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A forum for you, me and everyone who cares for animals!
Words to live by...
"The most violent element in society is ignorance."
Why am I a Bunny Rabbit Lover??? hmmm...where to start...
First of all let me say, I love ALL animals!!! ALL ANIMALS!!!
But I have a little soft spot for those furry little hopping creatures that can be somewhat of a mystery to many people.
I learned this, unfortunately, the hard way. It was years ago when I was volunteering at a shelter, which, for the most part, focused on cats and dogs. When I first walked in, I saw a White New Zealand Rabbit in a small cage, under a counter and behind a cage door. So I asked the people about this rabbit. Why is he/she under there? Why is he/she in such a small cage? How long has he/she been here? What's his/her name? I got almost no answers. What I did get, which is common in a large majority of shelters, was the answer, "We don't really know much about rabbits." I was shocked!!! I thought to myself, "Well then maybe you could have learned! Never treat any animal like this!" I didn't know much about Bunnies but even I knew this was just plain wrong!
So that is just what I did...I read books, I searched internet sites, I eventually became a member of a rabbit rescue (House Rabbit Network), I BECAME INFORMED...I then taught the rest of the staff about what I learned, wrote a manual for the staff, made up adoption packets for rabbits, including, everything they would need to know to have a Happy House Bunny and lastly I gave them my name and number just incase they had ANY questions at all. I took charge. Unfortunately, I was, at the time, unable to adopt this poor rabbit, so I set her up in a dog crate and gave her the utmost comfort I was able to give. I made sure there was a feeding chart for the volunteers, plenty of fresh veggies, hay, pellets, and fresh bedding always available. I also made sure that EVERYDAY she got out to run and play. (This is something she had been denied of for almost two years.) When I first let her out she was unable to hop!!!
I then knew I needed to get her out of the shelter and into a home. So I soon became friends with the rabbit rescue I had known about, The House Rabbit Network (HRN). I spoke to them day and night until there was a foster home available for my sweet little "Monkey" (which she was soon named by me).
Well I stayed very close to her and her foster and we saw each other often. The problem??? The foster had so many bunnies (she was an angel) that Monkey was not able to get the undivided attention she so desperately needed in order for her to come out of her shell. So in speaking with her foster mom, Cheryl, I said I would "just foster her"...and I did...for the rest of her life!
Since this had all happened, I have learned so much and tried to educate others as to what amazing, smart, silly and loving animals bunnies are.
So now what??? My ultimate goal is to spread my experience and knowledge with others who may need it. I hope to allow others to share stories, read about other "bun lovers" who have stories, and most of all be here for you and your buns as a Bunny Buddy to help answer questions that may pop up in your everyday life with your furry little angels.
Honestly, Anyone who knows me will say, I am never at a lack of words for things to say about certain aspects of animal welfare. In this case, I found that, it is not so much I am lacking the words, but lacking the words to explain such a huge matter without writing a book about it and what I have seen and what I know about the number of animals each year that get euthanized (kinder word for being killed) in Animal Shelters each year.
If you are an animal lover...which you probably are if you are on this site...there has to be more outrage over the issue of pet overpopulation and what is being done about it and what is NOT being done.
First of all, let me share some basic facts, which I have learned from working with animals in shelter and rescue about why their is a still problem with Pet Overpopulation:
People continue to Buy from a Pet Store and Breeders.
There are several terribly wrong things about this:
If you buy from a Pet Store you are supporting, what are commonly know as, "Puppy Mills". Puppy Mills are horrible...the animals are bred over and over again until they are too sick to breed anymore only to be "tossed"away after they are of no use. Also, due to the implorrible conditions the animals are forced to live in, often times, more times than not, the animal is sick and the animal, often times, needs a lot of medical care which can cost hundreds of dollars. For information on Puppy Mills go to www.NoPuppyMills.com.
If you buy from a Pet Store, every animal you buy another animal diesdue to a lack of a good,loving home. Let me be perfectly clear on this issue. (which I think sometimes is misundertood by the general public.) Animals in Shelters are not the throw backs of society. For example, often times animals come from homes that someone was allergic and had to bring the animal to a shelter. I have seen several times animals being surrendered because their family was moving and unable keep their pet. The other scenerio is their owner passed away and the animal is sent to a shelter. Notice: None of these reasons are due to the pet being at fault.
