Dear Friends of the Rabbit Center,
Welcome to our second Fair Share for Rabbits Newsletter, which includes
information about what's going on at some of our Bay Area
shelters. Please consider volunteering at your local shelter; the rabbits
and other animals at the following shelters can really use your help!
Contact information for our fabulous volunteers follows each shelter report;
please feel free to contact those volunteers if you can help in any way.
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Fairmont Animal Control:
It seems to be raining abandoned rabbits in San Leandro lately, but
fortunately, adoptions have gone way up, too. We seem to always have one or
two more bunnies than we have cages, but the generous shelter staff has
managed to find accomodations for the over-flows so far. Blue bunny is
recovering from surgery in a foster home, and plans to return to the shelter
this weekend. Picasso has been with us longer than any others, but he seems
to be growing bolder and friendlier. A very sweet and good natured rabbit,
we hope to find him a good home soon! Our newest recruit is a big brown lop
named Theodore, who loves to play with his toys. What a handsome guy!
Fairmont is in need of foster homes, as well as donations of greens, litter,
toys, and towels. A volunteer or two who could help with the grooming and
exercising of the little ones would be greatly appreciated, and if someone
could help show the bunnies at the Castro Valley Farmers' Market on
Saturdays, that would be a huge help!
Karen Johanson
Rabbit Volunteer-Fairmont Shelter
KJohanson@MENKE.com
http://www.fofas.org/display.php?menutype=others
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Alameda County Animal Control/Dublin:
The Dublin East County Animal Shelter is the only shelter in the Tri-Valley
area (Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton) to accept rabbits. They have a very
small area for four rabbits, but have had as many as ten rabbits at a time;
at present the rabbit area is crowded with six rabbits. The shelter has been
very kind to work with me and the HRS to reduce euthanasia
rates. The shelter has only euthanized one rabbit, due to incurable illness,
since I started working at the shelter in October 2003. Prior to that they
had a much higher euthanasia rate. I take pictures of the rabbits and they
are listed both on Petfinder and on the new "A Fair Share For Rabbits" site
and I do my best to promote their availability. Please visit them
here: http://shelters.saveabunny.com/categories.php?cat_id=10
East County does not spay or neuter unless there is an emergency, and we are
still working with the shelter to try to persuade them to charge a fee for
rabbit adoptions (it is currently free to adopt a rabbit). I have also been
working with a local cat/dog rescue group, Tri-Valley Animal Rescue (TVAR),
to promote the bunnies and to find fosters for bunnies in need. TVAR has
helped to pay for spays and neuters of foster rabbits, and they have kindly
started to promote Dublin's rabbits in their monthly newsletter.
All supplies (cages, pellets, food, hay) is provided by me as a volunteer
and I also go out to the shelter weekly to clean cages, groom, and determine
gender of the bunnies. We desperately need "Super Pet Extra-Large My First
Home" cages for the shelter. This seems to be the most successful cage as
the cleaning crew doesn't lose the parts. However, our current stash of
these reasonably-sized cages is only four total, and two of these are ready
to be retired (we could use four new or gently used cages). We can also use
donations of hay, food, toys, toilet paper rolls, and litter (especially
litter!). Fresh greens would also be wonderful, but please only bring enough
to feed the current bunnies as there is no refrigerator for the leftovers.
We also need volunteers to help at the shelter and we are always in need of
foster homes.
Last but not least: There is currently a rabbit in danger at Dublin, a black
& white mini-rex who is biting. I cajoled Dublin into having her spayed and
putting her in the back for a couple of days. If she doesn't calm down,
she's at extremely high risk because they are so full right now. We are
looking for a caring foster home, so that she doesn't become the first bunny
at Dublin to be euthanized for behavioral reasons.
Marisa Price
Rabbit Volunteer - Dublin East County Shelter
bunny@aino.com
http://shelters.saveabunny.com/categories.php?cat_id=10
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Watsonville Animal Shelter:
The Watsonville Animal Shelter is going through another transition. Things
are going well overall but 2 rabbits were euthanized since the last
newsletter. One was for URI and one was young, lethargic, and thin. This
would not have happened in the past so it has been difficult moving forward.
