After Anna Delvey’s Bunny Dumping—Make It Illegal to Abandon Domestic Pets

The Issue
When three domestic rabbits from Anna Delvey’s New York City photo shoot were found abandoned in Prospect Park, the case made national headlines. Volunteers worked for days to catch the rabbits before they starved, were attacked, or died from exposure. They were lucky — most abandoned animals aren’t.

This isn’t just about one celebrity. It’s about a widespread problem: every day across the United States, domestic animals — rabbits, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and more — are dumped in public spaces.

Abandonment is not “letting them go.” Domestic pets are not wild. They cannot find enough food, escape predators, or protect themselves from cars and harsh weather. Dumping them is a death sentence — and it is animal cruelty.

Yet in many states, abandonment laws are weak, inconsistent, or barely enforced. That must change.

We Demand

• Strong laws making it explicitly illegal to abandon domestic animals in public spaces, with real and enforceable consequences.
• Increased funding and resources for rescues and animal control to respond when abandoned animals are reported.
• Public awareness campaigns reminding people that pet ownership is a lifelong responsibility and offering safe alternatives for surrendering animals.

The three Prospect Park bunnies — Parker, Moon, and Joaquin — are now safe in foster care. But for every animal rescued, countless others suffer and die unnoticed. If this can happen in full view of the media with a celebrity involved, imagine how many cases go unseen.

It’s time for lawmakers to act. No animal — whether linked to a socialite or a struggling family — should be left to die in a park.