If you buy from a breeder, you are doing just as much harm to animals in shelters just as if youwere buying them from a Pet Store. Again, everytime you buy another animal dies due to a lack of a good home. I am not saying that all Breeders are bad, although many run backyard "Puppy Mills", some are great. They care about their animals and make sure the animal is happy and healthy. But what I never understood is, if these people are such animal lovers, why contribute to the problem, knowingly, adding more animals onto the earth, while so many are still dying, everyday waiting to find a family. That is not my idea of an animal lover.
For those of you who want to adopt a certain Breed...very simple solution...go to a Breed Rescue. They have breed rescues all across the world! So go to a site such as www.Petfinder.org (highly recommended by many shelters and people who were looking for a specific breed) and type in the state you are in and what species, breed, size and age you are looking for. It scans a database of all the shelters in the US for a match for you in the desired location. Pretty neat!!! Or you could go to other Breed Rescue sites which list all of the different breed rescues, such as: www.canine-connections.com , or another one called www.haldago.org (this is a great resource site...it has Breed Rescue in all of the US and all different types animals.
Lastly...please educate yourself by going to the following site. The Humane Society of the United States (the "HSUS") has a page which lists each year's Pet Overpopulation Estimates. It is a real eye opener...it breaks down everything clearly...just go to: http://www.hsus.org/ace/11830 . This will probably be one of the main reasons for people to finally STOP BREEDING AND BUYING WHILE HOMELESS ANIMALS ARE DYING.
That is it for now...I could go on and on...I deal with this EVERYDAY...so please take my words for what they are...the truth about a situation that gotten terribly out of control!
If you have any comments regarding this article, click on the Comment Envelope under the message or email me at Bun-E-Mail on the Mainpage.
Thanks for reading this and please pass on your knowledge of problems in the world today to others, so we will all benefit.(Both Animals and Humansalike)
Hello, In a search to find out what could be done to help the thousands of animals effected by the Florida Disaster. I went looking for items that are needed by the shelters who are temporarily homing the lost or abandoned animals. I have highlighted the "wish list" in red. These are things that you may have lying around your house and other things are very inexpensive to donate. So take a look at the following information I got from the ASPSA website. Anything anyone can donate would mean the world to the animals and the shelters.
ASPCA National Shelter Outreach department has distributed $15,000 in funds to help the four-legged victims of Hurricane Charley.
The complete list of shelters that received assistance follows, along with contact information if you wish to send them additional much-needed funds: * Suncoast Humane Society, 6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood, FL 34224; (941) 474-7884.The SHS is directing the relief effort in the Englewood area, and is currently dealing with hundreds of animals, with countless more expected. Most of the animals are storm-displaced strays, and will most likely have to be housed for at least 30 days. If you would like to help, mail a check or money order payable to SHS, or call to give via credit card. * Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County, 3519 Drance St., Port Charlotte, FL 33980; (508) 479-8484. The league’s roof collapsed, leaving the main kennel and cat area unusable. In addition, the outside fencing was destroyed, and much office equipment was lost. The group needs funds, dry dog and cat food, canned foods, blankets, towels, computer systems and a fax machine. * Humane Society of Tampa Bay, 3607 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33607; (813) 876-7138 or 7310. Coordinating efforts in surrounding communities, the society is collecting garbage bags, newspapers, towels, cat litter, dog and cat food, shampoos, toilet paper, first-aid kits, paper towels and funds to distribute through No More Homeless Pets of Hillsborough County. Designate checks for “DISASTER ASSISTANCE from Hurricane Charley in the surrounding counties.” * Desoto County Board of County Commissioners, c/o Jim Selph, PO Box 310, Arcadia, FL 34266. The animal control building was completely destroyed by Charley. Designate donations for: “REBUILD ANIMAL CONTROL.” * Humane Society of Polk County, 555 Sage Rd., Winter Haven, FL 33881; Lisa Baker, (813) 324-5227. The society’s building was nearly destroyed, and will have to be replaced. The mobile spay unit/bus flipped over and was wrecked.
