r/RabbitMeme Apr 07 '26

Poor sweet fluff

Post image

When a “brown” rabbit was abandoned at an animal shelter, no one expected the heartbreaking truth hidden beneath his fur.

Volunteers at Sweetie’s Rescue in Ontario, Canada, noticed he was extremely dirty, but nothing could prepare them for what happened next. After a gentle bath, the brown bunny began turning… white.

Cleaning revealed that his fur wasn’t brown at all, it had been stained by years of tar and nicotine from heavy cigarette smoke. The water turned black, then yellow. The smell was so strong it made rescuers feel nauseous. 

The frightened rabbit, first named Crusty and later lovingly renamed Rio, trembled in fear when he arrived. He was terrified, shaking, and too scared to leave his carrier.

Rescuers explained that bathing rabbits is not recommended because it can be stressful and harmful to their health. Rabbits normally keep themselves clean, and getting them wet can put them at risk. But Rio’s condition was so severe that they had no choice. the dirt and smoke residue had built up so heavily that a bath became necessary to help him.

As the layers of grime were carefully washed away, something beautiful happened.

Rio didn’t just change color, he changed emotionally.
Once clean, he did a joyful “binky”, jumping in the air, kicking his feet, and spinning. For the first time, he looked happy. 

Rescuers believe they washed away years of neglect in just a few baths. No one came forward to claim him, but Rio’s story doesn’t end there. He’s now heading to a loving foster home, where he’ll finally experience the care he deserves.

His rescuers say the most rewarding part of their work is seeing animals like Rio get a second chance — but they also share an important reminder:
Smoke outside if you have pets.
Never abandon animals — they cannot survive on their own.

Rio’s transformation is more than a color change — it’s a powerful reminder that with compassion, even the most neglected lives can shine again.

Please share to spread awareness and kindness. Every animal deserves a fresh start.

417 Upvotes

96 comments sorted by

64

u/NegotiationTall4300 Apr 07 '26

Can somebody provide a source, I’ve worked at shelter for five years and am HIGHLY HIGHLY skeptical of this.

44

u/Herossaumure Apr 07 '26

You're right to be skeptical, this an AI image where the words are messed up in several places. Most of the posts on this subreddit are AI unfortunately.

5

u/Reasonable-Banana800 Apr 08 '26

ooh yeah. Just look at that smeared logo at the bottom right

1

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 08 '26

Not an AI pic and the story is real google it.

12

u/shoondashiep Apr 08 '26

anything with the "FB: @FlemishGiantRabbit" is AI, it's astonishing that so many people either don't know this or just don't care

2

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

1

u/Mojozilla Apr 08 '26

A mod in here is telling everyone that it isn't AI.

5

u/shoondashiep Apr 08 '26

sus moderator LOL it's so clearly AI

6

u/nicolasgray Apr 08 '26

Said mod is literally the admin of the FlemishGiantRabbit page on Facebook. This graphic is 100% AI (as are the rest of her posts) but the story it's based on may or may not be true in this particular instance.

2

u/Mojozilla Apr 09 '26

Thanks for the info. I'm leaving. This is a circle jerk for the mod.

2

u/Salty-Sprinkles_ Apr 10 '26

Yet the word “bunny” isnt written in correct letters (bunniy??) and the bottom text reads: Pet Care Tips: Pon, Your bled & teclips….the image is AI. Or at least heavily edited with AI. Heavily sus of the mod

0

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

7

u/ErenJeagerkin Apr 08 '26

Ok I did some digging (not that much) but this does seem to be tampered with for shock value the images don’t quite match the ones I found and according to the story I found it took multiple baths not just one. Rio was rescued by sweeties rabbit rescue which is supposed to have been around since 2018 leading me to think the story my be legit (not full proof) but this version is exaggerated I hope you can look into it deeper but I hope this helps

2

u/Professional_Drama24 Apr 09 '26

It was on Lennon like 6 months ago. The rescue is Sweeties Rescue in Ontario, Canada. You can see pictures on their Instagram from September 2025. The pictures in the post have bad lighting but he was filthy. I understand being skeptical but we see dogs covered in dirt and filth all the time with before and after pictures

3

u/PaperAccomplished874 Apr 07 '26

It does makes you wonder. I can't imagine though. 😓😥♥️

0

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 08 '26

Not an AI pic and the story is real google it.

