A generous donor has agreed to match donations up to $5000 to the House Rabbit Society until Thanksgiving (November 26, 2009). The money raised will go towards the Emergency Rescue Grant, a program that supports shelters involved in large rescues of many rabbits.
Recently the fund benefited the Luv-A-Bun Rescue in their rescue of 34 rabbits from a trailer in Fort Worth.
Congratulations to Sweet Binks of Rhode Island for adopting out its 1000th rabbit today. The lucky bunny is called Maggie.
For more info, see: Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue.
The Luv-a-Bun Rescue in Lake Worth, Fl has recently taken in 34 bunnies rescued from a mobile home. The rabbits were crammed into 3 cages jammed with both living and dead rabbits.
Several of the rabbits were relative newborns and many had never been able to hop due to the cramped conditions.
The recently taken in rabbits have been spayed and neutered by local veterinarians Renata Schneider and Stefan Harsch free of charge.
Visit the Sun Sentinel for more on this rescue.
The Vancouver Rabbit Rescue and Advocacy in Vancouver, Canada has just released their 2010 calendar. The calendar is made up of submitted photos from rabbit-lovers. We submitted a few pics of Coco and Cosette, but we doubt they made the final cut. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go toward running the rescue. The calendar will soon be on sale, but a preview is available now on the VRRA website. Visit the site to check it out, www.vrra.org.
Rabbit Rescue Inc. of Ontario held BunFest on Sunday, August 23rd. The event brought bunny owners from all over for a day of education and pampering. Owners were able to chat with vets and rescue staff about health, diet, care, and a variety of other issues. Bunnies could get pampered with spa treatments. There was even a bunny cafe where the bunnies could have a snack and take a rest.
There was an adoption area where visitors could meet rabbits in search of forever homes. Rabbit Rescue, Inc. took in more than 600 rabbits last year. Each year since being established in 2001 the rescue has taken in an increasing number of rabbits.
Check out a related article from Mississauga.com and the BunFest website for more details.
Ollie Parris visited Beech Tree Bunnies, a rescue in Leicester, and came home with two guinea pigs. He also came home with an idea; Ollie wanted to help the rescue. So Ollie took to the streets on his bike for a sponsored ride.
Ollie rode for two miles while his father jogged behind. He raised 217 pounds for the rescue.
His parents are very proud of what he has achieved.
Beech Tree Bunnies was formed six years ago and relies on donations to care for its current group of 30 bunnies and 10 guinea pigs. Visit the rescue at their website, www.beechtreebunnies.co.uk.
Andrea Bratt Frick has been clicker training rabbits since she adopted a bunny named Filbert who was able to jump 36 inches. She used a clicker to train Filbert to use his leaping ability to clear hurdles. She uses the clicker to signal the rabbit to do a trick, which is followed by a reward. The reward is dependent on the rabbit, some rabbits like particular veggies or pellets, while others are satisfied with a nose rub.
She also uses the clicker to help abused or neglected rabbits become comfortable around people. Clicker training helped these rabbits become less aggressive and more willing to be handled by humans. Frick works with the rabbits at Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter in Santa Barbara, CA.
Read the full article at The Examiner.
No, not those Playboy bunnies. Sylvilagus palustris hefneri, a marsh rabbit subspecies named for Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, has been on the endangered species list since 1990. Current estimates claim that there are only 300 of the rabbits left in the wild. The rabbits live in an island environment and feed on specific grasses and plants. Human encroachment has resulted in habitat loss and deaths by domestic animals and cars.
Fortunately, researchers at the University of Central Florida have stepped in to aid the rabbits. They are researching the genetic diversity of the rabbit population. They believe that the more diverse the genetic population, the greater chance of adaptation and survival. They hope to determine the most genetically diverse group of rabbits and relocate them to an undisturbed area to foster population growth.
This subspecies of rabbit was named for Mr. Hefner when it was discovered in 1984 to honor the donations made by his organization for field research on rabbits.
As the owner of one especially mischievous rabbit, I loved the anecdote told by Joy Gioia of the Missouri House Rabbit Society in the St. Louis Suburban Journals:
Belle loved to play with decorative pillows. She once used her nose to push one from the head of the bed to the foot of the bed and onto the cat sleeping on the floor. It hit the cat, Paws, with a plop.
The bunny hopped in a way that made Joy Gioia think she enjoyed what she had done.
“I just watched an animal size up a situation, think up a joke and carry it out,” Gioia said. “I know people who don’t have that type of humor. (Bunnies) have a wicked sense of humor.”
Gioia started out as a wildlife rehabilitator who specialized in cottontails. When a park ranger brought in an injured domestic rabbit, Gioia embarked on a new journey: she became chapter leader of the House Rabbit Society of Missouri.
Now Gioia and her team of volunteers foster rabbits in their homes and educate the public about proper rabbit care. They are holding Bunny Expo 2009 on June 7, 11am – 4pm at the Humane Society of Missouri. The expo will feature free nail clippings, information booths, photo sessions, children’s activities, and seminars.
For more info:
Suburban Journals
Missouri House Rabbit Society
As Easter approaches, it is good to spread the message that:
1. Rabbits are not disposable, low-maintenance pets
2. With proper care, rabbits can live around 15 years
3. There are many homeless rabbits in need of forever homes, so it is better to adopt a rabbit rather than buy one.
Found Animals Foundation, Inc. has partnered with rescues in the Los Angeles area to help adopt out the overwhelming number of homeless rabbits by offering a LIVE streaming BunnyCam showing many of the adoptable rabbits in the area.
For more info:
Found Animals
If you live in the Los Angeles area and would like to adopt a rabbit, vist:
PetSave.org
And if you are thinking of adopting a rabbit, visit our Rabbit Care and Rabbit Behavior sections to learn how to properly welcome the new addition to your family.
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