I am working closely with this shelter to develop rabbit medical protocols
and am very optimistic. We have had several adoptions unrelated to the fair
share program but I have been directing potential adopters to the new
website regularly. I was able to put 8, 4-week-old babies into a foster
home due to pen discounts and donated supplies. We currently have close to
20 rabbits, with space for six. Many are in foster homes, but available for
adoption and are listed on the website.
Good stuff:
Our small animal room was painted yesterday and I am hoping to decorate the
walls with original artwork from local artists shortly. We are now ready to
have a rabbit education area and I am looking forward to receiving
information packets and holders from HRS. Recently our shelter has been
leaving the rabbits in their x-pens overnight instead of putting them back
in their cages. It has been a great way to show the public how clean they
are as well as give them lots of space to kick up their heels. We are also
getting a new rabbit volunteer that wants to learn more about rabbit care
and doing adoptions. I can't wait!!!
Finally, we will be holding a rabbit care class on October 8th at 2pm at the
Watsonville Shelter. It will be held in the extra room of the trailer. The
class will cover handling, care, behavior, health, and adoption
screening/counseling, and will be taught by Marcy Schaaf of the San
Francisco/Marin House Rabbit Society.
Lara Walker
Watsonville Shelter
Lara Walker
Rabbit Volunteer-Watsonville Shelter
http://www.scanimalservices.us/rescue4.htm
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Berkeley Animal Care Services:
BERKELEY ANIMAL CARE SERVICES SHARE for the SHELTER
Do you want to have fun? Do you want to walk, run, or bicycle around scenic
Aquatic Park, listen to good music, eat fun things, and have the spirit of
cheer all around you? Join us to benefit the animals at the Berkeley Animal
Cares Shelter. Funds will go directly towards services such as extra
veterinary care for animals with special needs, and supplies such as safe
beds, leashes, collars and toys. These necessities help keep animals
comfortable and healthy during their stay at the shelter, which may be for
several months. Berkeley Animal Cares Services shelters and cares for all
the needy animals receiveD. No animal from their service area is ever
turned away. Adults: $20 before September 28 or $25 day-of; Children: aged
2-12: $5 Registration: Register online at Active.com (look for "Share for
the Shelter") or just show up Fun Bicycle Ride- 9:00 a.m.; Fun Run- 10:30
a.m.; Fun Walk-10:45 a.m.
RabbitEARS will have a table there. Come over and visit us!
Oct 2, 9:00 a.m.-2 p.m.
In other news, Berkeley Animal Care adopted a couple of rabbits last week
and have 3 beauties left. They tell me that they have not euthanized an
adoptable rabbit in 4 years
(thanks, in great part, to HRS rescue efforts!). They never have enough hay
and are excited about the possibility of spay/neuter for rabbits.
thanks
Judy Hardin
Rabbit Volunteer-Berkeley Shelter
judy@encounterbooks.com
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/animalservices/adopt.html
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Hayward Animal Shelter:
Hayward Shelter is still getting large numbers of bunnies left in the
nightboxes, mostly very young bunnies. We were successful in finding a
very good home for Scout the mini-rex, but an adoption for Caramel, our
spotted mini-lop, fell through after he bit his prospective partner (he
was probably just being overly enthusiastic). We also have an
exceptionally sweet mother and her little boy, a shy albino rex mix and
his agouti girlfriend, and several loveable spotted bunnies. I was told
that a partially paralyzed bunny is being seen by the vet. I am
currently fostering a fuzzy lop and still looking for somewhere for him
to go. If anyone would like a fuzzy lop or knows someone who would,
please contact me. He's handsome and affectionate, although in desperate
need of neutering.
Hayward is looking for a new shelter manager, so we will see what the
search produces. It has been a big relief to have Dr. Singer (from VCA
Oakland) as our new shelter vet. It's great to know the bunnies are
receiving competent medical attention.
