Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month

February is Adopt-a-Rescued-Rabbit Month. Animal shelters all over the country are joining with Petfinder to raise awareness regarding the huge number of rabbits available for adoption. Rabbits are currently the third most common animal abandoned at shelters and in need of loving homes.

Rabbits are intelligent, social animals capable of forming lifelong bonds with their human companions. Whether you live in an apartment or a house, the quiet well-mannered rabbit will be a welcome addition to your family. They can be trained to use a litter box, and their playful antics will warm your heart for years to come. A spayed or neutered house rabbit has a lifespan of eight to twelve years.

If you already have a rabbit, consider adopting a friend. According to Mary Cotter of the House Rabbit Society, two bunnies are not twice the work of one.  "They share living quarters, food and water bowls, and even a litterbox - so the cleanup is essentially the same. And the bunnies entertain one another, groom one another, and keep each other company when their humans are not at home."
 
If you are interested in adopting a rabbit, please contact your local shelter or visit Petfinder.com.

The lovely lady above is Felicia, and she is available at the Animal Rescue League in Pittsburgh, PA.

Say No To Killing Feral Animals

Those of you who watch The Colbert Report may have seen this segment about legislation proposed by Utah Representative Curt Oda to allow shooting and killing feral animals, including cats and dogs.

The bill specifically allows "the humane shooting or killing of an animal if the person doing the shooting or killing has a reasonable belief that the animal is a feral animal." Shooting is singled out as an acceptable method in the bill, but Oda has stated that other methods include using a bow and arrow, clubbing or decapitating the animals.

In addition, the bill does not specify that only law enforcement or animal control officers are allowed to kill the animals. Instead, any member of the public may kill an animal they believe to be feral, which puts lost pets in jeopardy too.

According to Oda, no-kill methods, such as Trap-Neuter-Return programs, are less efficient and more expensive, yet groups like ASPCA and Alley Cat Allies maintain that TNR is the only proven way to control feral cat populations. No More Homeless Pets In Utah, a program of Best Friends Animal Society,  is dedicated to helping feral cats within the state.

Please sign this petition to let Representative Oda know that you do not support the bill and believe that killing feral animals is not a humane or effective way to control feral populations. You can also help by sharing the link on your blog, facebook profile or twitter.

Zooh Corner Must Relocate

I just received this message from my friend Cat Logsdon at Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue:

"Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue has been notified by the leadership of the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society of their intention to reclaim use of the space currently occupied by the shelter rabbits to create a new animal intake area. WE MUST VACATE OUR AREA AT THE SHELTER AND HAVE ALL THE RABBITS RELOCATED BY MAY 31, 2011. After May 31, the shelter will focus exclusively on housing and adopting out dogs and cats. While they will continue to accept rabbits surrendered to the shelter or picked up as strays, they will no longer house rabbits on their property. We have verbal confirmation that rabbits will have a maximum three-day holding period before being euthanized.

Our top priority is to find safe placements for the rabbits currently at the shelter, as well as any additional rabbits taken in before May 31. After that date, it will be our direct goal to help get every rabbit that come in to this shelter OUT of the shelter before the holding period expires. We are working to develop a network of rescues and additional foster homes to help us ensure the safety and well-being of all rabbits taken into this shelter both now and in the future.

We can make this happen, but we need your help, and TIME IS RUNNING OUT! We are seeking foster and forever homes; transporters willing to drive or fly rabbits to other rescues, sanctuaries, or more distant forever-homes; and volunteers to help expand our outreach and education efforts. Read more about the changes and how you can help by downloading this flyer.

For more information or if you can help in any way, please contact Zooh Corner President Cat (Alexandra) Logsdon at zoohgirl@gmail.com. Thank you for your continued support!"

Free Tilly

This week's Be the Change for Animals challenge is Free Tilly. Tilly is a 22-foot, 12,000-pound killer whale who has lived in captivity for the last 25 years and spends his days performing tricks for audiences. In the wild, killer whales travel around 150-200kms every day. In captivity, they live in pools barely big enough to hold them.



In 2010, Tilly attacked and killed his trainer. Animal Defenders International (ADI) claims that the tragic attack is an indication of the killer whale’s frustration in a severely deprived environment. ADI states that the use of wild animals in captivity causes psychological suffering and extreme physical and mental effects.

