VHS Adoption Spotlight

WE COULDN'T TAKE JUST ONE BECAUSE ONE OF THEM HAD BEEN RETURNED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND HAD BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

JUNIPER & WILLOW

VHS ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT

Evansville's Sam Hoang was born and raised in Vietnam but headed for our shores when college life called at age 17. Excited to venture out into the world, he not only looked forward to studying in America but becoming a pet owner - something his parents would not allow back home. Two years into his stay in the U.S., Hoang rescued his first animal, a senior rabbit. "When I adopted my first bunny, I didn't know how long I would be here so I got a very ancient bunny [laughs]," he explains. "It needed a mate so I rescued another one. Once I got settled here, I kind of went overboard." Indeed, Hoang grew passionate about animals and became a fixture at the VHS, adopting multiple cats, dogs and guinea pigs, too. But there were still more furry friends to make.

When Hoang's senior rabbit passed away earlier this year, its mate grew depressed and stopped eating - a common occurrence due to the social nature of such highly-bonded animals. There was only one solution. "I talked to the adoption counselor at the VHS, Kelsey - she's a wonderful person - and she pointed my spouse and I to two older bunnies that might be a good match [for our remaining bunny at home]," he says. "We couldn't take just one because one of them had been returned a couple of times and had been there a long time." Named Juniper and Willow, the adorable pair of furballs, despite getting up there in years, slotted in quickly - an unexpected development, in truth. "Usually bonding in rabbits is hard because they're territorial and fight; however, I introduced them and they immediately took to my other bunny and started grooming each other," he says. "This is rare - normally it takes weeks or even months. According to the adoption counselor, I've had the best luck with bonding ever."

With the addition of Juniper and Willow, Hoang is now the primary caretaker for nine animals but insists that "once you get into the groove of daily and weekly cleaning, it's not that hard." Though contrary to what many people think, rabbits are not "starter pets" - they require special attention and plenty of space to run, not to mention a specific diet, including lots of hay to wear down their teeth and promote good intestinal health. Plus, rabbits can live to be eight years old, so owning one is a commitment. Lucky for Juniper and Willow, they got rescued by one of Evansville's most committed animal lovers!