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Older Archives: Early 2003 Spring 2003 Early Summer 2003 Topics of This Page: We're Cool! We Give Thanks. Don't Be a "Litter-Bug" ... Finally! Don't Be a "Litter-Bug" ... Our Spays & Neuters! We're Cool! ... Literally, that is. We got some help from Ty Jernigan and we got most all the roof area of our "bunny barn" insulated. It's made all the difference in the world. I checked the roof temperature -- 150 degrees! But even on the hottest day yet (115 degrees), we've never gotten to 90 degrees inside. The bunnies think it's a warm spring day!  We Pause to Give Thanks ... No, it's not Thanksgiving, but here at mid-year, we've come to realize just how thankful we should be. First, we'll always thank God for allowing us to care for these, some of the most wonderful and enjoyable of His creatures. We most profoundly thank all you that have helped us with your donations and support! We would never had been able to do all the things we have for "the kids" were it not for your generous help. Thank You! Thank You! "Thump-thump" (Thank You!) * We've had people that could afford to give hundreds do so. We've seen corporate donations that have exceeded any of our expectations. * We've had people give us $5 or $10 dollars saying something like "... This is all I can afford right now." We're very thankful for all, but for these folks probably the most. * We've had 6-8-10 year old boys and girls go door-to-door in their neighborhood. (We thought we'd never got all the change sorted out!) * We had the Southern Palms Mobile Home Park throw a "garage sale" and they kept not a nickel for themselves. * We've had people donate things like hutches, food, bowls, food, bottles, food, (nudge-nudge). * We've had people donate time and talent in helping us build and improve our facility * We've had people volunteer to help feed, water, clean, groom (more on this, later). We could go on, but you get the point. We are thankful to all of you that have helped us so far. We say "so far" because there is still so very much to do. We did not say all that to say that we don't need your help anymore - far from it. We need your help now, more than ever. It's both terrible and wonderful. ... Terrible in that there are so many uneducated or uncaring people out there allowing unchecked breeding or that simply don't want their pet anymore. ... Wonderful in that these people have now realized that there is somewhere to go with these loving little animals other than a feed store or the desert. Don't be a "Litter-Bug" ... Finally! Well, you know that 1/29 rescue we mentioned last time? They brought over 13 more bunnies June 7th. I asked if that was all of them and met with "no" like I'd asked a silly question. I decided, then and there, that we'd go after the rest. I went to the yard, again, and commenced on excavating burrows. After a bit more than an hour and collapsing 7-8 burrows, I'd captured the last of the crew ... 17 total - nursing babies, juveniles, adults ... ALL OF THEM! We received a total of 103 bunnies from this one back yard! But it's one more source of inbreeding and unwanted animals brought to a halt. Don't Be A Litter-Bug ... Our Spays-n-Neuters Our part of the "Don't Be A Litter-Bug" program is going along well. To date (07/31), we've had 68 bucks neutered and 8 does spayed. We have been blessed with over 20 adopters that have agreed to bear the cost, themselves, but we obviously bear the weight. We now have a standing schedule with the vet for four bunnies a week! Even with our new construction, Medical (including spays and neuters) continues to be our largest single expense. This doesn't mean that those other expenses have gone away, by any means - they're still with us, as well. If you'd like some perspective ... on Medical we've spent literally over four times what we have on Feed so far this year. Please remember us when you think of benevolence. Beyond immediate rescue and special care needs of individual bunnies, Spays-n-Neuters are the most important part of our "care efforts". |
