Bent over in one corner of Ensenada, Mexico, lay a tiny dog on the side of the road, her hind legs broken and her spirit all but shattered. Bunny, a two-year-old stray with soulful brown eyes that still shone with hope, had been hit by a car and dumped, left to survive in this world that had seemingly forgotten about her. Infested with ticks and maggots, face swollen with dog bites, she was an agonizing sight—her tale, however, was about to become one of the most inspiring stories of determination, compassion, and atypical corporate humanity.
Bunny’s path to second chance started when rescue people from Los Adoptables, an Ensenada animal welfare organization, discovered her in bad shape. They contacted The Animal Pad, an San Diego-based dog rescue group that specializes in saving difficult cases. Together, they rescued Bunny to safety, but she was badly hurt. Veterinarians brought some harsh news: her back legs were irreparably injured and had to be surgically removed in order to save her.
Along comes Henry Friedman, an animal activist whose Instagram username, “keepingfinn,” has become synonymous with pet support all over the world. A born mobilizer, Friedman adopted Bunny and told her tale to all on Instagram. “She was in such bad shape,” Friedman remembers,
“but there was this glimmer in her eyes that told me that she wasn’t about to quit.”
The surgery was a success, and Bunny began her recovery at Shelter to Soldier in California, a place where broken animals—and sometimes broken people—find healing. But to thrive, Bunny needed more than medical care. She needed mobility.
As Bunny’s story spread online, her pluck and perseverance captured hearts. Soon after, one commenter on Friedman’s Instagram update made a comment that would rock him to his core:
“This dog needs the Mercedes-Benz of wheelchairs!” It was half-jest, half-wish, but Friedman envisioned something bigger. “I thought, why not?” he chuckles. “Bunny’s a fighter. She’s entitled to have the best.”
With nothing to lose, Friedman went to Mercedes-Benz, explaining Bunny’s story and playful comment that inspired an idea. To his astonishment, the high-end car maker wrote back—not with a brush-off but with eagerness.
“We were inspired by Bunny’s story,”
explains a Mercedes-Benz representative.
“Mobility is in our DNA, and we saw a chance to make life better for this incredible dog.”
Mercedes-Benz didn’t simply write a check; they rolled up their sleeves. Working in conjunction with Eddie’s Wheels, a custom pet wheelchair company in Massachusetts, they designed an unusual mobility device to match Bunny’s very own unique personality. What they came up with was a marvel of functionality combined with flair: an ultralight, very stable wheelchair adorned with miniature Mercedes wheels, complete with a safety harness and an “official” license plate that read “Bunny’s Benz.” Functional but not serious—a combination perhaps of precision engineering and loving whimsy.
The day Bunny was fitted with her wheelchair was one that was nothing short of magical. At California’s Mercedes-Benz dealership, employees gathered to present her with their welcoming smiles. A video shows Bunny being strapped into her new ride. Hesitant at first, she wavered in her front paws. Then, as if she knew she had her world back, she zooms off, tail thrashing wildly, careening across showroom floor like a puppy after a sunbeam. The onlookers cheered in unison, some with tears streaming down their cheeks.
“It was like seeing her reclaim her life,”
Friedman reports.
“She went from surviving to thriving in seconds.”
Bunny’s story didn’t stay in that dealership. Videos and photos of her zooming around in her custom wheelchair exploded online, shared by pet lovers, news outlets, and even Mercedes-Benz’s official channels. In the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia, people couldn’t get enough of the little dog with the big spirit. “Bunny’s Benz” became a hashtag, trending alongside comments like
“This is why I love the internet!” and “Mercedes, you’ve got my respect.”
One Australian follower wrote,
“Bunny’s story makes me believe in the good in people again.”
The wheelchair didn’t just give Bunny mobility; it gave her a spotlight. Adoption inquiries poured in, with families eager to give her a forever home.
“Her spirit is infectious,”
says Lauren Botticelli of The Animal Pad.
“The wheelchair shows everyone what she’s capable of. She’s not defined by what she’s lost.”
Bunny’s journey is not just a feel-good moment—it’s proof that connection can create change. One Instagram comment created a chain reaction that brought together a rescue group in Mexico, one San Diego non-profit, an advocate with determination, a world-class automaker, and one small business committed to mobility for animals. It’s proof that social media, often decried for creating too much noise, can amplify stories that have value.
“This is what happens when people care,” Friedman states. “One idea, one act of compassion, can change it all.”
For Mercedes-Benz, the endeavor was an opportunity to demonstrate an alternate type of innovation—one that is born from empathy.
“We’re used to moving people,”
says the company’s spokesperson,
“moving Bunny felt equally meaningful.”
The act by the company attracted applause for being genuine, most noting that it wasn’t an effort for publicity reasons but to make an impact. Discussions on corporate social responsibility went viral on social media, with most referring to Bunny’s story as one to emulate on how companies engage in connecting with society positively.
