We have an exciting new grant program! For nearly eleven years now, we've been helping bunnies through a variety of ways, from our own involvement in national HRS and our local shelters, in our own personal fostering efforts, and of course through our business. The word "grant" usually brings to mind thoughts of twisted processes and heady requirements for a sponsor, a matching donation of funds from the organization, or something. This can often make smaller groups feel at a disadvantage.

We meant to kick it off earlier this year, but some technical difficulties have pushed us back a quarter. SO... at the end of the 2nd quarter (that means July 1st), we will give away a $500 cash grant to the organization voted for most often by web site visitors!

Participating is so simple! Just visit our voting page on the web site and cast your vote for your favorite organization!

In addition, we’ll choose one lucky organization to receive a smaller cash donation, and a third organization will be awarded a Double Level Bunny Abode House Rabbit Condo to use as they see fit. Perhaps outfit a new foster home, or use it as a fundraiser through a raffle or silent auction!

Each quarter we will award similar grants!

You can help your group win by spreading the word about this contest. Organizations can help themselves win by talking about this on their web site and in their newsletters.

For those who have web pages, let’s swap links! If you, your group or its members have a web site, please include us! Feel free to use the banner images available here. (Here’s a tip: the big winner of the 3nd quarter grant award is going to be selected randomly from the owners of pages linked to us!)

Our goal is to assist in helping as many rabbits as possible find a forever home, through community, volunteer work, through our business and through helping other groups.

Each month we do smaller favors when we can, and we'll talk more about those in upcoming issues. Having seem involved with bunnies since we adopted our own house rabbit in 1992, it's been a blessing to see the rise in the number of and support for groups assisting rabbits. But there is yet so much to do!

Spring is finally here! This brings to mind spring storms and the consequences that sometimes follow: storms, wind, lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and more. While these and other events can strike at any time, spring tends to bring them to the forefront of our attention with events like the cyclone in Myanmar and the floods in Maine. Mother Nature has her own plans and try as we might we cannot bend her to our meager will. The best recourse is to plan ahead. By that, I mean to prepare for likely scenarios and take the steps to provide as safe a situation as possible for your loved ones, be they on two legs or four…or none at all.

Disaster preparedness need not be a complex chore, but it is something that needs to be done before you need it. Depending upon where you live, and your personal resources, your disaster plan may be quite different from mine, but this is meant to serve as a guide for the basic things you should do to prepare for the unexpected. And, we hope you never need to use it.

Disaster Preparedness Plan 101

• Have a means by which to contain and transport your pets. All your pets, at once.
• Have a ‘pet bag’ or box where you keep all their emergency supplies ready to go at a moments notice
• Have copies of your pet’s vet records and contacts in the ‘pet bag’
• Have enough food and water for five or more days in the ‘pet bag’
• Have any medications your pet needs in the ‘pet bag’
• Have a basic first aid kit in the ‘pet bag’
• Have a plan of where to go and where to meet up with other family members in case of emergency. This can be the trickiest one of all as you seldom know in advance where you may have to go to get out of harms way. Make it a several step plan.
• Plan to find a friend or hotel nearby that will allow you and your pets to take shelter.
• Also plan another location in the state you live as well as one farther away in the event that it is a long term emergency and you may need to be away from your home for an extended period of time. Hurricane Katrina taught us all a valuable lesson on this one.

In the event that you have to go a significant distance to find safe shelter or a caring friend or family member that will allow you shelter with your animals, having your ‘pet bag’ will save you a lot of headaches. Having your pet’s vet records will make it that much easier if your pets have to see a new vet during this time of crisis.  Fortunately, many emergency shelters are now beginning to allow pets to go with their owners where the pets were often turned away just a few short years ago. You might check with the Red Cross or other agencies in your area to find out if they will allow your pets to go with you in just such a disaster. Your time of turmoil will be so much better if you have the love and comfort of your pets there with you.

Being prepared boils down to a few simple elements: food – water – shelter – meds – papers. Planning ahead not only makes a stressful situation easier, it may save the lives of your loved ones. Into every one’s life a little rain must fall…but we can still bring an umbrella.

Bunnies and children
The web site Wonder Time has a really good article about rabbits as pets with children. It's always great to see good information in the press.

Kito the Destroyer
Our friend and customer Tori and her long eared friend Kito send us a kudo for her recent shipment which included a Funky Bump toy which is going a long way toward saving her wooden doors and buttons on her clothes! She shared this photo of Kito. Click on this small image for a larger image.