What's New? at House Rabbit Society September 2003


*** Samosa Update ***

Last month, we introduced you to Samosa, a little bunny
that had been thrown from a car on a California highway.
Now, we are thrilled to tell you that Samosa has been
adopted! After a month of tender care by fosterer
extraordinaire Karen Courtemanche, Samosa's wounds, both
physical & emotional, are almost completely healed.

For the many people who have contacted HRS with questions,
sent get-well cards & made donations to the medical fund,
thank you. A total of $3650.00 has been contributed to the
Samosa Fund and every cent has been applied to our medical
bills. Additionally, we thank the ASPCA for their generosity
in posting a $2500.00 reward for information leading to the
perpetrators of this heinous act.

To read Samosa's story, please go to:

http://rabbit.org/rabbit-center/hurt-rabbit.html

To read a beautiful letter from Samosa's new family,
please go to:

http://rabbit.org/rabbit-center/samosa-update.html



*** Miami Jackrabbit Update ***

All is quiet in Miami now, but soon, noise will be made
in Washington DC. Jackrabbit advocates now have copies of
the original FAA documents to Miami International. The
papers make no mention of any recommendation to kill the
rabbits. A lobbyist will be hired & visits will be paid to
the USDA, FAA and the WPA (Wildlife Protection Agency).
Someone must answer for the tragedy that took place at
Miami International. We will keep you apprised as the
situation develops.

For now & on a much more delightful note, the rescued baby
Jackrabbits are happy, healthy and flourishing. Recent photos
of the youngsters can be seen at :

http://hare.bio.miami.edu/jackrabbit/babybook.html



*** Stories Rabbits Tell is on the Bookstore Shelves! ***

We have two really good suggestions for acquiring your very
own copy of this marvelous book and to help support HRS at
the same time: 1) You can purchase the book from your local HRS
chapter and they will receive 50% ($11.) as a donation!
2) If you do not live near a chapter OR if your chapter does
not have the book, please purchase your copy from amazon.com
using the HRS link. 5% of the purchase price will be donated
to HRS.

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

Congratulations Susan & Margo. Well done!



*** Myxomatosis Article ***

Myxomatosis is a virus spread by mosquitoes, fleas & fur
mites. HRS Solano/Sonoma Chapter, California Co-Manager
Sylvia WynnLindeman has written a clear and comprehensive
article about this life threatening disease, Experiences
with Myxomatosis. To read the full article, go to:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/myxo.html



*** Rabbits Liberated in Sweden ***

According to the arkangelweb.org blog, 62 rabbits were rescued
from a meat breeder near Stockholm, Sweden. To read the report
please go to:

http://www.arkangelweb.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=
News&file=article&sid=505&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0



*** Armchair Activism ***

Following are links to two petitions worthy of your attention.
If you have not signed already, please take a moment to do so.
If you have signed (Thank you!), please forward the links to
two like-minded, compassionate people.
http://www.petitiononline.com/POLIPET/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?savesall



*** House Rabbit Society Chapter Updates ***

In the mid-west, the Kansas City chapter just held their 2003
Bunny Expo on August 2nd to a huge crowd. In addition, the Kansas
City and St. Louis chapters were involved in their 1st veterinary
event, the Central Veterinary Conference held in Kansas City,
August 22-24. The conference was attended by 6,000 veterinary
professionals. Missouri volunteers tell us that the experience
was extremely positive; they were very busy all three days with
veterinarians who were either currently seeing bunnies in their
practice or were interested in expanding their knowledge to
include rabbit health.

Minnesota HRS just held their Bunny Lover's Picnic on August 16.
HRS President and Executive Director Margo DeMello was pleased
to attend & reported that, "...it was a wonderful, inspiring
(and HOT!)event." Margo also visited the Columbus, Ohio chapter
and was updated about their activities, including their partici-
pation at the recent OVMA Veterinary Conference in Columbus.
Like the Missouri HRS volunteers, our Columbus representatives
told Margo that they received a huge amount of positive feedback
from the veterinarians, technicians and students, and plan to
attend future veterinary conferences.

Indiana HRS just completed their first Rabbit Expo on August 23,
and are looking forward to participating in the PAWS Companion
Animal Fair, the Indianapolis Women's Expo and the Indianapolis
Companion Animal Fair.

On the west coast, San Diego HRS is looking forward to hosting
Bunnyfest 2003, which will be held on September 28th. Here in
the San Francisco Bay Area, we're busy as well. At the shelter,
we've been hosting classes such our recent Geriatric Rabbits work-
shop (taught by HRS founder Marinell Harriman), and our upcoming
Animal Communications class. We'll be participating in the upcoming
America's Family Pet Expo, and we've also recently had a wonderful
vegetarian barbecue followed by a screening of Watership Down in
our classroom. On September 6th, HRS was proud to host a Stories
Rabbits Tell book-signing party. Authors Susan Davis and Margo
DeMello were at the HRS shelter inscribing book after book to the
delight of many HRS supporters. Our Marin/San Francisco chapter
was recently featured on the SF Animal Adoptathon, which was
televised, they've been teaching a summer camp at the Marin Humane
Society, and took part as well in a Blind Babies Foundation event,
bringing children with visual impairments in touch with animals,
including a blind rabbit.



*** The HRS Web Site Photo Randomizer ***

Dozens & dozens of marvelous new rabbit photographs have recently
been submitted to the House Rabbit Society web site's randomizer
at http://www.rabbit.org/fun/net-bunnies.html. If you haven't visited
lately, we invite you to do so. We also welcome you to submit your
own special pictures by emailing them to: photos@.... It's
easiest for us if the pictures are sent as email attachments and as
jpg files, but we can handle other formats.



*** House Rabbit Society Journal ***

The next HRS Journal is scheduled for release at the end of
September. The feature article is about the relationship between
HRS and animal shelters, written by Amy Espie. This issue's medical
article will cover rabbit skin diseases. Also included will be a
piece about rabbits and children, written by Stories Rabbits Tell
co-author, Susan E. Davis. So keep your eyes on your mailbox in
a month's time and be sure to read the story about a real life
story about a true rabbit hero! All current members as of 9/20
will receive this new issue. So don't wait - join today.



*** NEW HRS Merchandise ***

We now have official HRS license plate frames! In addition, The
new and fabulous lemon-yellow messenger bag would make a perfect
gift for students. The infant creeper, visor & journal are also new
and all bear the familiar HRS logo.

To purchase these or any of the many HRS items, go to:
http://www.cafeshops.com/hrs,hrs2,hrs3
(100% of all profits go directly to support House Rabbit Society.)


******************************************************************


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, House Rabbit Journal.
http://rabbit.org/hrs-info/joining.html



On behalf of the rabbits, thank you.