| Rabbit Haven Newsletter February 2010 |
February is Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month
|
|
| Sweets - Not So Good For Your Bunny Sweetheart |
Bunnies have a sweet tooth, and just like most human children, will choose sugary foods over healthful ones if left to make their own choices.
And that cute little whiskered face is so hard to ignore, especially when your bun sits up and looks so deserving of that special treat. And pet stores sell a selection of rabbit treats which are perfect for your precious rabbit. Right? WRONG!!! Most so-called rabbit treats are the equivalent of human fast-food, providing non-nutritious junk that can cause potential harm to your rabbit. Confusing the issue is that many of these products use phrases that lead the buyer to believe that the product is healthful: "nutritionally fortified," "natural feeding habits," "for nutritional variety," "the finest selected ingredients." Commercial rabbit treats fall into several categories: pellets, processed cereal kibble, mueslix (dried seed/fruit/veggie mixes), cereal/veggie blends, and candies/sugars. Still, the best diet for your beloved bunny is fresh greens and vegetables, high fiber pellets, and an unlimited hay diet.
Be very careful with sugars! These can include everything from yogurt drops to sweetened papaya tablets. Excessive sugar is converted to fat, or will pass into the cecum where the bacteria will use it for energy and then rapidly overgrow, possibly leading to bacterial imbalance and gi stasis. The same can occur after feeding too much fruit. Avoid feeding your rabbit simple sugars and never feed sugar substitutes. Instead stick with nutritious treats such as vegetables and herbs; save the sweets for an occasional slice of apple or banana, a plain mini-shredded wheat or a raisin.
Chocolate is especially dangerous! When ingested by rabbits (and other pets) the methylxanthines found in cacao seeds (from which chocolate is made) can cause heart arythmia, tremors, seizures and even death!
Better yet, spoil your bunny with safe chewable toys. They'll keep your little one entertained and last longer than a sugar treat. Check out the toys at Bunny Bytes,The Busy Bunny, Bunny Luv, and Cats & Rabbits & More . There are lots of safe chews and toys, even some just for Valentine's Day!
|
LB - Little Bubba is just a sweetheart. This little Dutch is about 5 years old and loves to be petted. Do you have a mature female bunny looking for a roommate?
Dexter - this young guy is super friendly and sweet. He was found in a large field near the Everett Animal Shelter where they took him in. He's super neat and pretty perfect with his litter box. Do you have a young girl bunny who would like a new friend?  Annie is a young female Netherland Dwarf/Dutch mix. Like Dexter, EAS found her running around in a field by the shelter. She has just been spayed and already has a boy Netherland interested in meeting her.
|
|
Brandon's new family came for a visit and it was love at first sight! We are thrilled that this young guy has found his forever home where he will get lots of attention and space for doing binkies.
Currier and Ives (I can't tell which is which in this picture) have found their forever home. These Flemish Giant brothers will have plenty of space in their new digs but I bet they'll still sleep in a pile. |
|
Become a Bunny Hugger! If you love rabbits, then this is the job for you! Our volunteers clean up after, feed, and love the bunnies who call Rabbit Haven their home. Our bunnies really look forward to seeing their caretakers and spending quality time with them. You'll be well-rewarded with chin-rubs and binkies for your efforts!
We count on the volunteers who come to help out - and so do the bunnies! It takes a good 3-4 hours to care for our rescued crew, but every minute is time well-spent. Please be able to make at least a 3-month commitment as no-shows leave us scrambling.
If you'd like to help animals, don't mind a little rabbit poo, and would enjoy spending time with these sweet faces, then consider applying as a sanctuary volunteer at either of our locations.
Read more about volunteering and find our volunteer application on our website. |
If you're in the area and would like to donate, we could sure use the following around the barns:
Both locations
- HE laundry soap
- veggies (things like: broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, celery, etc.)
- greens (favorites are: green leaf lettuce, parsley, cilantro, kale, etc.)
- paper towels
- vinegar
- chewable bunny toys
Gig Harbor
- **FIREWOOD** for the woodstove that heats the barn
- bleach for laundry
Carnation
- Clorox Colorsafe bleach
- Kleenex
- bunny-safe playchips
- heavy-duty (6ml) garbage bags
If you're not local and would like to donate, you can do so in a variety of ways. Cash donations may be made through JustGive, PayPal or by sending a check to Rabbit Haven at the address below. You can also find our Wish List on Amazon.com. Please check with your employer about "matching" your donation. 100% of donations support the bunnies in our care.
Thank you |
We are a non-profit shelter and sanctuary dedicated to the care of unwanted and mistreated rabbits ... until they all have homes.
The barn is in Gig Harbor with an annex in Carnation, WA.
Rabbit Haven
PO Box 2268
Gig Harbor, Washington 98335
425-788-8148
Rabbit Haven is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization and your donations are fully deductible to the extent of the law. Please contact your tax advisor if you have any questions. | |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
We Need Your Help!
We were ranked 6th in the state but we've fallen to 10th. Please vote everyday and move us back up the list!
Help Rabbit Haven win a $10,000 grant!
Don't forget to vote for us everyday at www.theanimalrescuesite.com and we could win $10,000 to help rabbits in need.
The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $10,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes - a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.
Think how many bunnies we could help for $10,000!
Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day, from January 18th through April 18th, 2010. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.
Sign up for their Daily Click Reminder email to make it easy to vote everyday!
Be sure to choose:
Rabbit Haven, Gig Harbor, WA
Thank you! |
|
Can You Foster?
Due to their guardians' situation, several bunnies have been returned to Rabbit Haven and we're running out of spacious housing. If you are an experienced bunny parent, have the space and time to give, please consider fostering a single or pair of rabbits in your home.
To learn more, please check out our website http://rabbithaven.org/foster/ and then email angie@rabbithaven.org. |
|
Bunnies In The Spotlight
Truffles is a lionhead mix, Edmund is an American Fuzzy and needs extra grooming to keep his fur from matting. These youngsters (less than 2 years old) love to do binkies when it's their turn in the dance studio.
Buddy is a super-soft mini rex, and Holly is a lionhead-mini lop mix. Both are curious and friendly. Holly is deaf and grunts when surprised but very brave and likes to explore.
Read more and see pictures of these, and other wonderful bunnies available for adoption on our website.
If you're interested in meeting these bunnies, or any of the bunnies at Rabbit Haven, please email Angie: angie@rabbithaven.org. |
The Barn Sale will be Saturday and Sunday, May 15-16, at the Gig Harbor Grange and we're already collecting items. Please donate your unwanted goods to help raise money for Rabbit Haven.
Please contact Sue or Angie to arrange delivery or pickup.
Don't forget our new vehicle donation program. They don't need to be running, you just need clear title to donate.
|
|
|
