Popular Post -DLC- Posted February 1 Popular Post Share Posted February 1 I've been kindly granted permission to post this, as it's for a non-profit organization that does so much good. TLDR but please do. A bit of history of how I got involved...over a decade ago my daughter was struggling and begged for a pet. We got a bunny. We knew NOTHING about rabbits and, truth be told, I kind of liked it better that way. For once I learned of their plight out there, my heart would be broken a thousand times over. We'd actually held a birthday party once long before we got our bun .... the girl guide camp in Richmond. We called it the bunny park because "lots of wild bunnies were there". Except we'd learn that they weren't wild at all...mostly they were dumped/discarded pets who bred and had feral buns out there IN the wild. But they weren't really equipped for it - they're domestic rabbits and just don't fare well out there. Rabbits are extremely territorial and dumping a bunny where other bunnies are is like a death sentence. They fight, viciously, to keep their turf and food supply. It isn't often that a newcomer will be accepted into a group. Rabbits also don't like to stray too far...so when they're dumped, even if they're being beat up and chased off, they don't leave the area. They just contend with it and eventually meet their fate. Then there are also coyotes, owls, dogs.... Since we got our first bun, we've had 3 more...they make great pets but, like any dog or cat, they're a 10 year commitment and require proper care and some work. By way of having our bunnies, we'd get into the world of also rescuing them. We'd come to learn about how people get rabbits as pets then quickly decide "they're too much work". You can't just stick them in a cage and leave them...they need attention and, well, they deserve it. Especially at Easter, the bunny population booms here as buns are put into cardboard boxes and dumped in parking lots and other convenient spots for abandonment. I've rescued dozens of buns in various states of health and injury...and it sticks with me like a nail in my foot. It hurts, bad. You have to have a tough outer shell to do rescue work. You can't shake it away. But the people involved with animal rescue are some of the best people I know. The types who'll drop everything to come out and help. Strangers who get together for a common goal. I've been out there on a dark, snowy night with a woman I met minutes before who offered to pick me up so we could get a bun out of a dangerous situation. My daughter and I spent Christmas eve a few years ago in the rain...all day, searching for a badly injured bun that had been reported. We found another one...it wasn't "the" bun we were looking for. Dorval Crescent. There had been previous "mass" rescues..the auto mall. UVic. etc. in the past. The Dorval bunny was one of many and the start of another attempt to pull off a mass rescue. This guy proved to be a bit of a houdini. We were freezing and it was getting dark as we decided to pack it in..we'd already had to bail out of our Christmas eve dinner and we were wet and cold. We'd been crawling around on our hands and knees, looking under bushes, to no avail. We hadn't been able to locate him..it was disheartening. There were others there with us...a group of about 6-7. Merry Christmas. Just as we decided to pack it in and were heading towards our cars, we spotted him! He was terrified and in rough shape. It'd take another hour and a half and a whole lot of Cheerios to coax him into our net. But it's always so rewarding and a huge relief to get a bun who needs help into our care. Cries of joy. This has been a rinse repeat cycle for me. An injured bun in the snow at the dike that was being upgraded. Bobcats and gravel and no where for her to go/hide. Another one at the Steveston High school demo site...the security guard got to know us and let us slip in a hole in the security fence to rescue a bun trapped in there. Piles of glass..big shards. Nails. It was treacherous. She was hard to get too...there were 3 of us rescuing her when the other 2 left to get an x-pen. I coaxed her into my carrier when they were gone...some quiet, gentle encouragement (and some cilantro and carrots that smelled really good I guess). I patiently (and not so patiently at times) rescued seven baby buns from Alderbridge Road...it took me 7 days....one each day. These are them...they were in a construction site, hiding under the disposal bin. Again...nothing but gravel and concrete. And these little babies. The last guy was a bugger....took me nearly 10 hours to get him! He was onto me but I persisted. They were so adorable...playful toying with me. But with nowhere to go if we didn't get them out. No food. No water. Nothing. (We rescued Mom from across the street). So this is my life away from work, family and here. We just got called out on the weekend again (Sunday night, in the cold). A bun with a broken leg at the Lansdowne station...dragged himself into the bush. It's never ending. So here is my plea. Rabbitats was founded by two women...who are now my friends. Sorelle and Deanna. They got into this as I did...by accident. Downtown Vancouver and a young homeless couple on the street had a bun. It wasn't a good situation. Sorelle convinced the couple to take $50 for the bun...named her Pip. That started it all.....you can't turn away once you know. No turning back (or a blind eye). You start to notice rabbits. In parkades and places they shouldn't be...they don't stand a chance in. Today, they have rescued upwards of a thousand buns. They're angels....a lot of out of pocket stuff rung up on their personal credit cards. They never say no. They've never turned a down an injured bun request. They (we) had a bay for awhile at the Richmond auto mall..the deal was we'd keep the bun population under control there in exchange for the space. Then the reno''s and expansion happened and we lost that home. Now it's a temporary, run down old house that used to be a dog breeder's. It's slated for demo and temporary. We have a golden opportunity at the moment...a chance to buy in to a property with other rescues to combine forces and provide a service that will open up for so many more animals. Fundraising is under way and we're being matched, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000. Please, spread the word. We have mere hours left to fund raise and are so desperately trying to reach our goal. If you can help, any amount....even $5 helps toward our goal. This is so very near and dear to my heart. And I thank the powers that be for allowing me to post this. Go here to learn more or to donate/help (even if just to share the link/story): https://fundrazr.com/NewHome2022?ref=fb_9B0zA7_ab_8fZErDe64hh8fZErDe64hh Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And if ever you know someone who is thinking about getting a rabbit, shoot me a p/m so I can help educate you. Because that's the first step...is making people aware of how to care for a bun so they can make a responsible decision. 