Monterey County Shelter Rabbit Rescue Receives Free Spay-a-thon by Local Vet Hospital

January 20, 2012

Spay A Thon at the Monterey County shelter- A Great success!

Today marked the completion of day one of the Spay A thon for the Monterey County Rescued rabbit group. 15 rabbits received spay/neuter services. The shelter director, Joanie Bruno-Compagno reported "Today went great! " "Dr. Thomas was awesome, she did 15 surgeries!" "We’re so thankful for her services and those of the RVT that came in. " " We are so grateful for the generous donation of the time given to us to help spay/neuter the bunnies." "Our staff loved working with Dr. Thomas."

The shelter is now gearing up for another great day, Sunday 1-22. They have 19 females and 24 males, a total of 43 bunnies on the surgery list. On Sunday Dr. Hilary Stern and Dr. Amy, plus RVT Yolanda, lead facilitator in the Clinic, will carry out the second day of services. Two additional Vet Techs and a tech volunteer will assist. Katrina, RVT, will also help in the morning along with Rabbit Haven Staff.

We are looking forward to Sunday. Imagine 43 rabbits! Send energy. It will be a fantastic day and will likely save the life of every rabbit in this group! Tremendous thanks to Dr Thomas and all staff involved today from all of us at The Rabbit Haven. Watch for photos by Sunday or Monday.

Rescue is needed now: If you can rescue, now is the time contact us right away at 831-600-7479. Transport is arranged for Monday 1-23. Staff are working non stop until we get through this. There is of course no fee to rescue or for Spay /neuter.

Fostering: Can you foster? If so, please call. We will provide the foster rabbit, a complete education packet, supplies and a full set-up. Then we will show your foster rabbit at our highly successful adoption shows in the near future. You can truly help by offering a place in your home for even one foster bunny.

Tranport: We are picking up rabbits on Sunday and transporting to the Bay area on Monday. Please call to help us get the rabbits out. This shelter usually has only a few rabbits. They are constantly flooded with with dogs and Cats. This shelter has one of the highest animal dump rates of any shelter in the vicinity.

January 16, 2012

The Monterey County Shelter was recently flooded with 70+ rabbits when these rabbits were dumped in a field. The helpful Animal control staff of the shelter safely collected the rabbits and brought them to the Shelter. Great job! Not only were there a huge new number of rabbits to care for, an immediate problem was apparent. Since the male and female rabbits had been together at least 25 females needed spay right away. Sadly the shelter vet was on vacation for two weeks! This created a huge issue that had to be addressed immediately - the shelter faced the likelihood of est. 25 mother bunnies giving birth to litter - Each rabbit can give birth to up to 12 babies, increasing the number to 360 to 370 in days! Seeing the desperate need The Rabbit Haven asked one of our vets, Dr Hilary Stern to help to possible create a Spay A Thon. She agreed! Dr. Stern was the primary person responsible for organizing our recent SpayAThon in Santa Cruz Animal shelter for the Aptos Breeder confiscation rabbit group. 32 rabbits were spayed and neutered in one day by Dr. Hawklyn, Dr. Sullenberger and Dr. Stern. Animal hospital of Soquel and Aptos Creekside Hospital. http://www.aptos-creeksidepets.com/ and http://www.soquelvethospital.com

Dr. Stern organized the project immediately and recruited two additional rabbit Vets and Staff. The schedule and details are now set! The first two days of SpayAThon will be January 20 and January 22. Haven Staff will be also be assisting on Sunday 1-22.Our deepest thanks to The Avian and Exotics Clinic of Monterey, specifically Shannon Thomas DVM, Amy Wells DVM MPVM, Hilary Stern DVM, and Katrin Kattanek RVT, who will be donating their time and expertise to help spay and neuter these bunnies. http://www.aecvets.com and volunteer of the Rabbit Haven http://www.therabbithaven.org. Joanie Bruno-Compagno of the Monterey County animal shelter stated that "the shelter is overjoyed and very grateful for the outpouring of donations and organizations support they are receiving". They did not have the funds to spay and neuter all these rabbits and they are not accustomed to having this many rabbits. But now, thanks to these doctors, the majority of the rabbits will be able to receive free spay/neuter that can be done in (so far) two days. They are so pleased to have the help of these three outstanding Vets and staff who are volunteering their time at the Shelter facility. They are donating all services at the Shelter. www.co.monterey.ca.us/health/animalservices

If you want to donate to this rescue to help the two non profits rabbit rescue groups associated with this rescue see links below. The rescue groups will be providing foster set ups, transport scheduling, spay/neuter pre and post op assistance, and will be covering costs of basic rabbit needs while they wait for adoption or rescue. These rabbits may need medical needs and care while they wait for rescue and adoption. To donate to the Rabbit Haven, visit our donation page. Please state the donation is for this rescue. Tax donation receipts are provided. 100% of funds received by the Haven for this rescue will be used for foster packs, food, hay, transport, medicines and support. Follow up reports provided to each donor. Haven will also carry out rescue work.

To donate to AFRP Rescue Rabbit Project, visit their website. Use this link to donate directly to The Rescue Rabbit rescue project at AFRP to help them support their foster network that is being set up now. Most adoptions will be processed through this AFRP Rabbit program - The Haven will provide set up packs, food and hay but there may be ongoing needs while the rabbits wait for adoption.

The shelter is working with both The Rabbit Haven and the AFRP Rescue Rabbits Rock programs. We will be working on medical care provision, spay neuter and then moving the rabbits quickly into rescue, adoption or Foster sites. Lisa of AFRP rabbit program is setting up foster sites in the local area assisted by The Rabbit Haven. Thank you to our first rescue group: The House Rabbit Society, Harvest Home, SaveABunny, Leaps and Bounds and AFRP Rabbit rescue project for taking in some of these rabbits - at least 60 more need placement. Transport may be arrange after spay/neuter to rescue. Many will be ready to go January 20 and 22. If you have room for any bunny there are many adorable rabbits here.

We need volunteers, fosters, adopters and rescue - Call or Email if you can help! We will facilitate fosters to Monterey and will manage those in Santa Cruz County. We will manage the rescue of any of these rabbits to a 200 mile radius of the shelter. Call today please. The rabbit need your help. These are very adoptable rabbits. Call Heather at 831 600-7479 email to director@therabbithaven.org.

This is such great news! Thank you to the awesome team of Avian and Exotics Clinic of Monterey for this great community gift to support the rabbits in need.