Four Hayward Girls Move to the Country 

Bunny Population Grows by Six

In a filthy backyard in Hayward California, almost 50 rabbits suffered in the summer heat without food or water. They were unsterilized and extremely thin, their fur damaged with urine burns. Many had large patches of bare skin; their bodies were fighting a losing war with disease. The ground was littered with remains of dead rabbits.

We received a call from the House Rabbit Society, and a week later six new rabbits moved into our Bunny Haven enclosure. Their fur has grown back thick and beautiful; they are healthy and get along wonderfully with the other bunnies. Now, Lemonade, Rita, Samantha, Prana, Zephyr and Olga spend their days enjoying the great outdoors, jumping up onto the straw bale houses and munching on fresh produce every evening.

Reprinted with permission from Animal Place’s quarterly newsletter, Animal Place News, Fall 2004.

_____________________________________________

Immediately after the Hayward Rescue in May, House Rabbit Society contacted numerous sanctuaries asking for help in placing some of the rabbits. Animal Place, a farm animal sanctuary in Vacaville CA, generously responded with an offer to take six rabbits.

On June 17^th, four Hayward girls, Olga, Prana, Samantha, Zephyr, and two longtime House Rabbit Society foster bunnies, Lemonade and Rita, moved to Animal Place. This wonderful sanctuary will offer them a safe haven for the rest of their lives.

Olga	Prana	Samantha	Zephyr

The four Hayward girls, Olga, Prana, Samantha, Zephyr, were chosen because they hadn’t had any serious health issues (as so many of the Haywards did and still do) and got along very well together. None of them showed any tendency to fight; a very important consideration when integrating into a large group. So, after a month of proper nutrition, gentle handling, thorough grooming and a sanitary environment, they were given a health clearance.

Lemonade	Rita

HRS fosters Lemonade and Rita were selected because they had been in foster care for over a year and showed no interest in the human species. Both are very large rabbits and it was decided they would do well in a rabbit-only group environment.

Hayward rabbits foster mom Karen Courtemanche (left) and Animal Place Sanctuary Supervisor Varina Heilman look on as the regulars check out the newcomers.
Ever so cautiously, the Hayward girls begin to emerge.	Psst, Rita! Where are we? ~ Lemonade
Prana makes her move.	Samantha and Rita, exploring their new home.
Olga, looking a bit overwhelmed.
Samantha relaxes near one of the Animal Place boys. Behind them is the rabbit supplies storage area.	Two Animal Place bunnies watch the events from afar.
Sebastian and Varina. Sebastian is 6 months old. He was near death in a horribly cruel situation. Varina and others at Animal Place nursed him back to health. He keeps watch over the bunnies every night. (You can read Sebastian’s story in the newest Animal Place newsletter at: www.animalplace.org. Select: Publications.)
Pretty bunny checking out new girl, Olga.	Handsome Lemonade chills.
Prana and Zephyr relax by the giant stone bunny bench. The floor of the rabbit house is hard packed dirt, so there is no concern about the bunnies digging out. Meticulous planning went into the design of this facility, creating a completely safe environment and the fulfilling of all the rabbits’ needs.
Zephyr is relaxed enough to groom herself. The bunnies love the strategically placed hay bales.	Rita by the post. “The girls have integrated very well. They hang out together, and lay side by side with the others here.” Varina Heilman
Sebastian and the veteran bunnies gather around a newly filled kibble pan. The Hayward girls, Lemonade and Rita, stayed on the outskirts.
With the new additions, the Animal Place Bunny Haven is filled to capacity at 25 rabbits, and Sebastian, of course!	Some of the Hayward girls are too busy checking out their new digs to bother eating.
Zephyr’s and Lemonade’s legs tell us everything we need to know; they feel safe and content at Animal Place.
Samantha has found her forever home, 66.2 miles from Bruno Street, Hayward, CA.

House Rabbit Society wholeheartedly thanks Animal Place Co-Founder and Director Kim Sturla, and Sanctuary Supervisor Varina Heilman, for the generosity and compassion they have shown by taking in these deserving rabbits.

For more information, contact:

Connie Cwynar
ccwynar@comcast.net

Karen Courtemanche
KLCourt@aol.com

- Back to Hayward Rescue Page -