* What's New? at House Rabbit Society - May 2005 *


** Make Mine Chocolate! Post-Easter Update

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the "Make
Mine Chocolate!" campaign a huge success in its first year
as a national campaign! We could not have done it alone.

Thanks to a grant from the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable
Trust, a Key Bank Trust, we had the financial support we
needed to cover our startup costs. Six major animal
welfare organizations and 45 rabbit rescues, HRS
chapters, veterinary clinics, and animal product vendors
partnered with us on this effort, linking to our website and
including us in their magazines and newsletters. An
international flavor was added when our campaign
received mention on websites in South Africa and
Canada. Because of this support, the campaign was
mentioned in articles that appeared in more than two
dozen newspapers throughout the country and in a public
service announcement that was shown on the USA
Network and the Discovery network.

Our campaign message also continues to spread through
our "Make Mine Chocolate!" pin: 1732 more pins are
being worn this year, as well as 410 t-shirts and 113
sweatshirts. More than 400 "Make Mine Chocolate!"
magnets adorn refrigerators and doors.

We are now in the planning phase for our 2006 Easter
campaign. In addition to expanding our partnership
program, we have a new goal of reaching out to parents
through educational and community channels. We will also
continue to grow our website learning center by adding
new learning modules. Our hope is that we can count on
your continued support of the campaign. Stay abreast of
campaign activities by regularly visiting our new weblog,
which can be viewed at:
www.makeminechocolate.org/blog

Together, we can reduce the number of unwanted Easter
rabbits.

Karalee Curry, Columbus HRS


** Fourth Edition of House Rabbit Handbook Released!

April 16, 2005 was another milestone for the house rabbit
community with the release of House Rabbit Society
founder Marinell Harriman's 4th edition of House Rabbit
Handbook, the definitive book on living with house rabbits.

The House Rabbit Handbook, first published in 1985,
quickly became the "bible" for thousands of people who
lived with house rabbits and inspired countless thousands
of others to bring their "outside" rabbits indoors.

Experienced rabbit caretakers as well as new comers will
find a wealth of information in this "must read" book. All
the basics of rabbit care are explained in a practical and
straightforward manner. Also included in this new edition
is a section on bonding your rabbit with other rabbits as
well as with other species; a section on geriatric care and
assisted living, a comprehensive plant list divided by
toxicity levels; and so much more.

Purchase a copy of House Rabbit Handbook at your local
HRS chapter or buy one from amazon.com. (If you use
the amazon link at www.rabbit.org, HRS will receive 5%
of your entire purchase price.)


** Lucky Verdict

On July 13, 2004, two men taped explosives to a pet
rabbit and threw her into an East Bay lake. Exactly
nine months later on April 13, 2005, Nicholas Sigmon
and Paul Collins pled "No Contest" and the Judge
found them guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Judge Robert Fairwell sentenced Sigmon to 30 days jail
time and Collins to 15 days in jail. The judge also ordered
both men to attend acute psychological counseling,
perform community service, and pay fines. Both men also
may not own explosives or care for animals during their
three years of probation. (www.luckyrabbit.org)


** Hayward Rescued Rabbits Update

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, 2005,
convicted animal abuser Janine Marie Cazares received
three years probation and sixteen days jail time for charges
resulting from this cruelty. 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. A restitution hearing
is scheduled for June 24. (www.haywardrabbits.org)

In this case as well as in Lucky's, there is great
disappointment and frustration with the light sentencing.
Both cases were horrifically cruel. Lucky was fortunate
and survived but, in the Hayward case, an untold number
of rabbits languished, suffered and died at the hands of
a heartless and brutal woman. Both cases should have been
charged as felonies.

Until enough people stand up and demand that the courts
begin to recognize the enormity of such cases, that
tougher laws be written and stiffer sentences be imposed
on such cruel individuals, we must satisfy ourselves with
the knowledge that at least they were convicted.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported this case. To
all who wrote letters, signed the petitions, sent last minute
faxes and came to court, thank you.

Thank you to Rich Sievers of Alameda's Rabbit Row
(http://rabbitrow.org) for all of his "Court-Support",
both online as well as in person, helping to keep this case,
as well as Lucky's, in the hearts and minds of the Bay
Area rabbit community.

