The NCVA is publishing this guest blog post for the hard working volunteers with New Moon Rabbit Rescue.

By New Moon Rabbit Rescue

New Moon Rabbit Rescue is facing a crisis.  Nothing could have prepared us for the demand we’ve been up against this summer and we are all feeling the crunch.  Demand for rabbits needing help is astronomically high, and public support has not yet risen to meet it.

As a rescue, our biggest challenges have always been getting and keeping foster homes and raising funds primarily to cover medical costs for the rabbits that come to us.

We’ve gained a lot of support over the past six years and grown a lot as a rescue and have been able to save hundreds of rabbit lives.  We are grateful for the unwavering support of the community, but also realize that we must extend our reach in order to be able continue doing what we do and continue being able to give these rabbits a second chance.  We need your help to be able to help them.

Each neuter costs the rescue $130-215, while each spay costs $205-300.  Only a very small fraction of rabbits who come to us are already spayed or neutered, and as we have an average of 45 rabbits coming into rescue per year, we are looking at quite a high cost every year for spaying and neutering alone.  And that’s for a completely healthy rabbit, which many are not when they arrive!

You can donate in many ways, such as Canada Helps (www.canadahelps.org), Paypal (info@newmoonrabbitrescue.ca) or Email Money Transfer through your bank account (regan@newmoonrabbitrescue.ca).  All donation information can also be found on our website.  You can also send a cheque to PO Box 24 North Gower, ON K0A 2T0 or stop by one of our upcoming events.  You will receive a tax receipt for any donation of $10 or more if you provide your name and address.

Fosters urgently needed

For us, just like many animal rescues, foster homes are a constant uphill battle.   If we had 10 foster homes, they would be full at any given point in time and if we had 50, they would also be full.  The more foster homes we have, the more rabbits have a chance at life and to know the love and compassion most don’t know is out there.  Many of the rabbits who come to New Moon are “last chance” animals that would otherwise be euthanized.  When you foster, you are saving a life!

We ask you today to please considering fostering a New Moon rabbit. We need you and more importantly, they need you. They are waiting to show you how wonderful an experience fostering is!

Fostering is an extremely rewarding experience.  Most of these rabbits have spent their lives confined to a tiny cage and do not know the joy of human companionship or have spent months to years in shelters waiting for a forever home that never comes.  It is beautiful to be able to see a shy rabbit unaccustomed to humans or one that has only had bad experiences with people flourish into a loving companion.  To teach a rabbit that they can play, run, interact with their human caregivers and simply be safe and loved, is a most beautiful experience.

All they ask is for love while they await adoption.  All we ask is that you provide them with an appropriate diet, sufficient play time, a clean, healthy environment and socialization.  We are happy to provide farm fresh mixed grass hay and the “start-up” supplies you need (cage, litter box, bowls).

You can foster for a short time or indefinitely – it is up to you!  Don’t worry if you have dogs, cats, guinea gigs, rodents or reptiles – many of our fosters are avid animal lovers with multiple pets!  We are flexible with our foster homes and don’t mind if you don’t have previous rabbit experience as long as you are willing to learn.  Fosters are always welcome to adopt if you meet that special somebunny that changes your life!

Please get in touch

You can find all the information you need on fostering for us at our website and you may also email us at foster@newmoonrabbitrescue.ca.

If you cannot adopt, foster.  If you cannot foster, donate.  If you cannot donate, share this with your friends.  Everyone can make a difference and be a bunny hero!