Snickers, Sunny Hill’s newest and most popular four legged resident. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The newest resident at the Sunny Hill Care Center is named Snickers. A fluffy, long-eared little calico Japanese Harlequin pet rabbit that has come to live with all of those that call Sunny Hill home.

Mary Jo Chervany, the center’s activity director, had the wish to bring an animal into the fold for some time, and she had the idea that it shouldn’t be your usual animal. Chervany didn’t want anything as banal as your typical dog or cat, which is a staple in many facilities.

“I ran numerous different animals by our owners, for example, Miniature Cow, horse or goat. I was shot down on those because of city codes,” she said.

The family of one resident often visited bringing along kittens and bunnies as they did. Sunny Hill decided to reach out to the family and serendipitously they had one rabbit for sale, the fluffy product of a 4-H project.

“We decided we wanted it as soon as it was weaned from its momma,” Chervany said. “This way it would be used to us, the smells, noises, etc. She has been very happy here and adjusted perfectly.”

Snickers, a social butterfly, receives visits from residents constantly. The popular new inhabitant of Sunny Hill is said to mimic a cat in many ways and has already learned two words, her name and the word for her favorite treat, carrot. Out of all her toys Snickers’ favorite pastime is hopping through holes cut out of cardboard boxes. Food and water are accessible at all times to Snickers, who lives a life of luxury in a two-story condo with a fenced-in yard.

This litter trained new pal at Sunny Hill has been embraced not only by the residents but also by those who work at the center.

“A surprise we never thought of is the therapy she gives our staff as well,” Mary Jo said.

The love, affection, and adoration that everyone at Sunny Hill Care Center gives to Snickers, easily has her living in a wondrous tailored utopia that many would envy.