Thank you to Kerry Sullivan. No one campaigned
harder than you did to inform people about the Hayward
Rabbits or struggled more to seek support and justice for
them. Albert, Angel, Baxter, Benton, Bernie, Danny, Diana
Eileen, Francine, Frankie, Gigi, Janet, Johanna, Lance,
Lewis, Michael, Nancy, Olga, Prana, Richard, Sam,
Samantha, Seymore, Sombra, Toby, Ubu, Zephyr and
Zorro love you.

Lucky and the Hayward Rabbits are alive today thanks to
Karen Courtemanche. Karen investigated both of these
cases and reported them to authorities. Karen took Lucky
and all the surviving Haywards Rabbits into her home. She
has worked for over a year to find loving homes for these
rabbits. Those that could not be placed, have a forever
and ever home with Karen, at her new farm and animal
sanctuary in Tracy, California. I stand in awe of you.

Connie Cwynar, HRS Volunteer


** Planning for the Future: Emergency Preparedness and
Estate Planning

In many areas, with spring comes the chance for severe
weather. Be sure that your home is prepared to respond.

Be sure you have enough carriers to transport all animals
to safety. Store the carriers in a ready-to-go state, not
disassembled or uncleaned from the previous use.

Research the quickest and safest exit routes from your
home and establish escape routes, along with alternates!
Establish a safe place for everyone to meet up once
outside.

Divide up responsibilities between people if you have
multiple pets and household members. Brief all family
members on the protocol should problems such as fire,
flood, tornado, or other severe weather occur.

On a clear day, do a test drill of your plan, in order to
make sure there aren't missing details you need to attend
to before a real emergency occurs.

These precautions don't usually take more than an hour or
so of planning and discussion, but can mean the world
should a problem arise.

The rescue group I work with has fielded a couple of
questions about estate planning from people who are
wanting to make sure the needs of their pets are covered
should the unexpected happen. While learning, I don't
know a lot about these areas, but there are a number of
links that can help point you in the right direction.

You can begin with the Humane Society of the United
States, which has published the piece, Providing For Your
Pets Future Without You (http://tinyurl.com/d4ra2).
Likewise, the Estate Planning for Pets Foundation has
published Estate Planning for Pets
(http://tinyurl.com/8cwr9) as a primer to the subject.
You can also consult with a lawyer who specializes in
estates, wills and other types of personal planning; some
may even specialize in pets!

This article was extracted from Leith Petwerks, Inc.
(http://www.leithpetwerks.com) Bun Fun (3.24.05)
newsletter. Thank you, Amy!


** Help the Bunnies Every Time You Shower!

Check out the brand spanking new online shop
www.BunsNRoses.com for cruelty free gift soaps. There
are fun rabbit shaped soaps; gift baskets; single bars of
soap and more.

Don't see what you're looking for? Go to the "Contact
Us" page. We'll get back to you right away. There are
many other scents, colors, shapes available. Pictures can
be emailed to you at your request. The site is still under
construction but you will still be able to view the available
soaps.

www.BunsNRoses.com was created to raise funds to help
care for sanctuary rabbits. ALL proceeds from sales are
donated for this purpose.

50% of the proceeds for the month of June will be given to
the Bunny Rescue Fund, the House Rabbit Society
chapter in Las Vegas.
http://www.bunnyrescuefund.org/pages/1/index.htm



** Save Toby's Tribe

RabbitWise in Maryland has new tee shirts promoting their
campaign to ban rabbit meat. The cleverly designed shirts
also take aim at the cruelly conceived "Save Toby"; a
much publicized web site which threatens to kill a pet
bunny unless a set amount of money is donated
(extorted?) to save his life.

Kudos to RabbitWise!
Check out their website! http://www.rabbitwise.org
Support their work! http://www.cafepress.com/RabbitWise



** Amy Sedaris and A Tale of Two Bunnies

http://www.jerriblank.com/amy_animal-fair.html



** Dare To Care For a Hare
Poetry Contest to Benefit House Rabbit Society

Out of over one hundred poems submitted from seven
countries, the judges, poets C J Sage and J P Dancing
Bear, have chosen Kip Colegrove's poem, The House
Rabbit, as FIRST PLACE WINNER!

Congratulations to Kip!

