Cold weather is brutal for stray and abandoned animals.
So, when John Debacker got a call about a helpless furball wandering a Long Island neighborhood in freezing temperatures, he acted fast.
He grabbed his catch pole and rushed over. But when he arrived, he was in for a shock.
It wasn’t a stray cat or dog. It was a rabbit—alone in the snow.
John has rescued countless animals, but this one left him stunned. A domesticated rabbit, shivering in the cold.
“After surviving for the past week in the cold temps, it is an absolute miracle that this domesticated rabbit is alive,” John wrote on Facebook.
Abandoned pets in freezing conditions are rare. John quickly realized the rabbit must have been dumped.
Unlike wild rabbits, this one didn’t bolt. It was alert but hesitant, unsure of John’s presence.
Catching a rabbit isn’t easy. But John was prepared.
He set up a large exercise pen and carefully lured the rabbit inside. Within moments, the rescue was complete.
John posted the video online, and people across the country flooded the comments.
“You’re amazing John!! Thank you for saving this poor dumped baby,” one wrote.
“I’m just in awe every time I watch you rescue an animal! Thank goodness they have you,” another added.
Now safe, the rabbit was transported to a shelter in Babylon, Long Island.
Warm and cared for, he’s on the path to recovery. But after days in the cold, he’ll need time to decompress.
The shelter’s goal? Find him a loving home with plenty of space to roam.
For now, John and the shelter staff are working on a name.
“Let’s give him a name while he waits for a home,” John posted.
Any ideas?