Readers might recall a furry fury that was stirred up this spring involving a dispute over Bunny Lu Adoptions Inc., a home-based non-profit rabbit rescue operation located in an Augusta County residentially zoned neighborhood just outside of Waynesboro.
The dispute over whether or not a rescue operation could operate on residentially owned property began with a neighbor’s complaint regarding a large pile of rabbit manure near the property line and escalated into a Feb. 12, 2025, letter from Augusta County Zoning Administrator Sandra Bunch to Mary Ellen Whitehouse regarding Bunny Lu Adoptions that Whitehouse operates out of her home on Aero Drive.
The letter stated that the rabbit rescue was in violation of two ordinances, one because of outside storage of rabbit waste and one for operating a “rescue and sales facility.”
Bunch’s letter gave Whitehouse two choices: 1. “Remove the rabbit waste from this site and cease the operation of rabbit sales and boarding within thirty (30) days” or 2. Appeal the decision to the Augusta County Board of Zoning Appeals.
Whitehouse chose the latter and, in April, she lost an appeal at the BZA. The matter, however, is far from over. Since the beginning of the controversy, public outcry from rabbit lovers and animal welfare groups across the state have rallied behind Whitehouse resulting in an online petition and a large number of passionate speakers at the BZA hearing.
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Bunny Lu’s plight also drew the attention of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, particularly Wayne District Supervisor Scott Seaton, who visited Whitehouse at her Aero Drive residence to observe Bunny Lu Adoptions for himself. Afterward he asked his fellow board members to explore options to remedy the situation, resulting in the supervisors unanimously asking staff to bring potential solutions back to them at a later date.
At that meeting, the supervisors were adamant that there would be no disciplinary action against Whitehouse and her bunnies while solutions are being explored, regardless of the BZA decision.
Until they have those potential solutions in front of them, “There will be no action taken against the situation,” said Chairman Gerald Garber.
The Board of Supervisors request to halt any disciplinary action until potential solutions through ordinance changes could be brought to the board preceded the BZA hearing. That means that, despite the negative ruling by the BZA, Bunny Lu could continue to operate for the time being until the Board of Supervisors heard and voted on any proposed ordinance revisions that would provide relief to Whitehouse and her rabbit rescue operation.
Since April, Augusta County Community Development staff has been working with the County Attorney to develop multiple ordinance options, which will be presented to the Board of Supervisors this summer, perhaps before the end of July, according to Doug Wolfe, Director of Community Development.
Any ordinance changes that would allow Whitehouse to continue to operate her rabbit rescue out of her home would have to be advertised and undergo public hearings before both the planning commission and the board of supervisors with the supervisors having the final vote on whether or not Bunny Lu has a future life on Aero Drive.
In the meantime, Seaton has said that he is optimistic that a positive outcome will result from the ordinance work being done. Whitehouse also remains optimistic. She long ago removed the rabbit manure compost from her yard that sparked the original debate. The work of rescuing rabbits from perilous situations and finding them safe, “furever” homes remains paramount, and she looks forward to some closure on the situation sometime later this summer.
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