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HOW YOU CAN ADVOCATE
!FOR RABBITS!
There are many ways that you advocate for rabbits. It’s a good idea to have an understanding about the legal basis on which you can proceed. Here’s some of the information that RabbitWise® thinks would be helpful.
THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT
A Brief Summary
ANIMAL CARE (January 2002): For more than a quarter of this century, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) has enforced the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to protect certain animals from inhumane treatment and neglect. Congress
passed the AWA in 1966 and strengthened the law through amendments in 1970, 1976, 1985, and 1990.
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
administers the AWA, its standards, and its regulations.
The Law: The AWA requires
that minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for certain animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported
commercially, or exhibited to the public. Individuals who operate facilities in these categories must provide their
animals with adequate care and treatment in the areas of housing,
handling, sanitation, nutrition, water, veterinary care, and protection from extreme weather and temperatures.
Although Federal requirements establish acceptable standards, they are not ideal. Regulated businesses are encouraged
to exceed the specified minimum standards.
Exemptions: The AWA
regulates the care and treatment of warm-blooded animals, except those, such as farm animals, used for food, fiber, or other
agricultural purposes.
Currently,
cold-blooded animals, such as snakes and alligators, are exempt from coverage under the Act. Retail pet shops are not covered under the Act unless the shop
sells exotic or zoo animals or sells animals to regulated businesses. Animal shelters and pounds
are regulated if they sell dogs or cats to dealers. Pets owned by private citizens are not regulated.
Licensing and Registration: The
AWA also requires that all individuals or businesses dealing with animals covered under the law must be licensed or registered
with APHIS.
AWA Enforcement: APHIS ensures that all regulated commercial animal breeders, dealers, brokers, transportation companies,
exhibitors, and research facilities are licensed or registered. APHIS also searches for unlicensed or unregistered facilities.
Before APHIS will issue
a license, the applicant must be in compliance with all standards and regulations under the AWA. To ensure that all
licensed and registered facilities continue to comply with the Act, APHIS inspectors make unannounced inspections at least
once annually.
If an inspection reveals
deficiencies in meeting the AWA standards and regulations, the inspector instructs the facility to correct the problems within
a given timeframe. If deficiencies remain uncorrected at the unannounced follow-up inspection, APHIS documents the facility's
deficiencies and considers possible legal action.
APHIS
also conducts reviews and investigates alleged violations. Some cases are resolved with Official Notices of Warning
or agency stipulation letters, which set civil penalties for the infractions. Civil penalties include
cease-and-desist orders, fines, and license suspensions or revocations. If APHIS officials determine that an alleged
AWA violation warrants additional action, APHIS submits all evidence to the USDA for further legal review.
Cooperation: In addition
to conducting regular inspections, APHIS will perform inspections
in response to public input about the conditions of regulated facilities. Concerned individuals also are encouraged
to inform APHIS about facilities that should be licensed or registered.
Many State and local governments have passed additional animal welfare
legislation. The public is encouraged to work with Federal, State, and local officials as well as local humane organizations
to help eliminate inhumane treatment of animals.
Congressional
statement of policy: …The
Congress further finds that it is essential to regulate,
as provided in this Act, the transportation,
purchase, sale, housing, care, handling, and treatment of animals by carriers or by persons or organizations engaged in using
them for research or experimental purposes or for exhibition purposes or holding them for sale as pets or for
any such purpose or use.
