2011
Rabbit Rescue Calendars
They're here!
Click photo for information.
Emergency help needed for baby "Easter"!
~ House Rabbit Society of Missouri ~
St. Louis Chapter
P.O. Box 6362, Chesterfield, Missouri 63006-6362
Phone: 314-995-1457 Email: mo_hrs@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.HRSMOSTL.ORG
Click on the HRS National Site
Bunny for info on rabbits, their care
& welfare issues.
Any problems with the website? If you find incorrect spelling, errors, non-working links etc. please contact volunteer webmaster at: humanecreations@prodigy.net
All other HRS related email should go to mo_hrs@hotmail.com
To find out about or meet some of the rabbits that are available for adoption, check our "Bunnies Adoptable" button which will link you to our Petfinder site. Also call 314-995-1457 to make an appointment to visit some foster rabbits.
INTERESTED IN ADOPTING A BUNNY? EMAIL US AT: mo_hrs@hotmail.com
Take a few minutes and visit the National House Rabbit Society site http://rabbit.org/ to learn more about rabbits and if they are an appropriate animal for you, your family and your lifestyle. Rabbits need as much love and care as a dog or cat. They also need vets trained in rabbit health.
The adoption of a rabbit into your family is a serious lifetime committment. If after studying the National House Rabbit Society site, you have more questions or think you would like to foster or adopt, please call 314-995-1457 or 636-349-0606.
This site was last updated: July 29, 2010
Bunny love comes in all sizes and all colors!
Little-bitty, medium, big or huge, short hair, long hair, black, white, red, grey, brown, solid, spotted, parti-colored, brown eyes, pink eyes, red eyes ... just about anything beautiful you can imagine!
Some of the sweetest animals are passed up just because of coloring.
What a tragic waste of precious lives and loving friendships that could've been!
Please note:
Even in our present, modern day, there are sadly still a few people who are superstitious about the color of an animals fur or eyes etc. Please help us educate people that these precious New Zealand bunnies are no better or no worse than any other bunny. They are not "bad luck" or "good luck".
Their white fur and pretty ruby eyes are a result of normal genetics, just as some humans have brown eyes while others have blue or green. These are simply beautiful, innocent bunnies who have suffered cruel, inhumane treatment and need loving, affectionate, indoor homes.
PLEASE HELP!
"SPAY/NEUTER/CARE FUND for the Stone County Bunnies"
(The "Stone County Bunnies" are also known as the "New Zealand White Bunnies".)
Rescue is just the first step. Even with the lovely grant from PetsMart, the cost of spays/neuters, medical treatment and ongoing care of these precious bunnies is overwhelming. HRS is attempting to care for the
"Stone County Bunnies" in addition to our original large number of homeless foster rabbits.
We are starting a special fund to help these rabbits who have suffered so much. To give them proper care, we
need your help. For those who would like to help the Stone County bunnies, this is your opportunity.
Below are a few photos from the night of the rescue. For story and more photos, click on the baby >>>
1) Send a check to: House Rabbit Society of MO, PO Box 6362, Chesterfield, MO 63006-6362
Please write in the Note/Memo section "Stone County Bunnies" Donations are tax-deductible.
2) You can also donate through Paypal, using your credit card, e-check or Paypal funds.
Please write in the "Note/Instructions to Seller" section "Stone County Bunnies"
Donations are tax-deductible. To donate through Paypal, click any of the "Donate" icon/symbols on our website
3) INTERESTED IN ADOPTING A BUNNY? EMAIL US AT: mo_hrs@hotmail.com
The House Rabbit Society is a 501 (c3) all-volunteer, non-profit organization with a dual purpose of rescue and education. Utilizing foster homes as rescue "shelters," volunteers provide appropriate care and socialization opportunities to rabbits so that they may be adopted into loving, permanent, indoor homes. Our educators assist the public, humane societies, and local shelters through publications on rabbit care, phone and e-mail consultations, and classes upon request. We do not euthanize an animal unless they are suffering from an incurable disease or wound. The House Rabbit Society of Missouri, St. Louis chapter, directs their rescue efforts towards saving the lives of bunnies in threatening situations, those scheduled for euthanasia at local shelters, or rescue referrals from area shelters and veterinarians. Our commitment to saving the lives of bunnies is paramount. If you know of a bun in a non-threatening environment in need of a new home, please call or e-mail us for suggestions. Because our foster spots are reserved for rabbits on "death row" at area shelters and animal control facilities, we do not accept rabbits from individuals. However, those rabbits needing new homes can be listed on our site if they are spayed or neutered and healthy.
