Fresh from stage debut, Roxie the rabbit searching for forever home
Ask most pet owners if their fur baby is a star and they’ll enthusiastically agree, with only a camera roll full of photos and a heart full of love to back up their claims.
But whoever gives a forever home to a bunny currently up for adoption at a Winnipeg animal hospital will be able to make that claim handily.
That’s because hopeful adoptee Roxie the rabbit spent two weeks performing the title role in Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s “The Velveteen Rabbit”.
While some come to the theatre in search of stardom, like her jazz-singing namesake from the musical “Chicago”, this Roxie stepped into the limelight in search of a family.
The one-year-old was found by a community organization in the fall, abandoned and in need of veterinary care. She was brought to the Grant Park Animal Hospital where she has been living ever since, waiting to be adopted.
Having trouble placing her with a loving family, hospital staff decided to audition her to play “The Velveteen Rabbit”.
“She got that part, and she ended up performing for two weeks, several performances a day. She really did a very good job, and gained a lot of fans in so doing,” recalled Dr. Jonas Watson, veterinarian and owner of Grant Park Animal Hospital.
Sadly, none of Roxie's new fans were able to adopt her, and stardom left her back were it found her – living with animal hospital staff on weekends, waiting to be adopted.
Doctor Watson said her fame has not exempt her from a common trope in Winnipeg – a city with an overabundance of domestic rabbits who have trouble being placed in new homes. He said some have had to be turned loose into the wild during warmer months. As a result, many shelters and rescue organizations have intake freezes.
Just as the Velveteen Rabbit is saved from peril by a magic fairy who whisks him away, Dr. Watson believes there will still be a happy ending in the sometimes dramatic story of Roxie’s life.
“We've all become quite fond of her. If one of us here at the hospital could take her, we would have,” he said.
Her time on the stage didn’t breed any diva-like tendencies, either. The sweet, affectionate, bunny is litter trained, spayed, loves bananas and kale, and gives plenty of licks.
“We’re looking for a home where she'll get lots of attention, she'll get lots of opportunity to free roam and not be stuck in a cage and basically, a home where she’ll be provided with all the love that she deserves," Dr. Watson said.
Anyone who thinks they can give this scene-stealing rabbit a forever home is asked to call or email the hospital.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
'Reimagining Mother's Day': Toronto woman creates Motherless Day event after losing mom
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
Sherpa guide Kami Rita scales Mount Everest for 29th time, extending his own record again
One of greatest climbing guides on Mount Everest has scaled the world's highest peak for the 29th time, extending his own record for most times to the summit, expedition organizers said Sunday.
As Israel pushes deeper into Rafah, Hamas regroups elsewhere in ungoverned Gaza
Israeli forces were battling Palestinian militants across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, including in parts of the devastated north that the military said it had cleared months ago, where Hamas has exploited a security vacuum to regroup.
Feds 'committed to doing more,' but minister offers no timeline for Canadian Disability Benefit boost
Amid significant criticism from advocates, Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera is defending her government's long-promised, newly unveiled Canada Disability Benefit, calling the funds an "initial step," but without laying out a timeline for future expansion of the program.
Balancing act: Canadian North’s first Inuk CEO juggles Arctic airline challenges
With carriers' flight volumes above the 60th parallel hovering below pre-pandemic levels, Canadian North’s first Inuk CEO now bears the task of balancing those financial and logistical challenges with the needs of communities for which she feels a deep affinity.
Adopted daughter in the Netherlands reunited with sister in Montreal and mother in Colombia, 40 years later
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
RCMP boss expresses desire for new law to deal with threats against politicians
RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme says he wants the government to look at drafting a new law that would make it easier for police to pursue charges against people who threaten elected officials.