Jessica Rabbit

Tri-City Tales Issue No. 29

Like a lot of teenagers, Amaya Stephens wanted a new pet. Unlike a lot of teens, she settled on a bunny. Bunnies are soft, usually affectionate, and adorable beyond measure. Also—appealing to the younger crowd— all the Tik Tok bunny owner accounts.

A rabbit was not what Amaya’s mom, Melissa Valadez, had in mind. Still, she rolled with it. As Cedar Hill city manager, Melissa knew the folks at Tri-City Animal Shelter. She asked that they please let her know if anyone picked up a stray rabbit. A short time later, Jessica showed up. Jessica Rabbit.

In the months after Easter, shelters often take in a lot of rabbits. Parents who think real, live bunnies in Easter baskets are soooo cute later realize that the rabbit remains long after the holiday has passed. Rabbits need a lot of care— including special food—and they like to chew. And chew. And chew. 

Jessica had been left outside the animal shelter in a cardboard box on a sweltering summer day. Since the sound of barking dogs are stressful to rabbits (they are prey for canines, after all), shelter staff located a foster home for her. Since the foster parent couldn’t permanently keep her, shelter director Tammy Miller called Melissa.

Melissa and Amaya drove to the shelter that day just to have a look. Melissa thought: We’ll just foster her. Amaya thought: That’s my rabbit! That was four years ago. Jessica hasn’t left Amaya’s room since.

“She’s everything I wanted,” Amaya says. And more. Jessica needs a certain kind of hay, and a special diet of kale, carrots and rabbit pellets. She’s gnawed her way through baseboards and rugs -- and one memorable day -- an electrical cord. Still, Amaya loves her, scratching Jessica behind her extra-large ears, and laughing when she gets the zoomies: Running and jumping, performing back flips.

To be sure, bunnies, aside from the chocolate kind, aren’t for everyone. But when they do find just the right person, they can bring happiness in leaps and bounds.