The Story of Black Phoenix and Her Devoted Dad
For quite some time, every weekend during the open visiting hours of the Taipei Rabbit House, one could see a gentleman standing in front of Black Phoenix's enclosure, staying there for an entire afternoon. That man was Black Phoenix's dad.
The bond between Phoenix's dad and Black Phoenix began with his previous rabbit, Lele. Because Black Phoenix resembled Lele, who had passed away many years ago, Phoenix's dad found himself drawn to her.
Black Phoenix's Difficult Start
When Black Phoenix first arrived at the association, she was completely covered with severe mange and was paralyzed in her lower body. Her nails had grown long and twisted like a witch's fingers. Thanks to the care of the volunteers, her condition improved greatly, but her paralysis could not be reversed. Because of it, the volunteers had to manually express her bladder twice a day and wash her bottom regularly to prevent infections.
Even with medical care, her paralysis made her prone to urinary tract infections and required constant attention. Phoenix's dad, seeing her in that state, thought deeply about adopting her. He even told the volunteers that if he got the chance to bring her home, his next apartment would be chosen based on whether the environment suited Black Phoenix's needs.
Training for Specialized Care
However, caring for a paralyzed rabbit requires experience, and Phoenix's dad had never cared for one before. The volunteers were honest—he wasn't ready yet. But they encouraged him: if he truly wanted to adopt her, they would teach him everything until he could care for her independently.
From that moment, Phoenix's dad began what they called "bootcamp training." While looking for a new home, he also started learning to care for Black Phoenix. Since his previous rabbit had passed away years earlier, his handling skills were a bit rusty, so the volunteers first had him practice how to safely hold and support rabbits using healthy ones before working with Phoenix.
After a few afternoons of practice, he mastered the baby-hold and the proper restraint technique. Only then did he move on to learning how to express urine and wash Phoenix's bottom.
Mastering the Daily Routine
Black Phoenix needed her bladder expressed twice a day. If it wasn't done thoroughly, it could cause urinary or kidney disease. So Phoenix's dad practiced again and again, visiting the shelter after work on weekdays and every weekend, timing his visits to match her care schedule.
At the same time, he trained to wash and dry Black Phoenix's bottom — an essential part of caring for paralyzed rabbits, since waste easily sticks to their fur. Because Phoenix sometimes leaked urine, her skin had to be kept clean to prevent burns or infections. This task was tricky because she disliked being washed and would struggle, risking further spinal injury if not properly restrained. That's why learning safe handling came first.
Learning with Dedication
Gradually, with each session, Phoenix's dad improved. At first, volunteers demonstrated and assisted, but step by step, he took over. In time, he could safely wash and dry her all by himself. Throughout two months of intensive "bootcamp," he never complained or showed impatience. Instead, he expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to learn.
The volunteers, in turn, gained confidence that he could care for Black Phoenix safely and lovingly. Once he could handle everything on his own — from bladder expression to hygiene — he finally completed the adoption interview and paperwork.
A New Beginning
At last, Black Phoenix could leave the shelter and go home with her dad, becoming the beloved little princess of her new household. The volunteers of the Taipei Rabbit House rejoiced, wishing Black Phoenix and her loving dad a happy, peaceful life together.
Congratulations to Black Phoenix for finding her forever home!
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