One of Our Fun Bun Runs! Filled with Toys, Treats, Stuffed Friends, Chewing Logs, and Boxes all to keep our Buns Entertained and Happy while they wait for a Forever Home!!!!
_____________________________________________________________________
Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome
Rescue (res’ kū): To free from danger. n. An act of deliverance.
Our mission is to provide a safe refuge for rabbits of the Midwest. As a sanctuary, we will take in any unwanted rabbits that can no longer be properly cared for by their owners; whether it is for financial, medical, or any other number of reasons.
A bunny surrendered to a local shelter where he likely would have been euthanized due to his poor condition. We took him in and provided him with necessary medical attention, quality food, clean water, and a warm place to recover. Today he lives in a forever home with a family who loves him uncondtionally!!!
Rehabilitate (rē'hə-bĭl'ĭ-tāt'): To restore to a good health or useful life through therapy and education.
Many of our rabbits come to us from loving homes where they have become either too large of an expense, a medical problem (allergies) for a family member, or because their family has simply outgrown them. Often times these bunnies are replaced by “people children” and they are no longer welcomed as a part of the family. Those rabbits are usually the easiest to place and are the easy intakes for our foster homes. They often are already altered, litter trained, and socialized, making excellent rabbits for first time owners as well as owners who have similar living conditions to the previous home of the rabbit(s) (other pets, kids, etc.)
Even though we do get many spoiled bunnies, we also get about half of our rabbits from true “rescue” situations. Many of these rabbits have spent their entire lives in small, outdoor wire pens with no toys or stimulation and especially no companionship. They are usually either tragically overweight or so skinny that you can see every little bone in their body. Many have urine soaked fur, are covered in dirt and feces, and have no idea what to do with the things other bunnies take for granted such as hay and veggies!!!! These rabbits have often been used for breeding or were bred specifically for their meat and fur and for some reason just weren’t “good enough” for their owners.
The true rescue bunnies are our passion. Their adoptions to indoor, family oriented people or families give these rabbits the chance at a life they may have never had, without our assistance. While their training, socialization, and health problems make them a larger expense and effort on the part of the organization, the satisfaction involved in placing them in forever homes far outweighs their expense!
Before and After of one of our Medical Bunnies, "Walter" received daily leg splinting to help his muscles learn how to support him and now is a happy, healthy, hopping, bunny, living in another awesome forever home!
Sanctuary (sangk’ chö er’ ē): n. A safe place; a refuge.
We aim to provide a place for rabbits to spend as much time as they need in order to find the perfect home. We strive to make the rabbits in our care as comfortable as possible during their stay and give them all of the benefits of “home!” If necessary, our bunnies are welcome to stay with us forever and will be treated like members of our own bunny family!
Bonding (bond ing): v. To fasten or bind together; to create a connection, attachment, link, or promise.
We offer services to any of our adopters, or community members, who are in need of creating, or maintaining a bond between their pet rabbits. Many times people will learn about the benefits of bonding after having two “single” rabbits for a few years, but not know how to get them to be friends. Admittedly, sometimes it is not possible; however, with the right cages, supervision, time, and behavior modification, most bonds are possible!!! We aim to educate the public about the benefits of bonded pairs of rabbits and in doing so have decided to offer bonding services as a part of our community outreach!
Our “Bonding Area” features a two sided cage with a double door. This cage allows for rabbits in the bonding process to be close enough to snuggle through the bars without being close enough to fight. This cage also works well for cage aggressive bunnies as you can swap bunnies from side to side each day forcing them to abandon their “territory” daily!
"Hey! You wanna be friends???"
Re-Home (rē’ hohm): v. To find a new dwelling that serves as a permanent and loving living quarters for one or more animals.
After spaying or neutering our rabbits and helping them to adjust to the luxuries of indoor living we look for their forever home. Our application process includes a lengthy application that allows us to peer into the lives of potential adopters. This application gives us the ability to match up the best bunny-family pair so that the bunny that ends up being adopted is a suitable match for the new families’ life style!
After completing the application process and being approved for adoption by the Sanctuary’s directors, a meet and greet is set up at a neutral location where the adopter is able to meet a few bunnies that meet their criteria. This also gives people an opportunity to have their current bunny meet potential friends away from home to give everyone the best indication of who may be compatible! The final step in the adoption process includes a home check which is usually done at the same time as the animal is dropped of at their new home. One of the directors takes the bunny to their new home and makes sure that the home is bunny compatible and that there are no surprises around the corners! This also gives us a great opportunity to help set up the bunny’s new cage and make sure that everyone is happy and comfortable (owner included!) before we leave. We have spent up to 3 hours at a drop off answering questions and helping set up for a single bunny…. We will stay as long as needed!
Cage Set-up: When we arrive to do the meet and greet at a potential adopters home, we ask what their plans are for housing their new pet. If they need assistance, we offer them shopping help, set-up help, or help with introductions to the rest of the family! Cage set-up is one of the most vital functions of our organization as it allows us a better opportunity to work with rabbit owners and teach them the benefits of cage training and free-time!!!!!
We have recently started offering cage packages with all of our adoptions which allows all adopted rabbits to go to a new home with a familiar cage, food, litter, toys, and anything else they may need to feel at home.
Our associations with Our Amazing Partners have allowed us to rehabilitate and re home over one hundred rabbits! We look forward to continuing to serve Wisconsin and the surrounding areas providing forever homes to rabbits in need.
Theo having fun in his boxes!
___________________________________________________________
About Us
Our Directors:
Kristin has been a hospital assistant at a local veterinarian's office and part-time staff member of a pet store/boarding facility for over 10 years. Working as the primary small animal caretaker/breeder at the pet store, she learned about the husbandry and special care that went into these little critters. She has used her expertise over the years to rescue rabbits in need of new homes as well as educate the general population on the specialized care of small animals. With the development of her "Rabbit Room" K&R was able to lay the ground work for a real sanctuary!
Rebecca, the daughter of a veterinarian, has grown up surrounded by animals of all shapes and sizes. Once old enough to move out on her own, her natural obsession with saving little lives turned into a full-time hobby! During her undergraduate schooling she spent her spare time working with a local shelter providing foster care for orphaned newborn kittens and puppies. While attending medical school in the Caribbean, she was quickly lured into aiding in the set up of a fostering network that utilized the medical students on the island as foster parents for abandoned and abused pets of all kinds!
Rebecca and Kristin decided to combine their resources to help the small animals of the Fox Valley who are all to often overlooked by shelters and rescue groups alike. It is Rebecca and Kristin's hopes that one day K&R will be large enough to provide education and understanding, about small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, to more pet owners so that these animals do not continue to be "throw away" pets but rather as much a part of the family as Man's best friend.
Kipper and Frankie