ADI needs your help to ensure that Tilly gets rehabilitation so he might be able to go free. They are urging people to express their disapproval for the use of killer whales as entertainment in theme parks by signing this pledge. You can also help by sharing the link on your blog, facebook profile and twitter.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is fast approaching. The lunar year begins on February 3 and ushers in the Year of the Rabbit.  Pet shops in China and elsewhere in Asia have seen soaring sales of rabbits, but PETA on Friday warned the animals are often abandoned once the novelty wears off.

"There's no better time to help rabbits than during the Year of the Rabbit, and you can do so by refusing to support the pet trade that causes so many animals to suffer," said Beijing-based PETA campaigner Maggie Chen.

I agree that the decision to acquire a rabbit should not be made as an impulse purchase to celebrate the holiday. Rabbits should only be adopted after careful consideration of their needs and your lifestyle.

Rabbits do make good house pets for those who take the time to educate themselves on proper rabbit care and are willing to bunny-proof their house. If you are interested in adopting a rabbit, please contact your local shelter or visit Petfinder.com.

Cute Kitten Campaign

Here's an adorable video from my friend Jane Harrell at Petfinder. Her two kittens, Wesley and Peekaboo, have Cerebellar Hypoplasia.  This is a disorder found in cats and dogs in which the cerebellum is not completely mature at birth. The disease does not get better or worse with age, but the cat or dog can usually learn to somewhat compensate for it and should have a normal lifespan. Most afflicted animals can lead a fairly normal life if special considerations for the animal's disability are taken by its owner.

These little ones are lucky because they have a forever home. Special needs pets are just as loving as "normal" pets and just as deserving of a loving home. Please share this video on your blog, twitter or your facebook profile. For more information on adopting special needs pets, please visit Petfinder.com.

Tell Ebay To Stop Selling Live Animals

My friend Felissa Elfenbein at Two Little Cavaliers recently posted about the eBay policy for selling live animals in their classified section. Go to eBay and see for yourself. Lots and lots of dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals are available over the Internet, including this little guy.

Buyers have no way to see these animals prior to purchasing them or to know the conditions in which they were raised. Likewise,  there is no way to know who is purchasing the animal. Are they being used as bait animals, sold to labs or used as snake food? It's another back door for unscrupulous individuals to make money with no concern to the health or well-being of the animal!

Please let eBay know that you do not support their policy for selling live animals in their classified section. Write a blog post and link it to the list at Two Little Cavaliers, then tweet it or post it to your facebook profile.  Let's show eBay how much we care about animals!

The Gentle Barn

 
Located in Santa Clarita, California, The Gentle Barn is home to over 120 farm animals rescued from abuse. The Gentle Barn is also host to abused children, kids recovering from substance abuse, kids on probation, foster kids, and children and adults with mental, emotional and physical challenges. Through their interaction with animals, the kids learn forgiveness, courage, strength, leadership skills, trust, empathy and kindness. The healing that takes place when these kids get together with animals is truly miraculous!

Founded in 1999, the ultimate goal of the organization is to open Gentle Barns across the country so that every animal and child can have a place of healing and safety where they can be seen for the perfect beings that they are. Since its inception, The Gentle Barn has been home to hundreds of animals and host to over 100,000 people.

You can help The Gentle Barn in its mission to teach people kindness and compassion to animals, each other and our planet. A donor has pledged to give $100,000 if The Gentle Barn reaches 100,000 facebook fans by March. Please visit their facebook page and share with your friends. It's a quick and easy way to help an organization that helps so many abused animals and children in need!

Blog the Change Day

Did you know that Saturday, January 15 is Blog the Change Day?  Be the Change for Animals invites you to participate by posting about a cause that is near and dear to your heart. It can be a favorite shelter or rescue, an organization or individual, or any other animal-related cause.

Participation is easy - just make a commitment to act on behalf of animals, and inspire your readers to do the same! Link your post to the list on the BtC4animals website, and tweet or post it to your facebook profile. You can also grab a copy of the Be the Change Day badge to post on your blog.

Finally, share the BtC spirit! Visit other blogs on the list, make comments on facebook, and re-tweet posts with the #BtC hashtag. It's a fun and easy way to help make a real difference in the lives of animals.

