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Older Archives: Early 2003 Spring 2003 Early Summer 2003 Mid Summer 2003 End Summer 2003 Fall 2003 Topics of This Page: What Does "Non-Profit" Really Mean? Don't Forget To Look Milestones What Does "Non-Profit" Really Mean? Victor just got adopted What's that got to do with it? ... EVERYTHING! Luckily, most were healthy and whole, but Victor had some serious dental malocclusion. We worked with him and kept his teeth trimmed, but it seemed that his top teeth weren't really trying to grow at all. We thought it best to remove his front teeth so his molars would have a chance to remain intact and in good shape. Point is ... Victor's dental work cost us better than $200. That, along with the cost of his neuter along with his "room and board" ... well, you get the picture. If we tried to adopt Victor at a "profit" he'd never get a home. He was adopted to a family that dearly loves him for our standard $45 adoption fee. So, how can we afford to do that? ... If we were a "for profit" breeder or such, Victor would simply have been put to death - along with any other "less than perfect" bunnies. If we were a mechandise retailer, he'd have been trashed and written off the books as damaged goods. In the "for profit" realm, doing anything for Victor would have been "throwing good money after bad". But YOU wouldn't want Victor put to death over something that could be fixed ... knowing, if it was fixed, that he could live a long and happy life. Well, neither would we! The efforts of East Valley Bunny Rescue are funded wholly by public donations - by people like you that think cost is secondary to giving these "loves" a chance to live happy, healthy lives. That's the definition of "Non-Profit".  Don't Forget To Look We've got it on our permanent pages ... Take a moment to "inspect" your bunny each day. While you're playing with him, sitting with him, holding him, whatever ... If we simply drop off food and water, or just let them out without a second glance, we run the risk of letting problems, that might have been small, grow into problems that may be critical. Such is the story of Cassidy. Look at his pictures ... This first one is of his handsome face.  Click For Larger Image So what's wrong with this bunny? Nothing ... unless you look ... This second is of his teeth. Not a pretty sight.  Click For Larger Image What "tipped us off" was that he was thin. He was not gaunt, but he was close. Look at his teeth and tell me how he could eat! ... or get his tongue out to drink! ... much less groom or anything else! As soon as he hit his new home - after clipping his teeth - he started on his food bowl and finally slowed down after going halfway through the second bowlful! Remember the subject of this little ditty? ... DON'T FORGET TO LOOK! ... You can catch problems before they become crisis level or critical. Milestones At year's-end we often look back to see what happened. We don't have much time for reflection (or much anything else, it seems), but we do want to take a moment to point out November's "bean counter" numbers. At this time of year, it somehow seems appropriate that Holiday was our "number 400" inbound bunny this year! It's obvious that she won't be the last - we've gotten more since her and we're receiving more continually - but it's another milestone, good or bad. The problem with that number is that so many bunnies have been abandoned - for whatever reason. The problem with our doing what we do is that we allow so many people to "clear their conscience" and simply "get rid of the thing" without feeling that they've done anything wrong. After all, they didn't just turn it loose in the desert or simply kill it - as many have done in the past. Yes, that's true ... but it's an indictment against our society that pets are disposable - however that disposal is performed. The "up-side" is that we've found homes for 250 bunnies so far this year, as well. But even at that, a few (thankfully, you can count them on one hand) of those "inbound" bunnies were returned from people that had adopted them from us -- people that said they wanted a "forever pet". Again, we're grateful that they were returned rather than simply released - or worse, forgotten - but the indictment against us all still stands. It's not enough that most of us reading this can say, "I'm glad I'm not like that." It's not enough that we can say, "At least my bunny won't get treated that way." We ALL must do what we can to stop people from "backyard breeding" - whether intentional or accidental. We ALL must do what we can to get people to adopt a pet from a shelter rather than buy one from a store. We ALL must, at the very least, support the rescue shelters and their efforts to make these points to others. We're sorry if it sounds like preaching, but we're not at all sorry about the message. Please don't stick your head in the sand. We're not asking you to mount a crusade - we'll take care of that part :o) ... but seriously, we are asking you to talk about the problem with your friends and associates - they might not even realize that a problem exists. |