C. J. Sage edits The National Poetry Review. Her poems
have appeared in The Threepenny Review, Verse Daily,
Smartish Pace, Weber Studies, Chautauqua Literary
Journal, and other magazines. She is author of And We
the Creatures: Fifty-One Contemporary American Poets
on Animal Rights and Appreciation.

J. P. Dancing Bear lives in Northern California. His poems
have appeared or are forthcoming in hundreds of
publications including Shenandoah, Mississippi Review,
Cimarron Review, Poetry East, North American Review,
Atlanta Review and others. He is a founding editor of
Disquieting Muses and was the Editor-in-Chief of
Disquieting Muses/DMQ Review for five years. He is
now the editor of The American Poetry Journal. Bear is
the owner of Dream Horse Press.


The House Rabbit
by Kip Colegrove

We do not need to go to Mars,
or sift for gold in our imaginations:
the Others we anticipate are here,
the aliens we have wished to welcome
and wondered if our hearth were wide enough.

This rabbit, for example, in the hallway,
her eyes so like and unlike ours,
deep and wide and dark as late creation
desperate to gather back its light:
we recognize a constellation we would name.

But in those depths, beyond our nomenclature,
the living spark of hopeful wariness
that makes us us and others them
exfoliates the invitation:
I've come to your world; come to mine.

We cannot storm creation with our words
and hope to leave a happy residue.
The Other has its own requirements,
its own affections, needs and challenges,
and we are neighbors only by compassion.

Kip and his wife Julie Fisher are both Episcopal clerics
residing in Nebraska City, Nebraska. They have three
rabbits: Bridgit, a seven-year-old Dutch mix, who was the
inspiration for this poem; Tucker, a four-year-old
American Fuzzy lop; and Roo, an eight-year-old Flemish
Giant. They are House Rabbit Society members, but the
nearest chapter to them is the Kansas City, Missouri
House Rabbit Society, where they visit as often as
possible. Kip and Julie say, "We just love rabbits. I don't
know why. We just do."

Kip has requested that his portion of the contest proceeds
generated by the sale of the broadside be donated to HRS
National Headquarters to be distributed to the areas in
most need of funds for saving rabbits. He has also
generously donated his $250 prize money to the Missouri
House Rabbit Society.

Please order the prize-winning poem as proceeds support
House Rabbit Society. This beautiful handmade letterpress
broadside (suitable for framing), can be ordered by
sending $15.17 which includes tax for California residents,
or $13.95 for out-of-state residents, to Speed Bump
Press, 48 Avon Road, Berkeley CA 94707. Include your
name and complete mailing information. International
residents please inquire about shipping.


* The Second Place poem was written by Jodie Appell
from Oakland, California:

Jack Rabbit in Winter
by Jodie Appell

Though I wait for him on the cold hillside,
he does not appear. Rain trails down
my legs as I scan the brush for a glimpse
of fur. In late winter, so may things
go into hiding. I look skyward, hoping
for an opening in the gray cloak above me.

Maybe wherever a wild hare goes is where
one's spirit goes when in need of shelter.
I imagine them together in a warm burrow.
They talk of spring, when they will leap
through tall grass, unassailed by storms,
danger or indecision, racing down
to the shore to watch boats meander,
weightless on the bay.

But now it is all icy stillness.
Though I've left walnuts and oats, I can't
even find his tracks in the soaked earth.
If he would just show me a sign
that he is alive, with his great legs,
his noble ears that can probably
hear me now, looking for him.

Something moves. A sound, slight as petals
brushed by the wind. Someone slips
into my small realm, a creature who knows
his way, certain of his step.
I can't see him but I know he's there.

I stand in the rain, in this place we now share.
We are safe here, on winter's ground,
each of us listening for the other's presence.
And that is enough.


* And the Third Place poem was submitted by
Judith Goldhaber from Berkeley, California:

The Rabbit and the Frogs
by Judith Goldhaber


The Rabbit was an apprehensive fellow,
living in a constant state of manic
depression; his own shadow made him panic,
the scent of foxes turned his legs to Jell-O,
and if he chanced to hear a bull moose bellow
his body trembled with a shock galvanic.
The power of his fear was so volcanic
even his closest buddies called him yellow.
Crouched in the reeds along the riverside
the Rabbit contemplated suicide,
but when he plunged into the swirling tide
a troop of green frogs scuttled off, bug-eyed
with terror. As his chest puffed up with pride,
the Rabbit thought, "I'll live with dignity
now that I know that someone's scared of me!"


