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June 23, 2008
Call Us Crazy - Part Two
I am no marketing expert but I have done a little research into the concept of viral marketing. Two basic elements are of particular interest. First is the observation that people's opinions tend to be strongly influenced by their friends and family members. Thinking of buying a new vacuum cleaner? Chances are, your research includes asking people you know which brand they use and what they think of it. Personally, I would just ask Karalee, which demonstrates my point.
Second, people who agree with a message are a cost-effective way of conveying that message to a wider audience. Love your vacuum cleaner? You're probably pretty motivated to share that information with anyone who is interested.
Okay, what does this mean for the dumping problem? One surprising fact we have learned is that a number of people, including people who work at shelters, believe that domestic rabbits can be dumped outside with no harm to the rabbits. Hard to believe but apparently true. Granted, some dumpers really don't care what happens to the rabbit. But some subset apparently do not understand that domestic rabbits are fundamentally unprepared to survive in the wild. Education might be a way to get to these people.
Second, it may be possible to put out an email and watch it work its way throughout the country. A friend of mine at work is an excellent source of links to humorous youtube videos. Interestingly, a friend of mine from my previous job has forwarded the same links.
The obvious question is, is it possible to create an educational email, with a link to our web page, that could be distributed to all of our friends and the rabbit lovers we know, as an inexpensive way to start an anti-dumping campaign? That's what we intend to find out.
In the next week or so, you will find an email from CHRS in your Inbox. Please forward it to sympathetic friends and family, and encourage them to do the same.
It may not be much but it could be a small step towards reducing the number of dumped rabbits. At the very least, we need to do "something."
Posted by Sue at 5:51 PM
Call Us Crazy - Part One
Please forgive me. I'm in a talkative mood tonight. This post is proving longer than I expected so I am splitting it into two parts.
I have this weird quirk that I find comfort in doing "something." Whether that something actually accomplishes anything is, of course, debatable. But the act itself provides at least some modest comfort.
Not surprisingly, my initial response to the horror of the poor dumped rabbit was to start thinking about what we can do. I was stymied, though, by the basic problem of how do you get to the dumpers? After all, they're not the ones using Google to search for information about why dumping is a bad thing.
Ironically, a second dump case brought some resolution. Karalee heard about a dumped rabbit with a foot stuck in a drain hole cover and, as it turns out, a broken back. This time, the rescuer took the rabbit to Norton Road Vet Clinic where it was humanely euthanized. Clearly an improvement over the first case but we're setting the bar pretty low here.
We are all way beyond fed up with dumped rabbits - let's not forget Lucy and Blackberry who, thankfully, suffered no broken bones but continue to battle serious medical issues. Karalee's suggestion was to create web pages on both columbusrabbit.org and makeminechocolate.org that describe the likely fate of dumped rabbits and what caring people should do if they find a dumped rabbit.
In support of her strategy, we can also take advantage of a technique that marketers are exploring: viral marketing. I will explain what that is in my next post.
Posted by Sue at 4:56 PM
Other People's Messes Redux
My sincere thanks to everyone who responded to my post about the dumped rabbit; and my apologies for taking so long to respond. Hopefully, the reason for this will be obvious in my next post.
In spite of the delay, I do want to pass along the messages that people shared. They gave me a lot of comfort during a grim time.
One respondent expressed gratitude that this poor rabbit was no longer suffering and in bunny heaven. I'm sure we all take comfort that the rabbit finally made its way to Karalee and Chuck.
A second respondent shared a story about a momma duck whose ducklings fell into a storm drain. Passersby did rescue the babies. It's an important reminder that some people will do the right thing.
Another response was to encourage us to find satisfaction in our successes. Our own rabbits who have forever homes full of love and the loving care we give to every rabbit that comes into our lives, however briefly. Yep, I wholeheartedly agree with this. We cannot let situations like this discourage us from continuing our work and loving our rabbits.
One respondent wanted to know why the person who rescued the rabbit did not take it to a vet or to the shelter. The answer is, we don't know. When Karalee talked to him, she was under the impression that he was going to do what she suggested.
Let's be realistic here. Not everyone is willing to spend their own money on an animal that does not belong to them. I'm fine with that. My beef is that he wasn't forthcoming about it. You know Karalee as well as I do. All he had to do was indicate that he wasn't willing or able to follow through. Does anyone doubt that she would have offered to take custody of the rabbit? But he didn't.
So there we have it. Good advice from some of our members. Thank you!
