Katie Elliott, Ph.D. - Founder & Director
Katie grew up amongst animals; her parents taught her early on the importance of respecting every living thing, including animals - and the mental benefits of owning and caring for them, as well as the importance of selfless acts of service.
Katie graduated from Clemson University with her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences after dedicating almost ten years of her life to higher learning in the field; she currently works full time for Clemson's Department of Bioengineering as a Research Associate. Much of her Ph.D. research, and volunteer work, shaped her passion for rescue and fine tuned her skills & expertise in animal handling and care. She took pleasure in helping local wildlife rescues in her spare time, including Wild at Heart, Izzie’s Pond, and PAWS Animal Wildlife Sanctuary. Gradually, through both owning her own rabbits and helping others with theirs, she became the person you’d call if you had any rabbit-related question, no matter how crazy.
She fell into a small niche of upstate South Carolina where there was a desperate need for someone dedicated to DOMESTIC rabbit rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption - and thanks to an amazing support system of incredible people she built relationships with over the years, including local rescues, Dr. Tope at Electric City Animal Clinic (truly an amazing exotic animal vet and human being), talented photographers, family, and friends, Bunny Brigade SC was built!
Katie graduated from Clemson University with her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences after dedicating almost ten years of her life to higher learning in the field; she currently works full time for Clemson's Department of Bioengineering as a Research Associate. Much of her Ph.D. research, and volunteer work, shaped her passion for rescue and fine tuned her skills & expertise in animal handling and care. She took pleasure in helping local wildlife rescues in her spare time, including Wild at Heart, Izzie’s Pond, and PAWS Animal Wildlife Sanctuary. Gradually, through both owning her own rabbits and helping others with theirs, she became the person you’d call if you had any rabbit-related question, no matter how crazy.
She fell into a small niche of upstate South Carolina where there was a desperate need for someone dedicated to DOMESTIC rabbit rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption - and thanks to an amazing support system of incredible people she built relationships with over the years, including local rescues, Dr. Tope at Electric City Animal Clinic (truly an amazing exotic animal vet and human being), talented photographers, family, and friends, Bunny Brigade SC was built!
Angel Durham - Founder of Izzie's Pond
Angel Durham is the founder and director of Izzie's Pond Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, as well as a valuable BBSC board member.
Izzie’s Pond, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, provides rescue, rehabilitation and refuge for injured or orphaned waterfowl, wildlife, and farm animals. Through community outreach, they raise public awareness and appreciation for animals by educating children and adults to coexist with wildlife and to take their share of responsibility for a thriving ecosystem.
Annually, Angel & Izzie's Pond take in between 800-1,000 animals a year. Angel's passion is rehab of wild Rabies Vector Species, taking in about 250 racoons per year!
Angel and Izzie's Pond always wanted to dedicate more time to domestic rabbit adoptions, and now they can with their partnership with BBSC.
Izzie’s Pond, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, provides rescue, rehabilitation and refuge for injured or orphaned waterfowl, wildlife, and farm animals. Through community outreach, they raise public awareness and appreciation for animals by educating children and adults to coexist with wildlife and to take their share of responsibility for a thriving ecosystem.
Annually, Angel & Izzie's Pond take in between 800-1,000 animals a year. Angel's passion is rehab of wild Rabies Vector Species, taking in about 250 racoons per year!
Angel and Izzie's Pond always wanted to dedicate more time to domestic rabbit adoptions, and now they can with their partnership with BBSC.
Mercedes 'Mac' Curry - Founder of PAWS Animal Wildlife Sanctuary
Paws Animal Wildlife Sanctuary was founded by Mercedes ‘MAC’ Curry, who has 35 years of experience with North American wildlife. She holds all state and federal permits to be able to rehabilitate all species plus 2 additional federal permits enabling her to provide live non-releasable wildlife in both private and public educational programs.
