BOSTON, Methuen and Centerville, Mass. Sept. 9, 2014 – On the heels of a successful summer cat adoptathon in which 179 cats were placed into new homes in just one weekend, the MSPCA-Angell today announced two weeks of fee-waived rabbit adoptions beginning Sept. 14 and continuing through the end of the month.
All three MSPCA adoption centers—in Boston, Methuen and Centerville—will participate in the adoptathon, dubbed “We Got Buns, Hun!” The standard rabbit adoption fee of $75 will be waived during the last two weeks of September, and the adoption centers will conduct special “Rabbit Fest” educational seminars to familiarize new adopters with the joys and responsibility of rabbit ownership.
Adopt, Don’t Shop!
A key driver for the adoptathon is the steady increase in the volume of rabbit surrenders in all three of the MSPCA’s adoption centers, a trend that strains both space and financial resources. “We actually take in more rabbits every year than puppies, which is always a surprise to people who visit our adoption centers,” said Mike Keiley, director of the Noble Family Animal Care and Adoption Center at the MSPCA-Nevins Farm in Methuen. “We want people to know that they don’t have to buy a rabbit from a pet store or from a breeder—especially when there are so many in shelters who are looking for permanent homes.”
There are currently 52 rabbits living at the MSPCA’s adoption centers in Massachusetts.
“We’re profoundly grateful to donors who enable us to carry out these innovative adoption promotions to place as many animals into loving homes as possible,” said Jean Weber, director of animal protection for the MSPCA-Angell. “Our fee-waived cat adoptathons have become extremely popular and now we hope to introduce the joy of rabbit ownership to adopters who may have never considered bringing one of these wonderful animals home.”
Rabbits 101
Rabbits make wonderful family pets for both individuals and families, and have personalities as distinctive as those of cats and dogs. Rabbits are quiet and easy to keep—many adopters have even trained their rabbits to use litter boxes. The MSPCA maintains a thorough online rabbit care and adoption resource page to provide would-be adopters with everything they need to know before bringing a rabbit home.
The adoptathon runs from Sept. 14 to Sept. 30. Information about MSPCA-Angell adoption center locations and hours of operation can be found here. Funding for the We Got Buns, Hun! adoptathon has been provided by MSPCA-Angell donors committed to the joint cause of educating the public on responsibility pet ownership and finding permanent homes for every animal in the organization’s care.
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The MSPCA-Angell is a national and international leader in animal protection and veterinary medicine and provides direct hands-on care for thousands of animals each year. Founded in 1868, it is the second-oldest humane society in the United States. Services include animal protection and adoption, advocacy, humane education, law enforcement, and world-class veterinary care. The MSPCA-Angell is a private, non-profit organization. It does not receive any government funding nor is it funded or operated by any national humane organization. The MSPCA-Angell relies solely on the support and contributions of individuals who care about animals. Please visit www.mspca.org.