Elizabeth Berg
Rabbit Volunteer-Hayward Animal Shelter
elizabethberg@earthlink.net
http://www.ci.hayward.ca.us/webware/Default.aspx?Message=209&t=-1
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San José Animal Care Center:
The vast number of bunnies continuously streaming into San José's Animal
Care Center have maxed out the presently available rabbit rescue resources
in the Bay Area. New volunteers, fosterers and publicity about wonderful
rabbits at SJ are desperately needed now to prevent a return to the
euthanasia rate of a few hundred bunnies a year. Given at least 24 buns at
the shelter right now, the euthanasia could start this week.
Pictures and descriptions of all the wonderful bunnies at SJ waiting for you
are at: http://www.saveabunny.com/shelters/. They include 2 special needs
bunnies who are on the rescue list and need immediate rescue, Opal, a
spectacular satiny black gal who was found to have a uterine mass during her
spay, and an adorable white guy with cool black markings who has urine
scald. Others who deserve a special home are several highly adoptable
dwarfs who were owner seized due to severe neglect - their nails were an
inch long, curling and making their poor fingers braid across each other.
The other challenge is an illogical prioritization of rabbits requested to
be rescued. Really sick buns like one rescued by SaveABunny last week are
not put on the list despite having so many fleas that it covered her with
inflamed bare skin and made her completely listless. And highly adoptable
buns are put on the rescue list for non existent and otherwise adoptable
conditions - such as hairloss on the bottoms of their feet. Vet training
and a continued presence with shelter management will hopefully turn this
situation around.
To make a really big impact on bunny rescue in the Bay Area, please consider
volunteering, fostering, or publicity for the San Jose shelter. Volunteers
are essential - even a couple hours a week to socialize the buns (to ensure
they pass a tough temperment test), grooming (to prevent medical rejections
for eye discharge or dirty forelimbs), much needed TLC, and vegetables.
Several fosterers who can house even just one bunny (HRS and others have
already donated a few foster setups - they are just missing the human).
Posting flyers in your local pet store or vet office - (I will provide
flyers).
If you would like to be part of this great mission of bunny mercy, please
contact Anna Kim, the HRS SJ shelter outreach volunteer, at akim@cisco.com.
All the wonderful bunnies at SJ are waiting for your help at:
http://www.saveabunny.com/shelters/
Anna Kim
Rabbit Volunteer-San Jose City Shelter
akim@cisco.com
http://www.sanjoseanimals.com/adoptProgram.asp
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Marin Humane Society:
There are now 7 rabbits available for adoption at the Marin Humane Society.
Although no small companion animals have arrived at MHS as a result of the
Katrina hurricane, several dogs have arrived and more are anticipated. Some
of the small animal volunteers are helping with the incoming animals so
especially during this busy time at MHS more small animal volunteers would
be most welcome.
Malika
Spayed female
Arrived at MHS 8/17/2005
Mix-Beautiful shades of brown and tan
Approx. 1 year old
Malika is a little shy at first but she will sit next to you or on you lap
while being pet.
Ross
Neutered male
Arrived at MHS 8/28/2005
English Spot – White with brown spots
Approx. 2 years old
Ross enjoys attention and will come to the cage door when he sees me. He
enjoys exploring his surroundings in between hopping into my lap.
Scooter
Neutered Male
Arrived at MHS 8/30/2005
Dutch Mix
Approx. 1 year old
Scooter loves to romp around but even more he loves to be pet and will jump
on my lap frequently when I visit with him. He likes to put his paws on my
shoulder and sometimes will nudge my chin.
Jeppy
Arrived at MHS 8/9/2005
Mix
Approx. 8 months old
Jeppy is a little shy but he warms up to people after they spend a little
time with him and then he seems to enjoy being pet and talked to.
