Operation Bun Bun Rescue

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Operation Bun Bun Rescue Nonprofit 501(c)(3) domestic rabbit rescue located in Knoxville, TN.

Our focus is on saving bunnies in the East Tennessee area and finding them loving forever homes!

Bunnies are social animals.That doesn't necessarily mean that they need to be in groups, or will always get along with n...
10/30/2026

Bunnies are social animals.

That doesn't necessarily mean that they need to be in groups, or will always get along with new people, or are supposed to enjoy being held and carried around. Some do, but that's not what social means here.

This means that constant or near constant socialization and interaction with someone is just as important as eating and breathing.

Sure, there are some exceptions, looking at you, Jan.. but the vast majority of bunnies rely heavily on others to thrive. This doesn't have to be another bunny. It can be you and your family and the other bunny friendly pets in your home!

This looks different for every bunny, but here are a few examples to try to help you understand.

We were contacted about a bunny who suddenly became extremely destructive after months of being perfect and well behaved. The goal was to bond her with the resident bunny and they would freeroam the house, but with this new destructive behavior, that seemed impossible.

Turns out, they hadn't started bonding yet. So all this time, she was in a bedroom with limited social interaction except for night time or sporadic hours. The reason for destruction was immediately clear! She's lonely and trying to get their attention, even if it's negative!! The cure? Start bonding! They were skeptical because they can't have this destructive bunny freeroaming the house, but we encouraged them to try so they did. The result: two super happy bonded bunnies freeroaming the home, and yes, no more destructive behaviors!!

Another example was when a family reached out because they thought their bunny HATED them. Seriously, they adopted this bunny because he was supposed to be super social and they said he was not social at all. He would stay upstairs all day and run from them when they went upstairs.

We discovered that the family spends most of their time downstairs. The bunny stayed upstairs. The problem? He can't get down the stairs!! So he gets to listen to the family having a great time while he is stuck. Anyone would be mad! The solution? Create a space for him downstairs and carry him down with you so he can be with the family! So they did.

All was well!

These may seem silly, but they're real life examples of unintentionally missing a huge part of your bunny's needs!

Neither family was doing anything wrong, they just didn't know what their bunny was trying to say. This just goes to show how important socializing is to bunnies!! We are extremely grateful that they reached out for help instead of assuming they just had a bad bunny!!

Socialization is so important for the health, wellbeing, and emotional needs of all bunnies!!

On the other hand, a lot of bunnies are labeled as bad, antisocial, mean, or untrainable when really just a simple change can change their life!

Back to Jan.

She was adopted and kept in a pen in another room. She was then returned because she kept trying to get out of the pen to be with the family. Yeah.

She's not the most social bunny as far as wanting lots of friends or needing someone home at all hours, but she loves her routine and being the center of attention ehen her family is home! Freeroaming so she can hang out when she wants is what works best for her! Otherwise, she will try to get to you anyway she can, including breaking all of her nails trying to do it. We've found what works for her, so now we can ensure her forever home can provide that when we find it!!

Not every bunny is the same but one thing is: bunnies are social animals!!

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We are raising money for Star's recheck! Any amount helps!!

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We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

Cordelia and Eleanor are looking for their forever home together!!Their mom, Sadie, was pulled from the Sevier County ho...
10/29/2026

Cordelia and Eleanor are looking for their forever home together!!

Their mom, Sadie, was pulled from the Sevier County hoarding case. She was pregnant and had 4 daughters. Cordelia and Eleanor have been together and bonded since birth!!

Eleanor can be a little shy at first but she is becoming more social the more people she meets! Cordelia is confident and leads the way for the pair!

These girls live with dogs and cats and they do great with other bunnies too!!

Cordelia and Eleanor are 10 months old. They've been spayed, microchipped, and are up to date on their RHDV2 vaccines!!

Cordelia and Eleanor are bonded and must be adopted together. No exceptions.

*INDOOR PET ONLY HOME

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We are currently raising money for Star's recheck next week! Any amount helps!!

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We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

Hunny has officially been with us for 1 year today! 😕 This is a milestone we never want a bunny to meet, but she was so ...
10/28/2026

Hunny has officially been with us for 1 year today! 😕

This is a milestone we never want a bunny to meet, but she was so sick when she came to us, that it took 6 months to get her ready for adoption because of an untreated respiratory infection!

Hunny has chronic snuffles, an immune condition ranging from extremely mild to very severe. Thankfully, Hunny's is very mild and flares only occur with stress and are not contagious. The sooner you treat flares, the easier it will be for everyone!

Don't let this stop you from adopting her!!

Of all special needs a bunny can have, this is so easy! Hunny is so easy to give medication to and genuinely doesn't even know she's getting meds so it doesn't affect her routine!

Hunny is super social, outgoing, and clean! She is the best freeroamer there is and she loves dogs and especially cats too!!

Hunny is about 3 years old. She's been spayed, microchipped, and is up to date on her RHDV2 vaccine!!

