Man Saves Stranded Bunny And The Two Document Their Friendship Through Heartwarming Photos
Sean Harrison never saw himself as an animal person—until a surprising turn of events brought a rabbit into his life. Though his first experience with pet ownership was short-lived, destiny had other ideas, offering him a second chance at connection in an unexpected way.
Today, Sean and his rescue bunny share their story with tens of thousands of Instagram followers. What began as hesitation has blossomed into a powerful and lasting bond. Discover their touching journey here.
A Loss, And A Gain
On September 21st, 2017, King Nutsy—fondly called the "little king"—passed away, leaving a profound emptiness in Sean Harrison's heart and home. For years, Sean had shared the special moments of life with his grey rabbit on the Instagram account Man and Bunny, delighting followers with Nutsy’s distinct personality.
News of Nutsy’s passing sparked an outpouring of love from hundreds of fans, many sending gifts and touching memorial artwork. Though Sean hadn’t yet decided whether to adopt another rabbit, just one month later, an unexpected new companion arrived, bringing fresh hope and affection into his life.
The Truth Behind The Scenes
Though Sean frequently posted about his rabbit on Instagram, he never truly saw himself as an animal lover. "I've never really been much of a pet person," he later admitted. “I always wondered, 'Do they really mean that much?’ I mean, it’s just an animal.”
In 2016, Sean’s girlfriend asked him to care for Nutsy for a couple of weeks at their home in Reading. At first, Sean was reluctant. “But I thought, it’s only a couple of weeks,” he told The Dodo later.
A Love He Never Anticipated
As the weeks passed, Sean grew increasingly attached to Nutsy. "I was surprised by how strong our bond became," he said. “I didn't see it coming—I’d never owned a rabbit or anything like that before.” What began as a brief fostering arrangement ended up changing Sean’s life completely.
His friends were stunned by the change, witnessing him shift from someone indifferent to pets into a devoted rabbit fan in just a few weeks. “I’m losing my street cred!” he joked. Ultimately, Sean kept Nutsy for almost a year.
Starting Up On Instagram
On November 2nd, 2016, Sean posted a photo of Nutsy on Instagram under the handle @manandbunny. The picture captured Nutsy enjoying a leash walk, accompanied by a playful caption written from the rabbit's point of view: "Off for a walk with my pops."
Throughout the year, Sean continued sharing Nutsy’s daily escapades—whether lounging on the bed or munching on Rice Krispies together. These charming moments quickly drew in more followers, growing from just a few to hundreds, and eventually thousands.
Terrible News Hits
In September 2017, Sean was hit with heartbreaking news. Nutsy had become unusually lethargic—a serious warning sign for rabbits. "I took him straight to the vet," Sean recalled. “He just wasn't himself; he barely moved.”
Unlike many pets, rabbits don’t easily reveal when they’re unwell. Usually, a drop in energy and appetite are the main clues. When Sean noticed these signs in Nutsy, he knew time was critical. He hurried the little rabbit to the vet, making sure he received urgent care as quickly as possible.
A Pet Gone Too Soon
Although Sean did everything he could, nobody was prepared for Nutsy's sudden deterioration. A few hours after the rabbit arrived at the vet, he passed away. The vets said that Nutsy likely had an underlying heart condition or cancer, and it silently crept up on him.
Nutsy's unexpected death took a toll on Sean. "It was horrible," he later told The Dodo. "I never really thought I'd be that worried for an animal. It was really sad."
Trying To See The Bright Side
Although he had lost his first pet, Sean tried to look at the bright side. "I was like, 'Do you know what? I can get my lounge back. I can have my carpet free from having holes in it.'" But his optimism didn't last for more than a few weeks.
During these weeks, Sean posted memorial photos to Instagram. His friends didn't think that he was ready for another pet, and Sean agreed. However, the feeling of emptiness eventually prompted him to look again.
Would He Adopt Again?
Although Sean wasn't expecting to adopt another pet anytime soon, his loss drove him to see other rabbits. "I thought, 'I'll just have a little look, [and] see if there's any other little rascals available,'" he told The Dodo.
Sean went through a foster system to find other rabbits up for adoption. He found one baby rabbit put up for adoption in a nursing home. When Sean visited, he didn't expect to see such a sad animal.
An Abandoned Bunny
Sean visited a six-month-old bunny. At the time, the rabbit's foster parents decided that they didn't want him in the house anymore. One parent took the bunny to the nursing home where she worked. There, they kept the rabbit in a shed out back.
The foster parents had entirely neglected their rabbit. "They just wanted to get rid of him basically," Sean later said. He felt terrible for this animal who was living in a dangerous situation.
...A Life-Threatening Situation
Although the foster parents probably didn't know it, the rabbit was in a life-threatening situation. Depending on the conditions, it's dangerous to keep rabbits outside, especially during the colder months. In England, the temperature would be close to freezing in October.
Rabbits can't regulate their body temperature as other animals do. When Sean saw him, the bunny was wet and scared from a recent rain. "He was living alone in the cold and dark with almost zero human contact," Sean later said.
