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March 30, 2010
A sad reminder of how far we have to go...
This morning brought this year's first Easter reject - a baby bunny purchased as a PHOTO PROP.
The online ad read:
I have a Beautiful Baby Bunny that needs a home. I purchased him from a pet store to shoot Easter Portraits. I used him for two days and he was wonderful!!! Great with children and needs a good home. I want to finalize this asap.
To her, he was nothing more than another prop, "used" for a couple of days to make her pictures look cute. And once the photos had been taken, she "didn't need him anymore." Obviously, she couldn't wait to get rid of him "asap."
The good news for this little guy is that a dedicated rescuer saw the ad and negotiated getting him from the ill-informed photographer. He is, indeed, adorable! But he's still a baby at 6-7 weeks old. He will be neutered in a few weeks and then be ready for adoption.
Posted by Terri at 11:05 PM
Rescue Chocolate in NYC
An MMC supporter tipped us off to these folks in New York City. Not exactly MMC-related (yet, we'll work on 'em for next year), but good eggs nonetheless. The Brooklyn-based company is called Rescue Chocolate - they make vegan chocolate and offer vegan creme eggs for Easter and kosher vegan chocolate matzohs for Passover. But the BEST part is that they donate 100% of their net profits to rescue and animal-rights organizations. That makes them alright with us!
Posted by Terri at 10:06 PM
March 29, 2010
Take Two! - MMC on NBC4
Heather Dean will make an appearance this coming Thursday at 11:00 am on NBC4, when she will talk with Daytime Columbus host Gail Hogan about the Make Mine Chocolate! campaign. She'll have a foster bun with her and she will be reminding viewers that rabbits should not be an impulse purchase.
Here's a photo of John Dean and Burton, doing a fantastic job of representing MMC last Sunday morning. John spoke with host Marshall McPeek about the responsibility of properly caring for a pet rabbit, and emphasized that rabbits should not be given as Easter gifts.
Posted by Terri at 9:55 PM
March 26, 2010
John Dean to be on WCMH 4 Sunday Morning
Our own John Dean and Spokesbun Burton will make an appearance on the WCMH (Channel 4) local news this Sunday morning (3/28) during the 9:00 hour. John will be talking with weekend anchor Mindy Drayer about Make Mine Chocolate! while Burton demonstrates how intelligent and interactive rabbits really are! Set your DVRs or tune in to catch all the fun!Posted by Terri at 11:05 PM
March 21, 2010
A Big Win for COMPASSION
This is an excerpt email we received from Cheri Frost of Frank Frost Photography in Albuquerque, NM.
My husband and I own a professional photography studio in Albuquerque, NM and over the past fifteen years, we've always photographed children at Easter with live rabbits.We are members of PPA and WPPI and while perusing their website, I was made aware of your Make Mine Chocolate campaign and it has changed the way we are photographing children this year. We are filling the set with chocolate bunnies and we can't wait!
If you are in the Albuquerque area, please consider supporting them by having your Easter photos taken with their CHOCOLATE bunnies! And be sure to THANK THEM for their compassion!
Frank Frost Photography
7400 Montgomery Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
505.293.2724
www.FrankFrost.com
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Posted by Terri at 10:44 PM
New MMC Flyer for 2010!
Our original MMC Flyer has been updated for 2010! Check it out: Click HERE for the color version; or HERE for the Black/White version. We've also got a page of small-size fliers (4 per page) coming soon!
These revisions match our Photography poster and help give our materials a more consistent look.
Please download them and use them to help share the word that rabbits are NOT disposable pets!
Posted by Terri at 2:10 PM
March 20, 2010
MMC On Louie Free Radio Show
Each year, our campaign has had continued support from the Louie Free radio show in Youngstown, OH. Last Wednesday (3/17), Heather Dean called in to his show hoping to talk with Louie about our campaign and wouldn't you know - he was already talking about it before he answered her call!
Louie was actually talking about the wonderful produce he feeds his bunnies and where he shops for the greens. He currently has 6 rescued rabbits, so he definitely spends some time at the grocery store!
Louie and Heather talked about Make Mine Chocolate! and how it can be a valuable tool for doing research before bringing a rabbit into the home. They also discussed various options for Easter gifts...other than a live rabbit: try a chocolate bunny, a stuffed bunny, a zsu zsu pet. It is so important to teach children about the responsibilities of owning a pet, and the truth is - children have short attention spans and will tire of a pet long before the pet lives out its life.
Heather is looking forward to speaking with Louie again in the days leading up to Easter. He has been a tireless supporter of our campaign. Please support him by tuning into his radio show weekdays between 10am - 3pm at http://www.vindy.com/louie-free/.
