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House Rabbit Society Calls for Help
with Beaucoup de Bunnies in Rio Rancho
The New Mexico House Rabbit Society (HRS) contacted APNM this week about a rabbit overpopulation crisis that was discovered at a Rio Rancho home in late May. HRS is seeking assistance in numerous forms from the public and organizations in New Mexico and neighborhing states.
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A rabbit rescuer found himself overwhelmed when unspayed/unneutered rabbits multiplied. The NM House Rabbit Society is helping with this crisis-level overpopulation scenario.
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The situation:
An independent rabbit rescuer in Rio Rancho had rescued a large group of lops from a breeder, but did not have the resources to properly care for them. HRS had been helping with spay/neuters and placing individual rabbits into its adoption network. However, nobody realized how severe the situation was until it had spiraled out of control and animal control was called in.
HRS volunteers visited the home last weekend and spent a day catching rabbits, sexing them, separating them, and creating temporary housing for them.
They captured approximately:
• 36 adult females
• 24 adult males
• 75 babies and juveniles
HRS separated all of the rabbits they caught according to gender, and they are living in safe conditions for now. However, there are still many more that must be caught, and the situation is very, very dire.
HRS is in a time crunch because animal control wants the rabbits out, and because many of the females are pregnant.
HRS is trying to get local veterinarians to help with spays, but need homes and housing and supplies and other help. HRS volunteers have donated all of their own carriers, cages, and exercise pens, but they still need more temporary housing, especially for the new rabbits that they will catch this weekend.
HRS is extremely grateful to the rabbit rescue groups that have come to their aid so far:
Dreampower Rescue in Colorado Springs took 16 of these rabbits; to see some of those rabbits, go to dreampower.org/SmallCaged.cfm.
HRS volunteers will return to a Rio Rancho property this weekend to capture the remaining
rabbits, many of whom are pregnant.
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Wild Rescue of Plano, Texas took in 10 rabbits. Those rabbits are now featured on Wild Rescue's website here: rescuedrabbits.org.
Another 16 rabbits will be heading to the midwest in a couple of weeks, where most of them will end up at Tiny Paws Rescue.
Later in June, HRS volunteers will drive a few dozen rabbits to California, where they will be transported to Washington State, where 20 adults plus a cageful of babies will go to Rabbit Meadows Sanctuary in Redmond. Another 5 will go to Rivers Wish Animal Sanctuary in Spokane.
HRS is grateful to the above groups for helping, and to Bunderground Railroad, Red Barn Rescue, Bunspace, St. Louis House Rabbit Society, Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary, Portland Rabbit Advocates, and lots of individuals both local and national who have offered help with driving or other needs.
More help is needed. New Mexico’s HRS is primarily seeking local veterinarians to complete spays and neuters. “It’s critically important that we get these rabbits spayed to prevent more unwanted bunnies,” says Bill Velasquez, a volunteer.
The group is also asking the public for donations of cages, exercise pens, food and litter. HRS is also seeking corporate donations.
Other ways to help include providing spay/neuters, giving some rabbits permanent homes, or driving rabbits to out-of-state shelters and rescue organizations that can accommodate them. If you would like to help, please contact
bill@rabbit.org or
margo@rabbit.org.
The House Rabbit Society is a nonprofit animal welfare organization based in Richmond, California.
For updates on this situation, please visit: rabbit.org/newmexico#crisis
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RSVP to Attend June 5 Party
Benefitting APNM & APV
Host: Mark Napolin & Associates, Inc.
Albuquerque investment advisors Mark Napolin & Associates are having a party to celebrate 35 years of success. At most companies, that’s a good enough reason to throw a party—but Napolin wanted to do more. The firm offered sister organizations Animal Protection of New Mexico and Animal Protection Voters an opportunity to be honored as the event’s featured nonprofit organizations at the party from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5.
Mark Napolin used to organize major arts events. To add color to the party, he asked numerous local artists to participate in the party, by showing their work, which will be available for sale. And that’s not all.
The artists have generously offered to donate a percentage of every sale to APNM!
On display will be works from Donna Contractor, Margot Geist, Kenyon and Marcia Thomas, Sarah Siltala, Mary Thomas, Barbara Clark, and the jewelry of Carolyn Pollack.
If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to: arlene@apnm.org with your name, the names of people attending with you, and your phone number.
We appreciate the tremendous generosity of all of the participating artists and Mark Napolin & Associates!
We look forward to seeing you at the party!
Mark Napolin & Associates
6101 Moon Street NE, Suite 3000
Albuquerque, NM 87111
Office is located off Academy, just east of Wyoming/Academy intersection.
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