was familiar to her. She spent a lot of time hiding behind the Christmas tree or in her pop-up tunnel for the first few days, but I made sure to spend time on the floor so that she could get comfortable with my presence,” he explained.
With each day that passed, Willow slowly emerged out of her shell. She started nudging Benjamin’s feet with her nose now and then, started exploring the house more, doing the “bunny flop” and resting out in the open, which were all good signs that she was feeling comfortable and safe. “She also started demanding treats rather than waiting for them to be offered: she’d hop into my lap then start digging and pulling at my pants until I’d give her her favourite snack.
“I spent a lot of time over the first days, weeks, and months of having Willow home earning her trust. It was so rewarding to see her come out of her shell and see her sweet personality emerge,” Benjamin adds.
Now, almost a year later since she went home, her personality truly shines and Benjamin learned so many things about her. One thing that remains true is Willow’s love for food.
Benjamin explains, “Willow’s favourite activities are eating and playing, and it’s all the better if the two can be combined. Specifically, we often give her her allotted pellets in stacking cups. She tends to grab one or two cups from the stack and then hops away to enjoy those particular pellets in peace before eating the rest of her meal. Most times she grabs the top two cups, but sometimes she snags the bottom two, which sends the rest of the cups and their contents flying. I laugh each time she does it.”
Willow is bringing a lot of joy to her family. They love to watch her run and play, getting zoomies and doing laps. And of course, snuggle times. “Willow will hop up to my chest of her own volition and will settle down in my arms for ear rubs. She even lays her little head in the crook of my arm and closes her eyes in bliss as I pet her. Then she’ll give me kisses and go back to enjoying having her ears rubbed. What could be sweeter?”
It’s clear that Willow and Benjamin were meant to meet, snuggle every day and learn from one another. They create memories and enjoy the little moments together, filled with love, patience, and some mischief from Willow.
If you’re looking to adopt a rabbit, Benjamin has a few pieces of advice, such as doing research about caring for domestic rabbits, being patient and gentle as rabbits tend to be a little bit nervous by nature, and getting in contact with a veterinarian who has seen rabbits before.
And of course, “Do it! If you have room for a rabbit to join your family and if you’re able to properly care for them, they can be some of the best companions you’ll ever know. Look online, see who is available, and arrange to meet them! They’ll almost certainly be shy at first, but their love is a treasure worth earning. I’m very thankful that Willow joined our family: she’s a real sweetheart!”