Congratulations to all of the winners and a heart-felt
thank you to all who submitted poems.



** Chapter Updates

* Alabama http://www.alabamaears.org

In March, Alabama EARS continued with their media
campaign to educate about domestic rabbit care and
behavior in hopes to curb impulse purchases during the
Easter season. Mary Alexander, E-T, and Linda
Howard, Co-Cm, took turns promoting "Easter and
rabbits don't mix" and "Make Mine Chocolate" during
their three television appearances, and 15-minute radio
interview.

In addition, both Mary and Linda were asked to tape a
segment for the Brighthouse cable television network. The
thirty-minute segment, "All About Bunny" was akin to an
abbreviated bunny 101 class, and included visual aids on
everything from veggies to litter to foster bunnies. The
program was aired every Tuesday and Friday in the month
of March.

Alabama EARS also participated in two educational
events in the Birmingham area. The first was the
Cottontail Village Festival where EARS focused on a
"Sponsor a Discarded Easter Bunny" campaign, in
conjunction with the "Make Mine Chocolate" educational
campaign. "We had an Easter tree, featuring Easter
ornaments that had a picture and description of our
foster bunnies. For a $20 donation, an individual could
sponsor an "Easter Bunny" and we provided a card and
biography on the bunny," says Mary Alexander. The
campaign will continue for a short time past Easter. So
far, 15 foster rabbits have been sponsored.

On March 19, EARS participated in an event geared
towards educating parents and children about the realities
of living with a rabbit. The event, hosted by Critter
Magazine, gave opportunity to reach people they had
purchased buns.

Alabama EARS was also featured in Birmingham
Magazine. The article "Make Mine Chocolate" also
included general information about domestic rabbit care,
and information about Alabama EARS.

EARS also published their Spring/Summer issue of The
Rabbit's Tale. This issue, as well as back issues of
Alabama EARS' previous newsletters, can be
downloaded at www.AlabamaEARS.org.

For fundraising in March, EARS had another successful
garage sale. Headed by Connie Cowan, F-T, Ron Cowan
and JB Cowan $1,100 in donations was collected for
foster bun expenses.


* San Francisco/Peninsula http://tinyurl.com/5r7w3

An Easter article, "Think twice before jumping to purchase
an Easter Bunny" by Nicole Neroulias appeared in the
March 26 issue of the San Mateo Times. A noteworthy
quote cited by Chapter Manager Donna Jensen, "The
Easter bunny is coming to town.

Unfortunately there's a good chance his next stop will be
the animal shelter." The article examines Easter rabbits
sales at Laurelwood Pet. "We get a lot of their (pet store)
rabbits." Jensen said sighing. "They're just in the market
for selling rabbits. They're not really concerned with who
gets them and how they're going to live."

Donna also made another television appearance on SF
Channel 7 News Perfect Pet of the Week segment. "We
took a darling, bonded pair from Peninsula Humane
Society, Twinkle and Somemore. Twinkle is a rabbit and
Somemore, her best buddy, is a Guinea Pig. They had
lived together in there former home for 3 years before
they were surrendered to PHS because of allergies. Joel
Bartlett was very kind about kneeling on the floor with me
while Twinkle and Somemore sat in a chair where they
could be seen better. A lovely couple from Pacifica who
saw the news segment came to the shelter later that same
day and adopted them. 15 minutes of fame certainly
helped Twinkle and Somemore!", Donna says with a
satisfied smile.


* Sonoma/Solano www.northbaybunnies.org

The Solano/Sonoma Chapter volunteers grinned through
their fatigue at the close of our first Annual BUNNY
DAY! (3/26) which drew over 200 attendees and, after
all the applicants were screened, found homes for 11
shelter and chapter bunnies.

"High" on this success, our CM wrote a proposal to the
last shelter in the chapter to not spay and neuter wherein
we offered to line up a cadre of rotating volunteer vets to
do the surgeries (the Director had committed to the use of
the shelter's clinic and to pay for the drugs). When shelter
leadership took the proposal to their Board, the Board
decided to do us "one better" and pay for one bunny spay
or neuter per week at least until kitten season hits. This is
a large county shelter which by definition is non-selective
and up until now has been releasing unaltered rabbits back
into the community.