BUNNY ADOPTION DAY!
Adoption Day for the Franklin County confiscation bunnies
Sunday, March 28th from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm at the Humane Society of MO
1201 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, - In the downstairs Lecture Hall.
Directions to the Humane Society of Missouri: Hwy. 40/64 to St. Louis, south on Kingshighway,
right on Oakland, pass the St. Louis Science Center, left at the first stoplight on Macklind.
Bunny Adoption Day: Volunteers for the House Rabbit Society of Missouri will introduce the bunnies to prospective adopters, teach them what is required to keep a pet bunny healthy and happy and help them decide if a pet bunny is the right choice for them. Click here to see some of the rescued bunnies!
Adoption applications will be accepted, but no bunnies will go home with adopters Sunday. The House Rabbit Society will have the bunnies spayed or neutered and health-checked before they are released. "A rabbit must be fixed to be a good house pet that is tidy and uses a litter box." said Joy Gioia, manager of the St. Louis chapter of the House Rabbit Society of Missouri.
"Sadly, people purchase unfixed baby bunnies at pet stores, not knowing they will be filled with regret two months later when the baby has become a wildly-hormonal teenager who is aggressive, destructive and won't use a litter box." Gioia said. "Veterinarians who specialize in rabbits charge $250-300 to alter a bunny. Our chapter absorbs that cost; our adoption fee is only $85."
Adopters should not purchase housing, food or any supplies for a bunny before Sunday. "We don't want people to waste their money on bad products." Gioia said.
The House Rabbit Society rescues abandoned pet bunnies that face being euthanized at animal shelters. The St. Louis chapter has over 200 bunnies in foster care and places about 175 with adopters every year.
Be sure to read through our website and the National House Rabbit Site http://rabbit.org/ to learn as much as possible about rabbit care, BEFORE it's time to bring bunny home.
Would you consider making a donation to help with the cost of food, medical care and supplies? Just click on the "Donate" button and put in the note section it is for "Franklin County Bunnies". Or you can mail a check to our address at top of this page noting it's for the Franklin County Bunnies.
Thank you in advance for anything you can do to help.
These rabbits who have suffered so much, appreciate your compassion and generosity!
~ TOP TEN REASONS TO ADOPT A BIG WHITE BUNNY ~
10. You can hear them coming when they hop down the hall.
9. There's more bunny to warm your lap.
8. Their serene white faces always look innocent, even while making mischief!
7. When they steal an apple off the dinner table, it's easy to find them hiding under the bed.
6. It's so easy to see to trim their nails!
5. Could those huge pink ears be any cuter?
4. Their eyes always come out perfectly in photos.
3. They look especially cute with orange carrot stains on their chins.
2. Their beautiful eyes reflect love and gratitude whenever they look at you.
1. When you adopt one of these precious creatures, you are saving a life!
A number of Franklin County bunnies were adopted, however, we still need more homes, both foster and permanent. If you can foster or are interested in adopting a bunny from the Franklin Co. confiscation, please contact us ASAP. Thanks!
Phone: 314-995-1457 Email: mo_hrs@hotmail.com
Click on the sweet
lop-eared bun to see
information on this
rescue.
Very recently, a kind man found a seriously injured rabbit in his backyard. Thinking it was a cottontail that had been injured by a predator he took the small bunny to Wildlife Rescue. Upon arrival, the people at Wildlife recognized the bunny as a domestic rabbit. They are not allowed to treat domestic animals so they
called Missouri HRS and immediately drove the bunny to us.
