House Rabbit Society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The House Rabbit Society (HRS) is a non-profit organization based in Richmond, California that rescues and adopts rabbits and educates the community on how to properly care for them. HRS tries to promote responsible rabbit ownership, including the spaying and neutering of all pet rabbits, and proper veterinary care, diet, and exercise. They also advocate the position that pet rabbits should be kept indoors, because they argue that house rabbits live longer, healthier, fuller lives and suffer fewer accidents and health problems.
The House Rabbit Society website is a comprehensive online source of information on rabbits kept as pets, featuring sections on care, behavior, health, veterinarians, rabbits and children, frequently-asked questions, and other topics.
HRS was founded in January of 1988. As of 2005, HRS has over 9,000 members. HRS has found foster homes for more than 16,000 rabbits. HRS has educators and fosterers in 33 states in the United States and in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Italy and Singapore. One of the famous rabbits rescued by HRS is Lucky the Rabbit.
[edit] Organization Philosophy
The House Rabbit Society believes that all rabbits are valuable as individuals, regardless of breed purity, temperament, state of health, or relationship to humans. The welfare of all rabbits is the organization's primary consideration.
Except for unique situations, in which wild animals are being nursed or rehabilitated, it is in the best interest of wild rabbits that human intervention be held to a minimum.
Domestic rabbits are not the product of natural selection, but rather of human interference by means of breeding programs, and the product is a human-dependent animal who needs protection. It is therefore a human responsibility that these animals be cared for in a manner appropriate to their needs. It is in the best interest of domestic rabbits to be neutered/spayed, to live in human housing where supervision and protection are provided, and to be treated for illnesses by veterinarians. Domestic rabbits are companion animals and should be afforded at least the same individual rights, level of care, and opportunity for longevity as commonly afforded to dogs and cats who live as human companions.
[edit] Adoption and Education Center
In the San Francisco Bay Area HRS runs the country's first ever rabbit-only Adoption and Education Center.
The HRS Rabbit Center also serves as the home office of HRS. Before the existence of the Rabbit Center, the day-to-day work of the national organization all took place in various private homes throughout the country.
With this work centralized, more volunteers can help run the organization, and others can be freed up to focus on the organization's program goals of rescue and education. Through both of these programs, House Rabbit Society has already reduced the numbers of rabbits being euthanized at animal shelters across the country. With the help of the Rabbit Center, which is limited-admission, more rabbits can be saved and placed into loving homes.
