Paulina Russell had one of those great days where work didn’t feel at all like work. She is a rabbit care-giver at the Best Friends rabbit rescue ranch in Reno. Part of her job involves making home visits to insure the people wanting to adopt a bunny have a loving, safe environment. When Paulina visited the home of Anna Williams, she didn’t want to leave --- she was having too much fun spending time with Anna’s happy menagerie of three dogs, three cats and an assortment of roosters and chickens.

But there was one sad member of Anna’s family, Murphy the rabbit.

Murphy’s best friend, Honey Bunny, had passed away. So Anna wanted to find him a new friend.

“When I walked into Anna’s home, I was charmed by all the animals,” said Paulina. “They were so happy --- it was the happiest family I’ve ever seen.”

Murphy got two new friends out of the deal, Sugar and Beauty. Murphy enjoys his new pals, almost as much as Anna’s cocker spaniel, Molly --- the dog decided the rabbits were her children.

“Molly lies right in between all of them and plops right down with a look of contentment,” said Anna. “She just loves the rabbits.”

The more, the merrier, right? Two weeks later, Anna returned to the ranch. And this time she left with Crystal, Baby and Paulina. (The rabbit, not the care-giver.)

Anna said she picked Baby because “she turned on her side and looked so cute with her big blue eyes.” Crystal was a no-brainer because she was such a beauty. The rabbit Paulina picked Anna.

“She decided to take me and how could I refuse?” asked Anna. “I named her Paulina because she’s a natural beauty --- just like the wonderful lady I named her after.”

Paulina (the care-giver, not the rabbit) blushed and commented, “I feel extremely honored. That rabbit will always be special to me.”

Written by Amy Abern. Photo by Paulina Russell.

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