BOSTON -- A local woman became a hero to a rabbit recently after spotting an out-of-place floppy-eared bunny near her office.

"I saw a white floppy-eared rabbit from the second floor as I was leaving my office," Kerry Quintiliani said. “I thought to myself that this rabbit really doesn’t belong here.”

Quintiliani went home and came back with her sister to try to catch the rabbit. But when it proved too quick, they looked for help online and found The House Rabbit Network.

“The next day, five volunteers from the House Rabbit Network came fully-equipped,” said Quintiliani. “They are experts. They knew exactly what they are doing and what evidences they are looking for to find the rabbits.”

The team spent five hours searching for the rabbit in the swamp and woods. Although they did not find the white rabbit, they did find and rescue a brown floppy-eared rabbit trapped in an air vent.

“I feel really good to be able to help rescue that bunny, even though we didn’t find the white one I first saw. But if we didn’t find this brown one, he would be starve to death in that vent,” said Quintiliani. “But I think the credit should go to the House Rabbit Network. They are so tremendous.”

The 8-year-old HRN is a nonprofit organization working to rescue homeless rabbits and find them homes in the New England area.

“There’s a serious need of a rabbit shelter. People know about shelters for dogs and cats, but not for rabbits,” said Suzanne Trayhan of HRN.

The organization also works to educate people about the rabbits and their care.

“Many people bought the rabbits without any knowledge about the proper care for them,” said Trayhan. “Some even think they can dump the rabbits in the wild when they don’t want them anymore and they will survive. They won’t.”

HRN rescues about 10 to 15 stray rabbits each year. After they are rescued, the rabbits are given a checkup to make sure they are healthy.

“If they are injured, we would take them straight to the emergency room. If they are all right, we would still set up the time for a general checkup for them anyway,” said Trayhan.

The network also provides litter box training and some socializing for the rabbits. When the rabbits are ready, the network tries to find homes for them.

“It takes an average of four to six months to find a home for a rabbit,” said Trayhan. “It’s more difficult than finding home for dogs or cats.”

HRN is run entirely by volunteers and on donations.

“We have 60 volunteers at House Rabbit Network working as foster moms and dads, working on our Web site and our hot line,” said Trayhan. “Those working as foster moms or dads have to know about the care for the rabbits.”

Quintiliani said she was very impressed with HRN’s volunteers and the work that they do. She said it’s rewarding to see the brown rabbit, which was later named Joey, rescued safely. She said after her rabbit rescue experience, she wants to educate people that dumping unwanted pets in the wild is illegal, and groups like HRN are there to help.

“I don’t even know this organization existed until I found a lost bunny myself. They are amazing,” said Quintiliani. “They just came in and made sure that the bunny is safe. And they would do it again if anyone called in and said they found a lost bunny. You just don’t know until you need an organization like that.”

Joey is still looking for a new home. There are many female bunnies and male bunnies that are up for adoption.

Click here to learn more about the care for rabbits and rabbit adoption.