Join Team Matilda

Help us learn what Matilda needs so we can support her and improve care for other rabbits like her.

About Matilda

Matilda arrived at ACC in April 2024 as an owner surrender. Very little is known about her life before the shelter, but we quickly recognized that she was a rabbit who struggled to feel safe. She showed intense fear based reactions like lunging, grunting, and biting, which made it hard for people to connect with her. She was spayed in hopes it might help her feel more at ease, but her reactions stayed largely the same. After many months in the shelter, she moved to an experienced foster home. She joined me in May 2025 so we could take a deeper look at what she needs.

What makes Matilda different from many rabbits labeled as “difficult” or “aggressive” is that her stress has not eased in a home environment as it does for most rabbits. Her world feels full of threats that most rabbits do not notice. She grunts and lunges with her ears back when people walk past the kitchen table or approach the couch. Minor noises, like the AC cycling on or footsteps in another room, startle her. When she feels really upset, she may bite. Underneath all that intensity is a rabbit who is overwhelmed, fearful, and likely experiencing discomfort.

Why This Case Matters to Me

I've been fostering rabbits for over 15 years and volunteering in shelters for just as long. I've seen plenty of troubled rabbits in that time: rabbits who lunge, rabbits who are terrified, rabbits who need patience and skilled handling to come around. But I'm also a professional animal behavior consultant specializing in rabbits, and I've never encountered anything quite like Matilda, and rabbits this severe need someone with both extensive rescue experience and professional behavior expertise. My skills match her needs, and working with her allows me to develop and share new tools the rabbit rescue community needs for severe behavior cases.

What We've Already Tried

Since Matilda came to me in May, I’ve continued the excellent work her previous foster started. She’s a big-time binkier, loves her snuffle mat, and does dramatic flops when she feels at ease. She has a living space with multiple safe spaces where she can retreat. She gets enrichment throughout her day, with activities she clearly enjoys. I've built predictable patterns into our routine so she knows what to expect. Through positive reinforcement training, she's learning skills like entering a carrier voluntarily and filing her own nails, behaviors that help her avoid conflict with people. I lead with consent in all my interactions with Matilda. All of this works together to build her sense of agency and security, with the hope that she'll learn the world is safe and we won't hurt her.

We have celebrated small wins: we can relax closer together now, she bites far less frequently, and her reactions are less intense overall. But she still lunges with her ears back regularly, intimidating behavior that makes daily life difficult for everyone. Her progress has plateaued and remains fragile, with frequent setbacks from minor triggers like visitors or subtle changes in her environment. To be adoptable, she needs to recover from these disruptions in hours instead of days, find comfort in being touched, and stop biting entirely. She's responded to everything I've tried—but only so far. It's time to investigate further: Is there a medical issue we can treat? Could medication improve her behavioral and emotional health and quality of life?

Why This Campaign Matters Beyond Matilda

When a rabbit behaves like Matilda does, there's often a hidden cause. Sometimes pain or an underlying medical issue drives behavior that looks like aggression or territorial defensiveness. If we can identify and treat what's causing her distress, we might be able to help her finally feel safe. Matilda isn't a mean rabbit—she's struggling.

There's another possibility we need to explore: behavior medication. Behavior medication is largely unexplored territory in rabbit rescue. Some may be using it privately, but few openly discuss their experiences or share what they're learning. Medication has transformed quality of life for countless cats, dogs, and humans with serious behavioral and emotional challenges. Matilda’s case gives us a chance to explore this openly for rabbits and share what we learn.

By openly sharing Matilda's journey (the veterinary findings, the treatment plan, what works and what doesn't), we can create a roadmap for rescues working with similar rabbits. Right now, rabbits like Matilda are often labeled "unadoptable" and their options are limited. The impact of your support extends beyond Matilda. Your contribution doesn't just help her; it helps us expand what's possible for all the misunderstood, struggling rabbits who deserve a chance at a good life.

What This Fund Will Cover

Matilda is being fostered through Animal Care Centers of NYC. While ACC does incredible work, they don't have the resources for the specialized veterinary care Matilda needs, which is why I'm reaching out directly to the rabbit community for support. Every dollar raised goes directly to her care.

This campaign will fund Matilda's initial comprehensive veterinary workup with Dr Erica Campbell at East Rockaway Veterinary Hospital.

Here's the price breakdown:

Phase 1 - Initial Diagnostic Workup:

Office exam: $101

Bloodwork (CBC & Chemistry): $212

Biohazard fee: $12.50

Sedation: $165.75

X-rays (2-4 views): $363.75

RHDV vaccination: $65

Additional Costs:

Medications (pain management and/or behavioral medications, high estimate): $100

Transportation (round-trip Uber to/from vet to minimize stress, high estimate): $135

Phase 1 Total Goal: $1,155

This is the first step. We don't yet know what the exam will reveal. Future interventions may include a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist, ongoing medications, additional diagnostics, or treatment for any medical conditions we identify. Once we have exam results, I'll update the campaign with Phase 2 costs and adjust the goal accordingly.

How You Can Help

Join Team Matilda by donating what you can. Every dollar brings Matilda closer to the care she needs.

Invite others to join Team Matilda by sharing this campaign on Facebook and Instagram. Link to this campaign in your posts and stories and use #teammatilda. Can't donate? Getting her story in front of more people still makes a real difference.

Follow along and cheer Matilda on. I'll share updates here on GoFundMe with major developments. For behind-the-scenes photos and videos of Matilda's progress, follow me on Instagram @badassbunnyrescuer. Join others in the rabbit community who are invested in her journey.

Have questions or want to talk about Matilda's case? Reach out to me via GoFundMe. I'm happy to connect with fellow Team Matilda members.

Thank you for joining Team Matilda, believing in her, and helping us learn together how to help others like her.