We are thrilled. Direct shelter adoptions are up all across
the chapter - with the County facility in Solano actually
running nearly "out" of rabbits due to high adoption rates.
We credit our Meet the Bunnies! program and the
wonderful media coverage we've been getting in the last
6 months. Last week at their annual awards dinner, the
Petaluma Animal Shelter presented the chapter with a
Certificate of Appreciation and this week our CM was
honored by the local chapter of the Red Cross as
someone "making a difference in the community". She
was nominated to receive the Real Hero award in the
Animal Category.

Meanwhile our work with local rabbit vets to develop our
pilot for the low cost spay and neuter program yielded a
new doctor willing to donate one surgery every other
month to the chapter. And, finally, more work has been
done on the chapter's BWB Sanctuary with the expansion
of the play yard, addition of more structures in the cottage,
improved drinking fountains and the purchase of a
Flowtron Mosquito Magnet.

Hare-raising fund-raiser
Friday, April 1, 2005 (SF Chronicle)

Bunnies found buddies at Rohnert Park on Saturday, as
more than 200 people showed up for the first Bunny Day,
bringing in about $1,500 for a low-cost spay and neuter
program and offering to adopt several of the rabbits.

The event, sponsored by the House Rabbit Society's
Solano/Sonoma Chapter in conjunction with the Rohnert
Park and Petaluma animal shelters, included presentations
about rabbits, as well as toys, supplies and food.

Chapter Manager Sylvia WynnLindeman said the group
will try to have the event a few weeks before Easter next
year to help educate people about how important it is to
spay and neuter the animals.

She said many parents buy bunnies for children because
they're so cute, but don't realize how much care is involved.
"We've got breeders, we've got pet stores who do not
screen people -- who do not educate," WynnLindeman
said.

She said spaying and neutering makes rabbits mellower,
easier to housebreak and more interested in human
contact, but the surgery typically costs $150 to $200.
Special drugs and a technician are necessary, making the
cost more than for dogs and cats, WynnLindeman said.

The money raised will help the House Rabbit Society with
a spaying and neutering program in Solano and Sonoma
counties, which it hopes to launch next January.
(Copyright 2005 SF Chronicle)


* Richmond Rabbit Center http://tinyurl.com/2vfxh

Jack Doran, rabbit caregiver extraordinaire, writes, "The
staff and volunteers of the HRS Richmond chapter would
like to offer their deepest thanks and gratitude to those
who came out to support us and partake in the activities
on Saturday, April 16. The event was a success beyond
our highest expectations.Approximately 100 people-
members and non-members alike-showed up to make our
volunteers' exhaustive planning and preparing worthwhile.
Ninety-two copies of the fourth edition of the House
Rabbit Handbook were sold.Congratulations to Marinell
and all the volunteers who shared in the success of this
event!


** Buy a Tee Shirt and Support Rabbit Rescue

We have a huge variety of rabbit-themed items for sale at:
http://www.cafepress.com/hayward_rabbits. Every cent
earned by this shop helps rabbits rescued by House Rabbit
Society. Please buy a tee shirt or a coffee mug or a
poster today! If you shop before 6/14/2005, you save
$10 on purchases of $30 or more! Use coupon code:
GRADAD. Thank you!


** Join House Rabbit Society

If you are not a member of 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. Please go to:
http://rabbit.org/hrs-info/joining.html



** Beloved Snowy, Rest in Peace

This newsletter is dedicated to Snowy, a beloved 10 year
young rabbit. The following poem was written by her
caretaker, Christine M. Moreno.

A Little Princess

And on Easter Sunday, there she was
A cute little bunny, white and full of fuzz.
The little boy kept her outside in a hutch
She became responsibility, he didn't want her very much.
She stayed outside in the rain and the cold
Until his aunt one day loved to hold
Then for the boy a new pet showed up
And Snowy came inside never to meet the pup.
A Little Princess was the title they would bestow

The finest fruits and nuts is what she came to know.
In her sun room a throne of timothy hay
Not far from mom's eye could she ever stray
She might hop a little slower, but royalty she'll always be
Safety and warmth she'll continue to see.
Snowy, my 10 year old beloved friend
We'll be together until the end
At Rainbow Bridge we'll look for the pup
He's wondering why we haven't shown up

(Snowy went on ahead to the Rainbow Bridge 3/23/2005.)



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