Sunday, January 16, 2011
Featured Bun - Sterling
He was part of a group of 16 rabbits that were confiscated by police from a cockfighting ring in north Philadelphia. He was so very thin when he came to us. But after some time in a foster home, he has blossomed into a happy big boy!
Sterling loves to move things around and chew on his cardboard boxes.
If you would like to meet Sterling, and make him a part of your family, please fill out the adoption application http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/se-pennsylvania/form.html
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Featured Bun - Dudley
First is Dudley. He is a ruggedly handsome Lionhead. When he first came to the shelter his mane was not near as full as it is now. Dudley came from a seizure at a mobile home- there were 50 rabbits living in that one mobile home! He stayed at the Prince Georges County SPCA for a while before getting his 2nd chance at the HRS.
If you would like to adopt Dudley, please fill out the adoption application http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/se-pennsylvania/form.html
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Shelter News
There are still so many bunnies waiting at the shelter for their forever homes. Take a look at our listings on Petfinder.com to see if there is a somebun there waiting to join your family for the holidays!
Also remember that Santa Pictures are coming up quickly. December 5th from 12-3:00. See you then!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
November is Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month!
We receive many calls at the shelter from people looking for a baby rabbit, or a very young rabbit. I understand wanting to have as many years ahead of you with your new companion as possible. However, please think of the older rabbits also, that may have been waiting for a long time to find their permanent home.
Thank you to the Petfinder.com blog- this is a slightly modified version of a post there:
10 Reasons Senior Bunnies Rule:
1. When senior rabbits are adopted, they seem to understand that they've been rescued, and are all the more thankful for it.
2. A senior rabbits personality has already developed, so you'll know if he or she is a good fit for your family.
3. You can teach an old rabbit new tricks. Senior rabbits have the attention span and impulse control that makes them easier to train than their youthful counterparts.
4. In particular, senior rabbits are often already house trained, or can be more easily house trained than a young bunny with a tiny bladder.
5. A senior rabbit won't grow any larger, so you'll know exactly how much pet you're getting.
6. Senior rabbits are often content to just relax in your company, unlike younger pets, who may get into mischief because they're bored.
7. Speaking of relaxing, senior rabbits make great napping buddies.
8. Senior rabbits know that toys (not shoes) are for chewing.
9. Senior pets are some of the hardest to find homes for -- so when you adopt a senior rabbit, you're truly saving a life.
10. Senior bunnies will love you special best!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Shelter News
Thank you to everyone that was able to join us at the Wine Tasting last weekend. It was a great success. We plan on doing another one in the Spring with a Bunny Hop theme! It is tentatively scheduled April 9th. More details to come.
Coming soon is our annual Pictures with Santa Event at the shelter. It is December 5th 12-3. Bring your bunny to have their picture taken with Santa. We also do a 2nd scene that is different each year. We cant tell what it is going to be, you have to come to find out! There will also be some fun raffles, and the amazing Grab Bags. Please stop in to join us with or without your bunny to support the shelter.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Halloween is coming!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Happy Tails
This is the story of Taz, adopted by one of our volunteers:
My Name is Schotzie Now
Taz was about a year old when he came to the House Rabbit Society. His time was up at the SPCA. He was as cute as could be, a Netherland Dwarf and all of one pound 10 ounces. He had tattoos in his ears, so he was used either for breeding or as a show rabbit. You won't usually see pure breed animals turned in to the SPCA. Taz had some behavioral issues, so he probably wasn't serving the purpose of either a breeding rabbit, or for show. He was turned in to the SPCA as if he was an appliance that was brought back to the store because it did not work.
It was true that Taz did have some issues. The Volunteers at the shelter had to put on leather gloves and wrap a towel around their arm just to reach into his cage to clean the litter box. Taz would not only bite you, but he would not let go!
Taz was quickly neutered, hoping that would calm him down. Even at the Vet's Taz was a handful. He was put in a fish tank and given gas to sedate him enough that the vet could put him under for the operation. However, his behavior was learned over the past year of his life, and it would take time to unlearn it. We don't know why he behaved so badly, maybe his previous owners hit him. I could not imagine anyone striking an animal that weighed less than two pounds!
Since Taz was not adoptable with his biting, I took him home to foster. I was hoping I could work with him and give him time to overcome his fears. I hand fed him his carrot every morning. He would eat while I was holding the carrot to learn that my hand was good, and would not hurt him. I would handle him a little each day so he would get used to it. You should have seen the look on my Uncle's face when I brought Taz downstairs at Christmas with my leather gloves on! He thought I was nuts for bringing him into my home.
Little by little Taz's behavior improved. He doesn't bite at all anymore. His name is Schotzie now. That means Sweetheart in German. It fits him so much better than Taz. He sleeps in bed with me, just lying at my feet or next to my pillow. He runs and plays and does binkies. Binkies are jumps for joy in bunny body language. I couldn't imagine not having Schotzie. The bite marks are gone, but the happy bunny is here to stay.
Next time you are considering adopting a bunny, please consider ALL of the bunnies in the shelter. The ones that may have a behavioral or medical problem may just turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you.