Some of us have been discussing what else we can do to help reduce the number of dumped rabbits. Look for my next post for details.
Keep the faith, everyone!
Posted by Sue at 4:09 PM
June 17, 2008
Wowing Fox 28
Thanks to Heather Dean for providing the following description of her appearance on Fox 28. Kudos to everyone involved!
I, along with some help from Lacey and Brie, appeared on Fox 28's Good Day Columbus this morning. The crew was thrilled to have our sweet girls on the set, and were gracious enough to provide space to set up an X-pen complete with a litterbox and toys. Terri Sullivan sat down with me for three minutes to talk about why rabbits make great pets, and what families should understand before bringing a rabbit into their home.
I focused on the fact that rabbits should be spayed or neutered to help prevent health concerns and behavioral issues. I also talked about the life span of rabbits, and the time committment that is involved. Terri Sullivan was very impressed with the fact that rabbits will use a litterbox. Of course Lacey and Brie stole the show, making sure the TV crew could see how much fun rabbits can be.
Three minutes goes by fast and I could talk about rabbits as pets all day long! Let's hope that Fox 28 will invite CHRS back again soon to brag about our beloved bunnies... and find them good homes.
Thanks to Karen Winstead and John Dean for their help with the TV appearance, and to Fox 28 for their support!
Posted by Sue at 4:50 PM
June 14, 2008
Our Talented Volunteers
We are planning to put together a slideshow for last weekend's picnic. In the meantime, I pulled out a few pictures that I particularly liked. To me, each picture demonstrates the range of talents our volunteers possess.
Karalee's reaction to Terri's congratulatory remarks. Karalee also received a book that commemorated her many accomplishments. The book was put together by CHRS volunteers, including Ellen Eder who did the graphic design.
One view of the CHRS timeline. Even those of us who helped to create it were surprised by its size. We've been very busy these past years!
One of Eileen Vorst's stations. Four stations were created for each of the major volunteer activities CHRS supports.
One of many raffle prizes, this one was created by Judy. The names of some of the rabbits who found forever homes through CHRS are stitched around our logo. I was the lucky winner!
More pictures to follow!
Posted by Sue at 3:18 PM
Excellent Adoption News
One of the more pleasant tasks I get to perform is removing rabbits from the Adoptables page on the columbusrabbit website when they have found their forever homes.
I had triple the pleasure tonight. Our beloved Blackberry, baby Maddie, and cutie Rupert have all been adopted.
Whoo hoo and major kudos to everyone involved!
Posted by Sue at 2:56 PM
Other People's Messes
I read an email from Karalee yesterday just as i was getting ready to leave the office. It was a harrowing account of a rabbit with a broken leg and a dash through a severe thunderstorm to finally end the rabbit's suffering.
I won't go into the gory details other than to provide the basic facts. The rabbit apparently had been hit by a car after being dumped outside. The man who found the rabbit received advice from Karalee at 7:45 that morning but did not (could not, would not?) follow it. He subsequently abandoned the rabbit that evening at the Blendon Woods Nature Center.
Karalee and Chuck picked up the rabbit and took it to Norton Road Vet Clinic where it was euthanized. Thankfully, the rabbit died in a loving environment - the only positive thing I can say about the whole situation.
Since I received the email, I have been trying to think of something constructive to say but remain at a loss. I do know that my rabbits will receive additional goodnight pets for quite a while. I also know that I will take advantage of every opportunity to tell people that rabbits should never be dumped outside. It's not much but all I can think of right now.
If anyone has ideas for how to turn this into a positive, send them to me and I will post them.
Posted by Sue at 1:40 PM
June 12, 2008
Make That Fox 28 on Monday!
I hope that everyone survived the thunderstorm this evening. I had to work late, which meant that I observed the storm from the fourth floor overlooking Nationwide Boulevard. The trees that line the street were bent over almost to the point of breaking. The winds first came from the west, then switched to the east. During the worst of it, the rain was actually traveling upward and the building's roof began to leak. In a panic, I rushed home as soon as I could and found that all was well, with the exception of a line down in my back yard. I think it's my neighbor's cable but only time will tell. The rabbits and birds were fine, although questioning, no doubt, my panicked state.
You would have thought that we had a CHRS meeting scheduled!
My apologies for the digression. Our very own Heather Dean will be on Fox 28 on Monday at 8:15 for three minutes. Be sure to tune in!
Posted by Sue at 5:29 PM
June 11, 2008
Check Out Fox 28 on Friday Morning!