Bunny World Foundation

Take a walk down Santee Alley in the garment district of downtown Los Angeles, and you will see horrors of the seemingly innocent animal trade. UNWEANED baby bunnies are being sold as pets. These babies are only 10 - 14 days old, and they should stay with their mothers a minimum of 8 weeks! They can only survive on milk; yet they are fed a diet of lettuce and carrots, which gives them diarrhea and causes a slow and painful death.

Since 2008, Bunny World Foundation has been in the trenches fighting against this problem. Not only have they brought the attention of authorities to this illegal and cruel activity, but they also help rescue these bunnies so they are not sent to a certain death through LA Animal Control. Once rescued, BWF de-worms them, de-fleas them, gives them medicine, and weans them for two months until they are strong enough to live on hay, veggies and pellets. Since its inception, BWF has rescued over 1000 baby bunnies and found more than 650 homes.

Bunny World Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 no-kill animal welfare organization. The mission of BWF is to rescue neglected and abandoned domestic baby rabbits, provide them with medical care, and find permanent homes for them. They also wish to educate the public about proper rabbit care, help reduce rabbit overpopulation and abandonment, and eradicate the illegal sales of underage baby bunnies in Santee Alley and other parts of Los Angeles.

If you live in California, you can help Bunny World Foundation achieve its mission by 1) not buying these animals, 2) writing to your state representative, 3) volunteering at BWF, and 4) adopting a healthy, grown rabbit from them. For information on currently adoptable rabbits, please visit their website or go to Petfinder.com.

Pet Blogger Challenge

A few weeks ago, Edie Jarolim of Will My Dog Hate Me invited all pet bloggers to participate in the first-ever Pet Blogger Challenge. The idea is to share our thoughts about what we have done with our blogs and where we would like them to go in the coming year.

Each blogger answers a standard set of questions, and each blog post is added to a linky list so everyone who is participating can move easily from post to post.  Below are my responses to the questions posed:


1. When did you begin to blog? I started blogging on December 31, 2009

2. What was the original purpose of your blog? I originally started the blog as an extension of Follow Friday on twitter - to highlight the people I follow and talk about them in greater detail.

3. Is your current purpose the same? Yes and no. I do still highlight people I follow, but I've also become more involved in promoting animal-related causes. I've also added a bi-weekly post called Wabbit Wednesday that features adoptable rabbits from various shelters.

4. Do you blog on a regular schedule or when the spirit moves you? I originally posted everyday to get myself into the habit of writing on a regular basis, but dropped back to every other day after the first month. I do occasionally give myself a day off if I'm feeling burned out, and I'll write two days in a row if I find something I really want to write about. But generally every other day works for me.

5. Are you generating income from your blog? No - Bunny's Blog wasn't established to generate income. It's my creative outlet. I have thought about adding some ads and donating the income to charity. I know other people who have done that and the idea appeals to me, so I may do it in the future.     

6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular? I love the people I have met both online and in person since I began blogging. Pet bloggers are just the best! I like Bunny's Blog because it has helped me get back into writing and identify issues that are really important to me.

7. What do you like least? There are days when I just don't know what I want to write about. I don't have a specific schedule of what I do on certain days (other than Wabbit Wednesday). I generally like that flexibility, but sometimes it can take me a while to find my inspiration.

8. How do you see your blog changing or growing in 2011? I like the direction Bunny's Blog has taken by focusing on animal-related causes, and I'm sure I will continue to develop that area. I've also started writing more about rabbits because there are a lot of dog and cat blogs out there, but not a lot of rabbit blogs. As I mentioned, I may also look into monetizing my blog and donating the income to a local shelter.

Okay - now it's your turn. Answer the questions above, and link your blog post to the list. Let's see how many pet bloggers we can get to participate!

Pet Rabbits Beneficial To Women's Health

I've had pets my entire life - generally dogs and cats, but I've also had my share of hamsters, mice, fish and hermit crabs.  BJC is my first house rabbit, and she has added to immeasurably to my life by bringing a sense of calm and quiet that I have not experienced with any other pet. So I was not surprised when I read that a study by the University of Missouri showed the presence of a rabbit gives women a sense of calmness and tranquility.

