The Hay Experts, one of the UK partners of the Make Mine Chocolate!™ campaign, is now offering ceramic pins resembling chocolate bunnies in their store. The idea is to promote MMC’s message that chocolate bunnies are better Easter gifts than live rabbits. By wearing the unique pin, people will be inclined to ask you about it, and this presents the perfect opportunity to spread the word that rabbits are not disposable pets. This helps reach MMC’s goal of educating the public on the proper care of house rabbits, so if they do decide to adopt a rabbit, they are adequately prepared to take on the responsibility.

All the profits from sales of the pins will be donated to a rabbit rescue.

Check it out here: https://www.thehayexperts.com/product_info.php?products_id=363

Thanks Vicky for letting me know about the pins! (Vicky is the owner of Clover, the French Lop who can be seen in our photo gallery.)

For US residents, you can purchase the pin from MMC’s store: http://www.makeminechocolate.org/products.php

Well I just came across this story about Midwest Rabbit Re-home, which is located near Ann Arbor, Michigan. Apparently, they are the only rabbit rescue close to winning a million dollar shelter renovation offered by Zootoo.com. Currently, they are ranked 11 out of 20, and they can rise in the rankings if they get enough points via this page: zootoo.com/register/referrer/midwestrabbitrr

You have to register with Zootoo and put in Midwest Rabbit Re-home’s zip code (48170) and then choose their name from the dropdown menu. Registering gets 100 points, and you can earn more points by writing reviews, volunteering, commenting on news, and referring other people to the site. So far I’ve earned 140 points… I have to think of more products to review so I can earn some more.

In seeing photos of Midwest Rabbit Re-home’s current shelter, it does look like a makeover is in order. As of now, they are using an old warehouse as their shelter, and while they’ve done the best they can to fix up the space, a million dollar grant would go a long way.

Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, located at an old farm in Whittaker, MI, is the largest rabbit rescue in the US. Currently, their rabbit population has reached 550, with 75 adoptable bunnies and 475 feral rabbits. The rabbits up for adoption live in pens while the feral rabbits live outdoors in two large enclosures. There, the rabbits have dug an elaborate warren, but come out to play in the snow and run around.

For more information, see kids’ news video: Bunny Town! and the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary website.

Canadian artist Chris Reid has an art exhibition out at the Two Rivers Gallery in Prince George, British Columbia, entitled, “The Good, The Bad, and The Bunny.”  Hanging from the ceiling are about 70 colorful sock bunnies.  According to the artist,  “It’s a loose narrative, so the idea is that you can make up your mind about what the bunnies are and what they’re doing. There’s this sense of motion, perhaps running, perhaps one against the other.”

For more info: http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=121228&Itemid=557

Recently I came across this interview with Denver veterinarian Terry Campbell. http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_8414920

He talks about diagnosing and treating sick rabbits. Most of what he said seems like pretty sound advice.

But one thing that caught my attention was that he said petting and hugging are more human needs, and pets could do without them. I’d agree with the hugging part. I haven’t come across any animal that actually likes to be hugged. But as for petting, my Coco and Cosette love being petted. Cosette will sit for a long time being stroked as long as I don’t tickle her ears by accident. (And if that happens, then she’ll have to spend a long time scratching and grooming her ears before she settles in again for more petting.) Both rabbits also love being groomed by the other. So it seems to me that this is a rabbit need as well.

Does anyone have any other thoughts on the matter?

Here’s a cute video about the pika, the other member of the order Lagomorpha besides the rabbit and the hare. The video, which features David Attenborough, depicts a pika collecting poisonous plants for winter. The poison acts as a preservative, so later in the winter months, the poison will wear off and the plant will be fresh and edible.