What's New? At House Rabbit Society July 2003

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** The HRS Seeks Help in California Rabbit Cruelty Case **

On July 23, a little lop-eared rabbit was thrown from a moving
vehicle into traffic on Highway One. Witnesses collected the
severely injured and terrified bunny and took her to an animal
shelter. Rabbit Haven, a Bay Area rescue group, got her out of
the shelter and placed her in HRS foster care.

Her name is Samosa. Her suffering began long before this
vicious act of cruelty. Samosa has severe foot injuries
likely from small cage confinement. She virtually has no
hair left, neurotically plucking herself bald.

Richmond HRS has set up a medical fund for Samosa and other
abused rabbits like her. We are requesting donations to help
this deserving rabbit, and all the others who suffer at
the hands of callous and cruel humans. Donations may be sent
to:
The Samosa Fund
HRS Headquarters
148 Broadway
Richmond, CA 94804.

To read more about little Samosa, please go to:
http://www.rabbit.org/rabbit-center/hurt-rabbit.html


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*** July is Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month ***

In association with the American Society for Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, the House Rabbit Society has officially
designated July as Adopt-A-Rescued Rabbit Month. If you have
the room in your home (we already know you have the room in
your hearts!), please contact your local HRS chapter or go
to your local animal shelter and adopt a rabbit today.

For more information:
http://rabbit.org/opinion/july-adopt-a-rabbit.html


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*** Miami International Airport Jackrabbit Rescue Update ***

On July 10th, a Miami judge decided in favor of the USDA
slaughter of the Jackrabbits. That night, USDA shooters
'claimed' they killed 35 rabbits. However, the trapper who
had been on the field every day for 2 months believes there
could not have been more than 10-12 rabbits left at the
airport on July 9th. Conflicting stories and controversy
abound. The good news is that the trapper is still allowed
on the field to continue his humane work.

The Florida activists behind this rescue effort are meeting
this week with representatives from the FAA, USDA and the
Miami Airport authorities to hopefully negotiate a maintenance
plan with no USDA involvement.

Related articles:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/6277672.htm
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/07/21/State/Who_s_saving_jackrabb.shtml


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*** Tularemia Outbreak ***

In June, the Center for Disease Control confirmed an outbreak
of Tularemia in Nebraska. Months earlier, Monkeypox was in the
headlines. Susan Smith, Wisconsin HRS Educator and Scientific
Advisor, has waded through the rumors and misinformation and
written a clear and informative article exonerating the
(delightfully 'Common')house rabbit. To read Susan's article,
please go to:

http://www.rabbit.org/health/exotic-diseases.html


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*** Stories Rabbits Tell ***

The much anticipated book, Stories Rabbits Tell, will be
available in August! Authors Susan E. Davis and Margo DeMello
explore how rabbits "... are complex, social creatures
intertwined with human culture." -Publisher's Weekly-

For more details about this wonderful book and its authors
Susan E. Davis and Margo DeMello, please go to:
http://rabbit.org/links/sections/stories-rabbits-tell.html

Please remember to purchase your copy from Amazon.com using
this HRS link. 5% of the purchase price will be donated to
the House Rabbit Society. Thank you.


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*** Petco Petition ***

Last year, HRS President Margo DeMello appealed to Petco to
discontinue selling rabbits in all Petco locations across the
country (http://www.rabbit.org/opinion/petco.html). (To read
how Minnesota HRS is working with Petco to stop rabbit sales
in their area, please see Chapter Updates below.)

Now, the Long Island Pug Organization is calling for a boycott
and petitioning Petco to stop selling all animals in their
stores. To sign the petition, please go to:

http://www.petitiononline.com/POLIPET/petition.html


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*** Keeping Rabbits Cool During the Dog Days of Summer ***

Lagomorphs do not have sweat glands so it is critical to their
health that you maintain a proper environment for them during
the hot summer days. Following are some excellent suggestions
from the San Diego chapter to keep your rabbits calm, cool and
comfortable during the hot summer months.