DEFINITIONS: When used in this Act --
(a) The term "person" includes any individual, partnership, firm, joint
stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate, or other legal entity;
(b) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United
States or his representative who shall be an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture;
(c) The term "commerce" means trade, traffic, transportation, or other
commerce--
(1) between a place in a State and any place outside of such State, or
between points within the same State but through any place outside thereof, or within any territory, possession, or the District
of Columbia;
(2) which affects trade, traffic, transportation, or other commerce described
in paragraph (1).[;]
(d) The term "State" means a State of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or any other
territory or possession of the United States;
(f) The term "dealer"
means any person who, in commerce, for compensation or profit, delivers for transportation, or transports, except as a carrier,
buys, or sells, or negotiates the purchase or sale of, (1) any dog or other animal whether alive or dead for research, teaching,
exhibition, or use as a pet, or (2) any dog for hunting, security, or breeding purposes, except that this term does not include--
(i) a retail
pet store except such store which sells any animals to a research facility, an exhibitor, or a dealer; or
(ii) any person
who does not sell, or negotiate the purchase or sale of any wild animal, dog, or cat, and who derives no more than $500 gross income from the sale of other animals during any calendar year;
(g) The term "animal" means any live or dead dog, cat, monkey (nonhuman
primate mammal), guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or such other
warm-blooded animal, as the Secretary may determine is being used, or is intended for use, for research, testing, experimentation,
or exhibition purposes, or as a pet; but such term excludes
(1) birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use in research,[effective 2003] (2) horses
not used for research purposes, and (3)horses not used for research purposes and other farm animals, such as, but not limited
to livestock or poultry, used or intended for use as food or fiber, or livestock or poultry used or intended for use for improving
animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber. With respect
to a dog, the term means all dogs including those used for hunting, security, or breeding purposes; (h) The term "exhibitor" means any person (public
or private) exhibiting any animals, which were purchased in commerce or the intended distribution of which affects commerce,
or will affect commerce, to the public for compensation, as determined by the Secretary, and such term includes carnivals, circuses, and zoos exhibiting such animals whether operated
for profit or not; but such term excludes retail pet stores, organizations
sponsoring and all persons participating in State and country fairs, livestock shows, rodeos, purebred dog and cat shows,
and any other fairs or exhibitions intended to advance agricultural arts and sciences, as may be determined by the
Secretary;
(i) The term "intermediate
handler" means any person including a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or of any State or
local government (other than a dealer, research facility, exhibitor, any person excluded from the definition of a dealer,
research facility, or exhibitor, an operator of an auction sale, or a carrier) who is engaged in any business in which he receives custody of animals in connection with their transportation in
commerce;
(j) The term "carrier"
means the operator of any airline, railroad, motor carrier,
shipping line, or other enterprise, which is engaged in the business
of transporting any animals for hire;
Humane
standards for animals transported in commerce: (1) The Secretary shall promulgate standards to govern the humane
handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals by dealers, research facilities, and exhibitors.
(2) The standards described in paragraph (1) shall include minimum requirements--
(A) for handling, housing, feeding, watering, sanitation, ventilation, shelter from extremes of weather and temperatures,
adequate veterinary care, and separation by species where the Secretary finds necessary for humane handling, care, or treatment
of animals…
For more information write to: Animal Care, APHIS, USDA, Unit 84, 4700 River
Road , Riverdale, MD 20737. Telephone: (301) 734-7833. E-mail: ace@usda.gov. Web page: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac; http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/awa.html.
CARNIVAL RABBITS
By Rachel Barnes
Time passes slowly here in this small cage out in the hot summer sun. Flies land on me. I itch constantly.
The sun wouldn’t bother me so much if I had more water to drink or maybe more food to nibble on to preoccupy my mind
from all this noise around my small cage. My other rabbit friends come and go all day. I can see some in a canister behind
the tent but I feel sorry for them. They don’t move much and flies seem
to bother them more than they bother me. I see some of my rabbit friends go away with happy people thrilled to death with
getting one of us. I wonder when my time will come to have a family of my own. Days here pass by and finally the man pulls
me from the cage. I am getting a home of my own! A little girl picks me up from the man and hugs me. Her parents look on ready
to leave.
I have a cage. It is a little small but it beats being out in the sun. I get more food and water now
but I hardly get any attention. The little girl seems to be preoccupied and the parents are constantly asking her to care
for me. I wish she would. Sometimes my cage is rather soiled and it takes days just to get more food and water. Luckily now
it seems the parents have taken over giving me food and water and cleaning my cage but I sense they aren’t very happy
about it. The woman sneezes constantly when she cares for me and I hear fighting about me in the night. The little girl barely
looks my way anymore. The man says hello to me occasionally but I sense a growing tension. Finally one day the woman puts
me in a carrier. Oh boy, I think maybe we are going somewhere fun! She tells me not to worry as she puts me by some doors.
