Western Mass. rabbit lovers hop to the rescueDate: 4/19/2021 WESTERN MASS. – After launching during the summer of 2020, Western Mass Rabbit Rescue rescues, treats and takes care of rabbits before helping to find them a permanent home.
Jessica Riel, one of Western Mass. Rabbit Rescue’s co-founders, said they initially started the rescue after rescuing five rabbits in the summer of 2020.
“Last year during the pandemic we got information that rabbits were loose in a backyard in Longmeadow. It started with one and there were a total of three more rabbits from that backyard. Then we helped rescue a bunny in Easthampton, and after we rescued those five rabbits, we decided to get something more formal going,” she said.
Co-founder Jordana Starr explained that once a rabbit is rescued, they must go through several steps before being sent to their forever home.
“The moment we rescue a rabbit we look and see if they are physically healthy. Both Jess and I have many years of experience in having house rabbits and we also work with vets who show us how to do things, so we get them medical attention, we get them spayed and neutered, we get them to foster care, and then once they are spayed and neutered, they are put up for adoption,” she said.
Prior to starting the rescue, both Riel and Starr said they have been around rabbits their entire lives.
With 15 rabbits currently in Starr’s home, Riel said she has done a good job of reaching out and finding people to foster them.
“Jordana has done a great job of finding a bunch of families and it has been amazing to see how many people want to help the bunnies. Right now, our rescue is taking in a large number of rabbits at once because there was an individual who had a rabbit that got pregnant twice, so we are taking them in. Jordana put a call on Facebook and it has been amazing to see how many people want to take in some of the rabbits until they get spayed and neutered,” she said.
In some cases, the rabbits are adopted by their foster families, a situation which Star calls a foster fail.
“We call it a foster failure; there is nothing wrong with a foster fail because Jess and I have both had them. It’s when you foster a bunny in our case and you just fall in love with them and you decide to keep them with you forever,” she said.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Starr said they have been running all their operations while strictly social distancing.
“We have been social distancing from each other, so when we see each other it’s outside and we are wearing masks or looking through a glass door with a new bunny. We have been doing this through social distancing, Zoom and texting because we are cognizant of the pandemic and want to protect our families and the people we work with, but we need to do this,” she said.
Once the pandemic ends, Riel said she hopes to use her small animal massage therapist certification to host a spa day for rabbits.
“I am a certified small animal massage therapist, so I massage dogs, cats and bunnies. I started a fundraiser called Bunny Spa Day for House Rabbit Network and I am a hoping after the pandemic I will be able to do something like that here so people can bring their rabbits for a salon treatment, a professional massage, a photoshoot, and then go home all snuggled and full of treats,” she said.
In order to adopt a rabbit through Western Mass Rabbit Rescue, people can reach out through their website or Facebook page.
“They contact us through the rescue, we have a Facebook page, a website, we have an email address people use, and people also contact both of us. Once you contact us, we have a form that you fill out, I also prepare a notice that gives them a quick guide on what they need to know, and then we recommend them to go to the House Rabbit Society website,” she said.
When it comes to taking care of adopted rabbits, Starr said the animals need larger spaces to run around and eat a diet that mostly consists of hay.
“They need to have a big enough space where they can run around, play, stretch, and hop around. They primarily eat hay, not carrots. Carrots are really high in sugar so you may give it to them as a treat, they are vegan,” she said.
Much like a cat or a dog, Starr said house rabbits are a long-term commitment.
“Rabbits are a long commitment, it’s not like having a gerbil or a hamster, they can live longer than cats and dogs. I had a bunny that lived to 12 years old, and I’ve known people who have had rabbits live to 14. With a good diet and care they can live a long time,” she said.
Riel said that one of the most difficult times of year for rabbit rescues is after Easter.
“That is unfortunately one of the most challenging things for all rabbit rescues across the country. People go out at Easter time and take them home or give them as a gift and sometimes they are not prepared for it, so there are people that abandon rabbits. That is a felony so you hope people would use a rescue or other option, but it still happens,” she said.
Before adopting a rabbit, both Riel and Starr said that prospective families must do their research first and suggested they use The House Rabbit Society’s website to find out more.
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