One icy February night in Nova Scotia, a police officer spotted a small white shape on the side of the road. As he approached, he realized it was a severely injured rabbit, huddled in a puddle of slush.
The officer carefully transported the little bunny to the station and immediately contacted Honey’s Bunnies Rabbit Rescue, an organization devoted to saving and rehoming domestic rabbits.
“Something was very wrong with him,” Lindsay Macaulay, co-owner of Honey’s Bunnies, told The Dodo. “He was bleeding, couldn’t use his hind legs… we rushed him straight to the emergency vet.”
The news was grim. The bunny, later named Puddles, suffered from internal bleeding, anemia, and a dislocated tail — likely the result of being abandoned and then struck by a car.
After administering pain medication, Macaulay brought Puddles home to spend the night under her care. Despite his injuries, something in his eyes told her he was a fighter.
“Even our vet said a rabbit in Puddles’ condition probably wouldn’t have survived,” Macaulay said. “But from the very start, he had an incredible will to live.”
The following days involved careful treatment and cage rest, as well as syringe feeding and physiotherapy.
Rabbits are sensitive creatures, Macaulay noted — they make it very clear when they don’t feel well. But Puddles surprised her.
“He wanted to be petted. He wanted to be loved,” she said. “That first night, he popped his head up to take food from my hand. He was just so wholesomely trusting.”
As Puddles regained strength, hopping around the house became part of his daily routine. And then something magical happened: a friendship blossomed with Macaulay’s cat, Wren.
While her other two cats largely ignored the new arrival, Wren approached Puddles with curiosity and care. Soon, Macaulay would come home to find the two napping side by side.
“They are a very affectionate pair,” Macaulay said. “Puddles will bow his head so Wren can groom him. Sometimes I walk in and see them just sleeping together and grooming each other—it’s heart-melting.”
Macaulay realized the bond may stem from shared experiences. Wren herself had come from a difficult situation, and both animals seemed to understand each other’s past struggles.
The bond became so strong that Macaulay decided to officially adopt Puddles. “Not only had I fallen in love with him,” she said, “now Wren had too.”
Today, Puddles has made a near-full recovery. He still has some mobility challenges and mild vision issues, but he thrives in his home.
“He’s our little ‘wonky bun,’” Macaulay said. “He’s not perfect, but he’s mobile, happy, and pain-free. He’s one of the sweetest, most trusting animals I’ve ever met.”
If you’d like to support Honey’s Bunnies Rabbit Rescue and help rabbits like Puddles, you can donate through their website.
