Paul Ferris was weeding the vegetable garden in his family’s backyard when he saw several baby bunnies running for cover. The tiny little creatures, no bigger than hamsters, appeared to be abandoned.
“My stepmom said we could keep them and raise them,” said Paul, 10, a fifth-grade student at Nolan Elementary on Signal Mountain. “We’re already feeding them. They love lettuce and carrots.”
It’s not unusual for the Ferris family to welcome another creature into their home. They already have two frogs, two rats, three hermit crabs, two birds, two fish tanks and a bulldog sharing their living space.
“The rabbit will stay in a cage, but I will bring it out every day,” Paul said.
Paul’s stepmother said the family has raised rabbits before, so they know the drill for taking care of the animals.
“I would like to see them reintroduced to the wild when they’re grown,” she said, “but we’ll see what happens.”