It is a chilly night but oh boy at least I am out of that small cage and away from the yelling! As the dawn breaks and the
day begins, my small carrier is greeted by a woman talking to me, asking me where I came from. Again I’m placed in a
small cage with loud sounds all around me. I don’t like it here. What happened to the little girl and the woman or even
the man? I look around and again I see lots of rabbits just like me. I hear the people talk about people not ready for pets
and improper rabbit ownership. It does not mean much to me. I just want someone who loves me and someone I can love who understands
what I need. My temperament changes as days again pass by like all the others. I pace this small cage over and over
growing more impatient. Then one day someone comes to get me. I see them walking toward my cage with a key. Finally! I am
taken to a small room where other people await my arrival. I am placed on a small table where I start to feel sleepy. I am
told it will soon be over and finally all my suffering is.
Working in rabbit
rescue we all are familiar with irresponsible rabbit acquisition and care and the fate of those abandoned in shelters. But in the rabbit world the topic of carnival rabbits has been largely ignored. Carnival
rabbits are the rabbits given away like stuffed animals to any average Joe or Jane as prizes for winning carnival attraction
games. Most often these rabbits are ill or become ill due to inadequate living conditions. Some even die before being given
away as prizes or others end up in the hands of humans unwilling to care for them leaving the rabbit to a fate of life in
a high kill shelter. It is very rare to find a human who has won a rabbit as a prize that such rabbit went on to live a very
healthy, happy life.
Something
must be done to stop this inhumane practice. As responsible rabbit owners we must stand up for those rabbits that cannot stand
up for themselves. Some work has been done across the country to stop carnivals from giving away live animal prizes but much
work is still needed in this area of rabbit protection. Some counties, towns and states have had success banning this practice
but much is needed in our own backyards. In spite of some attempts last year by RabbitWise®,
Montgomery County, Maryland, RabbitWise’s® home base, does not have laws on
the books to prohibit this practice. The campaign in Calvert County, MD, 2004,
supported by RabbitWise,® the Humane Society, and others, failed to pass the law when it reached the Maryland State Senate
(see previous issue of the MRN for full story). As this article is being written many at http://www.geocities.com/vbiguana/carnival.html)are working in Montgomery County to change the county charter to protect
our rabbit friends. We urge you to do the same in your own area of the country. Exercise your democratic right and protect
the buns! Remember the inspiring words of Gandhi, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
| CARNIVAL RABBITS |
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| IN CRAMPED CAGE. |
HOW YOU CAN HELP CARNIVAL RABBITS
By
Lana Lehr
To help
end the irresponsible practice of giving away live animal prizes, you will have to get legislation passed to prohibit it. This may have to be done at the county and/or state level in your area. A reasonable place to start is to contact your state and/or county representatives. Go to www.congress.org and enter your zip code to find your congresspersons. You can ask them or a staffer how this process is accomplished where you live.
Once you find that out, you should prepare
a fact sheet so you have talking points and information to give to your legislator.
Examples of facts to include are: “prizes” are often awarded
to children when there are no parents present; “prize” animals are often kept in overcrowded, inhumane conditions,
and exposed to temperature extremes (point out that over-heating is a particular problem for rabbits), careless handling (again
a particular problem for rabbits because of skeletal fragility), and neglect of their basic needs; animals are given to unprepared
persons who are acquiring them on impulse and not after careful consideration of what the impact and basic requirements of
the animal to survive will be; event sponsors make little to no effort to supply “winners” with information about
the proper care of the “prize” rabbit; many animals suffer during these events and die shortly thereafter traumatizing
the child whose loses their new pet; shortly after being “won,” many rabbits get dumped at the local county shelter
increasing the burden on taxpayers or dumped at a private rabbit rescue straining private resources that are already overburdened
with too many rabbits.
After you’ve had your talk with your
congressperson or County Council member, find out if s/he is willing to take this issue on.
