Resilient bunny zooms into life on 3 legs

These days, Marilyn Bunroe is shining like the star she’s named after. She hops, digs, and springs around on three legs with ease. In fact, she runs faster than most of the bunnies at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s Bunny House. But she didn’t always have such a spring in her step.

An animal rescue group in Salt Lake City found this gorgeous, domesticated rabbit in a city park, alone and unable to put any weight on one of her front legs. She needed help — and fast. And that’s just what she would get at the Sanctuary. The Bunny House team hopped into action and organized a ride for Marilyn from Salt Lake City to the Sanctuary.

Best Friends veterinarians confirmed Marilyn’s front leg was broken and unfortunately had to be amputated. While the surgery proved successful, she was also fighting an infection that would take extra-diligent care to heal.

Her caregivers kept a close eye on her infection, and with daily medication, regular bandage changes, a visit to a veterinary specialist, and heaps of TLC, this resilient little bunny pulled through with flying colors.

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In fact, she loved taking her medication so much that she would often "periscope,” much to the delight of her caregivers. Periscoping is an adorable behavior where a bunny stands on their hind legs, stretching their body upward while keeping their pocket-sized front paws in the air. It's a natural behavior that shows curiosity and alertness in rabbits.

“Rabbits can be easy to medicate but not usually that easy,” says Amy Brown, Bunny House supervisor.

Amy explains that rabbits with severe injuries, especially following an amputation, often stop eating — a dangerous complication. However, Marilyn Bunroe defied the odds. She continued to eat normally and remained active and alert both before and after her surgery. Her fighting spirit coupled with the TLC she received at the Sanctuary helped her survive and thrive.

"She’s a spunky little fighter,” says caregiver Stephanie Vosburgh. “Even after all she went through, not once did she appear as if she was in pain. She even started eating just a few hours after the surgery. It was incredible.”

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Now that she’s feeling better, her true diva-like personality is starting to emerge. She loves to sprint around the play yard at top speed, dig epic holes, and chow on all the tasty treats. And when playtime is over and it’s time to get tucked in for the night, she kicks her three-legged sprinting into top gear, playfully engaging in a spirited game of “catch me if you can” with her caregivers.

“I just can’t believe how fast she is,” marvels Stephanie. “She’s amazing.”

It wasn’t long before this spunky little bunny’s speed — and charm — caught the eye of a loving family. Now Marilyn Bunroe is living a “bun-derful” life in a home of her own.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. 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.