Don't let Hunny be without a forever home any longer! Message us to adopt her!!

*INDOOR PET ONLY HOME

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We are raising money for Star's recheck next week! Any amount helps!!

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We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

Sadie and Ginny are still looking for their forever home together!!Sadie came from the Sevier County hoarding case last ...
10/27/2026

Sadie and Ginny are still looking for their forever home together!!

Sadie came from the Sevier County hoarding case last year. She needed an enucleation so we knew we needed to help her. She was pregnant, and Ginny is her daughter!

Sadie is reliant on Ginny and Ginny looks out for her mom! They are very social, easygoing, and love to make friends!

They do well with all cats and dogs so far, and they love other bunnies so they'll make the best bondmates!!

Sadie is about 2.5 years old and Ginny is 10 months old. They've been spayed, microchipped, and are up to date on their RHDV2 vaccines!

Sadie and Ginny are bonded and must be adopted together. No exceptions.

*INDOOR PET ONLY HOME

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We are raising money for Star's recheck next week! Any amount helps!!

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We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

Over here, no one is unadoptable. We don't have a sanctuary or village of special needs or elderly bunnies deemed too di...
10/26/2026

Over here, no one is unadoptable.

We don't have a sanctuary or village of special needs or elderly bunnies deemed too difficult for adoption or too hard to adopt out because we don't believe any bunny should be labeled that way.

We take in bunnies who need us the most.

Some have disabilities, some have ongoing medical needs, and many come from unbelievable trauma that no bunny should ever have to experience.

We spend the time to socialize and create trust in every bunny.

We spend the time to get to know each bunny on a personal level so that we know exactly what their forever home needs for them to thrive.

We spend the money on the best medical treatment and protocols to make life easier for them, no matter the cost.

This looks different for every bunny which means that some may stay with us a little longer to find the perfect match.

Every bunny deserves a home of their own and there is always a perfect home out there for them, no matter their needs, special accommodations, or adjustment times. We just have to find it and we always do!

Until then, they're welcome to stay with us as long as they need to!

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We are raising money for Star's recheck! Any amount helps!!

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We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

Star is looking for her forever home!! Star came from the Sevier County hoarding case very sick it's taken awhile to get...
10/25/2026

Star is looking for her forever home!!

Star came from the Sevier County hoarding case very sick it's taken awhile to get her 100%, but she's a trooper!

Star is funny, sassy, and sweet! She loves to play with toys, explore new places, and she makes friends easily!

Star gets along with cats and dogs. She's available for bunny meet and greets any time!!

Star is about 2 years old. She's been spayed, microchipped, and is up to date on her RHDV2 vaccine!!

*INDOOR PET ONLY HOME

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We are raising money for Star's recheck appointment right now! Any amount helps!!

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We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

Everyone thinks they're the best bunny owner ever. And some of them would be correct!! Our adoption process involves hou...
10/24/2026

Everyone thinks they're the best bunny owner ever.

And some of them would be correct!!

Our adoption process involves housing requirements and home checks to make sure our bunnies are going to a safe, clean, and loving environment.

Occasionally we have upset applicants who just don't understand why it's necessary. After all, they have bunnies already and/or have for years, so they obviously know what they are doing.

Know who else thinks they're the best bunny owner ever?

- Everyone who is keeping their bunnies outside, in cages, in hutches, or in other unsafe environments.

- Every breeder who claims to know everything there is about bunnies but then keeps them in 24 inch squares for their entire lives, often leading to the spread of illness and outbreak of disease.

- Everyone who has been following bunny care of the 1700s like it is still relevant in 2026 definitely thinks they are the best bunny owner ever.

So no, we can't just take your word for it.

We truly hope you're one of the best, but we have to make sure before we ever consider bringing one of our bunnies into your home.

Our adoption process isn't difficult. Most people complete it in a day or two and we'll help you every step of the way!

But we won't settle for outdated, outdoor, or outbreaks.

There is a lot of misinformation out there, so we'll never fault you for not knowing. But being unwilling to change or do better when you do learn the better way is where we have to draw the line.

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We are raising money for Star's recheck next week! Any amount helps!!

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We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

How has Dominique not been adopted yet???Contrary to what she wants you to think, she's extremely tolerant of handling, ...
10/23/2026

How has Dominique not been adopted yet???

Contrary to what she wants you to think, she's extremely tolerant of handling, she's not at all aggressive or mean, and she has more emotion than just MAD!!

Pro to adopting Dominique:

- Very cute
- Portable at 2.8lbs
- Loves all toys, can't go wrong here
- She's tiny so you'll save money on supplies

Cons- actually more pros:

- You will always be judged. HARD.
- Rearranges her own space. Keep the bowl there, don't even try to put it back
- Throws hay at you when trying to clean
- She chases everything. Just get out of the way
- Strategically lines up p**p as a boundary when she doesn't want you in her space. Not kidding.
- Litter trained? Yes, until you do something to make her mad. You can clean up as punishment

So, yes. Dominique has the biggest attitude of any living creature on the earth, but she's all talk.