MAC works cooperatively with other licensed rehabilitators, local and state level SC DNR, Animal Control, Humane Societies, and others in order to help with wildlife and other animals as needed.
MAC also has a soft spot in her heart for domestic rabbits and is a valuable mentor and member of the BBSC board.
MAC works cooperatively with other licensed rehabilitators, local and state level SC DNR, Animal Control, Humane Societies, and others in order to help with wildlife and other animals as needed.
MAC also has a soft spot in her heart for domestic rabbits and is a valuable mentor and member of the BBSC board.
Izzie's Pond Animal Rescue and Sanctuary - Our Home Base
Izzie's Pond Animal Rescue and Sanctuary is BBSC's sister organization. Their support has helped in the growth of BBSC and the BBSC board is comprised of members from Izzie's Pond as well as PAWS Animal Wildlife Sanctuary. In the future, BBSC hopes to build a standalone facility on Izzie's Pond's land.
Robert Tope, DVM - Electric City Animal Clinic
BBSC is lucky to have an incredible rabbit veterinarian on the team!
Dr. Tope, owner of Electric City Animal Clinic in Anderson, SC is a certified canine rehabilitation therapist and has accelerated education in orthopedic surgery, exotics and ophthalmology. Dr. Tope enjoys making a positive impact in pet’s lives and the lives of their people - and he takes wonderful care of our bunnies, providing them with spay, neuter, and treatment as needed.
Dr. Tope, owner of Electric City Animal Clinic in Anderson, SC is a certified canine rehabilitation therapist and has accelerated education in orthopedic surgery, exotics and ophthalmology. Dr. Tope enjoys making a positive impact in pet’s lives and the lives of their people - and he takes wonderful care of our bunnies, providing them with spay, neuter, and treatment as needed.
Emma Nance - Motivator; Founder and Leader of #EmmasFund
Sweet four year old Emma Nance lost her bunny, Tink, January of 2021. It has been a month of loss and heartache for lots of the world for so many reasons. Emma earned $3.00 after bunny cleaning duty for her remaining baby, Peter. In honor of Tink, she asked her mom if she could donate $1.25 to BBSC. Five quarters. To an adult, that may seem small. But that's almost HALF of Emma's earnings. She started an incredible movement - one that we will never forget. Over the next 48 hours, our amazing community was inspired by the generosity and selflessness of this young woman, and came together to raise just under $1,500 in honor of Emma - calling it #EmmasFund and #EmmasBrigade.
The selflessness and generosity of one little girl has reached every corner of the United States. We are honored to have Emma on our team - the world needs more Emmas!
The selflessness and generosity of one little girl has reached every corner of the United States. We are honored to have Emma on our team - the world needs more Emmas!
Avery Millo - Executive Admin & Pre-Veterinary Specialist
Avery studies at Clemson University majoring in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Avery started volunteering with BBSC in January 2020 and recently adopted Mickey, one of BBSC's lion-head bunnies after falling in love with him only two days after he was brought to BBSC. In addition to her love of bunnies, Avery has been riding horses since middle school and is now a competing member of Clemson's IHSA Hunt Seat Equestrian Team. When she is home from school, she works as a veterinary technician's assistant at a small animal clinic in Rock Hill, South Carolina and she has loved learning more about small animal medicine and surgery. After graduation, she hopes to attend veterinary school to become a small animal veterinarian. Avery loves working with BBSC because she loves being involved in the transformations that the rescued bunnies go through and watching them get adopted to loving homes is such a rewarding process. Her favorite part of volunteering with BBSC is working with and socializing the bunnies that have been neglected or abused and teaching them to trust humans again. We are lucky to have such an experienced and compassionate animal caretaker on our team!
Diana Pilgrim - Outreach
On an average day you can find Diana working for her parents' local business, caring for her fur babies, creating jewelry and art, and practicing yoga! In the near future, she's working on her Yoga Advanced Teacher Certification (Bunny Yoga!)
