House Rabbit Society
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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 proper rabbit care. HRS tries to promote responsible rabbit ownership, including the spaying and neutering of all pet rabbits as well as proper veterinary care, diet, and exercise.[1]
[edit] History
The HRS also advocates the position that all domestic rabbits should be kept indoors as house rabbits and supports the argument that house rabbits live longer, healthier, and fuller lives while suffering fewer accidents and health problems.
The HRS was founded in January 1988. As of 2005, HRS has over 9,000 members[citation needed] and claims to have found foster homes for more than 20,000 rabbits.[citation needed] HRS has educators and fosterers in 33 states in the United States as well as Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Italy, and Singapore.[citation needed]
[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, domestic and wild, is the organization's primary consideration. The Society believes all domestic rabbits should be spayed or neutered and should live in a human home.[2]
[edit] Adoption and Education Center
In the San Francisco Bay Area HRS runs the country's first ever rabbit-only Adoption and Education Center.[citation needed]
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.
[edit] Controversy
HRS is campaigning against Heifer International, a non-profit organization that assists starving humans by giving families in third world nations a trio of rabbits to be used to provide a sustainable source of protein to bring themselves out of starvation.[3][4][5] Although the charity has been endorsed by U.S. Presidents,[6][7] as well as Oprah Winfrey and Bono, for feeding starving people in Africa,[8] HRS believes that rabbits should not be used to feed humans.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ Lucky kicks back at bunny shelter, Steve Rubenstein, San Francisco Chronicle, 31-07-2011, access date 27-12-2011
- ^ "House Rabbit Society Philosophy". http://www.rabbit.org/hrs-info/philosophy.html. Retrieved 9/6/2011. "It is in the best interest of domestic rabbits to be neutered/spayed, to live in human housing"
- ^ "HRS Activist Corner". http://www.rabbit.org/opinion/activist.html. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Passing on the Gift". Heifer International. http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.201549/. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
- ^ Forbes top ten charities list, 2003
- ^ "The Clinton Foundation in Haiti". http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.6497737/. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Celebrity Supporters of Heifer International". http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/257-heifer-international. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ -New-Job/3 "Bono's New Job". http://www.oprah.com/world/cited -New-Job/3. Retrieved 10 September 2011. "Through the organization, you can donate livestock and other items that help families provide for themselves"
- ^ "Why Care About Rabbit Meat?". http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-12/rabbitmeat.html. Retrieved 10 September 2011. "... I think that rabbit lovers-meat eaters and vegetarians alike-should take a stand against rabbit meat."