Posted by Terri at 1:51 PM
March 19, 2010
'Twas the Night Before Easter
'Twas the night before Easter, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The baskets were ready for eggs they would find
Hidden by the Easter Bunny so cute and so kind.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
With no thought of their bunny who hadn't been fed.
With Ma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap
We knew he was hungry but we needed a nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But the Easter Bunny - with eyes full of tears.
He un-caged the rabbit, once lively and quick,
Last year's Easter Gift, now lonely and sick.
More rapid than eagles he called the bunn's name
And with a few binkies, the bunny happily came.
"You poor little soul, so sad and alone,
With no one to love you in this so-called home.
How quickly they forgot about your joys and your needs.
Come with me, Little One, come with me please.
Run with me, Bunny, stretch your legs tall!
Let's find you a home where you'll be loved by all."
The Easter Bunny left no chocolates that year
But he certainly made one thing quite clear.
The gift of a rabbit is not just for the season,
We had gotten the bunny for all the wrong reasons.
"A bunny would make a great gift!" was our thought
But there was one important thing we forgot.
A bunny should be family, and loved just as much,
Not locked in a cage and denied human touch.
They need more than a name, a pat and a meal,
They need companionship and love that is real.
And I heard him exclaim as he dashed out of sight
"You weren't given a gift! You were given a LIFE!"
Author Unknown
Posted by Terri at 9:16 PM
March 18, 2010
Make Mine WINE and Chocolate!
Sher-Bliss, a chocolate and wine shop in Gahanna, is our newest local Partner.
Not only are they sharing the MMC message, they are donating a portion of the sales of two of their popular Easter items to the Columbus House Rabbit Society to support the "Make Mine Chocolate!" campaign!
Available in-store or online, they are offering their "Bliss in a Bottle" - a bottle of Rabbit Ridge Bunny Cuvee dipped in milk, dark, or white chocolate for $29.99, or their solid 1 lb Belgian chocolate Easter bunny for $29.50. Prices are before tax, shipping and handling - they ship via UPS throughout the continental US.
"Cuvee" is a wine made from a blend of grapes. According to their website, Rabbit Ridge's Bunny Cuvee is approximately 40% Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot) blended with approximately 60% Petite Sirah. Interestingly, the term "Cuvee" also applies to chocolate that is blended to produce a certain taste.
Each item will have a tag specifying that a donation was made.
Posted by Terri at 12:00 AM
March 16, 2010
New MMC Items at CafePress!
We've added new items to our selection of MMC merchandise! From an expanded selection of shirts and baby gear, to bags and water bottles, we've got something for every non-furry member of your family! We've even got household items - like this great apron, to help you spread the MMC message while you make your Easter dinner!
Visit the MMC CafePress store to order your MMC merchandise today!
Posted by Terri at 12:00 AM
March 15, 2010
New Shelter - New Partner
The Ohio House Rabbit Rescue is a new group dedicated to the rescue and adoption of house rabbits and to the education of current and potential pet parents and the general public. Their goal is to build a new rabbit-only animal shelter in Central Ohio to provide a quality environment for rescued house rabbits while they wait to be adopted into loving homes.
Currently, OHRR is competing for a $250,000 grant from the Pepsi Company that would provide the money necessary to get started on their shelter project. You can help them by voting for OHRR every day in March. For you vote to count, be sure to "sign in" at the bottom left hand corner, then click on "Vote for this idea." Be sure to sign in every day before voting.
Posted by Terri at 12:00 AM
March 14, 2010
MMC Down Under
We are pleased to announce a new international partnership with Wildwood Rabbit Stud and SA Rabbit Rescue, an organization in South Australia that is an integral part of rabbit rescue in that part of the world. When founder Sally Arnold started SA Rabbit Rescue when she discovered the Animal Welfare League in South Australia was overwhelmed with the number of rabbits coming in, she started a home based shelter. Most people in SA, North, South, East and West of the city know or have heard about Sally's shelter and come to her for adoption pet rabbits. Now she will be working with MMC to educate people in South Australia and Australia! Welcome aboard!Posted by Terri at 3:26 PM
March 6, 2010
SPONSORED! Give THIS to the Kids for Easter!
A mom wrote in and said last year, she made a donation to a local rabbit rescue group and sponsored two rabbits for Easter in her kids' names. She then used the bunnies' photos and character descriptions from the website and made a sign for each bunny. She put the signs in her kids' Easter baskets and gave them their donation gift for Easter. They loved it!
Now THAT'S the way to give kids an Easter bunny!
Posted by Terri at 2:41 PM
March 1, 2010
Luv-A-Bun
Luv-A-Bun, a rescue group in Florida, is participating in MMC for the second year. This year, one of their volunteers is making yummy chocolates. The group is contacting local exotic vets and pediatricians and asking them to place the MMC information in their offices, and offer the chocolates for sale/donation. Great idea!Posted by Terri at 7:52 PM