A grumbly bunny’s life-changing friendship

Sometimes, making friends gets trickier with age — whether you’re a person or a bunny. As kids, it can be as easy as spotting someone on the playground and saying “hi.” But for Martin, a small black-and-white adult rabbit with a big personality, finding a friend was anything but simple.

Martin arrived at the Bunny House at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary alongside his brother, Steve. Cute? Undeniably. Social? Not exactly. The two didn’t get along, and despite hopes that neutering would mellow their rivalry into brotherly bonding, Martin just wasn’t having it.

Because rabbits are naturally social creatures, the hope was that Martin could find comfort either with a different bunny companion or with people. But Martin wasn’t keen on either — at least not at first.

[Senior bunnies find love and healing in each other]

His caregivers noticed that Martin’s body language was a little bossy — assertive in a way that confused other rabbits. If he nibbled at a bunny and they responded like most bunnies would (they weren’t happy about it), Martin often took it the wrong way and things escalated.

Still, the Bunny House team kept trying. One by one, they introduced Martin to potential companions with all sorts of personalities. Eight bunnies in total and not a single match — until Jared.

Jared came to the Sanctuary after a kind person found him hopping around her backyard. Calm, curious, and easygoing, he seemed to get along with just about everyone. And somehow, that included Martin.

From their very first meeting, something shifted. When Martin gave Jared a little nibble, Jared didn’t get upset — he simply asked for a grooming session instead. Martin obliged, and just like that, a friendship bloomed.

[Chance meetings lead to best bunny buddies]

Even better, Jared’s steady presence helped Martin grow more comfortable with people, too. He even started to “sploot” — that sweet, stretched-out bunny sprawl that only happens when a rabbit feels truly at ease.

For a bunny who once struggled to make a single friend, Martin has found something steady, soft, and true. And that makes all the difference.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.