Diana adopted both Sparrow and Hermione from us, and has generously donated so much of her time to our mission, that we decided to officially add her as an outreach coordinator! We will also be partnering with her to use her gorgeous art and bunny creations for our cause. Diana says, "BBSC is more not only an organization, but a family forever!"
And - we agree! You'll be seeing more of Diana and we are lucky to have her on our team!
Diana adopted both Sparrow and Hermione from us, and has generously donated so much of her time to our mission, that we decided to officially add her as an outreach coordinator! We will also be partnering with her to use her gorgeous art and bunny creations for our cause. Diana says, "BBSC is more not only an organization, but a family forever!"
And - we agree! You'll be seeing more of Diana and we are lucky to have her on our team!
Elyse Riley - Outreach
Elyse is a producer and on air talent with Magic 98.9 - You can listen to her on the air Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-2pm! With the station, she wanted to search out a rescue to help often overlooked animals find their forever homes and we are lucky that she found Bunny Brigade SC! She is a valuable member of our team and is passionate about educating others on rabbit care, helping homeless buns find their forever families, and aiding in the rehab and release of wild bunnies.
Traci DeVall - Rabbit Caretaker & Founding Member
Traci is a Furman University alumnus and a lifelong animal lover. Traci says that volunteering with BBSC has given her the opportunity to meet like-minded people, to cuddle with adorable rabbits, and to help guarantee every bunny a chance at a new and awesome life!
Karen Bonno - Rabbit Caretaker & Founding Member
Karen Bonno grew up in Lexington, South Carolina and has lived in Chapin, South Carolina for the last 20 years. She has been involved with animals for most of her life. After earning a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, she opened a pet sitting business in the town of Chapin which is still in operation. She was able to care for and learn about many different animals and people through this business.
At the same time she moved to 11 acres in the Chapin area where she kept horses and now goats, a llama, and 2 pigs (all rescues!) as well as her indoor family of 2 dogs, two parrots and, of course, her Bunny Brigade foster failure Emile!
She currently works from home as a medical transcriptionist. A few years back she became involved with wildlife rehabilitation through Carolina Wildlife Center in the Midlands and now PAWS. She has helped with rehabilitating squirrels, opossums, and cottontails. Bunnies have always been one of her favorites and she is enjoying learning about their behavior and needs from BBSC. Karen is also our wild cottontail rehabber in the Columbia area. She is a valuable member of the BBSC family!
At the same time she moved to 11 acres in the Chapin area where she kept horses and now goats, a llama, and 2 pigs (all rescues!) as well as her indoor family of 2 dogs, two parrots and, of course, her Bunny Brigade foster failure Emile!
She currently works from home as a medical transcriptionist. A few years back she became involved with wildlife rehabilitation through Carolina Wildlife Center in the Midlands and now PAWS. She has helped with rehabilitating squirrels, opossums, and cottontails. Bunnies have always been one of her favorites and she is enjoying learning about their behavior and needs from BBSC. Karen is also our wild cottontail rehabber in the Columbia area. She is a valuable member of the BBSC family!
Amanda Willoughby - Rabbit Caretaker & Founding Member
Amanda grew up with a strong love and respect for nature and animals. She loved finding creatures in her family's vegetable and flower gardens. Her past and current pets include cats, dogs, rabbits, crickets, a tarantula, and guinea pigs.
She is pictured here with her current rabbit Lucky. He is a silver fox rabbit that she found after he was dumped the week of Easter in 2017.
She found and immediately got behind Bunny Brigade SC because they not only rescue and adopt rabbits out, but continue to support rabbit parents everywhere.
She is pictured here with her current rabbit Lucky. He is a silver fox rabbit that she found after he was dumped the week of Easter in 2017.
She found and immediately got behind Bunny Brigade SC because they not only rescue and adopt rabbits out, but continue to support rabbit parents everywhere.
Melina - Rabbit Caretaker & Founding Member