Ask “will you do this if I give you the materials and the language to do it.” If s/he agrees, research these topics for him/her: have any other counties in your state passed this kind of legislation and which counties are they; why
is it necessary (the fact sheet address this); who is the opposition; who in your county is giving away rabbits (backyard
breeders, traveling carnival shows, etc.); who in your state issues permits for anyone giving away live animals.
For the uninitiated, this work can seem overwhelming. Fortunately there is help and support available. Go to the Humans Society of the United
State web site (www.hsus.org) and get an education about how to give rabbits this kind of
help. For federal legislation information, go to http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/ and use the Bill Finder search tool. For state legislation, go to http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/state_legislation/ and click on your state on the US map. Visit the Citizen’s Lobbyist Center at http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/citizen_lobbyist_center/
and take the Lobbyist 101 Tutorial. Also
check up how animal friendly your representatives are by reading your state’s Humane Scorecard. Getting involved in the Humane Activist Network can get you in contact with a HSUS grassroots coordinator,
a great consultant to have when you’re working on these types of issues.
To continue your preparations for your congressperson, research databases that contain information
on whether or not you county has an ordinance against giving live animals away
as “prizes,” visit www.municode.com or call your city council. Much of this work has been done for iguanas by Cindy
Hiddemen. Visit her site (http://www.geocities.com/vbiguana/carnival.html) for real hands-on help, like “Tips on Preparing A Bill,”
getting the Health Department as an ally, and links to carnival
operators nationwide. Call your local county shelter director and find out how much money is spent on dumped rabbits especially
during the summer carnival season. Permits to give away live animals is usually
out of the state’s Department of Agriculture and signed by the state’s head veterinarian/chief of animal health. Contact information is on your state’s web site under the Department of Agriculture.
APIS
has regional Animal Care offices in the East, the West, and Central regions headquarters.
Go to their web site (see earlier article in this edition) to find out how to contact them and to see if there are
any AWA violations that may be helpful to your cause. During the carnival season,
check the Rabbit Advocate page at RabbitWise® to learn how to respond when you spot rabbits at carnivals.
If You Are Interested
in Helping With This Project,
e-mail RabbitWise: rabbitwise@verizon.net.
R The NATURAL RABBIT W
By
Evonne Vey with Jennifer Barbieri
THYMOMA
My rabbit, Maestro (age 6), recently
died of a thymoma. He had the classic symptoms, bulging eyes and flared nostrils due to rapid breathing. But because Maestro had a dislocated leg, I interpreted these symptoms as resulting from pain in his
leg. Thymoma results from an enlarged thymus gland (located in the chest cavity)
that interferes with breathing if it is not removed or shrunk. Treatment alternatives are radiation or surgery. Costs for either treatment are about the same.
Radiation treatment is 3 days per week for 2 weeks-4weeks. This treatment
also requires blood work, x-rays, and biopsies throughout the course of therapy. There
is then a two-month post radiation check up and x-rays. The radiation dose is small so the rabbit seldom experiences side
effects.
The other option is high-risk surgery. It is very invasive and requires the breaking of the sternum (breastbone) risking
damage to blood vessels that might cause the rabbit to internally bleed to death. Post surgery, the rabbit must remain in
the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 3-4 days.
My friend Jennifer Barbieri’s rabbit, Austin, recently had a course of radiation treatment for thymoma at the
University of Pennsylvania. Thankfully, the treatment was 100% successful. Austin’s
treatment at Penn was considered revolutionary because it had never before been done on a rabbit but commonly done on cats
and dogs.
If your rabbit experiences breathing difficulties, bulging eyes, and flared nostrils, make sure a work up for thymoma
is included in his/her physical exam. Early diagnosis is a lifesaver.
Read more about thymomas at: http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic3448.htm
Disclaimer:
this column is not intended as veterinary advice or a veterinary opinion. Please consult a rabbit experienced veterinarian
before administering any product, remedy, or supplement. Dosage should be calculated
according to your rabbit’s weight.
