This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

The president of the Minnesota rabbit rescue Peacebunny Foundation is facing animal cruelty charges after police found 200 rabbits living in squalor at the organization's “Peacebunny Cottage” in Savage, in addition to more who were found dead. Urge the assistant district attorney to prosecute this case to the fullest extent, seek a charge for fraud and ensure the remaining survivors are removed from the property.

On July 27, officers from the Savage Police Department were sent to the property after being notified about animal neglect by the owner, who was leasing part of the barn to the Peacebunny Foundation's president Stephanie Hope Smith. The owner reported her concerns to 4Paws and the Minnesota Federated Humane Societies.

At the time of the visit, Smith was on vacation but officers and representatives from 4Paws and the Animal Humane Society (AHS) found rabbits running loose in the barn, which was covered in feces. According to the complaint, “the smell of death, feces, and urine was overwhelming” and bowls for food and water were found empty.

The next day, a search warrant was executed with assistance from AHS Veterinarian Dr. Sara Lewis. Dozens of rabbits of different ages were running loose amid huge piles of manure, while more were in cages with no food or water. Officers also found boards that had been drilled into the concrete that had access points for rabbits to get into and bodies of many who were in various stages of decomposition.

At least 47 rabbits were found dead. Two were immediately euthanized on-site — an adult with a broken back and a baby who was infested with maggots. Two more needed critical care, 19 needed immediate follow-up care, and two litters of orphans were taken. An additional 50 caged rabbits and 150 more who were running free were photographed for ear injuries and other health conditions.

Sadly, this “rescue” is a fake, and is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization that's been widely covered positively in the media, but has been defrauding the public and operating as anything but a rescue. Ironically, in 2019, FOX News 9 had planned to run a positive story, but scrapped the project when denied access to the barn and the island where the rabbits were living. Meanwhile, outlets such as People magazine and the Today show wrote glowing stories without bothering to see the facilities where the rabbits were forced to live. The fake rescue was founded by Smith's son as a 4-H project (which are notorious for desensitizing kids to the plights of animals) and now shows rabbits at fairs, breeds them to somehow “save” endangered breeds, promotes angora, and uses others as “comfort animals.”

Some witnesses believe problems with neglect began long before this investigation. Stephanie Smith was ultimately arrested and charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors for animal cruelty, but many of the rabbits remain on the property.

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.