Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place!!

I think learning your legal rights in this will help your way forward with the dilemma. Some members here may know where you stand on that. Because they did have the rabbit for 2 years before *I think* that did make them legal owners even if they didn’t pay for her. BUT – what was the agreement made between you when you first took her on? Did they say they intended to take her back in a specific timeframe? Or was it going to be due to their living circumstances? Do they have secure living arrangements now? Have they paid for her supplies while you looked after her or have you had to do that? 

Maybe an animal rights organisation would have an idea on ownership rights and yours as the current care-giver. I think you could have some rights in not wanting to relinquish her back to a home where you believe she will be at risk.

I am hopeful that you have rights here and can make the best decision for Julee. From what you’ve related, they’ve only shown real interest in taking her back after you indicated that it wouldn’t be appropriate for them too. That worries me some. And that they are also using a go-between to come collect her.
Do keep record of your conversations with them to date. Note it down as accurately as possible in chronological order.

How much trouble do you think they could cause you if you stand firm and don’t hand her back?

In my opinion I think your doing the right thing. I would move forward with placing her in a good home where she will be loved and acceritly taken care of.

Your friend sounds like an absolute monster. I don’t know/care about the legal stand point but It’s clear Julee will be horribly neglected if she goes back to your friend. I’d give her to the person you found yourself.

What a complicated situation! Pfff, it’s a horrible thought to put her back into a life of mistreatment

I agree with JG here: seek legal advice, and/or contact an animal welfare organisation. If someone can’t/won’t take proper care of their animal that is a cruelty case waiitng to happen.

That is a hard situation. I’m wildly unqualified to give legal advice, but have you considered that even if you are technically not the bunny’s owner and so are in the wrong legally, it seems extremely unlikely that your friend will hire a lawyer and take you to court over this issue? I think you might be facing a situation where the morally right thing to do (give the bunny to the responsible prospective owner) is different from the legally right thing to do… Normally I’m very rule-abiding but I’d hate to think of the poor bun in a car!

Your friendship might be over if that’s the choice you make, but it sounds very much like it’s on the rocks anyway.

Was the original agreement verbal or in writing? Here’s the problem… your friend is legally the owner of this rabbit. What your legal rights are in this situation will depend on what the original agreement was. Did she expect to reclaim the rabbit after a given amount of time? Was she to provide money for food and supplies? Did she ever come visit the rabbit?

Unfortunately, sometimes what is legally right is not what is morally right. I agree with Jersey, you should probably consult with someone about this.

You’ve been providing care for over 3 months, and improving the rabbits living condition and welfare. At your own expense, as I’m guessing your “Friend” hasn’t forked over any cash for her pets support and welfare You’re invested in this animal. Moreover, your “friend” hasn’t shown in any way that they’re capable of providing proper shelter and care for this animal. What was supposed to be a temporary situation has become permanent.

Unless you have a written contract, verbal just won’t cut it, the animal is YOURS. You provide for it, you supply food, shelter, and improvements out of your own pockets, and you clearly care about the animal. Your “friend” pretty much abandoned the animal to you. Her claims of ownership of this animal are null and void.
Tell her you’re sorry, but she abandoned the rabbit, and you can give her a better, safer, healthier home and have done so, and then stop talking to her.

Yup. Hear hear Bladesmith

I think in terms of the law you would actually be considered the owner of the animal, as your friend surrendered the animal into your care. She is also unable to provide care for the rabbit.
Animals are actually still considered property in most law, your friend gave you the animal, and agreed that you could find it alternate living arrangements.

Also, its “just a rabbit”. (While noone here shares that thought, it is a very common thought in the outside world) so basically even if what you were doing was in a grey area, there is no way you will get in trouble over it, but you will certainly lose the friend.
Do you have vet records for her at all ? they are normally the strongest binding thing you can have. Only owners pay for vet fees.

Friend gave you a rabbit, you cant keep it, friend cant take it back, you, the primary care giver, found a home for it.

Personally I know people who have had this happen with dogs, (they asked someone to mind the dog while they moved away for a year and when they got home they were denied ownership over the dog and had to accept their neighbour owned it now)

Plus she has no documents to say she owns the rabbit in the first case

I say just continue with the plan to rehome her, and you are moving out of state anyway?