International Headquarters & Rabbit Center  

Adoption, Rescue & Education - Richmond, CA

 

  
   
 
Hayward Rabbit Rescue

 

UPDATE:
 

For Immediate Release                                
Contact: Erin Williams, HRS Richmond Communications, (510) 970-7575
www.rabbit.org, www.haywardrabbits.org

Convicted Animal Abuser Sentenced:

Rabbit Rescue Group Demanded Maximum Accountability

RICHMOND, Calif. (May 23, 2005) ­ On May 12, 2004, Hayward Animal Control and a rabbit rescue group rescued 34 rabbits from a serious cruelty situation in Hayward, CA. On Friday, May 20, convicted animal abuser Janine Marie Cazares received three years probation and sixteen days jail time for charges resulting from this cruelty.

House Rabbit Society (HRS), a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Richmond, CA, initially discovered the horrific situation through an online posting last May 11 for free rabbits. Upon visiting the home, HRS and East Bay Animal Advocates (EBAA) volunteers discovered 34 rabbits languishing in a feces-filled backyard. Cazares kept the rabbits in an outdoor enclosure with machinery, cans of gasoline, and junk. All of the rabbits were filthy, and signs of cruelty and neglect were everywhere. HRS and EBAA volunteers returned the next day with Hayward Animal Services, who determined that the animals should be immediately removed. Humane Officers and volunteers were shocked to discover a large number of dead and decaying rabbits, in addition to sick, malnourished, and injured rabbits, piles of feces, and insect infestation.

On October 15, Hayward Police arrested Cazares, taking her to jail in handcuffs. Alameda County prosecutors charged Cazares with misdemeanor animal cruelty, and bail was set at $10,000. In November, Cazares pled "no contest," and on April 20, Judge Robert Kurtz convicted her of animal cruelty.  On Friday, Judge Kurtz sentenced her to three years probation and sixteen days jail time.  Cazares may not bring additional animals into her home during her probation, and she is also subject to unannounced searches of her home and property by the Hayward Police Department and Animal Control.  She also must surrender the one remaining rabbit, Dave, to authorities.

HRS spokesperson Erin Williams recalls, "The surviving rabbits were suffering terribly from malnutrition, tumors, parasites, open sores, infections, attacks from wild animals, and other serious problems.  While this was certainly bad enough, we discovered a huge number of rotting corpses and body parts in the backyard.  The condition that Cazares kept these animals in was incredibly cruel."

Hayward Animal Control Officer Cara Taft adds, "I am pleased that the court system realizes the extreme suffering these rabbits had to endure. All of us on the case were personally involved and affected by the horrible conditions these rabbits were kept in. The lack of compassion towards the rabbits on Cazares¹ part amazes me."

Dedicated HRS volunteers nursed the rabbits back to health, providing costly and specialized treatment, and the group adopted all the surviving rabbits into loving, permanent homes or sanctuaries.  

For photos and more information regarding this case, including photographs and witness statements, please visit http://www.haywardrabbits.org. HRS chapters throughout the Bay Area also have hundreds more loving, gentle rabbits who desperately need homes. To learn more, please visit www.rabbit.org.

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House Rabbit Society is an international non-profit organization that rescues rabbits and educates the public on rabbit care and behavior through its national network of fosterers and educators, advocacy programs, and its limited-access rabbit shelter in Richmond, California.


About Hayward Rabbits

In May, 2004, HRS volunteers and other members of the animal control and rescue community initiated a rescue of a large number of rabbits who were cruelly neglected at a property in Hayward, California. These web pages tell their story and provide important information for the effort to ensure the perpetrators of this animal cruelty situation are appropriately charged for the crimes they have committed. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom to see all the listings, and to check back often to learn new details about the case, the rabbits, and their situation.

first_day.jpg (23116 bytes)

There are many wonderful photos that help to tell the story; we hope you'll enjoy reading about the rabbits and consider joining our efforts to support a cruelty case against the owners of the Hayward property from which the rabbits were rescued.

Thank you for your support of the Hayward Rescue Rabbits.

IMPORTANT UPDATES
Date Event/Information Link

New info added:
May 24, 2004 HRS Releases Media Alert about Hayward Rescue

Press Release

 5/24/04
May 26, 2004 Cruelty Case for Presentation to the Alameda County District Attorney District Attorney 10/20/04
June 5, 2004 First Introduction to the Hayward Rabbits Hayward Rabbits 6/6/04
June 8, 2004 Hayward Rabbits are Spayed/ Neutered Spay/Neuter 6/8/04
June 9, 2004 Johanna Comes a Long Way Johanna 6/9/04
June 10, 2004 Janet and Lance - Two More Bunnies Join the Group Janet and Lance 6/10/04
June 12, 2004 Building a Healthy Environment Play Structure 6/12/04
June 19, 2004 Toby - Elder Statesman of the Hayward Bunnies Toby 6/19/04
June 20, 2004 Hayward Rabbits become One Large Group One Group 6/20/04
June 25, 2004 Hayward Rabbits are Available for Adoption Adopt a Hayward Rabbit 10/31/04
June 30, 2004 Volunteers Make All the Difference! Volunteers 7/10/04
July 4, 2004 Tribute to Toby Toby Tribute 7/9/04
July 17, 2004 Four Girls Move to the Country Animal Place 8/23/04
Aug 1, 2004 Hayward Animal Control Animal Cruelty Report Report to DA 10/20/04
Aug 15, 2004 Eileen Eileen 10/20/04
Oct 15, 2004 Witness Statements presented to the Hayward District Attorney Witness Statements 10/20/04
Oct 21, 2004 Media Coverage of the Hayward Rabbits Case Media Coverage 11/6/04
Oct 22, 2004 Letters Written on Behalf of the Hayward Rescued Rabbits Letters to DA Tom Rogers 10/31/04
Nov 1, 2004 Sign the Hayward Rabbits Petition to Prosecute their abuser Petition 11/8/04

Support the Hayward Rescue Rabbits by shopping at their  Cafe' Press store. Purchase t-shirts, coffee mugs, and more!  All profits support the Hayward Rabbits still in foster care.  The bunnies say, "Thanks for your support!" Visit the shop at www.cafeshops.com/hayward_rabbits


For more information, contact:

Connie Cwynar
ccwynar@comcast.net

Karen Courtemanche
KLCourt@aol.com