When three domestic rabbits from Anna Delvey’s New York City photo shoot were found abandoned in Prospect Park, the story made headlines. Volunteers spent days tracking them down, catching them before they starved, were attacked, or died from exposure. They were lucky. Most abandoned animals aren’t.

Anna Delvey may be a notorious figure, but this isn’t just about her. It’s about a bigger, ongoing problem: every day across the U.S., domestic animals — rabbits, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and more — are dumped in public spaces.

Domestic pets aren’t equipped to survive outside. They aren’t wild. They can’t find enough food, avoid predators, or protect themselves from traffic and harsh weather. Abandonment is not “letting them go” — it’s animal cruelty.

Right now, in many places, abandoning a pet is barely treated as a crime, if it’s enforced at all. That needs to change. The Delvey case proves that even when the story is big enough to grab national attention, the animals’ safety still depends on the quick action of volunteers, not on strong laws that prevent abandonment in the first place.

We demand:

• Strong laws making it illegal to abandon domestic animals in public spaces, with real consequences for those who do it — no matter their status or fame.
• Funding and resources for rescues and animal control to respond when abandoned animals are reported.
• Public awareness campaigns so people know the lifelong responsibility that comes with adopting a pet, and where to turn if they can’t keep one.

The three Prospect Park bunnies are now safe in foster homes. But for every rabbit like Parker, Moon, and Joaquin, there are countless others suffering in silence. If this can happen in full view of the media with a celebrity involved, imagine how many cases go unseen.

Sign this petition to demand lawmakers act now. No animal — whether connected to a socialite or a struggling family — should be left to die in a park.