Caring, Confident Youth: Camp Fire Group Burrows In with the Bunnies
The Rabbit Population Management Task Force (RPMT) at Long Beach City College is getting some welcome assistance from the Waku Koda (Giving Friends) Camp Fire troop of Long Beach. The troop’s community service group, Kiniya, is called on each year to come up with a service project, and the kids wanted to help out with the bunnies. A visit showed them to be having a heck of a lot of fun while they worked hard at changing litter boxes, cleaning cages, sweeping up floors, providing food and water, giving them treats (they like carrots, apples and basil, according to 10-year-old Abigail Rubin) and stroking their soft fur from the ears down to their little cottony tails.
“You get to socialize with them,” said Mimi DaSilva, who is thinking of becoming a zoologist. “I like feeding the bunnies and cleaning the cages. It’s hard work, but it’s fun.”
Abigail Rubin doesn’t mind the work involved in rabbit care.
The RPMT began as a task force to spay and neuter pet rabbits that were abandoned at the college and gave birth to countless bunnies who overran the campus. LBCC employees Jacque Olson and Donna Prindle, with help from numerous bunny-loving volunteers and veterinary and medical services from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, trapped the domestic critters and had them spayed and neutered. Now, with 150 little long-eared creatures treated and adopted out, there are around 80 of them left waiting in the care of Olson, Prindle and a growing number of volunteers.
Last summer, Camp Fire mom Joanne Pon Rubin and her daughter Abigail discovered the project after hearing about it from the Unitarian Universalist church. With enthusiastic agreement from Abby, she decided that volunteer work at the RPMT by the 12 children in the Waku Koda group would be a worthy Kiniya. Pon Rubin was impressed by the dedication and hard work of Olson, Prindle and the rest of the volunteers and by the condition of the rabbits and their environment: a large space filled with cages, playpens, and lots of donated clean hay, good food and water.
“We chose it because people here are completely devoted to dealing with these bunnies in a humane way, and we wanted to support that,” Pon Rubin said.
The RMPT project is humane and loving, providing unwanted rabbits with unarguably more care and caregivers than they’ve ever had. Volunteer Yuki is the bunny yenta; she pairs up rabbits who get along with each other. Volunteer Melinda has a list of names to fit the rabbits with. The entire volunteer staff makes certain that Oliver, Sparky, Elvis, Frank (for Sinatra), Lady Gaga and all the furry stablemates are fed, cleaned, played with and loved.
“And I take out the trash,” Prindle said.
The Camp Fire kids not only don’t consider caring for these rabbits as a chore but also express disapproval of people who do. The depth of their involvement was evident through their indignation over people who buy tiny bunnies for their families and then dump them when the rabbits get too big to be “cute” or don’t want to take the trouble to care for them.
“They should have thought before they got the bunny, because the bunny is suffering now,” Mimi said.
Mimi DaSilva takes bunny care seriously.
Indeed, Prindle said, rabbits who are dumped at the college do suffer. Besides being hunted and killed by natural predators, they’re at the mercy of wild rabbits. Wild male rabbits go alpha and maim or kill the domestic males, who have been found shuddering in fear and badly injured. The volunteers just took in eight bunnies who were covered with bites from other rabbits. One of them, Reese, had a leg missing, but when we walked into the bunny shelter, Reese had been neutered and was happily playing with Camp Fire volunteer Daria Raby.
Daria Raby and Reese share a special moment.
Prindle and Olson are concerned about the ones they don’t find, however, since the program began and was publicized, rabbit dumping at the college appears to have tapered off.
“We still have a few, but it’s definitely decreased,” Prindle said. “Usually at Easter time, and then through the summer, it’s peak [dumping] times, but it’s been very quiet this year. And fewer baby bunnies are being born on campus, so that’s made a difference, too.”
The RMPT will gladly accept donations and even more gladly will accept people who want to give rabbits forever homes. This is definitely an unabashed ploy on our part to get you to go down to LBCC and take home a pair of them, but be sure to heed young Mimi’s counsel and know what bunny care involves.
“You need to get ready to give them what they need: space, exercise, protection from predators if they’re kept outside, and interaction with people,” Prindle said. “They like to be in pairs—they’re very social (yeah! Take two!). Make sure you don’t put two males together—even when not neutered, they can fight. Yes, spay or neuter them; in fact, female rabbits can get ovarian cancer if they’re left unsprayed. Rabbits can be box trained—they’re swell indoor pets—but rabbit-proof your house because they like to chew, and they may chew on electrical cords. Most of all, know before you get them—people get their pets and they’re cute little bunnies and in four months, they’re huge. Then with the cleaning and all the stuff—they dump them. It’s so sad for the animals and so irresponsible of the people.
“And don’t buy a bunny—there are so many that need to be adopted, here and at shelters.”
