Bringing Global Rabbit Care Standards to Japan
Based on 30 years of rabbit-keeping experience in Japan and the US, we deliver rabbit care information in Japanese to protect the health and happiness of rabbits.
BunnyCareJP
House Rabbit Society (HRS)
International Partnership
BunnyCare JP is listed on the House Rabbit Society (HRS) official website as an International Partner.
About Bunny Care Japan: Our Story and Mission
Bunny Care Japan grew out of my 30 years of experience living with rabbits in Japan and the United States, as well as the rescue of Baku-chan, a rabbit found on a riverbank in Florida.
These experiences inspired me to share reliable, welfare-focused rabbit care information in Japan, including guidance based on resources from House Rabbit Society.
Operator Profile: VENUS
公開日：2026年4月15日 更新日 2026年８月25日
VENUS | BunnyCare JP Operator / Rabbit Welfare Activities
Profile
I have lived with rabbits in both Japan and the United States for more than 30 years. My experience of moving to Japan with Bugs, a rescued rabbit from Florida, made me keenly aware of the differences in rabbit care and animal welfare between the two countries. I founded BunnyCare JP to help rabbits in Japan live healthier and happier lives.
Our Relationship with House Rabbit Society
BunnyCare JP is listed on the official House Rabbit Society website as an International Partner.
In 2026, I visited HRS headquarters in California to learn firsthand about its shelter operations and rabbit-care practices. BunnyCare JP shares HRS knowledge and authorized materials in Japanese, making welfare-focused rabbit care more accessible in Japan.
Rescue and Rehoming
I am continuously involved in rabbit rescue, fostering, and rehoming. I have also welcomed rabbits rescued from Ōkunoshima, known as “Rabbit Island,” and helped several rescued rabbits find loving permanent homes.
Changing Rabbit-Care Culture in Japan
Small cages are still widely used for rabbits in Japan. BunnyCare JP promotes welfare-focused care, including sufficient space for exercise and informed discussions about spaying and neutering with a rabbit-experienced veterinarian.
Our goal is to help people understand that rabbits should not spend their lives confined to cages. They deserve to live as members of the family, with their natural behavior and individual needs respected.
Our Work for Rabbits Kept in Schools
Keeping rabbits in schools presents many welfare concerns, including extreme heat, care during school holidays, access to veterinary treatment, and unclear responsibility for their well-being.
After we reported the case of a school rabbit kept outdoors during dangerously hot weather, media coverage helped lead to the rabbit being moved indoors.
We will continue advocating for an end to new school-rabbit programs while supporting better living conditions and responsible rehoming for rabbits already living in schools.
BUGSI Rescued bunny from FL, USA
Rabbit Ambassador: BUGSI
A Rescue Rabbit Found on a Riverbank in Florida
BUGSI, also known as Baku-chan, is a male rabbit born in 2018. He was found abandoned and seriously ill on a riverbank in Florida and was rescued by a local humane society. Without that rescue, he likely would not have survived.
After receiving medical treatment and being neutered, BUGSI met me while I was volunteering with the organization. That meeting marked the beginning of our life together.
From Florida to Japan: A Four-Day Journey
When I returned to Japan, BUGSI came with me as a member of my family. The journey was extremely demanding for a rabbit.
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The flight, airport procedures, and travel between the United States and Japan took more than 24 hours.
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After arriving in Japan, we stayed in Narita for two nights while the required quarantine procedures were completed.
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In total, it took four days from the beginning of our journey until we finally arrived home.
Rabbits can develop gastrointestinal stasis—a potentially life-threatening condition in which the digestive system slows down—after going without food for as little as 12 hours. Careful preparation, regular health checks, and close attention to BUGSI’s eating and physical condition helped us complete the journey safely.
Overcoming a Pasteurella Infection at Age Seven
At the age of seven, BUGSI developed an abscess beneath his right eye associated with a Pasteurella infection. He underwent surgery under general anesthesia and then required veterinary visits twice a week for three months. The abscess returned two months after he appeared to have recovered, requiring further treatment.
BUGSI recovered from this difficult illness and continues to live a healthy life at over eight years old. His experience reinforced my belief that accurate knowledge, an appropriate living environment, and timely veterinary care are essential to protecting a rabbit’s health and life.
Austin aka,O-chan: Rescued from Okunoshima Island
Austin was rescued on Okunoshima Island and is now a beloved member of my (VENUS's) family. Although he only has one hind leg, he lives safely indoors and enjoys a peaceful life.
The injury to the hind leg was discovered when the animal was rescued on Okunoshima Island.
When Austin was rescued, he had fractured his hind leg and was almost completely unable to use it. A veterinary examination revealed that the bone was completely broken near the ankle, and that it was unstable, only held together by flesh and skin. The bone was exposed near the knee, and the area was dirty and dry.
X-ray examination revealed an open transverse fracture of the distal tibia. Due to the time elapsed since the injury, necrosis had occurred in the exposed bone, and degeneration was also observed in the bone on the heel side. Therefore, it was difficult to restore the shape and function of the leg through conventional fracture treatment.
The amputation surgery after bringing him into our home
After welcoming Austin, who hails from Okunoshima Island, into our home, I consulted with a veterinarian and decided to have his leg amputated. It was difficult to restore the original shape and function of his leg, but it was a choice made to reduce further pain and the risk of infection, and to allow him to live a more peaceful life.
Austin is a dog who has tried to live despite dragging a wounded leg. From now on, we will support him as a cherished member of our family so that he can live each day to the fullest, free from pain and danger.