In particular, the study showed that women who had rabbits had better control of their emotions and behavior. Dr. Rebecca Johnson stated that the presence of a bunny in a household and the process of taking care of it facilitates social bonding and teaches women and girls how to better understand themselves and how to communicate with other people more effectively.

In addition, the relatively new technique of having bunnies present during consultation sessions with psychologists is becoming increasingly popular.  Rabbits are also used as part of therapy to facilitate healing of serious illnesses in children and adolescents and to help them cope with a lack of confidence.

If you're looking for some bunny to love, please contact your local shelter or visit Petfinder.com.

Source of image: Photl.com

Mulder Cat

The twitterverse is just like the real world. You meet people, you get to know them, and you form a bond. You become a part of each others daily life, and you share your experiences - good and bad. That's what I love about twitter. I've met so many people who add to my life simply by talking to them on a daily basis.

Yesterday was a very tough day for all of us who follow Mulder Cat. Mulder has been dealing with serious, ongoing health issues. And like all pet owners, Mulder's staff had to walk the fine line between doing whatever he could to keep Mulder alive and respecting his need to go with dignity.

Mulder crossed over the Rainbow Bridge yesterday morning, and in true Mulder fashion, he tweeted right up to the time he went to the vet and then began tweeting immediately after crossing over. Or as he says "STILL tweeting with a 'tude."

My heart goes out to Mulder's staff for having to make the tough decision to let his best friend go. But I also know that his friends on twitter will be there to help support him - and I have no doubt that Mulder will add his own two cents from over the Rainbow Bridge.

Caplin ROUS

I just found out that one of the twitter anipals crossed the Rainbow Bridge today. Caplin ROUS came on twitter in January 2009, the same time I started tweeting. Caplin was a pet capybara who lived with his owner in Texas. Weighing in at 100 lbs, he was a real ROUS (Rodent Of Unusual Size).

Caplin was an ambassador for pet capybaras. He visited many schools to educate children about capybaras, and he was also on television. In addition to being on twitter, Caplin had a website, a facebook profile and fan page, and a YouTube channel of his very own.  He even had a book and a plush Capycopy dedicated to him!

Caplin was a sweet, sensitive soul who lived a life of ease. He spent most of his time sleeping, eating and swimming. Sometimes he would to go out to lunch or run errands with his humans. He got lots of attention wherever he went, and he loved receiving scratches and treats.

Caplin will be greatly missed by his many, many friends - both online and in real life.

Pets In Need Clinic

Lots of people make New Year's resolutions - like losing weight, getting in shape, or quitting smoking - but here is a really neat resolution!

Dr. Michelle Brownstein of the Henrietta Animal Hospital is asking her colleagues and other pet advocates to work together to help provide low-cost spay/neuter services for people in financial crisis under the auspices of the Pets In Need Clinic. She would also like to establish Pets in Need Clinic Shelter Partners that meet a minimum standard of care and act as a clearinghouse to unite prospective pet owners with available pets. In addition, Pets In Need Clinic Veterinary Partners would provide ongoing medical help to those who have experienced a recent financial crisis. And if that's not enough - the ultimate goal of this group would be to help bring about state and federal legislation to govern all rescues and shelters.

Are you ready for a New Year's resolution that could make a big difference in the lives of people in need and their companion animals? If so, please visit Dr. Brownstein's blog post and spread the word!

Okey's Promise

If you have been following Bunny's Blog for a while, then you're probably familiar with my friend Vicki Boatright a.k.a. Bztat. Vicki is well-known among the twitter and facebook community for her fabulous pet portraits. What you may not know about her is that she is also a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, who has worked as a child and family therapist since 1991.

Vicki's latest project combines her artistic talents, her love of animals, and her interest in helping children and families affected by abuse. It's a public art project that's designed to increase awareness about the connections between animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence. Research has shown that when animals are in danger, many times women and children are also in danger.

The purpose of Okey’s Promise, named for a small rescued cat, is to create artworks that will be prominently viewed in the community to generate interest and awareness. They will be positive in nature, and their purpose is to remind us of the riches we have in helping those who are most vulnerable in our society.

Vicki recently kicked off a fundraising campaign using Kickstarter. From now until January 27, you can make a pledge to help fund this project. You can also help by sharing the link on twitter, facebook and your blog. Please help make Okey's Promise a reality!