Share on LinkedIn

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) - If you’re thinking about adopting a bunny for Easter, the founders of Paisley’s Bunny Rescue want you to know exactly what you’re getting into.

Since 2019, Anglea Younts and Mico Diarpo have dedicated their days to rescuing rabbits.

“Well I basically made a phone call one day, I said, ‘I think we’re going to rescue some bunnies, let’s start a small rabbit rescue’ and she goes, ‘well I’ll help you,’ and that turned into 160 rabbits later,” said Younts.

Younts runs one of the rescue’s locations near Conway, and Diarpo runs the other in Bishopville.

“A lot of them come from the euthanization list, from people that have turned them into shelters and the shelters are not equipped to take care of them, especially at the volume,” said Younts. “A lot of them are dumped rabbits, where people can’t understand that they can’t survive in the wild.”

With Easter coming up, Younts and Diarpo are preparing for many more calls.

“After Easter, we call it the wave...every rabbit rescue around the country is going to deal with it,” said Diarpo.

They both told WMBF News many people get bunnies as Easter gifts, but often don’t realize the commitment it takes.

“They think it’s just easy, you put it in a cage and you forget about it or take it out when your child wants to play with it, or you know, make it a party favor, and that’s not what a rabbit is,” said Diarpo.

Younts and Diarpo say caring for the rabbits is expensive. Whether it’s food, housing or even taking them to a special vet.

Most of the care for their bunnies has come out of their own pockets, Younts and Diarpo estimate they’ve spent about $100,000 in the last five years.

But they don’t regret it.

“There is nothing more amazing than seeing a little bunny whose life was in danger and you nurse it back to health and it gets into this amazing family,” said Diarpo. “It makes it all worth it.”

Although rescuing bunnies is something Younts and Diarpo enjoy, they have a message for the community.

“If you’re getting your child an Easter Bunny, get a chocolate one...please get a chocolate one,” said Younts.

Paisley’s is always looking for more volunteers and donations. If you’re interested in helping out or want to adopt a bunny, you can email paisleysbunnyrescue@gmail.com, or visit Paisley’s on Facebook.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.