This is a website that really needs exposure...why??? Everytime you go to this site and click on the "Purple Paw" money is sent to feed an animal in a shelter or sanctuary...they explain it better...
As the site says:
"In 2003, we gave more than 28 million bowls of food to abused and abandoned animals living in shelters or sanctuaries. Help give even more food and care to even more animals in 2004 by telling friends about this fast, free way to help animals. It's simple... the number of animals helped depends on the number of people who click on the "Feed an Animal in Need" button. More clicks mean more food for animals in need! "
There is no cost to you because funding for the food is provided by the sites sponsors!!!!
So go to www.theanimalrescuesite.com and click on the purple paw. Your click provides the value of .6 bowls of food and care to a rescued animal in a shelter or sanctuary.
So save the link and click on the Purple Paw everyday...why not???!!!
Remember that little funraiser I posted about earlier???... I said we made somewhere around $1000 or so...
Well guess what???...talk about what a few people can do when they come together...!!!
I just got the tally back from Pam, our ring leader, we made just over $3,000, which means the bun shelter will now have a sink and a hot water tank and a new linoleum floor!!!!
Well today was the Bun-e-fit... (sighof relief...) Lots of hard work leading up to this, but I must say it went over well and without many mishaps. I would like to post a message that I wrote to Pam, who is the founder of Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue, and the rest of the Sweet Binks "gang" who gave so much today to raise funds for shelter improvements and the bunnies. This is a good indication on how I feel about working for and with animals and the people who are doing the same everyday, trying to make a difference...This might give you a basic idea on my "theory" behind doing what I do for animals...
To all of you,
I believe strongly in happiness and sharing happiness with others...making people laugh or have fun, and so, because of this, I do tend to have a good time with people. But, with all honestly, I must say that today is a different level of happiness. The highest level of happiness. I am over the moon when I see such a great group of people come together and donate their time, money (tickets and t-shirts) for those that need us the most. The animals.
The animals are defenseless, loving beings who are rays of sunshine, and I know, personally, they have made some of the hardest times in my life worth while. They are here to enjoy life, play and be happy. But that is not always possible because of the world we live in. What we did today, and everyday after this, is making this goal more and more possible. I know it takes time and hard work and sometimes it seems like we go around in circles with trying to reach the public about bunny welfare and they don't listen and they don't change. I think, especially on days like this, that there are some changes happening mainly because if this were twenty years ago...maybe we wouldn't have been there today trying to carry on the "torch" for those who have taught us...it makes you think...
If you reach even one person...you might have saved hundreds of animals just there...this is why I would like to make another comment...maybe that one person will be the next Pam??? (there is only one Pam...but you know what I mean) which leads me to this...
I kid with Pam ...I loooooove to kid with Pam...how lazy she is...why doesn't she do something good for once...it goes on...but Pam...YOU ARE AN ANGEL...
I honestly feel that there are a lot of people that love animals but not a lot of people who are willing to devote their lives to animals, making such a difference and saving countless numbers of animals. I mean this, not only in the way you save buns by rescue and adopting them everyday, but also with regards to educating people about bunnies and ensuring their welfare for the future. You are well loved by humans, and animals alike, and you always have our support and deepest respect for what you do. It takes a special kind of person and you are one of those people.
Thank you for today and all the other days you have spent helping the animals. But more importantly, thank you from the animals. If they could speak, and I am sure one day we will meet them again in a different place where we will finally all speak the same language, they would thank you more than any human ever could. You saved their lives....that is wonderful for us but everything to them. So once again...an endless thank you from all the animals you have saved, and will save, and thank you for being a role model to us in the process.
Chrissy and all the furries little ones! (Y) (>'Y'<) 0( (") (") ) If you are interesting in adopting a Bunny and changing your life forever please go to www.sweetbinks.org to adopt a bunny who is looking for a forever home.
If you are not in a situation right now to adopt but you would like to help in some way...go to the Sweet Binks website make a contribution to the shelter or sponsor a bunny in need...Sponsoring a rabbit when you are unable to adopt can be just as gratifying...and it is greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!
