Rabbit Rangers ready to take on the Reno bunnies
The 1600 bunnies at the Best Friends rabbit rescue ranch in Reno are doing great. They have plenty of food, exercise room and are making new furry and human friends all the time. But they all would really like to find a permanent home. And that’s why Best Friends started the Rabbit Ranger program, an all-out national call to arms (or paws) to help the bunnies find their happily ever after.
And it’s working! Last week, Best Friends located 197 rabbit rescue organizations across the country. An email went out to all those organizations outlining what Best Friends had accomplished so far at the Reno ranch: the initial rescue and transfer of the rabbits, building suitable play pens, medical care, feeding, supplies and trying to stay ahead of the growing population with around-the-clock spay/neuter operations. If each organization would be willing to take in 10 to 20 rabbits, the Great Bunny Rescue would be over! In exchange for their help, Best Friends would help out with transportation, manpower and financial aid. Within that first week, 19 organizations enlisted their support.
The North Georgia House Rabbit Society, Inc. was the first one to join the Rabbit Ranger program. If all goes according to plan, they’ll take 15 rabbits. Chapter Manager Debbie Trantin is currently fostering 30 rabbits in her own home. She wishes she could take more on herself, but she’s bunny maxed out. But she’s found placement for 10 in one place and five or six in another.
“I just want to make a difference, even if it’s just for a couple of rabbits,” said Debbie. “I mean, 15 rabbits is nothing compared to what’s going on at the ranch. If all groups would join together to help, we could make a huge difference. I hope other groups will see that and volunteer to help.”
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa found room in one of their sites to take in 10 rabbits. Executive Director Tom Colvin said as soon as he was contacted by Best Friends, he knew he had to do something.
“It’s unfathomable, the sheer numbers involved,” he said. “When we heard the facts about the case, we knew we had to do something. I can’t imagine what would have happened had Best Friends not stepped in.”
Some groups wanted to take bunnies but couldn’t because they were filled to capacity with their own rescues. Such was the case of the Rabbit Resource Center, one of the chapters from the New York State House Rabbit Society. Davida Kobler, the chapter manager, still found a way to get the organization involved.
“1600 rabbits ---- we’ve placed that many in ten years,” she said. “We understand what you’re up against and know what’s involved.”
The RRC agreed to set up relays to transport bunnies in the greater upstate New York area, from Buffalo to Albany to Ithaca. Relays work well with rabbit transfers because after four hours, they’re just itching to get out of their cages and hop around.
“I felt badly that we couldn’t offer placement,” said Davida. “But we’re already overloaded. We have 10 fosters taking care of 70 rabbits and that’s in addition to other pets. I really wish we could do more.”
As of this writing, nine organizations have agreed to take rabbits and 10 have offered to help with site visits and transports. It’s a good start leading to hopefully a happy ending for the all the rabbits. To all participating groups, Best Friends offers a huge heartfelt thanks!
Written by Amy Abern. Photos by Clay Myers.