WHO WE ARE
Lana Lehr, Managing Director
John White Education Director
Scott Baker, Services Director
Paulette Baker, Volunteer Director
Lana Lehr, News Editor/Public Relations
Board
of Advisors
Karen Hamrick, Development
Howard Lyman, Humane Education
Gary Schwartz, DVM, Vet Consultant
Scott Stahl, DVM, Vet Consultant
David
Crum, DVM, Vet Consultant
RabbitWise is a non-profit organization, 501( c )(3) status pending, founded in 2003, comprised
of rabbit-knowledgeable volunteers in consultation with professionals and organizations in animal welfare and animal rights
related fields to advocate for the improved welfare and legal status of the domestic rabbit.
Most, but not all, of
RabbitWise's volunteers are rabbit guardians who have also been educators of rabbit care and behavior, volunteers, and/or
members of the board of directors of other rabbit welfare and rescue organizations.
RabbitWise's sponsors are people
from all walks of life who believe that domestic rabbits, as the most popular companion animal after dogs and cats, should
be afford the same legal status and standards of care that are afforded to other companion animals. Sponsorship in RabbitWise
helps to advance education to prospective and current rabbit guardians, advance advocacy programs, and enable the creation
of new programs.
RabbitWise
P.O. Box 2543
Kensington, MD 20891-2543
Phone: (301) 530-1252 in MD
(703)
430-3453 in VA Loudoun County
(703) 421-2258 in VA Fairfax County
Fax: (301) 897-8587
e-mail: rabbitwise @verizon.net
www.rabbitwise.org
All content, text, graphic, and pictorial, and design concepts are protected by copyright.
E-mail RabbitWise for permission to copy. No unauthorized copying by any method permitted.
HOMEOPATHY
FOR RABBITS
Here’s a link to a web site that has homeopathic remedies specifically
for rabbits. At the site, select “Rabbits” in the search bar. That will take you to a problem list and subsequently to a page with the remedy that
the site sells for that selected problem. https://secure.dataactive.net/wholistic/ailments.asp?
From The Coney Courier,
Special
to The Metro Rabbit News
By Muggins
Rocko Rabbit
EASTER FOR RABBITS PROPOSAL
Easter is approaching again. You can tell
because all the FLRs (Funny Looking Rabbits aka: pet humans) are displaying rabbits everywhere. My FLR, Goddess (she makes me call her that in return for some special favors--- access to her computer,
for example), has returned from shopping on several occasions loaded with rabbit themed stuff.
Have you ever gotten a good look at some of these items? No self -respecting
rabbit could not help but be embarrassed by some of it. Please. Pink and blue synthetic fur rabbits. What’s wrong with
real rabbit colors anyway? Next FLRs will be checking to see if we really can
produce colored eggs! We can, actually, but we buy them from chickens with whom we have special contracts. Then, our rabbit
artisans and designers paint them. With whom do you think Faberge consulted ? Rabbits, that’s who! This top of
the food chain business has gone to the FLRs heads. They’re not the only
ones with talent. Note to self: look
into a good PR firm that will do rabbit promotions.
A few days ago, Goddess came to Cassidy, my bunny buddy, and me to ask us what we were
planning to do for Easter. We have this conversation every year. Last year during Easter we were all visiting our cousin Eeorya in Pennsylvania. Early on Easter morning, Goddess went down stairs to see what the Easter Bunny had left. Finding nothing, she flew back upstairs to the rabbit room and confronted Eeorya, Cassidy, and me. “Three rabbits in this house and not one trace of a colored egg or a chocolate
rabbit?” she sniffed. “Exactly what am I to make of this?” She gave us her back, stalked off to her room, and took to her bed.
Cassidy, clearly alarmed (he is such a mama’s boy) stammered,
“I think we’d better do something.” “Oh, for Pete’s
sake. Goddess is way to old to believe in the Easter Bunny!” I protested. “Maybe so ,” says Eeorya, “but
I think Cassidy is right. We’d better do something.” Now, exactly what we did and how we did it, I can’t tell you.