11 2 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allegend Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 I just made a donation. Good luck, Deb! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 1 minute ago, allegend said: I just made a donation. Good luck, Deb! You are amazing and I thank you! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brilac Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 I made a donation and good luck! 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 4 minutes ago, brilac said: I made a donation and good luck! You are also amazing. My deepest thanks. All my buns at the rescue Fiona, Brady, Lynas, Houdini, the Alderbridge Harlequins, etc., etc. thank you. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 It's a bit confusing. The fundraiser that is "matched funds" ends at midnight....all funds raised up to $50,000 are being matched. We will continue to try to fundraise beyond this to reach the goal of $185,000 (to buy in to the shared sanctuary space in Langley). If that doesn't pan out, they will look for another home as the one they're currently in is temporary. Every single penny goes for the buns/sanctuary. No one is paid, everything is donated. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rychicken Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 10 hours ago, -DLC- said: It's a bit confusing. The fundraiser that is "matched funds" ends at midnight....all funds raised up to $50,000 are being matched. We will continue to try to fundraise beyond this to reach the goal of $185,000 (to buy in to the shared sanctuary space in Langley). If that doesn't pan out, they will look for another home as the one they're currently in is temporary. Every single penny goes for the buns/sanctuary. No one is paid, everything is donated. It appears that you have now maxed out the match part, as you are over $100,000 Keep up the great work - hope y'all hit the $185,000 and make the move 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 WOOOOOHOOOOO I'm honestly near tears. This is incredible. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrayDog Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Donated! Good luck Deb! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 12 minutes ago, StrayDog said: Donated! Good luck Deb! You're so awesome, and I thank you! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry Goose Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 wife and I will absolutely donate 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NucksIn50 Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Amazing Deb I will donate… ive seen the buns all over Richmond. I charge my ev car at Superstore on 3 road and always see them in the parking lot breaks my heart but I’m glad to hear about your group! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelicHearts Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 I donated! Good luck. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Specter Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Donated! All the best @-DLC-! You and your team are doing great work! Feels great to be at "Bunny Champion" status! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DS4quality Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Just saw and donated. All the best to the bunnies! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 Thank you, from the bottom of my bun loving heart, everyone. This community is amazing. I am so grateful for all of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 8 hours ago, NucksIn50 said: Amazing Deb I will donate… ive seen the buns all over Richmond. I charge my ev car at Superstore on 3 road and always see them in the parking lot breaks my heart but I’m glad to hear about your group! Ha, I've actually rescued a bun from there. And one from the Costco parking lot on Bridgeport too. It's heart wrenching to see them in those spots. Buns get terrified in those situations and mostly they just freeze in fear but they also dart in front of cars unexpectedly. RAPS used to have the contract in Richmond but they dropped the ball (big time). When a deadly virus was circulating, they euthanized all their rabbits. The SPCA now has Richmond's contract for animal "control" (rescue) but Rabbitatsdoes most of the work when it comes to bunnies. There was an injured bun on River Road once (my ex boss called to tell me)....I went to get him but needed help as he went under a fence to city property that I couldn't access. When I called (it was still the SPCA back then before it moved to RAPS) they...didn't care/come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 We reached the threshold of $50,000 which has been matched by a donor! Incredible. They're extending the campaign to try to reach the full goal needed to buy into the sanctuary property in Langley (with other animal rescues). I will leave this thread up and use it for education purposes (as I have some good information on bunnies in case anyone ever IS considering one....what to know first, before making that decision. And there are options...fostering is a good way to start/see if it's for you or not). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnBurner Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 9 minutes ago, -DLC- said: We reached the threshold of $50,000 which has been matched by a donor! Incredible. They're extending the campaign to try to reach the full goal needed to buy into the sanctuary property in Langley (with other animal rescues). I will leave this thread up and use it for education purposes (as I have some good information on bunnies in case anyone ever IS considering one....what to know first, before making that decision. And there are options...fostering is a good way to start/see if it's for you or not). Wow! Congratulations Deb! Well done! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Colt 45s Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 (edited) Doing something to make a small difference is awesome to read. We have a lot of rabbits around here, in rural Missouri but the coyotes do an important job to keep their population down. That said, how do ya'll feel about hunting rabbits with beagles. Both are cute. I own both. My beagle and bunny were born and raised at the same time. Edited February 1 by The Colt 45s 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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