Some of the many adoptable rabbits are pictured below. They need lots of care and love in a forever home. Remember that the Camp Fire kids are watching.
“Don’t drop them off at LBCC, or anywhere,” Abigail Rubin admonished.
The RMPT is located on the LBCC campus, 4901 E. Carson St., near the softball/soccer field. No fee is charged to adopt a bunny, but donations are gladly received. For explicit directions and information on adoption, contact [email protected].
-E. Fudd
Virtually Pets
Big John and Farina are a loving couple. John likes to snuggle under Farina, who mothers him.
Boots (male) and Peanut Butter Cup (female) make a sweet pair.
Stewart is a Hotot rabbit, male, with black ears and Avril Lavigne eyeliner. He could be your boyfriend.
Lucky’s not a rabbit, although the Labrador in her genetics does account for the cute, floppy ears. Lucky’s 5 ½ years old, spayed, updated with her shots and is registered, licensed and microchipped. She’s loving and obedient and sweet with children. Lucky’s people can no longer keep her, and she so deserves a home. E-mail [email protected] for information on taking Lucky home.
Pet Projects
Hero Marine Vet reports illegal trapping
Our very own Birdman, aka Dan Lubniewski and our biggest fan, has been vigilant about a couple of instances of illegal pigeon trapping with elements of cruelty to the birds. Dan brought his story to ACS and the Grunion Gazette, and reporter Ashleigh Oldland responded with this story. Please report any signs of illegal trapping that you may witness.
ACS provides low-cost pet clinics
Low-cost pet clinics are scheduled for the second Saturday and third Wednesday of every month in Long Beach to provide residents with a one-stop shop for vaccination, microchipping and licensing services. More information about upcoming pet clinics is available here.
Spay/neuter California vehicle license plates
Order your new specialty plates from CASpayPlate.com. All proceeds will go toward facilitating low-cost spay/neuter at state shelters.
Chewsy Dogs goes cyber-rover
Chewsy Dog, the pet boutique that has been the scene of many parties and fun events, has closed its brick-and-mortar location at 4107 N Viking Way in Long Beach now operates online only at chewsydogonline.com.
“We are very excited about this move, as it will allow us to offer a lot more products for our customers,” said owner Eva Kuncewicki. “Our Doga—dog yoga—pet CPR training, dog ‘pawties’ and no-risk dog dental will still be offered by appointment on a mobile basis.”
Oct. 27, Final Mojitos and Mutts Event
The pet-friendly Hotel Maya and i Love Dogs will host a Howl’oween Spooktacular to benefit animals at the spcaLA at Pitchford Companion Animal Village in Long Beach, featuring groovy gift bags, prizes and a costume contest. All costumed dogs will receive special treats. Humans are encouraged to dress up as well. A terrific drink and hors d’oeuvre menu will accompany the benefit. All animal lovers and their pooches are invited and encouraged to bring food, toys and supplies. The Kong pet toy company will match any Kong toy donation. Pussy & Pooch will be back with their “Paw Bar” and Chewsy Dog will offer fun goodies, and Bark Pet Photography will serve as official event photographer. Visit Hotel Maya’s esplanade patio, 700 Queensway Dr., Long Beach, (562) 481-3910. 6:30-8:30pm.
Haute Dogs Howl’oween Parade and Adoption Fair, Oct. 31
Fortuitously, Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, and what better way for a whole-family celebration than a pet parade, with animals in costumes rivaling anything that Lady Gaga could come up with (meat is discouraged, for obvious reasons)? This year, costumed kids will lead the parade, so make sure they’re in costume as well. Bring your family to Livingston Park, 4900 E. Livingston Dr. at Park Ave. at noon for fun and some great prizes in categories of costume (dog and people!), float, and several others. Volunteers needed as well. Click here for details!
Volunteer Dog Stars Needed for Belmont Shore Christmas Parade
Cover Me Green Roofing (formerly Recover Roofing) is sponsoring Hearts for Hounds in the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade again this year. This year’s float theme is “Twinkle with the Stars,” and volunteers are needed to march in the parade and ride on the float with their dogs. All participants must wear their own “movie star” costumes. Specially designed “star” attire for the dogs is available, so float reps need to hear from all who wish to attend ASAP! Please call (562) 755-7926 or e-mail [email protected] before Nov. 1 if you wish to attend.
VPI K9K Pet Cancer Awareness Walk, Nov. 14
For the third consecutive year, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) is leading the charge in raising awareness of the nation’s number-one disease-related killer of dogs and cats. Join in on a fun-filled 3K (1.8 miles) walk for both people and their pets along a picturesque trail through the Rainbow Harbor boardwalk and Shoreline Village Lighthouse peninsula area in Downtown Long Beach, California. $25 before Nov. 1, $30 after. Registration fees benefit the nonprofit Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF). Click here for details.