Giving The Bunny A New Life
Rabbits are social animals. The young bunny had little to no interaction in his small shed, which made him shy and depressed. Sean felt terrible when he saw the rabbit's living conditions.
"He came to me, [and] had a little sniff at my fingers," Sean later said. "I thought, 'I can't leave him there.' He looked too sad out there." Although nobody expected him to adopt another rabbit, something about this bunny tugged at Sean's heart.
A Second Bunny Entered His Life
Against all expectations, Sean adopted the six-month-old bunny. On October 27th, just over a month after Nutsy died, Sean posted about his new rabbit on Instagram. He named his new pet Chief Brody, after Chief Martin Brody from Sean's favorite movie, Jaws.
Sean's followers were ecstatic about him adopting another bunny; the post received over 5,000 likes. Although Sean had experience caring for Nutsy, he now had to care for an unsocialized and neglected rabbit. It wouldn't be easy.
Adjusting To The New Life
As with all rabbits, Chief Brody was a little nervous at first. Rabbits usually take a while to feel comfortable around people. Plus, Chief's previous experiences with humans hadn't been so loving.
In the meantime, Sean worked to make Chief's new home comfortable. He set out tunnels for Chief to run through and cardboard boxes for him to hide in. Within a few days, Chief was already flopping--when a rabbit falls over because they're so happy.
Sean's New Boss
According to Sean, it only took a few days for Chief to grow accustomed to the house. Despite being a baby, Chief immediately took over with his assertive personality. "There's only one boss in the house now, and it certainly isn't me," Sean later said.
Sean let Chief have free roam of the house, "when he's not being a rascal, that is." While Chief once had a tiny hutch outdoors, he could now run around Sean's entire home.
Exploring His New Home
Chief hadn't lived in a large home since he was locked in a shed. When he moved in with Sean, he took full advantage of the new space. "Chief likes exploring," Sean later said, "so if I leave the door open while I'm having a bath or shower, he'll pop in."
Meanwhile, Sean's Instagram showed Chief adjusting to his new home. He was sitting in the laundry basket, jumping into the pantry shelves, and watching Sean clean the dishes.
Showing His True Colors
As time passed, Chief began to display his unique personality. He also became more comfortable around Sean. "He likes TV programs," Sean later said. "He prefers sports, I think. 'Cause he sees the grass? I think that maybe that's it."
For an abandoned bunny who had a harsh past with humans, Chief adjusted to Sean surprisingly quickly. "Chief and I have been best pals ever since I rescued him," Sean said. "We love to share biscuits."
Changing His Mind About Animals
Before adopting two rabbits, Sean didn't consider them to be as unique or lovable as they are. "I just thought they were kind of just an animal that you have in the back garden," he admitted.
Although many people view rabbits as dull and less intelligent than dogs or cats, that couldn't be farther from the truth. "I genuinely didn't realize that they have little personalities," Sean recalled. "That shocked me." But both Nutsy and Chief had very distinct personalities.
A New Daily Routine With A Rabbit
Like every pet tends to do, Chief Brody entirely rescheduled Sean's daily routine. During an interview with Virtual Bunny Club, Sean said that Chief wakes him up every morning at 7:00 a.m. The rabbit throws his food bowl around to say, "I'm ready for breakfast!"
After work, Sean comes home to a bunny who's ready for more vegetables. The two lounge while Chief starts "sprinting and doing binkies and getting up to total mischief." Binkies are when rabbits leap into the air joyfully.
Sadly, Rabbits Are Often Abandoned
Rabbits are frequently adopted and abandoned, especially around Easter. People get one thinking that they'll be easy to care for. But when rabbits aren't the low-maintenance, cuddly pets they expect, they give them up--sometimes even abandoning them.
Sean once assumed that rabbits would be boring pets. "But then experiencing both of them coming to live with me, it's changed me," he later said. He is now the animal lover that he never thought he would be.
Changing His Outlook On Life
During an interview with Virtual Bunny Club, Sean said that Chief changed his outlook on life, despite being in his 30s. "It opened my mind up to why people form bonds and friendships with animals, which I never really had or understood before," he said.
Sean emphasizes that rabbits are brilliant, high-commitment animals, who need plenty of space and time to bond with their owners. "They build a bond with you if you spend the time with them, and it's extremely rewarding."
Chief Brody Today
Today, Chief Brody lives a happy, comfortable life with Sean. Almost three years after Chief was rescued, Chief has become an Instagram star. The account Man and Bunny has over 67,000 followers and 1,200 posts.
Sean's story has spread to news outlets, and videos about him have garnered over two million views. He encourages others to give rabbits a chance and adopt animals in need. Although Sean still misses Nutsy, he and Chief remain best of friends.
What To Do If You Find An Abandoned Rabbit
According to the Humane Society, rabbits are the third most popular pet in the US--and the third most abandoned. Many people don't expect rabbits to live for ten to 12 years or for their needs to be so extensive.
If you see an abandoned or neglected rabbit, call your local vet or humane society. Domestic rabbits should not be released into the wild or kept in guinea pig-sized cages. And never abandon a rabbit; there are plenty of organizations that will adopt them out for you.