Dominique is about 1.5 years old. She's been spayed, microchipped, and is up to date on her RHDV2 vaccine!!

*INDOOR PET ONLY HOME

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We are raising money for Star's recheck!! Any amount helps!!

~

We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

We're tired of the shelter hate.Shelters and rescues are different, but we all have the same goal of helping as many ani...
10/22/2026

We're tired of the shelter hate.

Shelters and rescues are different, but we all have the same goal of helping as many animals as we can within our means.

While we, a rescue, can control how many bunnies we have at any given time and who gets to adopt from us, shelters don't always have that choice. They are obligated to take stray animals in, try to find their owners, and ultimately take responsibility for them if an owner is not found.

Animal shelters are typically government run facilities with a physical location to house pets. Many rescues are foster based and do not have physical locations, but some do.

With so many animals coming in, shelters can't be too picky or require too many restrictions or they'd be overrun. We know of many who require some type of home check or requirements for certain pets, but ultimately adoption has to be very easy to keep pets moving!

Here in our area of East Tennessee, we don't see many of the problems we're about to talk about but unfortunately it is a reality for many areas, especially more rural areas who don't even have a shelter, just a small animal control team.

We have many no kill shelters who always spay/neuter pets, so unless you have experience elsewhere, you may not even know what we're talking about. Seriously, when we've told people of shelters who don't spay/neuter dogs and cats, it seems impossible to them, but it's not. Lots of areas just don't have the funding.

In areas with little to no funding for animal control and shelter services, it is not uncommon for pets to be held for 3 days and then euthanized if not adopted because they just don't have the space to keep them longer than that. As a result, they are begging ANYONE to come help these pets and save them from certain death only days away. This applies to bunnies too.

So now comes the shelter hate we're constantly seeing.

To adopt a pet from anywhere is taking responsibility for their health, happiness, and quality of life. Adopting a pet from some shelters means you are also now responsible for their vaccines, spay/neuter, training, and any unknown health issues that arise because their past is not known.

"I can't believe they didn't at least neuter him before adoption!" They don't have the funding and the pet doesn't have that kind of time.

"This shelter didn't know or tell me ANYTHING about this pet and now I'm stuck with behavioral issues and training costs!" Being anywhere for only a few days is not enough to make an accurate behavioral assessment.

"This was a $40 pet. Now I'm spending hundreds to finish the vet care they should've done!" They're all just doing their best. Pets are not cheap.

So how can you prevent this issue?

Adopt from a rescue who knows the personality, needs, and habits of the pets in their care!! I don't know of a single rescue who is not pulling animals from shelters when they have space. We just need the space first, so adopt!!

That's literally why we are here. To make a difference in the lives of pets and their families and assist the shelters in the constant overpopulation crisis. We DO have the time to spend on getting to know them, getting their vet care done, and ensuring that you go home with the perfect fit for you!

Then, we have space to get to know the next bunny!!

We're proud to partner with all area shelters and pull from them regularly when we can! We regularly assist shelters out of town when needed too because we're all in this together and just want what's best for the animals!

We're not saying not to adopt from shelters, you definitely should still continue to do so!!

But if you're upset and find yourself partaking in this shelter hate, try out a rescue who has the time to do the hard parts and you're still helping a shelter pet in need by allowing us the space to pull!!

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We just raised a ton of money for a past adopter to get the medical care they needed to keep the bunny in the home!! Now, we need help with our own bunnies who need rechecks and follow up care! Any amount helps!!

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We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

Hunny, our longest resident, is less than a week away from her 1 year rescue date 😕She was adopted a few years ago, deve...
10/21/2026

Hunny, our longest resident, is less than a week away from her 1 year rescue date 😕

She was adopted a few years ago, developed an acute illness that went untreated until it became severe, then she was returned because of behavioral changes. She's not aggressive, she was unable to breathe and crying out for help. It took 6 months to get her better, but she's been healthy and ready for her forever home for awhile now!

Due to the illness becoming severe, she does flare up and sneeze in times of stress. Thankfully it is very easy to treat and should only happen with moves!

Hunny is extremely social, outgoing, and loves to make friends! She is the best freeroamer, perfect with her litter box, and overall the greatest companion you will ever have!!

Hunny gets along with dogs, cats, and other bunnies! She was originally surrendered because the children in the home weren't nice to her, so kids won't be considered.

Hunny is about 3 years old. She's been spayed, microchipped, and is up to date on her RHDV2 vaccine!

*INDOOR PET ONLY HOME

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Star's next recheck is coming up! Any amount helps!!

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We are receiving Facebook's monetization! Comment, react, and share our posts to help us raise money for the bunnies!!

Address

Knoxville, TN

Telephone

+18656571467

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