Our very own Heather Dean will be on Fox 28 Friday morning at 8:15! She will be talking about rabbit adoption.
Be sure to tune in....
Posted by Sue at 6:41 PM
Wessie Fest
You may have noticed the link on the home page to our next event, Wessie Fest. Terri Cook, Eileen Vorst and Jennifer Reed will be representing us.
This is our first appearance at Wessie Fest so we're not sure what to expect. But it looks like a fun family event, with an emphasis on nature. If you're looking for something to do on the 21st, think about attending!
Kudos to our three intrepid volunteers! And don't forget to take pictures.
Posted by Sue at 6:17 PM
Lucy Update
As you may recall, Lucy, the mother of our beloved babies, has suffered some health setbacks recently. It appeared that both of her tympanic membranes had ruptured and our fear was that her ears were filled with pus.
She was back at OSU today where she was evaluated by a neurologist. It now appears that her tympanic membranes are not currently ruptured, although they may have been in the past. The neurologist and Dr. Herrli are beginning to think that the cause of her wobbliness is some kind of protozoan infection, such as e cunniculi. The progressive wobbliness may be due to neurological inflammation.
I know this sounds really scary but...
The plan is to put her on a large dose of prednisone to try to reduce the inflammation. If inflammation is what is going on and if the prednisone is effective, the prognosis is good.
The plan is to start her on the prednisone next week.
What a rollercoaster ride! And major kudos to Sarah, who is looking after Lucy!
Posted by Sue at 5:46 PM
June 9, 2008
How to Order the Karalee Book
This is a one-time offer!
Contact me by Friday, June 20, if you are interested in purchasing your own copy of the Karalee book for $29.95 plus shipping. CHRS will receive $2.99 per book if we order 10 or more books.
You can order the book at a later time but the publisher will receive all of the profits so order now!
Posted by Sue at 6:36 PM
CHRS on Bunspace
I had heard about Bunspace and even spent a few minutes snooping around it to see what it's all about. I also know a couple of our members who absolutely love it. But, frankly, I'm a traditional website kind of girl and never got all that excited about it.
Terri Cook has been hinting for some time that the chapter needs a presence on Bunspace. A few days ago, she got downright insistent about it. The deal was clinched, though, when Terri and Karalee produced a volunteer whose enthusiasm about Bunspace makes her a natural for serving as the face of CHRS on Bunspace.
So, with no further ado, please visit our Bunspace page. Obviously, it's still a work in progress but it already looks terrific. If you're a Bunspace enthusiast, look for Mary Beth Parisi, otherwise known as chrsbunspace@columbus.rr.com.
Kudos to Mary Beth!
Posted by Sue at 4:43 PM
Maddie and Nicky
Another baby appears to have found a new friend and a new home. As the picture below shows, Maddie may be ready to swap her six siblings for a very handsome fellow named Nicky. Whoo hoo! Keep your fingers crossed that the bonding is a success.
Congratulations to everyone involved. And keep the positive thoughts and prayers coming for momma Lucy.
Posted by Sue at 4:21 PM
And A Good Time Was Had!
If you missed the CHRS picnic extravaganza this past Saturday, you missed one heck of a good time! The official theme of the party was a celebration of our chapter. To this end, a number of volunteers worked diligently over the past few months to create a wonderful timeline of photographs, newspaper articles, and other memorabilia that documented the history of our chapter.
You may not be aware of this but our roots trace back to 1995 when our favorite dynamic duo, Karalee and Chuck, began their education and rescue efforts. Since then, 330 rabbits have found new homes and our chapter has grown to more than 140 members. The timeline provided a wonderful walk down memory lane and we can all take pride in the enormity of the work that has been accomplished, including the Capital Area Humane Society socialization program and our international campaign, Make Mine Chocolate! The large number of new members who attended the picnic bodes well for a strong future for our chapter.
Now to the interesting part of the picnic. A few devious volunteers (dare I name names?) had an alternative picnic theme in mind. Four bunny elves, with assistance from many more, decided it was long past time to honor our fearless chapter leader, Karalee, who has worked tirelessly through the years to help the rabbits and their often clueless humans. So they put their heads together and came up with a plan for honoring Karalee.
You can see the results for yourself here. The book was presented to Karalee at the picnic and, for the first time that I can recall, she was absolutely speechless. It was truly a special time!