It is part of the secret wisdom of the Coney Cult. What I can tell you
is when Goddess and all of Eeorya’s FLR family went back downstairs that Easter morning, there were chocolate rabbits,
colored eggs, jellybeans, and marshmallow peeps all beautifully arrange in pastel baskets for everyone. The FLRs loved it. We rabbits were redeemed!
Of course, now we’re faced with the problem of what to do this year. That’s the problem with being fabulous. You always have
a tough act to follow. What to do? It
occurs to me that a great idea would be for the FLRs to be our Easter Bunny this year.
That’s exactly it! We’ll propose that our FLRs make Easter
for us. I have my ideas about what Goddess should do for Cassidy and me. I’d also love to ring up Martha Stewart to get her suggestions but she’s
just so busy right now. That will have to wait until next year, perhaps, when
her troubles have blown over.
I think we should get carrot colored fleece pads covered with our favorite foods. We get to choose our foods without any interference from those pesky rabbit organizations that are always
telling our FLRs about healthy diets. The minute that Goddess got involved with
them, the tortilla chips disappeared never to be seen again. I loved those tortilla
chips and I had become quite adept at stealing them. I haven’t seen one
in years but I want my own bag for Easter. I also want a whole fresh pear all
to myself, three or four large leaves of kale, and a half dozen of those rabbit biscuits Goddess buys at rabbit events. Top
it all off with unlimited slivers of dried apples and I will be one happy Easter rabbit.
For the rest of you out there, ask not what you can bring your FLRs for Easter but what your FLRs can bring you.
Hmmmmm. I wonder what Goddess is going to say about this? I better get a contract drawn up with the Easter Bunny so that we can pull this off. Good luck everyone with you own FLRs. Until next time, I am faithfully yours,
Muggins Rocko Rabbit
IN MEMORIAM
RADAR WHITE
John White & Family: Radar. $150
was contributed to RabbitWise® in memory of Radar.
Obituary for Radar White
It is with profound sadness that The Metro Rabbit News must note the passing
of Radar White to the Rainbow Bridge on Sunday, December 26, 2004. Radar was one of seven born to Gus and Sophie, on July
16, 2000, three weeks after they arrived at their new home. It was the birth of Radar and his siblings that persuaded his
Dad, John, to become involved with the rabbit rescue community.
In March of last year, Radar was diagnosed as having Congenital Agangliosis,
also known as “mega colon” or “cow pile syndrome.” He survived several of the severe flare-ups of
GI Stasis common to this condition, but the disease finally took its toll. It appeared that he was recovering from the most
recent bout on Christmas Day, but sadly, it was not to be. He made his final leap to the Bridge in his Dad’s arms the
next morning.
Radar is survived by his father and mother, Gus and Sophie, his twin sister
and life-long friend Marilyn, his “Aunt” Frances, and his siblings Jack, Evander, and Nina, of Sterling, Virginia,
Sweetheart of Richmond, Virginia, and Cocoa of LaPlata, Maryland, and by his “Dad and Mom“, John and Brenda White.
Radar is the first of those rabbits who live with the founders of RabbitWise® to go to the Bridge. It seems fitting that the “In Memoriam”
page, soon to be added to the RabbitWise® website, should be
dedicated to his memory.
Maestro-an Obituary
The best-behaved rabbit of all times, Maestro Binky Boy Vey, of Lusby, MD died due to complications caused
by a mass (thymoma) in his chest, on December 29, 2004. Maestro, formerly a resident of the state of Virginia, and rescued
by Bunny Lu Adoptions in the year 2000, (approximately at one year of age), was adopted by the Vey's for their widowed bunny,
Melody, who seduced him at first glance. Melody and Maestro adored each other and lived very happily together till Melody
passed away in 2002. Maestro, who had sunk into a deep depression, recovered when he met Sonata, a little black and
white Holland Lop. From sorrow and loneliness a deep love developed between the two bunnies.
Joe & Sandi Monaco: April.
April
I have never known a braver being. April’s
will to live was so very strong. When she came to live with us ten years ago, she didn’t complain. She knew that all
humans were not like the psychopath that cut off her foot. She trusted us to care for her and to love her. April had an enormous
desire to live.
