We believe in non-violence to all living beings, especially rabbits.
Our unique bunny-themed products spark joy and a portion of each sale supports animal rights organizations.
Shaping an unconventional “pet” project into an established organization.
The Brooklyn Bunny Webcam
(2005-2015)
During the first decade of mainstream Internet browsing and several years before the popularity of social media, the Brooklyn Bunny webcam was launched on August 28, 2005. Starting its broadcast from the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, the rabbit webcam was originally initiated by Kevin Dresser and Kate Johnson in March 2005. The couple discussed opening a rabbit petsitting service with two live webcams so owners could check in on their rabbit via the Internet. The petsitting business was discontinued when they became attached to their own Dwarf Hotot rabbit, which they decided to name Roebling, after John A. Roebling, the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Roebling, 2013
Unlike other surveillance webcams, such as security or traffic cameras, Brooklyn Bunny encouraged interactivity between audience and broadcaster, which helped it garner a large group of daily visitors and surpass 1 million views during its programming. Operating as a live performance in the style of video art and reality TV, Dresser and Johnson would manually operate the webcams throughout the day to capture the activities of Roebling and their interactions with him. Viewers learned that watching regularly allowed them to share in special moments such as “Oaty Time” and “Lettuce Time,” when they could help feed Roebling. Presenting a picture book to Roebling was called “Story Time,” and nestling with Roebling was coined “Snuggle Time.” Other events included sessions of petting, massaging and brushing Roebling.
Kate, Roebling, and Kevin in Shikoku Shimbun Newspaper, 2008
"Story Time" on the webcam, 2012
Theo van Chewsburg, 2016
Products, Archives and Philanthropy
The Brooklyn Bunny webcam operated until September 15, 2015, three days before Roebling’s passing at 11 years old. Devastated by the loss of their bunny webcam star, founders Kevin Dresser and Kate Johnson decided to take some time to ponder the future of the website. The decision was made to continue the legacy with a redesigned website that includes extensive archives of the webcam’s visual history and introduces both new and vintage Brooklyn Bunny products.
During the website’s redesign process, Brooklyn Bunny was contacted by The Weather Channel with the request to stream the webcam on their Facebook page for Easter Sunday. On April 16, 2017, Brooklyn Bunny aired live with new bunny Theo van Chewsburg. The broadcast was 30 minutes and received 126,000 live viewers. On July 15, 2017, the Crazimals’ Facebook page streamed the Brooklyn Bunny webcam for 15 minutes and received 61,000 live viewers.
Brooklyn Bunny will continue to use its webcam as a platform for rabbit education, animal rights awareness, and a store where a portion of the product sales are donated to animal welfare organizations.
