The Buckeye House Rabbit Society     
www.ohare.org        

Updates

An open letter from Deb Thomas

Hi everyone,

I don't know if you heard or not, but a large number of rabbits have been rescued recently. Some are burned or ill. Most are in poor health.

I'm providing info and a link to the story, below.

This is a big problem, and quick action will be needed to help these rabbits. The Buckeye HRS has made plans to go there and check the rabbits, clip nails, etc. They will be taking in the most needy bunnies with burns and other vet needs. Your help is really, really needed right now. Here's how you can help in one or more ways:

- Make an immediate donation to the Buckeye HRS to help out with the medical expenses and other supplies. You can donate on-line using PayPal, or mail a donation to the Buckeye House Rabbit Society, P.O. Box 5767, Athens OH 45701. This is probably the most helpful thing you can do.

- Purchase hay and/or pellets from me for the bunnies. I will deliver the supplies to Kristi Cole with the Buckeye HRS to take to the shelter.

- Consider adopting

- Offer your time to help -- email me with your name and I'll let Kristi know (Deb Thomas d-j-thomas@sbcglobal.net)

- Donate water bottles, hay, pellets, fresh greens and litter boxes to the shelter

This situation is terrible. Please help in one of the ways I've suggested.

Deb
The Thomas Place
8772 Prancer Ave NW
North Canton OH 44720
330-497-8747

The location

The shelter address and phone number, where the rabbits are:

Portage County APL
8122 Infirmary Road
Ravenna, OH 44266
(330)296-4022

Open to the public
Monday - Saturday
12:00 noon - 4:00 pm.

News release about initial situation

Ohio Woman's Whole House Full of Animals

Ohio Woman Has 220 Rabbits, 100 Ducks and Chickens
and Many Other Animals in House

The Associated Press

See the article at abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040109_623.html

Firsthand information from a volunteer at the shelter (January '04)

Friday:  "The Portage County APL is overloaded with about 30 rabbits, mostly females who are most likely pregnant. They all came from a house that caught fire; they found out that the house was packed with over 300 animals, including probably 150 rabbits. The rabbits were used as human food as well as dog food; the ones that the APL has been able to get surrendered to them NEED a place to go and have good potential as pets with a little time. They all may have URI's, mites, lice, and fight wounds, and all females may be pregnant. The APL doesn't really have the resources to care for this many rabbits and they need a better temporary or permanent place to go (they're currently housed in dog crates and pet taxis in a garage) and to get some medical attention. I sexed them today and separated them -- took me 3 hours to do so. There are some beauties in there; almost all are the larger breed rabbits (7 pounds or so, maybe)."

Saturday:  "More rabbits were brought in last night and today; we're probably up around 45 now. I took them some veggies and hay today, which perked them up. A few who were brought in have burns on them; they would really do better in a place where they got better attention. Not that the shelter isn't trying, but they aren't suited for rabbits as they are for cats and dogs. I brought one home; his ears are totally gone. Has some puss coming from one of the sockets so he'll be visiting the vet on Monday afternoon. I really think he was probably the most needy; I felt my taking him home would help him out since the infection is a little too close to the brain. He's such a sweetie too. I think he might be deaf as well."

Sunday: "Unfortunately more buns are probably on the way with all the females. Some were separated at the house by sex, but were just tossed together once they were at the shelter ... since more rabbits keep trickling from the woman's house while I'm not there to sex and separate. I've attempted to trim nails, but some are pretty rowdy with their kicking. They are hard to do without much help! I've been bringing them romaine ...they didn't touch it at first, but are starting to devour it as soon as it hits the cage."

an overview

Update: February 23

Mabel is doing much, much better. Her lung infection has completely cleared up. Her ear is healing nicely from the bite wounds and she has been spayed. She still has a little bit of an ear infection but continued antibiotics should heal that up quickly.  She is now appearing with the other Newest Buns, ready for adoption.

Update: February 11

Buckeye HRS has taken in 19 of the rabbits from the Portage County APL crisis situation. The first few adoptions have taken place for the healthy rabbits, but we are continuing to need funding for the 12 rabbits still needing to be spayed or neutered from that situation. The rabbits who were healthy enough and old enough to go through the spay or neuter were taken care of right away. Two of the rabbits recuperating from illness are scheduled for their spays in February and there are another 10 that are not old enough yet and will be spayed/neutered as soon as they are of age. Keep watching for updates and thank you to all who have supported the rabbits we have been caring for.

Update: February 6

Mabel means lovable and this girl has sure proven that. Mabel came from the Portage County rescue with three little babies. This poor girl was deathly ill with a lung infection that made it almost impossible for her to breathe. She also had horrible bites on her ears (full of ear mites) and other bites all over her body. She was underweight and obviously malnourished. Despite all this, she faithfully nursed her babies and they are perfectly healthy. Mabel is now much better after a week-long hospital stay and continued antibiotics. Love, good nutrition, a clean environment, and not having to nurse babies have helped her come a long way. She still has a way to go, but it is looking like she should make a full recovery. How can you resist those airplane ears!

Update: January 14

Buckeye HRS has taken the 10 most needy rabbits out of the Portage APL shelter and into our foster care program. This is a large number for us to take in all at one time. We also plan on taking more in as we have adoptions to free up space in our foster homes. We will be incurring some significant medical expenses with these rabbits in addition to the spay and neuter costs that will occur a bit later. Please consider making a donation to the Buckeye HRS to help with the veterinary expenses for these rabbits. Also, if you have been considering adopting another rabbit into your household, now would be a great time so we can make room for more rabbits from the shelter.