Advocacy : Please help bunnies in NY! See areas in red for what you can do!
A critical legislative initiative in New York State in response to overwhelming rabbit neglect and abandonment cases
Part I : Hoarding and Huge Rescue Situations
Many years back, those of us in rabbit rescue dreaded Easter time and it’s aftermath as the beginning of the surge of unwanted bunnies each year, peaking in late summer with the injured survivors coming to us. That pattern has changed significantly over the last decade. Now we are being contacted about strays, cruelty and abandonment situations all year round. Some theorize that it might have to do with economic swings – that people have fallen upon hard times financially, or that when shelters lose precious funds from their states and rely upon public generosity, and ask a surrender fee – guess what happens? Someone not wanting their rabbit in the first place is unlikely to pay $30 for a shelter to intake him/her. So that rabbit gets dumped.
Another major tsunami has hit rescues in the form of hoarding/neglect/abuse cases. Years back it was the usual to hear of maybe 20-50 rabbits in filthy conditions, poor caging, with no food or water or shelter. That has also dramatically changed. Now we are hearing nationally of situations with literally HUNDREDS of bunnies dumped or uncared for and in need of safety and care. In just the past year, several hundred have been rescued from a Nevada site, and very recently, a shelter in Washington state took in almost 300. National HRS is now helping with the over 450 just taken in from one hoarder in Texas. The need is so great, and the individual rescues are so overwhelmed, that incredible volunteers transport cross state and cross country to get these rabbits into foster and adoptive homes, no matter where they are.
Right now, we are putting out a plea for help in NYS for the Texas situation. Transports are being coordinated east towards us in early to mid April. Please contact us and apply to foster or adopt, or connect us with a reputable rescue that might have some space. The chapter manager can be emailed at hazelbert@roadrunner.com. The fostering and adoption applications can be found at our website : www.therabbitresource.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part II : Grassroots Efforts and Legislation to Protect those who are least protected
NYS BILLS A.06298 and S.04234 NEED YOUR SUPPORT
Through intensive advocacy efforts, there are bills in the NYS legislature which propose to PROHIBIT the sales of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores. Your help is urgently needed, to support these bills by calling your representatives. All you need to do is make the call. Say, “I’m seeking his/her support on the ban on Rabbit sales in NY. The bill number is A.06298 and S.04234”, or “I’m seeking your help to place a ban on selling dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores”. Don’t be nervous - these people are elected to represent you. You represent the animals you care for. You can save so many animals by taking 5-10 minutes to call. If you don’t know who they are, or their numbers click the link below to your politicians’ phone numbers. http://action.humanesociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=electedOfficials_federal
Cessation of pet store sales would seriously impact the Easter impulse buys which result in high rabbit mortality, high shelter turn in rates, high abandonment rates. If you were to go “behind the scenes” to the breeders who breed for pet stores, you would be sickened; these are the equivalent of puppy mills. The animals are kept confined in small spaces which are filthy and contaminated, the diet is pellets and water, anyone sick is “culled” (KILLED) rather than provided vet care. You would be shocked to the core by the experience. It is difficult to get law enforcement to monitor these places; humane law is often loosely or minimally enforced, or dismissed in the legal system.
By reducing the demand for Easter bunnies, fewer will suffer and die throughout the year.
You can help this happen by making your voice a voice for the animals NOW.
Click on the picture to see that bunny's profile.
These are only a few of our rescues who need homes. Visit "Available Rabbits" to see them all!
If you'd like to make a donation, thank you! You are helping our rescued bunnies!