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Augusta County board debates zoning options for Bunny Lou rabbit rescue, grants owner six months to comply
Summary
The board heard from Mary Ellen White House, founder of Bunny Lou adoptions, about operating a regional rabbit rescue from a residence; supervisors discussed ordinance changes, special-use permits and enforcement, and voted to give White House six months to achieve compliance under existing code.
Mary Ellen White House, founder of Bunny Lou adoptions (Speaker 32), told the board she has run the rabbit rescue for more than two decades and that the organization provides spay/neuter and other care while rehoming animals. White House said Bunny Lou withdrew its appeal after the county indicated it would hold off enforcement while staff and the county attorney explored options.
Board members discussed three paths the county attorney identified: rezoning to a business classification, permitting an accessory use, or crafting an ordinance to allow private animal-shelter operations via a special-use permit. Supervisors and staff flagged issues that would need resolution for a special-use path, including how state definitions of animal categories would apply, whether a shelter could be simultaneously a dwelling, inspection requirements and animal-control capacity.
County staff and animal-control representatives said a residential operation that at times houses more than 50 animals raises enforcement and public-safety questions, including contingency planning if an operator could no longer care for the animals. "We need to make sure we don't open up... enforcement challenges," a staff member said, noting animal-control concerns about numbers and decommissioning plans.
Two competing motions moved on the floor: one to pursue ordinance language enabling a special-use permit route, and another to revert to the existing ordinances and move forward under current enforcement. After extensive discussion and public letters (staff said more than 200 messages were received supporting Bunny Lou), the board made a subsequent motion to allow White House a six-month period to come into compliance with the zoning ordinance while staff follows the existing enforcement and ordinance processes.
The board asked staff to explore clear definitions, inspection protocols and contingency plans (including possible bonding or decommissioning requirements) if the special-use option is pursued. The board also asked staff to consider animal-control capacity and protections for neighboring properties in any ordinance language.
The motion to provide a six-month compliance period was intended to avoid immediate enforcement actions that could create an emergency for animals while the county finalizes any pathway the board decides to adopt.
