When Sharlene ‘Charlie’ Simon’s daughter Savannah died in a car accident in November, 2020, she felt lost.
Determined to find a positive among the heartache, Charlie turned to her pet rabbits for comfort. The furry family members were beloved by Savannah and so Charlie decided to start foster rabbits in need of love and a home.
She welcomed her first foster rabbit Choo Choo in January, 2021.
“They gave me love, comfort and company at a time when I needed it the most,” she said.
“It is funny because most people don’t know what to say or how to act towards me, they can’t imagine my pain so its easier to avoid being around me.”
“[Fostering] not only saves the lives of these wonderful creatures, it has also saved me at a time when I needed help but didn’t know what it was that could possibly give me that lifeline I needed.”
The Bundoora resident’s dedication to helping rabbits in need earned her the Ivory Coat Foster Care Story at this year’s Pet Insurance Australia Companion Animal Rescue Awards.
The awards celebrate and recognise achievements in rescue, sheltering, rehabilitation and rehoming of companion animals across Australia.
Charlie said she hoped the award would help encourage others to look for the positives in life.
“Rabbits are just so special … if I had endless amounts of money, I would buy a farm for families that have lost children to have a retreat to go to to heal, with lots and lots of rabbits around,” she said.
“I want people to know giving back is such a rewarding thing to do, especially for animals who don’t have a voice.”