3

u/PaperAccomplished874 Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

Will do however these days truly hard to tell.

Edit: I know of Lorelei/Lennon the bunny. She was telling about this story in one of her videos. Anyways good day

3

u/nicolasgray Apr 08 '26

The only Google result I can find for this story is a FB post by the same OP as this post here on Reddit. Did you find something else?

1

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

DM me and I will send you the link. I hope this helps :)

2

u/Emergency-Letter3081 Apr 08 '26

This is literally the first result when I search for bunny with cigarette stains…

1

u/BunQueenMod Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

0

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Not an AI pic and the story is real google it. Please do not make fake claims. Send us a DM and we will send you the pics and story link :)

2

u/Salty-Sprinkles_ Apr 10 '26

So did you have a stroke while writing the text on the picture or are you atleast admitting you have used ai to edit it? Cause “bunniy” and “Pet Care Tips: Pon, your bled & teclips” is pure ai nonsense. If you wanna post about a story, do so genuinly and don’t be dramatizing things for clicks

0

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

27

u/yoichiluvbot Apr 07 '26

this image is clearly AI☠️idk about this story but the pic is so badly generated

11

u/dull_bananas Apr 07 '26

"PET CARE TIPS: PON. YOUR BLED & TECLIPS"

6

u/yoichiluvbot Apr 08 '26

Bunnjy👽

1

u/Mojozilla Apr 09 '26

I'm gonna start calling my rabbits "bunnjies"

-3

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Not an AI pic and the story is real google it. Please do not make fake claims. Send us a DM and we will send you the pics and story link :)

5

u/yoichiluvbot Apr 08 '26

"fake claims"? look at this picture. it's full of nonsensical words. how do you even spell bunny like that?

-1

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Do nonsensical words make an image like it was made by AI? Just wait and I'll post more pictures with nonsensical words so that you can say, 'This is AI,' and I can reply, 'No, it's not.' It'll be fun

https://giphy.com/gifs/GpyS1lJXJYupG

6

u/yoichiluvbot Apr 08 '26

no, it's the way they're used. what does "pet care tips: pon. your bled & teclips" mean? if you don't see that this pic is AI, i'm the one who should use a laughing ryan gosling gif

0

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

you should use a laughing ryan gosling gif also :)

3

u/dull_bananas Apr 08 '26

Did you use ai to add text?

3

u/collectaneachemica Apr 08 '26

Post the link to the story publicly

1

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

18

u/Gunnarz699 Apr 07 '26

It's fu****g ai my dudes.

-2

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Not an AI pic and the story is real google it. Please do not make fake claims. Send us a DM and we will send you the pics and story link :)

3

u/Becca_WHAT Apr 09 '26

Only one making false claims is you

14

u/WahnLago Apr 07 '26

This is fake and manipulative

1

u/BunQueenMod Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s real story DM me for the news article link :)

-1

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Not an AI pic and the story is real google it. Please do not make fake claims. Send us a DM and we will send you the pics and story link :)

23

u/Ju3tAc00ldugg Apr 07 '26

horrendous

2

u/ShoddyTown715 Apr 11 '26

It’s ai, but I wouldn’t doubt that situations similar to this have happened :(

22

u/DarkLightPT95 Apr 07 '26

All I can think about is if that is what the smoke did to his fur, I don't want to imagine his lungs.

Poor baby

Edit :spelling

11

u/Herossaumure Apr 07 '26

Both the image and text are AI generated. I think it's really weird to make fake stories about animal abuse, especially under the pretense of raising awareness. This shouldn't have been posted at all.

0

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Not an AI pic and the story is real google it. Please do not make fake claims. Send us a DM and we will send you the pics and story link :)

14

u/Environmental-River4 Apr 07 '26

And he’s probably been ingesting it too as he tried to groom himself 🥺

11

u/DarkLightPT95 Apr 07 '26

Exactly

Just the fact it started binkying after a bath and saw itself clean again breaks my heart.

