Ohio House Rabbit Rescue offers furry fun at Midwest BunFest Oct. 23
Columbus resident Umeko Valentine is a single of hundreds of thousands of people today all around the nation who possess pets.
But as a substitute of cats and canine, Valentine has pet rabbits – a common but much less-common pet in the United States.
Valentine is a board member and volunteer at the Ohio Home Rabbit Rescue, 5485 N. Large St. in Columbus.
The group will stage its 10th once-a-year Midwest BunFest from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Northland Accomplishing Arts Heart, 4411 Tamarack Blvd. in Columbus.
BunFest offerings will incorporate educational situations for new house owners, different rabbit-concentrated subjects for present-day or potential homeowners, distributors, a photo booth with costumes and other activities, Valentine mentioned.
She will run the “bunny spa” to groom the pets.
“Pretty a lot nearly anything you can believe of for a rabbit proprietor to want to encounter, you are going to see at BunFest,” she reported.
“It’s a definitely fun function,” claimed Pat Barron, also a board member and volunteer at the Ohio Home Rabbit Rescue. “The major objective is not adoption the main function is definitely education and learning and enjoyment with the rabbits.”
BunFest was held nearly previous 12 months due to the fact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Valentine explained. In 2019, she claimed, the occasion drew about 1,000 people today and showcased about 200 rabbits.
Barron claimed the expense to go to BunFest this year is $6 for grown ups and $3 for youngsters. Small children ages 5 and younger will be admitted for free.
Proceeds support cover the cost of the party, as effectively as functions at the adoption centre, she said.
Valentine retains three domesticated pet rabbits in her west Columbus dwelling – Cow, a checkered giant blend, and Hen, a mini lop. The two are a bonded pair that have picked out every other as companions through lifestyle, she explained. Her 3rd rabbit, a Himalayan named Princess Ana, “likes getting the one lady,” Valentine claimed.
The Ohio Property Rabbit Rescue is akin to a canine shelter but for rabbits, Valentine said: It rescues abandoned pet rabbits and assists locate them loving properties.
The shelter is open up from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Barron stated it also does adoptions by appointment.
She stated the shelter ordinarily homes 35 to 40 rabbits, but the selection fluctuates everyday relying on how a lot of are taken in and how a lot of are adopted.
Valentine said that selection incorporates rabbits that are staying boarded for their house owners.
She reported rabbits are social and welcoming animals that make fantastic companions.
“Some rabbits are friendlier and more outgoing with humans and others, and some would instead continue to keep to themselves,” she claimed. “With bunnies, it just relies upon on their personality.
“It’s not heading to be like obtaining a doggy, where by the pet dog is rather a lot ideal in your confront and seeking to interact with you all the time and they’ll arrive to you,” she stated. “Rabbits are far more of you sitting down on the floor and you have to interact with them. And as lengthy as you are Alright with that, it is great acquiring them.”
A range of aspects need to be regarded ahead of adopting a rabbit, Valentine said.
For just one, rabbits are diggers and chewers, so potential entrepreneurs really should consider about rabbit-proofing their houses, she mentioned.
Rabbits also are delicate animals, she mentioned, so house owners have to have to be observant about them at all situations. Quite importantly, Valentine mentioned, rabbits have to have additional home to roam about than what is provided in their cages. They want at the very least 16 sq. toes of room with each day playtime outside the house their enclosure, and they have to have frequent conversation with their house owners.
Domesticated rabbits have to have indoor housing.
“They’re not in a position to live exterior,” Valentine claimed. “Some do manage to survive for a very little even though, but whilst they nonetheless have the instincts of digging and foraging for foods, they don’t have everything they require to endure outdoors.”
Domesticated rabbits can be as tiny as 1.5 kilos or as huge as a lot more than 20 lbs ., Valentine explained.
In accordance to Barron, domesticated rabbits ordinarily reside 8 to 12 decades. Well-known breeds incorporate Dutch rabbits, Lionheads or the New Zealand breeds.
“We consider they make excellent companion-animal pets, a part of the family members like cats or canine would be,” she explained.
For more information and facts, go to ohiohouserabbitrescue.org/.
@ThisWeekSteve
