The overpopulation of domestic rabbits running wild in Kelowna, British Columbia has been an ongoing issue for the Canadian city. Now, another British Columbia city, Richmond, which is located near Vancouver, faces a similar problem.

The Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) has taken in over 40 unwanted/abandoned rabbits recently. Many were rescued from area parks after being dumped by their owners. If left on their own in the parks, these rabbits would produce litters upon litters of feral rabbits.  In fact, in 2006, mirroring circumstances caused lawmakers to schedule a cull of the out-of-control feral rabbit problem.  But before the cull took place, the rabbit population was decimated by disease and starvation.

Now the city may turn to a ban on rabbit sales to solve the problem. This would limit the number of impulse buys from pet stores that lead to the dumping of domestic rabbits in parks.

For more info: Richmond News

I wrote an article for the local paper here in southeastern CT about the benefits of adopting a rabbit in honor of February being “Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month.”

Here’s an excerpt:

If you are uninitiated to the world of bunnies, you may not realize that February is “Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month.” So in the spirit of spreading awareness, here are a few benefits of adopting a pet rabbit from a rescue or shelter.

But before you get too excited about getting a rabbit, it should be noted that although rabbits make wonderful indoor companions (who can be easily litter trained), they are not low maintenance pets. Rabbits require the same amount of care and attention as cats or dogs, and they can live around 10 years or more. But if you and your family are willing to make the commitment, read on!

Read the full article here >

The Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary in Willis, Michigan is the largest rabbit rescue in the US, housing 550 rabbits. You can read more about the sanctuary in an earlier Rabbit Rescue Spotlight post on our bunny blog or at the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary website.

I love seeing photos of the place with all the permanent residents hopping around in their fenced-in rabbit pastures.  Here is a recent photo from The Ann Arbor News. Celeste Defellici had called out “TREATS!” and all the bunnies came running.

The Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary is in need of donations – leafy greens or a monetary contribution.  If you would like to help, call 734-461-1726, or visit the website at www.rabbitsanctuary.org.

When residential areas were ablaze in Chino Hills, CA, many people were forced to evacuate.  Fortunately for local bunny owners,  The Bunny Bunch, a no-kill, nonprofit rabbit rescue in the nearby city of Chino, CA, offered temporary shelter for their pets.

Bunny Bunch owner Caroline Charland hopes to spread the word about the availability of the shelter as a safehaven in the event of a future emergency situation.

She also urges rabbit owners to be prepared and think about a plan of action in case of emergency. According to Charland, “I tell everybody with a rabbit that they need to have a hard carrier and a soft towel, and have the carrier ready and be ready to leave.”

It is also a good idea to research places that could take your bunny in if you ever needed to evacuate your home.

For more info: http://smallanimalchannel.com/critter-news/2008/12/04/bunny-bunch-fire-evacuation.aspx

PETCO announced today that it is phasing out its rabbit sales.  Instead, the chain of pet stores is expanding its rabbit adoption efforts across the US.  According to PETCO CEO Jim Myers,  “Rabbits are great companion animals, and we believe PETCO can play a pivotal role in partnering with animal-welfare groups to connect responsible pet parents with happy, healthy neutered rabbits through in-store adoptions nationwide.”

The shift in policy is welcoming news to the thousands of rabbit rescues overrun with abandoned bunnies in need of forever homes.

For more info: http://www.petconews.com/2008/11/petco-moves-to-adoption-only-for.html

Back in December, I posted about the feral rabbit population explosion in the Canadian city of Kelowna, British Columbia. Since then, the city has gone back and forth on how to handle the problem.  After complaints about the inhumane culling of the rabbits by use of air rifles, the city changed its approach.  Currently the city has turned to trapping the feral bunnies, and then putting them up for adoption.

The Responsible Animal Care Society (TRACS), who has been active in saving the rabbits, has sponsored many fundraising events. Their latest is a benefit concert featuring Elvis impersonator D.R. Elvis happening on Saturday, November 1.

For more information: http://www.tracs-bc.ca/bunfund.html

As a follow up to my post, Pet Rabbits Affected by National Housing Crisis, here is a link to another article about the Sacramento SPCA and their influx of stray rabbits.  This article includes a video that shows their facility and a lot of their available bunnies. I found the beginning of the video to be a little ominous… I think it was because of the black and white background and the choice of music.  Plus, the rabbit they showed (from the shoulders up) had a really skinny neck and looked a little robotic. However, the rest of the video was very informative- it makes it very hard for people resist adopting one (or more) of these bunnies.

http://www.sacbee.com/204/story/1260700.html

How far would you go to help pet rabbits?  The UK’s Andy Baker asked himself that question. His answer: 1000 feet straight down from the world’s highest suspension bridge, the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado, using only a bungee cord.

His free fall jump will result in speeds up to 90 mph.  But Baker is willing to take this plunge in order to help raise money for the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund in the UK and the Colorado House Rabbit Society in the US.

The jump will occur as part of the Go Fast! Games on September 26.

You can support Baker using the following links:
Fundraising Page for the Rabbit Welfare Fund (UK)
Fundraising Page for the Colorado House Rabbit Society (US)

For more info:
http://www.bungybunny.com/
http://www.ahutchisnotenough.com/
http://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/news/Andy-plans-1000ft-bungee-jump.4489822.jp
http://www.coloradohrs.com/2008_Event.htm

Many people have fallen victim to the current housing crisis across America. Recent reports have shown that this devastation has largely affected the pet population as well.

Property inspectors and real estate brokers frequently discover animals tied up or locked in cages when they enter abandoned houses.  People leave their pets behind for a variety of reasons. In some cases, they can’t afford to care for the animal or they’re moving into rental property or in with relatives where pets aren’t allowed. In turn, shelters all around the country have witnessed an increase in the number of abandoned animals needing their attention.

And while shelters and rescues generally take in a large number of rabbits, many are experiencing a bunny boom this year. At the Sacramento SPCA, they have taken in double the amount of rabbits as usual.  According to Leslie Kirrene of the Sacramento SPCA, “We are getting bunnies coming in as strays and assuming they were let go by those who can no longer stay in their homes, and we are getting people who are looking for rentals who say they are having a hard time finding one where their bunnies can go with them.”

To help alleviate the overload, the Sacramento SPCA is offering rabbit adoptions at half price with free neutering/spaying until the end of September.

For more info:
http://www.my58.com/news/17472273/detail.html
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jan/30/pets_abandoned_owners_are_hidden_victims_housing_c/

A new rabbit rescue in Roseville, CA will host their Grand Opening event on September 27, from 4-8pm at the Roseville PETCO on 1917 Douglas Boulevard.

If you live in the area, you can join in on the festivities, which include a ribbon cutting ceremony, petting stations, a silent auction, games, prizes, and of course, the opportunity to adopt a rabbit.

Leaps & Bounds Rabbit Rescue began when Kim DeWoody and Nola Williams decided to dedicate their volunteer efforts solely to the special needs and requirements of rabbits. The rescue cares for its rabbits in foster homes, providing them with medical attention, socialization, and retraining as needed.

If you would like to support Leaps & Bounds, you can volunteer with them or foster a bunny.  Donations are also appreciated.

For more information:
Leaps & Bounds Rabbit Rescue Website
Leaps & Bounds Petfinder Page
Grand Opening Press Release