Debra Mendelsohn
Rabbit Volunteer--Marin Humane Society
tahniem@aol.com
http://www.marin-humane.org/main_adoptions.html#Small
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San Francisco Animal Care and Control:
San Francisco Animal Care and Control (SFACC) has been a true partner with
SaveABunny, the San Francisco Marin HRS as part of the Fair Share For
Rabbits Program. They work closely with rescue efforts and have offered
support, via this Chapter, for rabbits displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
The large scale rescue work being demanded by situations at the South bay
shelters has unfortunately impacted other shelters, like SFACC , by tying up
valuable resources.
There are several really special rabbits patiently waiting for homes at San
Francisco Animal Care and Control, including a beautiful brown bunny named
Sophie, who has literally grown up at the shelter. She arrived in late July
as an approximately two month old baby. Despite her sweet personality and
good looks, she has not been adopted and will need to find a place very
soon. If you are interested in fostering her or adoption, please contact
Marcy at 415-388-2790 or saveabunny@aol.com.
There are also a large number of white rabbits currently for adoption at
SFACC. When so many of the bunnies look alike, adoptions can be slower than
usual. These white bunnies come in all shapes and sizes from Netherland
dwarfs to New Zealands, so if you are looking for a fluffy, white bunny, be
sure to visit San Francisco Animal Care and Control.
Marcy Schaaf
Chapter Manager
SaveABunny, San Francisco/ Marin House Rabbit Society
www.saveabunny.com
http://www.sfgov.org/site/acc_page.asp?id=6610
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Peninsula Humane Society:
I have been volunteering at this shelter for 15 years and have seen some
great changes for the rabbits, including a decline in the amonts of rabbits
being brought to the shelter. In 1990 we were getting 750 rabbits a year
with 80% being euthanized. Now we are getting about 350 with about 98%
getting adopted or going to rescue. Our shelter always has an overcrowding
of rabbits and we always seem to have rabbits in danger of being euthanized.
This summer, unfortunately we had to euthanize two litters and some singles
due to space and not being able to find anyone to foster or adopt. I am
greatful to Marcy Schaef, Heather Bechtel, Karen Courtemanche, and Yuri Ito
for helping us get some of these rabbits out. They have been a true life
line for our rabbits. At the present time, I have some 45 rabbits I am
fostering and could always use help if someone would like to foster or
adopt.
The rabbits at Peninsula Humane Society really have a very good life there.
I have 5 very well-trained volunteer who have worked at the shelter for
quite a while to socialize the rabbits daily. We have a wonderful outside
play area for them to run in and several great toys to play on. The
volunteer bring veggies in daily for the rabbits and every cage has toys and
a basket for chewing and lots of hay. I am at the shelter four times a week
for several hours checking up on the rabbits and it enables me to keep on
top of things.
The shelter has several New Zealand Albinos up for adoption right now. Of
these rabbits, six of them were dumped in Menlo Park. You can see there
pictures on there web site: www.peninsulahumanesociety.org.
Donna Jensen
Rabbit Volunteer- Peninsula Humane Society
waltbda@aol.com
www.peninsulahumanesociety.org
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Humane Society of Silicon Valley:
Humane Society of Silicon Valley takes in hundreds of rabbits each year and
is one of the bay area's highest volume shelters. Unfortunately, adoptions
do not keep pace with the large number of rabbits coming into the shelter
and many rabbits do not make it. Currently, there is a spayed white momma
bunny and her six adolescent youngsters in very urgent need of long-term
foster homes and adoption. If you can foster for 5- 6 months, please
contact either Marcy at 415-388-2790, saveabunny@aol.com or Sara at
sara@rabbit.org immediately.
Marcy Schaaf
Chapter Manager
SaveABunny
San Francisco/ Marin House Rabbit Society
www.saveabunny.com
415-388-2790
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Please visit http://shelters.saveabunny.com/ and
http://www.rabbit.org/rabbit-center/fair_share/index.htm to find out more
about Bay Area shelters and to see rabbits from shelters all over the Bay
Area. Thank you for your compassion and caring!
The HRS Fair Share for Rabbits Team
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