After April was treated and the remainder of her leg was removed, April would hop around
and act like any other bunny that enjoyed to lay and do all the other things that a bunny with four legs loves to do,
only more so. April acted like a rabbit that had some-thing to prove. April took to a mate almost immediately. She also
let him know that she was the boss. April’s eyes sparkled with life. Sometimes it seemed as if you could see a flame burning within them. April loved life!
April and Dusty were happy together. They would play and groom each other and sleep
and eat together. After all she wouldn’t take food out of his mouth all
the time. April could go up and down the stairs and liked to hop up on the couch
and lie down. Sometimes she would watch the television as if amused by the strange people that appeared on its screen.
April enjoyed going places and meeting new people. They would feel sorry for her just
as we did at first. April didn’t want pity. April just wanted to be a bunny.
April wanted life!
Finally, a couple of years ago, April had slowed down considerably. Her spine had become so bent that she could no
longer hop around as she once did. This however did not stop her. April became accustomed to spending a portion of her
time on artificial sheepskin since she could not hop into the litter box. April pulled herself around, having developed the
muscles in her front legs. She and Dusty remained inseparable. They still groomed one another and April loved to eat. If Dusty
was behind her, and he had some tidbit that she craved, she would roll over her back and jerk it from his mouth. Dusty didn’t
seem to mind. He would just eat something else.
April developed arthritis in her spine and legs, and had slowed down more noticeably in
recent weeks. She tried as hard as she could to fight the onset of aging, compounded by her severe handicap. Dusty continued
to groom her and give her encouragement. On the morning of January 25, 2005, her fight took a detour and she quietly passed
into a place where no one will ever hurt or maim her again.
April will not be forgotten and the love for her will remain with those who knew her and
were influenced by her struggles, strong heart and an undying will to live. We love you, April! Thank you for brightening
our lives.
Patricia Brainard: Lily
Susan Bill & Family:
Snickerdoodle
SNICKERDOODLE
Snickerdoodle started her life in a tiny breeder cage in a backyard. She was rescued at about
two years old with 18 other bunnies and brought to a local humane society. Snicks suffered from various health issues,
but lived the last 2 1/2 years in a loving home, in a pen with fresh hay that
she loved to dig in and arrange, fresh veggies, toys and lots of playtime. Snicks was in the process of bonding with
two boy bunnies and was loving every minute of it. Sadly, she developed a mass in her lung complicated by infection
and she passed away within a week. We miss you Snicks, love Susan, Toby and Ian.
Jenna Schissler: BRIGHTON
Brighton was a very special
and unique little bunny boy and just as beautiful as can be. He was a Jersey Wooley, pure white with gray ears, gray
on all four paws and two fairly large gray patches right around his baby blue eyes. When Brighton first came to my home,
it
was as a foster but I eventually could not part with him and adopted him. One night when my disabled elder bun
Sambo was still with me, I was sitting on the floor with him between my legs and had Brighton running around so he could be
more exercise. Brighton was so
interested in Sambo he came real close, flopped on the floor and started scooting
himself inch by inch to get closer. I was dying inside on how cute that
was but I was also protecting Sambo because I didn't want him to get bitten. As Brighton got closer I put my hand on
the side of Sam's face when all of a sudden Brighton pressed his precious head tightly up against my hand thinking it was
Sam's face. My heart fell to my feet, I put my hand to my heart and all I could say to myself was Oh my God, Oh my God.
That was the most
precious thing I had ever experienced. From that time on Brighton was bonded with Sambo.
After Sambo passed away I tried to bond Brighton with my pair Herbie and Topper. He took to Herbie immediately (because
he knew and sensed Herbie was not a well bunny)
but Topper (a healthy bunny) took me about 2 months to finally bond.
Up until Brighton's dreadful demise on Dec. 15 he continued to chase after Topper and pull fur from his bum.
He never once did that to either Sambo or Herbie. Brighton was a bun that just loved and preferred the elde
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