Bunnicula, a large New Zealand rabbit, was the subject of the Rabbit Advocate's winning adoption story.

To celebrate Petfinder’s Adopt the Internet Day, the Rabbit Advocate (a blog run by an HRS educator) hosted a contest for the best rabbit adoption story.

The winning story came from Kelly S. in Boston, who volunteered at a local shelter and watched as a large white bunny waited and waited for her turn to be adopted.

“Everything changed when Bunnicula, a large New Zealand rabbit, was brought to the shelter. The sign on the window of her cage stated that her previous owners no longer had time to care for her. I opened the door to her cage that first day and Bunnicula hopped right over to me, giving my hand a little nudge to let me know she wanted attention.”

Read the full story at the Rabbit Advocate »

Have you heard? Today is Petfinder’s Adopt the Internet Day! Raise awareness about animal adoption in the following ways:

• Tell/text/email people you know
• Post to your Facebook and/or Twitter account(s)
• Write on your website/blog

For more information, see our previous post on the subject.

To celebrate its 15th birthday, Petfinder is launching a campaign to spread the word about animal adoption on March 15, 2011. There are many ways to get the message out including:

• Writing about pet adoption on your blog, website, Facebook page, or Twitter account
• Adding a badge (like the one shown on the right) to your website or blog
• Captioning a Petfinder adoptable photo on I Can Has Cheezburger

You can focus more on spreading the word about rabbit adoption in the following ways:

• Share your rabbit adoption story with the Rabbit Advocate, an HRS educator, who is hosting a contest on her blog
  (UPDATE: See winning story here)
• Link to our article, Benefits of Adopting a Pet Rabbit
• Print out and hang up “Did You Know” posters from the House Rabbit Society that educate the public about rabbit adoption and proper care

Rabbit Rescue Inc., a charity providing homes for abused/neglected rabbits in Ontario, has a chance to win a large grant.  The rescue is entered an offshoot of Wind Mobile’s Best Conversation Ever contest called the Charity Challenge.  Based on top votes, the first place charity will receive $50,000 and the five runners up will receive $10,000 each.

If you would like to help, vote for Rabbit Rescue here: http://bestconversationever.ca/charitychallenge

The contest closes March 7.

Cindy Stutts of the House Rabbit Society‘s New York chapter, Rabbit Rescue and Rehab,was a guest on the Martha Stewart Show talking about responsible rabbit ownership and adoption.

For more information, see the Martha Stewart Show website.

The University of Victoria decided today that instead of maintaining a population of 200 rabbits on their campus, they will relocate all of them.  To date, 823 rabbits have been relocated to sanctuaries in British Columbia and Texas.  Currently, 50 rabbits remain on the grounds, and they will be relocated within the next few weeks. After March 1st, any rabbits who are abandoned on campus will be euthanized.  Campus officials hope this policy will discourage people from irresponsibly dumping their pets.

Laura-Leah Shaw of the Responsible Animal Care Society (TRACS) has spearheaded the mission to relocate the feral rabbits who’d made UVic their home for years.  She has personally driven vanloads of rabbits down to the Wild Rose Ranch in Texas and has  taken out a $25,000 line of credit to fund the relocation project.  If you would like to support TRACS, make a donation at their website.

Batch of UVic bunnies en route to Texas

For more information, see VicNews.com.

This case really shows the importance of spaying/neutering your pet rabbit.  The owners of these rabbits said they started with what they thought were two female rabbits.  This wasn’t the case, and the rabbits kept breeding with each other. The final count was 78 when officials intervened.

If you live in the Baltimore area and would like to help, the House Rabbit Society of Baltimore, DC, and NoVA are looking for emergency foster homes for these bunnies. Email rabbitinfo@rabbitsinthehouse.org.

Phoenix receiving oxygen after suffering from smoke inhalation. Photo by Trish Johnson.

Earlier this week in Katy, TX, a house fire killed three women and left their 23 pet rabbits stranded. The flames didn’t reach the rabbits, who were caged on the back porch, but the bunnies did suffer from smoke inhalation.  Animal rescue group Special Pals took the rabbits in and treated their respiratory ailments.

According to Yvonne David, Executive Director at Special Pals, “A fireman brought me one rabbit who did not appear to be breathing. I gave him CPR, and the EMS personnel supplied him with oxygen. All of sudden he ‘came to’ and started breathing on his own. We’re calling him Phoenix.”

All the rabbits are recovering and will be up for adoption soon. You can also help by donating fresh produce to Special Pals.

For more info:
Ultimate Katy
Special Pals

Paul Spereall with rabbit he discovered in trash bin. Photo by Jason Roberts.

In the past week, there have been multiple incidents of pet rabbits being discovered out with the curbside trash.

In Birkenhead, England (across the river from Liverpool), window workers Paul Spereall and  Paul Harvey went to toss a piece of garbage into one of the bins on the side of the road.  When they opened the lid, a cream-colored lop-eared rabbit jumped out at them.  The two men brought the rabbit back to their office and cared for it while they contacted the RSPCA.  The rabbit was dehydrated, but otherwise is good condition.

In Regina, Saskatchewan, the Hamel family discovered a pet bunny in a recycle bin out on the street with some hay and pellets.  With temperatures dipping to -16°F (-29°C) that night, the Hamels saved the bunny from a frigid demise.  After caring for the abandoned rabbit for the night, the Hamels contacted the Regina Humane Society.

This rabbit was discovered in recycle bin by Hamel family. Photo by Hamel family.

It is incredibly sad that stories of rabbits being abandoned out with the trash (or just set loose outside) keep popping up.  These two rabbits were lucky that a few good Samaritans discovered them, cared for them, and brought them to local shelters so they’d have a chance at a good life.

For more info, see:

Liverpool Echo
Leader-Post