What originally started with Cadbury the bunny, has grown into a haven for small critters.

The Warren Peace Bunny Sanctuary, located on Pelmewash Parkway, grew spontaneously after the feral rabbit cull in Kelowna in 2005, Antoinette Monod told Kelowna Cap B次元官网网址. ItB次元官网网址檚 set to open in May next year.

B次元官网网址淚 really just wanted a bunny, and my husband brought back a bunny that someone let loose around his shop and I fell in love with that bunny,B次元官网网址� she said. Eventually, the bunny died, but Monod wanted another one.

This was around the time Kelowna was culling rabbits, she said.

B次元官网网址淲hen you let them go and theyB次元官网网址檙e not spayed or neutered, at the age of four to five months theyB次元官网网址檙e having babies. They have babies every month,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a huge multiplication nightmare.B次元官网网址�

People started bringing her the rabbits, which continued to have babies.

B次元官网网址淎ll of the sudden people were just contacting meB次元官网网址� but I really just wanted one. Now we have over 300,B次元官网网址� Monod said.

What keeps her going after 13 years is that people continue to release rabbits into the wild without spaying or neutering them, she said.

B次元官网网址淢ost of what we take in is feral colonies,B次元官网网址� she said.

People will often bring her a few rabbits, but then theyB次元官网网址檒l quickly multiple.

B次元官网网址淲e just did one in Oyama where somebody dropped a few bunnies off at these peopleB次元官网网址檚 acreage and all of a sudden they had two, three, litters,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淧eople just donB次元官网网址檛 know where to take them.B次元官网网址�

The sanctuary accepts any and all rabbits.

B次元官网网址淚f we donB次元官网网址檛, thatB次元官网网址檚 a bunny weB次元官网网址檒l have to trap later on, which is much more difficult than just opening our doors,B次元官网网址� Monod said.

B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 why I keep doing it, because thereB次元官网网址檚 a needB次元官网网址� I would love to be able to retire.B次元官网网址�

The sanctuary has roughly 700 animals on the property including guinea pigs, goats, pigs, rats, ferrets, chinchillas, turkeys B次元官网网址� all left without a place to call home.

B次元官网网址淭hey deserve to live the rest of their life with some happiness and love and care,B次元官网网址� said sanctuary vice president Amanda Cope.

B次元官网网址淢y dream, like any rescue or sanctuary, is that we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be needed anymore. That is the ultimate goal,B次元官网网址� Monod said.

The second goal is to find someone to take it over.

B次元官网网址淎s someone who is getting older, I have to think B次元官网网址榗an I do this in five years?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Monod said.

She said in five years if she doesnB次元官网网址檛 think she can provide the animals with the same amount of care and support, then thatB次元官网网址檚 when sheB次元官网网址檒l begin to cut back on the intake of animals.

But she hasnB次元官网网址檛 reached that point yet.

B次元官网网址淲e do our best to try and educate so people can learn and not releasing animals out in the wild, rather than us taking in 10 bunnies, we take in one bunny,B次元官网网址� Cope said, adding it makes a huge difference.

Over the past year, the sanctuary fell on hard times when it closed due to a deadly bunny virus that spread in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.

READ MORE:

Vaccinations against the virus cost $10,000, Monod said. Food costs roughly $1,500 and medical costs $3,000 every month.

But the community has shown overwhelming support.

A dozen volunteers also give Monod a hand, helping with cleaning, and grant writing, Cope said.

A GoFundMe started in last April for the sanctuary reached its . Recently, it also won $1,000 as part of the Oxbow Animal HealthB次元官网网址檚 Great Hay Giveback online contest which will go towards hay costs for the animals during the winter, Monod said.

READ MORE:

The sanctuary came in first place with more than 8,000 votes.

B次元官网网址淭hat really knocked us out of the park,B次元官网网址� Cope said.

Monod said as her husband, Rick Lake, was running errands for the sanctuary, Lake Country residents cheered them on.

B次元官网网址淭he idea that entire companies were voting for us, that just goes to show what a wonderful community Lake Country is,B次元官网网址� Monod said.

Monod was out in the rain Friday, with a cold B次元官网网址� and on her birthday B次元官网网址� preparing for the Great Pumpkin Giveback, which was held Nov. 3.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what sanctuary means, it means you open your doors to those in need,B次元官网网址� she said.

To support the sanctuary, you can purchase its annual Boys with Buns Calendar, which is available for purchase at various locations in Kelowna, Lake Country and Vernon including Tri Lake Animal Hospital, or contact Monod online for a calendar at .

One-hundred per cent of the proceeds will go towards operating costs for the sanctuary.