- Freeze water in one or two liter-size plastic bottles and
keep in the cage as a giant ice cube for bunny to lean
against. Keep a couple of bottles rotating in the freezer.
(Tip: Leave a little room in the bottle for expansion.)
- Dampen a towel and drape it over one end of the cage with
a fan blowing gently on it, enough for good air circula-
tion but not so it's drafty.
- Gently mist ears and fur with clean water.
- Place a square or two of ceramic tile or marble in the
cage. It will remain cooler than the air temperature and
will be a cool place for Bun to rest.
- Always have plenty of fresh drinking water available.
- If your rabbit spends time outdoors, be sure to provide
shade and always keep him out of the direct sun in the
hottest times of the day.
- If your rabbit becomes exposed to too much heat, seems
listless, is not eating and acting normally, get him to
a veterinarian immediately. DO NOT WAIT!

For more information, please go to:
www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/warm-weather.html


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*** House Rabbit Society Chapter Updates ***

On the west coast, San Diego HRS is looking forward to hosting
BUNNYFEST 2003, which will be held on September 28th in
Heritage Park in Old Town. The San Francisco/Peninsula chapter
will be teaching Summer Camp 101 for the third year at
Peninsula Humane Society, in which elementary school kids will
learn about animals and their care. And the Monterey Bay
chapter just held their first garage sale fundraiser which
was a huge success, and they will be holding a big educational
event (to coincide with Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month) on
July 26.

Vancouver Rabbit Rescue is now a British Columbia-registered
non-profit society, the first step in their becoming an
official HRS chapter, and they are preparing for a big
pet fair to be held the first weekend in August. In Colorado,
they just celebrated their "Spring Fling," in which Colorado
HRS members participated in bunny tune-ups, 'ask the vet,'
and photo opportunities, followed by their semi-annual sanctuary
day in which members visit the chapter's sanctuary bunnies.

In the mid-west, the Kansas City chapter is hosting their 2nd
Bunny Expo on August 2, and will be represented at the
upcoming Central Veterinary Conference in Kansas City
at the end of August. Indiana HRS just recovered from some
very severe weather conditions in which chapter representa-
tives were out of power, some sustained heavy damage from
storms, and one fosterer's home was flooded. Thankfully,
local HRS members came to the rescue and helped the people
and rabbits recover. Since then, the chapter has been back
in action, participating in two Indianapolis area pet fairs,
and they are planning for their first Rabbit Expo on
August 23.

Minnesota HRS will be holding their Bunny Lovers' Picnic on
August 16, which is a social and educational event for humans
only. This chapter is also proud of their work with Petco
on a pilot program to 'test' the feasibility of Petco's
replacing their rabbit sales in Minneapolis with adoptable
rabbits overseen by HRS volunteers. If this program is
successful, the next step would be to expand the program into
the rest of Minnesota.

Finally, on the east coast, some rabbit photos from our
New York City chapter have been selected for the New York
Historical Society's "Petropolis" exhibit, which details the
city's history of living with companion animals, to be open
from July 15 to November 9.


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*** Donate to HRS every time you write a check! ***

One dollar from every box of checks will be donated to the
House Rabbit Society. You can even have your rabbit picture
printed on customized checks!

Go to: www.petchecks.com/bunnies.html


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If you are not a member of the House Rabbit Society, please
take this opportunity to join us. A yearly tax-deductible
membership costs only $18 or $25 for international memberships.
All members receive the Society's newsletter,
The House Rabbit Journal.
http://rabbit.org/hrs-info/joining.html


*** On behalf of the rabbits, thank you. ***


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Paige K. Parsons House Rabbit Society
Education Director http://www.rabbit.org
Online Coordinator and Webmaster
volunteering since '93

Do you like our site or find our advice useful?
Please show your support by making a secure online donation:

http://www.guidestar.org/helping/donate.adp?ein=94-3061685

HRS, 148 Broadway Richmond, CA 94804
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