** Help House Rabbit Society Win Needed Funds!

The Animal Rescue Site is awarding $100,000 in grants to eligible
Petfinder member rescue organizations. The grand prize is a $25,000
grant, and other prizes are available as well. Just imagine how many
rabbits we could help for $25,000!

The rescue organizations with the most votes will win. You can vote
by visiting The Animal Rescue Site (http://tinyurl.com/3j3rj2) and doing a
search for House Rabbit Society in California. Clicking and voting are free,
with no registration required. You can vote once every day during the
Challenge, which starts on September 29th and ends December 14.

** New Book to benefit HRS

A great new book called Bunnies in Boats was just released, whose
profits benefit House Rabbit Society. When you buy the book, up to
$7 goes toward funding House Rabbit Society and to plant a tree in
the United States. The story has depth and emotion, while remaining
light and fun. It is not a "children's book," but children will love
it, too. To buy the book, read a sample, and find out about the
author's mission, go to Bunnies in Boats
(http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=842721).

** Rabbit Crisis in Louisiana

From June Booth, HRS educator in New Orleans:
Here in St Tammany Parish we have just handled a hoarder case.
Fortunately the Parish shelter could take in most of the rabbits; we
took the most ill to my veterinarian and are working with them now.
The hoarder and his wife refused to provide their rabbits with hay,
vet care, etc. The man used to get rabbits out of shelters and sell
them, until I informed the shelters and supposedly this had stopped.

The man became ill and his daughter discovered the rabbits and a
couple of hundred pigeons in the garage. In total there were well
over fifty rabbits, not counting the dead babies found in the garage,
and the babies born since then. Their future is not secure as we
cannot take any more than what we have and with the evacuations and
the economy, people are not adopting animals at this time. Charges
will not be brought against this man as he is terminally ill but he
will be watched and checked on frequently so he cannot bring any more
animals into his home. This case has taxed our resources so we are
not taking in rabbits now. The shelter does accept donations and some
of the Noah's Wish volunteers have kindly helped them out with
donations.

They can be reached at:
St Tammany Parish Animal Services
25026 Hwy 36
Abita Springs, LA 70420
If you would like to donate please ear mark it for the rabbits.

** Rabbit Crisis in Pennyslvania

From Sue Donaldson, HRS educator in Pittsburgh:
Animal Friends confiscated 46 rabbits yesterday in a cruelty/neglect case. They
also took 7 dogs, 26 cats, 2 goats, 2 ducks and 30 chickens. The shelter only
has room for 36 rabbits, but they are making do with carriers, free-standing
cages, etc. The 36 cages that are already there are located in their medical
suite and are normally used to house animals after surgery, etc. The rabbit
room houses ten bunnies, and those cages are always full.

All the rabbits are safe at the shelter -- and they all have been seen by a vet.
No spays or neuters have been done yet, and we are going to have the on-staff
shelter vet go over them with a fine tooth comb this weekend.

I saw the bunnies last night. I am still trying to get over their condition --
most covered in urine and feces, very malnourished, but they seemed very
trusting, also. Some had horrible bite wounds, as if they had been attacked by
a raccoon or feral cat. Most of them are young -- under one year, we think. We
also think we have at least 4 pregnant females.

To help, or to find out more, go to http://www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org and to
read a news account of the case, go to
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08276/916722-54.stm

** News from the Best Little Rabbit, Rodent and Ferret House

From Sandi Ackerman, HRS Chapter Manager:
We're so excited to be kicking off our Special Building Program Fund
during the month of October. The project has been designed along the
going green theme. All water, except for restroom water will be
recycled back into our laundry facility. The buildings are being
designed with natural heating/cooling incorporated into their
structure. Our long time dream has been to establish a low cost
spay/neuter clinic and we will finally be able to accomplish that
goal! Visit our web page at http://www.RabbitMeadows.org


** Rabbits Need Help in St. Louis

In August, The Humane Society of Missouri rescued more than 360
animals in Southwest Missouri, including 50 rabbits, as well as dogs,
cats, ducks, chickens, goats, donkeys and other animals. The animals
were living in filthy conditions with little to no food, water, or
shelter. St. Louis HRS has been active in the care of the rabbits,
and both St. Louis HRS and the Humane Society of Missouri can use
help from the public.

From Joy Gioia, HRS Chapter Manager:
We've been working like crazy on our 50 bunny rescue. This Sunday,
Oct. 5, we are having an adoption event for the Polk County bunnies
from noon to 4pm at the Humane Society of Missouri, 1201 Macklind
Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Call 314-995-1457 for more information.
There is a variety of bunny breeds within this group and most are
dwarf types.

Many of the rabbits already have been officially turned over to MO
HRS, but after the adoption event all of the remaining rabbits will
belong to MO HRS and that's when we'll need additional help with
placement if any chapter has room. We've had a couple of responses,
but don't want to send if we can manage to place locally. Most have
been spayed and neutered already and the remainder will be.

** 2009 Rabbit Rescue Calendar Available

Missouri HRS is selling 2009 calendars already; to see the calendar,
visit http://www.hrsmostl.com/ShopTilYouHop.html and to order,
Contact Susan Ruby at luvthosebunnies@...

** Upcoming HRS Events

October 4: Vancouver HRS is hosting their annual Rabbit Festival
http://www.vrra.org/

October 5: AAE Coniglio/HRS Italy is hosting a football match
benefiting the organization http://www.aaeconigli.it

October 12: Maryland/DC/NoVA HRS celebrates "HRS: 20 Years and
Counting" http://www.rabbitsinthehouse.org/

October 19: New York City HRS is hosting their annual Rabbit Care Conference
http://www.rabbitcare.org/conference.html

October 19: HRS Headquarters is holding their annual Harvest Luncheon
http://www.rabbit.org/rabbit-center/index.html

October 25: New Jersey HRS is holding their annual BunnyFest
http://www.njhrs.com/RabbitFest.htm

November 2: St. Louis HRS is hosting their annual Holiday Animal
Boutique http://www.hrsmostl.com

November 21: St. Louis HRS is hosting a Trivia Night with many silent
auction items. http://www.hrsmostl.com

December 6: Alabama EARS is having their annual BYOB Party
http://www.alabamaears.org/


** Join, Donate or Renew Your Membership!

We are working on the newest issue of House Rabbit Journal; this one
will cover more 20th anniversary history and information, plus all
kinds of other great things. Remember, your donations don't just pay for the
Journal. They support the world's first international rabbit rescue, education,
and advocacy organization, which includes producing the Journal, running the
website, producing our educational materials and outreach events, paying for our
chapter grant and emergency rescue grant programs, and running our shelter in
California. While we have a large reach, we are still a grassroots,
volunteer-based organization, and we need your donations to continue to do what
we do. To renew, make a donation, or join, go to
http://www.rabbit.org/hrs-info/joining.html


** Thank you on behalf of the rabbits.