The bunny turned out to be a baby who is probably only 8 weeks old and is the first tragedy of Easter since the poor baby didn't even make it to Easter before being tossed out to fend for himself. It didn't take long, either, for something to try to get him. He managed to escape, but not without a horrendously mangled back foot with all the bones crushed and sticking out of the torn apart foot.
MO HRS took care of him for the night and took him to HOPE Animal Hospital where he received wonderful care. Nothing could save that foot, however, and the only hope for recovery was amputating the back leg. The baby has been named Easter and he seems determined to beat the odds given him and survive. He is simply delightful and even while lying in an incubator for warmth after his surgery he tooth purred for the vet technician petting him.
Surgery like this is expensive and MO HRS is already desperately strapped with the needs of the Franklin County confiscation bunnies (and we are still helping them.) However, we just couldn't euthanize Easter with his will to survive and his sweet personality. Please help little Easter with a donation towards the cost of his surgery.
Along with donating to his care, please share his story to make people realize that you can't turn a domestic rabbit, particularly a baby, loose in the wild to attempt surviving on his own. It is every bit as cruel as turning loose a puppy or tiny kitten and expecting them to survive. It's also illegal. Thank you for any donation you can make to help us, help tiny "Easter".
Since our site is also viewed by children,
we have placed the graphic photos on another page.
Click Baby Easter to see additional photos.
Checks may be sent to HRS at the address listed at top of this page.
Easter has been pre-medicated for surgery.
You can see the swollen foot.
Easter recovering in an incubator after surgery.
DON'T BUY WHILE RABBITS DIE. - ADOPT INSTEAD!
Bunny Boarding: Our foster home in Fenton has space for August boarders (July is booked). To reserve a spot in August or later, email your request to tomjoygioia@sbcglobal.net It is best that you let Joy know well in advance because space is limited. Fee is $10/day for singles, $12/day for bonded pairs. When you drop off your bunny on a weekday evening, you do not pay for that evening. Saturday drop off/pick up 8am - 5pm (call first if coming between 8-9am). Sunday drop off/pick up 12 noon - 4pm (can accommodate earlier times if arrangements are made IN ADVANCE. Boarding fees go to support the HRS foster bunnies.
Membership t-shirts!
See "Memberships" page for details! You're going to love it! Exclusive tees for members only, will not be available for purchase. Don't miss out.
Join MO HRS now and get this fun, quality tee for free!
Millie says:
"NO animals should be used as prizes or toys at any event or party."
If you see or hear of this happening:
1) Voice your outrage to the organizers of the event, and the City Hall of the area.
2) Call 1-970-494-7478 USDA Animal Care and report the incident. If you are not in MO they can tell you what number to call and where to send letter.
3) Send a follow-up letter. The letter should state where, when and what you saw or were told. MO residents mail letter to:
USDA Animal Care
2150 Centre Ave.
Building B
Mailstop #3W11
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526
Even if legal in your area, USDA said they check into the situation to make sure the laws were followed.
The "Great Outdoors" is NO place for a pet bunny!
Roaming dogs, cats and wild animals are a threat to small animals. Also, birds of prey such as hawks, owls & eagles can and do swoop down with amazing speed, strength and agility, grab bunnies, cats and small dogs and take off with them before we know what's happened. Even while humans are there with the pets, this happens. Horrific for both the pet and their human family.
Following is an additional reason why the "great outdoors" is no place for a pet bunny - a member shares her story: "Last summer, our bunnies spent a lot of time in exercise pens placed outside on our lawn of clover and wild strawberries, and we never had a problem. I had no idea of any dangers, except the normal - dogs, etc. - but we were always right there with our bunnies. So, on Memorial Day, I took each of my bunnies outside to an exercise pen to brush them. My husband came out and exchanged the bunnies, so I never left the pen. But Hershey got bit or stung by something that Monday. On Thursday, we realized he wasn't acting right and he had stopped eating. On Friday, my husband took him to Hope Animal Hospital. The entire side of his face was swollen and his temperature was an alarming 105 degrees (normal rabbit temperature is 101-103). Hershey has recovered, the swelling is gone and he is eating like crazy again. we're so glad we took him to Hope right away. We're so lucky that he is okay. I am a much better informed bunny owner now!"
