Museum pays tribute to bunny love

The couple also has seven real bunny pets: Buddy Bunny, Chummie Bunnie, Jackie Rabbit, Sgt. Mark Bunny, Sgt. Garretta Bunny, Sally Boy Bunny and Honey Girl Bunny.

The bunny craze began in 1992 when Steve gave Candace a bunny for Valentines Day. It quickly escalated as Candace gave Steve a bunny for Easter, then Steve started giving Candace a bunny every other day.

Two years later Candace and Steve got married. Their wedding had plenty of bunny themes with the bunny carrot cake and the flower girl carrying a plush bunny on a stick. Steve got in the act when he surprised Candace at the reception dressed in a full bunny costume.

The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes them with having the world's most bunnies.

"It is wonderful," said Candace. "We submitted our count and since no one held the record, Guinness added the category."

With a huge bunny collection they decided to share it with the public. Candace and Steve turned their house into a museum.

"We consider it a living museum," Candace said. "It is our home and a Bunny Museum in one."

There are individual, group and self guided tours available. The museum is open 365 days a year by appointment.

With over 20,000 bunnies occupying the house, they find creative ways to keep multiplying their collection.

"Every Easter there are new bunny items for sale in stores," said Candace. "Two months prior to Easter there are things to buy, and two months after Easter there are things to buy discounted. Outside of Easter, we go bunny hunting in antique stores, swap meets, thrift shops, catalogues, and in bookstores."

Candace said they are hoping to continue the expansion of their 1928 Spanish Stucco, Pasadena home, museum and their collection.

"We plan to expand and move to a location 10 times larger within the next decade," added Candace. "We need a parking lot. We need public washrooms. We want to open a "bunny restaurant"

For more information please visit www.thebunnymuseum.com.