A rabbit within Lanarkshire's SSPCA Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre has landed in the lap of luxury.
Beautiful bunny Penelope was in the care of the animal charity's Hamilton base for just over a year when she was chosen and welcomed home by Harriet Peace.
Now, since rehoming Penelope, Harriet has been inspired to open her own bunny hotel named Penelope & Pals.
Download the Lanarkshire Live app today
The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.
Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.
The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.
Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android
Harriet told Lanarkshrie Live: “I have a massive passion for animals - more than humans sadly.
“My story of Penelope & Pals began when I was in Krakow for my mum’s 60th birthday two years ago, and I saw a bunny for sale in a pet shop who was in such a sorry state. It really shook me up.
“I knew that I couldn’t take it as I was from a different county and it would encourage this to happen again and again.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about the poor bunny, so in its memory I decided to rehome my first rabbit, Fluffy from the Scottish SPCA.
“I spent a lot of time reading up and studying rabbits, as he was quite hard to understand. I spent a good year bonding and connecting with Fluffy, and fulfilling his every need.
“He is an outdoor bun, but I would spend many days and nights either outside with him, or he came for a nosey inside.
“After spending a year with him I decided it was time he had a wife for some company. This is when I came across Calliope, now Penelope, on the Scottish SPCA website.
“She was an outdoor bun, so my first thought was 'this was perfect'. Because of COVID restrictions I wasn’t able to meet her before bringing her home.
“This didn’t matter because to me it was about finding a companion to keep Fluffy happy, so even if she was hard work I was willing to put everything in to her."
Harriet was delighted when she first met Penelope, although was struck by how overweight the rabbit was, after being found free roaming in Hamilton.
She continued: "“I brought her home and after three or four days she started to come out of her shell and she was the biggest character ever.
“I decided to change her name to Penelope as Calliope is one of the ugly sisters in Cinderella, and she was far from ugly.
“She has such a big personality, it’s unbelievable. The vet estimated she was around six years old when I rehomed her, so she will be seven this year.
“We’ve no idea of her background as she was found free roaming in Hamilton, but it doesn’t surprise me as she does what she wants and is the best escape artist I’ve seen.
“If she’s not happy in her pen she will jump out, but jump back in when she’s ready.
“She also likes to take all her toys on to the roof of her hutch and chill out there. She likes to then jump from the roof of the hutch on to my window ledge with her food bowls to show me they are empty.
“She has become such a character in my life. My two cats and dog love both the rabbits. We are all such a happy family."
Harriet's adoration of animals, and in particular for rescuing them, saw her constantly looking on the Scottish SPCA's website before deciding to take the leap and open her very own bunny boutique hotel.
She added: "I wanted to rescue more and more animals and I was never off of the Scottish SPCA website. It was then I realised that as much as I would like to sometimes because of circumstances you can’t help every single animal.
“I then decided to open Penelope & Pals, which is my five-star bunny hotel for buns to check in to when their owners do the terrible thing and go away on holiday! Much to their rabbit’s disapproval.
“I always wanted to create a home away from home for them. Whether you have an indoor or outdoor bun, I want to make their time with me as stress free and normal for them as possible.
“I worked so hard and spent a lot of money getting the bunny hotel built just right.
“Penelope & Pals is just the start of a massive dream of mine, and it is only coming true because I met Penelope.
“Rehoming Penelope and Fluffy has changed my life so much for the better, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
If you are interested in rehoming a rabbit or any other animal, please visit the Scottish SPCA’s website.
And click here to find out more about Penelope & Pals.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
