A 100% volunteer-run organization proudly supported by your generous donations.
Our home-based care cottage is where we treat and rehabilitate neonate Eastern Cottontail Rabbits as well as a variety of other wild species that need to be stabilized before being transported to a long term licensed rehabilitator.
Not only is Cottontail Cottage a care center, it's also a dedicated space for training wildlife rehabbers who need hands on experience to learn.
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When Cottontail Cottage was created by founder Briggitte Dix, she knew she wanted to create a space that could be used for teaching the next generation of state licensed wildlife rehabbers who are so desperately needed in New York state. We offer volunteer programs for state licensed wildlife rehabbers who want to get hands on experience before rehabbing on their own and for those who want to volunteer long term with our facility as an alternative to rehabbing on their own.
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We hope to offer comprehensive online learning programs in the future.
Briggitte Dix
Founder & NY State Licensed Rehabber
I grew up in the foothills of California where I loved observing our local wildlife and experienced how misunderstood they can often be. Before creating cottontail cottage I had the opportunity to work with pigs, chickens, horses and goats at a rural farm sanctuary and then moved to an island where I was assigned to patrol 5 miles of coast line for sea turtle conservation. After moving to New York, I decided to take the NY state rehabbers licensing exam, and found out how difficult it could be to get hands on wildlife rehab experience. So I attended conferences, and learned as much from other rehabbers as I could before creating Cottontail Cottage to help teach and encourage the next generation of local wildlife rehabbers.
Stephanie Gomez
NY State Licensed Rehabber
I grew up in the foothills of California where I loved observing our local wildlife and experienced how misunderstood they can often be. Before creating cottontail cottage I had the opportunity to work with pigs, chickens, horses and goats at a rural farm sanctuary and then moved to an island where I was assigned to patrol 5 miles of coast line for sea turtle conservation. After moving to New York, I decided to take the NY state rehabbers licensing exam, and found out how difficult it could be to get hands on wildlife rehab experience. So I attended conferences, and learned as much from other rehabbers as I could before creating Cottontail Cottage to help teach and encourage the next generation of local wildlife rehabbers.
Stephanie Gomez
NY State Licensed Rehabber
I grew up in the foothills of California where I loved observing our local wildlife and experienced how misunderstood they can often be. Before creating cottontail cottage I had the opportunity to work with pigs, chickens, horses and goats at a rural farm sanctuary and then moved to an island where I was assigned to patrol 5 miles of coast line for sea turtle conservation. After moving to New York, I decided to take the NY state rehabbers licensing exam, and found out how difficult it could be to get hands on wildlife rehab experience. So I attended conferences, and learned as much from other rehabbers as I could before creating Cottontail Cottage to help teach and encourage the next generation of local wildlife rehabbers.
Stephanie Gomez
NY State Licensed Rehabber
I grew up in the foothills of California where I loved observing our local wildlife and experienced how misunderstood they can often be. Before creating cottontail cottage I had the opportunity to work with pigs, chickens, horses and goats at a rural farm sanctuary and then moved to an island where I was assigned to patrol 5 miles of coast line for sea turtle conservation. After moving to New York, I decided to take the NY state rehabbers licensing exam, and found out how difficult it could be to get hands on wildlife rehab experience. So I attended conferences, and learned as much from other rehabbers as I could before creating Cottontail Cottage to help teach and encourage the next generation of local wildlife rehabbers.
Stephanie Gomez
NY State Licensed Rehabber
For as long as I can remember, I have always had an incredible love for all animals. Being highly allergic to most still never stopped me!
I discovered this love through watching my grandmother and aunt care for animals the way that they did. They were both like animal whisperers.
As a child, I learned how very important it was to be gentle and kind to wildlife and how to coexist with them.
I have since found ways to spend time with animals by volunteering for many organizations.
I always knew that I had missed my calling and chose the wrong career in life but I found a way to get involved regardless. Which is why I decided to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. I saw a great need within the community and beyond to help wildlife. I feel so blessed to work amongst some of the kindest humans who have such big hearts like myself.
