Lucky 13!
Thanks to a couple of enthusiastic Rabbit Rangers, 13 lucky bunnies will be leaving the rabbit rescue ranch for new homes. Margo Demello said, “Give me five!” And so five bunnies are on their way to DeMello’s home sanctuary in Placitas, N.M. Erika Smith requested eight rabbits. They’re headed to the Brambley Hedge Rabbit Rescue in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Both women signed on to take the rabbits as soon as they were sure they had the room to take them. And both women agreed they’d take only rabbits that were…rabbits.
“I don’t care if they’re bitees or meanies,” said Margo. “Sex doesn’t matter and I don’t care if they have special needs. I’ve got some room and I want to help out.”
Erika commented: “Eight rabbits --- That’s the extent of my request. If it turns out we can take more at a later date, we will.”
Margo is the administrative director of the House Rabbit Society. Her home was custom constructed as a rabbit sanctuary. The building completely surrounds an outdoor courtyard. Its sole purpose: a bunny playground. One room is a dedicated bunny dormitory big enough for 50 rabbits. There are another nine rabbits living in other parts of the house, separated from the general population because they pick fights with the nice bunnies. All rooms have doors that open to the courtyard so the rabbits always have a choice of indoor and outdoor fun.
I hope these five new guys are happy here,” said Margo. “I think they will be --- all the other bunnies seem to be enjoying themselves.”
The Brambley Hedge Rabbit Rescue sits on Erika’s home property. And even though the sanctuary is almost at capacity, she wanted to do what she could for our rabbit rescue efforts.
“We’re always full, it seems,” said Erika. “We always take in rabbits off the Humane Society kill list so we’re always jumping. Whenever we have space available, it doesn’t take long to fill up again.”
The Rabbit Ranger program started a couple weeks ago. Best Friends contacted over 200 rabbit rescue organizations across the country to help find new homes for the more than 1,400 rabbits living on the rabbit rescue ranch. So far, more than 20 organizations have signed on to the program. These 13 rabbits are the first to find happy endings through the Rabbit Ranger program. To Erika and Margo: A big, warm “Thank You!” from Best Friends. And from the 13 bunnies: “YAY!”
Written by Amy Abern. Photos by Margo Demello.