We are putting together a one-time group order so, if you are interested in purchasing a copy and donating to the chapter at the same time, stay tuned! I will provide instructions on how to order in a subsequent blog entry. You can always order the book at a later time but the publisher, Blurb, will keep all of the profits.
And if you missed the party, please send an email to Karalee thanking her for all she has accomplished for the lagomorphs we love. Posted by Sue at 3:43 PM
June 5, 2008
Excellent Article and Website Updates
Check out this terrific article on CHRS! Those of us who have adopted from CHRS certainly share the sentiments in this article.
While you're at it, take a look at a couple of additions that have been made to the home page. In the center of the page, you will now find a link to the CHRS newsletters. Although these newsletters date back to 2003, the information contained in them remains relevant. You will also find a second new link, "In the News," which will provide links to articles that reference CHRS. If you find one that is not listed, please send it to me.
Happy reading!
Posted by Sue at 5:37 PM
June 1, 2008
Double Your Pleasure!
CHRS received a $1,000.00 donation this week. As if that's not enough, the company the donor works for matches employee donations, which means another $1,000.00!
Of course, not everyone can afford to make such a large donation. However, many companies have a donation matching program, which means that even a modest donation can quickly add up.
Something to think about!
Posted by Sue at 11:51 AM
Blackberry, Lucy and Other Adoption News
Yesterday was a big day for our beloved Blackberry, who had her first bonding with Megan Lynch's 11-year-old Rex, Major Triad. Megan is a new volunteer who is doing our email newsletters. As you can see, their first date went very well. Of course, Blackberry groomed him and he even groomed her once. Keep your fingers crossed that today's second date goes well!
Two other bondings are going on, Maddie is one of Lucy's babies.
Earl survived a traumatic attack by an animal which resulted in the loss of a couple toes. He was then surrendered to a local vet clinic This little guy has definitely earned a forever home.
Unfortunately, not all the news is good. Lucy has had another setback. Both eardrums have ruptured. Hopefully, a CT Scan will clarify the extent of the problem. Please keep Lucy in your thoughts and prayers.
Another rabbit, Hannah, is being returned. The Nunes have offered to foster her temporarily until a slot opens up in the Curry home. Our sincere thanks to Ruth and Dave!
Posted by Sue at 11:08 AM
Why Events Matter
My apologies for the long delay between posts. Life has been very busy lately between preparing for the CHRS spring picnic and the arrival of my family, who visit every Memorial Day weekend.
My mother and brother are mad about dogs, which means they rarely travel without the family pug. This passion made attending the Pet Promise Rescue Run an easy sell. The CHRS booth was staffed by Julie Schram and Laine Kathary, who had the misfortune to be located in the shadow of a neighboring building. When I stopped by to visit, both were freezing but their enthusiasm was undiminished.
It didn't take long to figure out that this event was largely dog-oriented, with a minor role for cats. While appreciative of Laine and Julie's efforts, I had to wonder if they (and Jeremy Cook who helped with setup) were wasting their time. The answer came from a rather surprising source.
Several years ago, I started monitoring the showbunny mailing list in order to anticipate any possible backlash against our "Make Mine Chocolate!" campaign. As its name suggests, showbunny targets those who breed and show rabbits. I quickly learned to scan the list to avoid upsetting topics but occasionally a topic comes up that is mildly interesting.
One such topic started in response to a request for help concerning a doe and her babies who were apparently sick with mastitis. One intrepid poster suggested the obvious: get them to a vet. Well, this immediately created a firestorm since a number of members of the list are against vet treatment for rabbits. More than a few respondents accused the poster of being an animal rights supporter and another asked if she considered her rabbits to be her property or her children. Another respondent said that she provided vet care for her dog and goats but not the rabbits. Things settled down only after the poster unsubscribed from the list.
Needless to say, I found this whole topic fascinating. I do not consider my rabbits to be my property (as I do my car and my house) nor do I think of them as my children. I suspect most dog and cat people feel the same way. But for a lot of people, rabbits are still very much considered livestock and not companion animals. Those of us who share our homes and our lives with rabbits must necessarily consider them our children, clearly demonstrating that there's something a bit daft about us.
So why do events like the Pet Promise Rescue Run matter? Because each one of them is an opportunity to link in people's heads an association between dogs, cats, and rabbits. Each of these events is a baby step towards moving rabbits from the category of livestock into the category of companion animal.
Thank you, Julie, Laine, and Jeremy for giving up a big chunk of your Saturday for this very worthy event!
Posted by Sue at 10:13 AM