Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society

This month, I rolled out the new "Supply Item of the Month" (see the left sidebar in this month's newsletter). I worked on the idea with Peggy Kvam, our Supply Coordinator. We wanted to let our members know that there are other items available at the supply locations besides hay and pellets. So each month you'll see an item that you may have not have known you could buy from MCRS, oftentimes at a better price that what you would pay in any retail store! Our first Supply Item of the Month is Truffles. Truffles is the perfect toy bunny, and is available at participating PETCO stores and all supply locations (email info@mn.companionrabbit.org to find a supply location near you). If you're looking for the perfect rabbit to give some bunny this Easter, look no further!

On another note, Paul Dupor and I drove down to Iowa City on March 7th to participate in the first ever Pet Care Fair, which was sponsored by the Iowa City Friends of the Animal Center Foundation (part of the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center). The event was free to participate and attend. We were one of nine organizations there and the only one for rabbits, with our own booth. Iowa City Animal Care also printed up custom-made brochures that I created for the event with their contact information. These brochures included info on rabbit care, handling, resources, etc. I displayed some pictures and other poster information, as well, and I put together a slide show showing off MCRS agility bunnies in their best form -- this drew a lot of attention and amazement to the booth! Many people stopped by the table and we answered many, many great questions. As part of the Fair, I also presented a shortened version of Bunny Basics to about 20+ people. I was helped by Rachel from ICACAC who also provided me with a Spokesbunny from their shelter, named Mathilda. She was a recently spayed, sweet adorable mini lop who handled her job responsibilities quite well. We were well received and thanked by many people for making the trip.

Updating the brochures for the Pet Care Fair put me on a path to update our MCRS handouts, as well. As an organization, we have grown to the point that it's necessary to make a few updates. With the help of some friends whose backgrounds are in marketing publications and communications, they should be all updated in a few months. Their expertise and help has made it is an easier project than originally anticipated, so our thanks to them.

Next on the calendar will be the social networking sites. Stay tuned ...

Shelley Chirhart
MCRS Marketing Coordinator

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We recently got an update on the Spice Trio from their new home ... where they're now part of a quad!

"Since bringing home Cinnamon and her piggy buddies Amos (aka Salt) (white with gray mask) and Pepper (gray with white tummy), my buddy Mickey (black and white) has been quite the happy camper. I haven't even had the crew for a year yet and already I couldn't imagine my life without them.

"Even though Amos and Pepper are quite old for piggies (8 yrs and counting!) they are still pretty spry. Pepper is a big baby and sleeps a lot. He and Cinnamon seem to have a very special bond. They sleep together and she grooms him more than any of the others. He is the loudest of the bunch. While he isn't always vocal, when he is, you know its Pepper!

"Amos has a goofy walk from some old-man joints. He is funny to watch because he always has the goofiest expressions on his face. We learned early on when he wouldn't let anyone else join him when the pellets were dispensed, that Amos is the head honcho. Since then we have added another food bowl to make things fair.

"The guinea pigs like carrots while Cinnamon seems to enjoy parsley the most. She has lost a lot of weight since being home with us. She gets loads of out time and the cage takes up a large portion of the living room! We have had fun watching everyone enjoy paper bags and play hide and go seek. Whenever Cinny needs to escape she goes to the second level. The guinea pigs have been up there but tend to avoid it. Its her very own bunny spot. She is very maternal and has adopted Mickey into the bunch. She does require some extra grooming from me and I have never had such an easy and mellow bunny in my arms!

"Mickey loves the companionship and has taught everyone how to sneak under the fridge door when it is open. They put their little paws into the fridge when they get impatient waiting for greens. I love how vocal they are. They greet me whenever I come by and the bunny is always curious.

"All in all the crew is doing well and everyone is happy as can be. I am so glad I brought the trio home. My house wouldn't be a home without them!"

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On March 13 MCRS was invited to bring our rabbits to the Edgewood School in New Hope for an afternoon with these special students. This is a post high school program for developmentally delayed young adults -- some high functioning, some profoundly disabled -- aged 17-21. Thanks to friends and the faculty of Edgewood, each rabbit had its own handler and was placed on the laps of the students for petting time, bringing smiles to faces that are often detached from life. With the help of their teachers, spastic hands reached out to stroke soft fur. One girl who stutters spoke clearly and easily to the bunny on her lap. A young man who never reaches out rubbed his face on a bunnies head. Several of the rabbits were invited to go out independently to visit students who were either too frightened or too aggressive to attend the event.

Most of the 20 rabbits involved also attend the Rabbit Agility School, and entertained everyone with their skill on the teeter and over the jumps.

The focus of this school is life skills, so we were presented as a program the students needed to pay admission for. At $1.00 per student, they have donated $52.00 to help the rabbits of MCRS.

Our rabbit team and their handlers are:

Ian Dragoo & Melanie Lupfer with Morgan and Bailey
Leslee McKee-Perry with Junebug
Sydney McKee with Alice and Atticus
Lauren Perry with Hope
Taryn Wichterman with Maggie and Thor
Linda Judge with Harvey and Sadie
Carol Jud with Musli
Carol Pawlicki with Goldy
Debbie Fitzsimmons, Sofie, & Steven with Snickers and Bree
Barb Kelley & friends with Abigail, Alexander, River, Latifah, Lenny, and Amelia

Some of you will also recognize Latifah from her photo (top right) ... maybe better known as Peppermint from her MCRS days. She was returned to MCRS several years ago obese and very very angry. Someone lovingly called her a "PO-ed bowling ball with ears." During her time with us, she made the rounds of our "boot camp" foster homes, where she continued snarling, snapping, growling, spinning, and biting, biting, biting.

One year ago Latifah's foster mom noticed that the hatred in her eyes was slowly changing to love, and Latifah was adopted into a brand new world. Today our girl is one of our therapy rabbit team that works in nursing homes and special schools. She is an agility star, and when her class is visited by the many children's parties at the Animal Humane Society she moves right into the center of the circle of kids so she gets the most pets! Latifah is just one of our MCRS success stories, who's making a difference in the lives of the people around her.

Thanks to Latifah's owners for letting her participate in our school visit, and to everyone who made this event such a success!

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