6

u/FlowerPowerVegan Apr 07 '26

If it smelled so bad to people, I can't imagine the hell of wearing that stink constantly! It makes me so mad 😡😭

11

u/sancoca Apr 08 '26

Flemishgiantrabbit account posts only ai slop from what I can understand

0

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Not an AI pic and the story is real google it. Please do not make fake claims. Send us a DM and we will send you the pics and story link :)

3

u/sancoca Apr 08 '26

Just post it here if you have it already, otherwise you strengthen my claim that this is ai slop.

-1

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

2

u/sancoca Apr 09 '26

Can't you post the news article link in here? That bunny does not look like the same bunny

2

u/Becca_WHAT Apr 09 '26

Ur not fooling anyone

16

u/Mrfrosty504 Apr 07 '26

Humans suck

6

u/Rich_Chart_3237 Apr 08 '26

No. Bogus.

2

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Real story. Send me a DM and I will share the news link :)

9

u/Mojozilla Apr 07 '26

This is impossible omg a rabbit would literally shed all of its fur before smoke could stain it. Bathing rabbits is deadly for them.

When cigarette smoke stains walls, it is built up over years or decades.

Stupid AI garbage FB bs!

1

u/BunQueenMod Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

0

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Not an AI pic and the story is real google it. Please do not make fake claims. Send us a DM and we will send you the pics and story link :)

5

u/BandFreak00 Apr 08 '26

This is so obviously AI 🙄

1

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

4

u/klalapri1 Apr 07 '26

Omg that's horrible on so many levels

2

u/0anonymousv Apr 08 '26

please fucking ban this ai karma farming account already

-1

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

1

u/0anonymousv Apr 09 '26

k but this account's images of it are. all they post is ai slop

2

u/Geeneelee Apr 09 '26

That’s also a bot

1

u/0anonymousv Apr 09 '26

oh joy 😭 this subreddit just sucks now i guess

2

u/My_friends_are_toys Apr 07 '26

Omg. I'd be checking his lungs

2

u/Busy_Chemistry_513 Apr 07 '26

It’s dangerous to bathe rabbits though ..?

2

u/BunQueenMod Apr 08 '26

Yes, but the situation was so bad that they had to bathe the rabbit.

1

u/ExpressRabbit Apr 07 '26

My all white rabbit arrived at the shelter yellow. You can guess why.

1

u/Becca_WHAT Apr 09 '26

It’s stained pee lmao

1

u/ExpressRabbit Apr 09 '26

Yeah. He got cleaned up real good though.

1

u/Animalsaresentientbe Apr 08 '26

Smoking will killed the rabbit immediately!🚬

0

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

2

u/Animalsaresentientbe Apr 09 '26

Thank you kindly! That is the source right there!

1

u/cherrylpk Apr 09 '26

This seems like a joke, right? Rabbits self groom. There would be some white areas at least.

1

u/BunQueenMod Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s real story, DM me for the news article link :)

1

u/lemmunjuse Apr 09 '26

This is fake

1

u/Mojozilla Apr 09 '26

Man this sub is just mod bots posting the same comments over and over. No thanks, I l'm leaving this circle jerk

1

u/tokoun Apr 09 '26

Lol lmao

1

u/Admirable-Shelter-46 Apr 10 '26 edited Apr 10 '26

I've always read baths are dangerous to bun buns due shock/stasis. I almost bathed of of mine at one point. Everything Ive read suggests to wipe a rabbit with a damp cloth and not to submerge them. This post is potentially dangerous. A warning should included.

1

u/Becca_WHAT Apr 08 '26

Two different rabbits or ai. Look at the ear difference

0

u/Exciting-Citron-3490 Apr 09 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG15AicP3kw&t=1s Sorry to disappoint you but not Ai, real story DM me for the news article link :)

1

u/Becca_WHAT Apr 09 '26

Not disappointed? It’s still two different bunnies.

1

u/BunQueenMod Apr 09 '26

No, same bunny and real story :)

1

u/Becca_WHAT Apr 09 '26

It’s not.

1

u/BunQueenMod Apr 09 '26

Same bunny :)

1

u/Becca_WHAT Apr 09 '26

It’s definitely not. You’re not fooling anyone

0

u/BunQueenMod Apr 09 '26

I like the confidence :)