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The HopLine

  The House Rabbit Connection Inc.
of Massachusetts & Connecticut  
P.O. Box 83 Springfield, MA 01101-0083
A nonprofit [501(c)(3)] org. All donations are tax deductible.
(413)525-9222
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The House Rabbit Connection

Who we are! & Why we're here!

Rabbits are a growing pet population in the United States; however, many people who purchase rabbits do not know the time and training involved in having a great pet.

People buy cute little bunnies for their children without realizing this animal will need care and attention for approximately ten years. As a result, these rabbits are abandoned in shelters, parks, and even woodland areas. Domesticated rabbits have very little chance for survival in the wilderness and most rabbits dropped off at shelters are euthanized. YOU CAN CHANGE THIS TERRIBLE TREND!

The House Rabbit Connection, Inc. is non-profit organization that is committed to changing this trend forever. Donations and volunteers are a critical part of the organization. Without either, we would not be able to save rabbits, adopt them out to loving families, and offer information to the public.

Donations are always needed. The money donated will go to spaying and neutering rabbits adopted from shelters, educating the public about rabbit ownership and rabbits in general, as well as many other programs sponsored by the House Rabbit Connection.

HRC Board of Directors:
HRC is run by an all volunteer Board of Directors. The Board members are elected at HRCs annual meeting in June and serve for 3 years between elections. On any given year approximately 1/3 of the board seats are up for election. All of the work that HRC does is channeled through volunteer committees. And each committee is chaired by a member of the board.
The following members are serving on the board for HRC's calendar year June 2007 to June 2008
Officers
President - Deb Young
Vice President - Paula Raposa
Treasurer - Ellen Ravens-Seger
Assistant Treasurer - Maria Sansalone
Clerk -  Georgia Blackwell
Assistant Clerk  - Julie Dion		 Committee Chairpersons
Development and Events - Marlene Wilhelm
Education - Julie Dion
Foster and Adoption - Joanne Kosiorek
Membership - Laura Belmonte
Newsletter - Vernon Hill & Ellen Ravens-Seger
Sanctuary - Rich Newman
Veterinary - Devon Young
Volunteer Coordinator - Georgia Blackwell
Board of Directors
Laura Belmonte, Georgia Blackwell, Julie Dion, Joanne Kosiorek, Denise Leonard, Jack Lotko, Tracy Lotko, Paula Raposa, Maria Sansalone, Ellen Ravens-Seger, Mary Spalter, Marlene Wilhelm, Adele Wright, Deb Young, Devon Young
Founder
Deena Balogh

 

How You Can Help

The House Rabbit Connection always needs volunteers to help make our programs successful. Even if you can only volunteer small blocks of time, HRC can use your assistance -- wherever you live.

  1. Foster rabbits
    The rabbits that are adopted from HRC are litter box trained, socialized, and make wonderful pets. HRC needs volunteers who are willing to be foster “parents” for rabbits adopted from shelters. This involves a time commitment as well as proper space in the home for training and socialization of the rabbit(s). The most gratifying part of being a fosterer is knowing you made a difference - you helped save a rabbit or rabbits, and prepared them for adoption, bonding, and a “new leap on life.” Even if you can only help on a temporary basis, let us know you are considering it.
  2. Post Flyers & Posters

    a)
    Help us by hanging flyers, even if you hang just one HRC flyer every week. We know from experience that these tear-off flyers really work! You can download and print the flyer at this link (pdf file) . Then take it to your local copy shop, and hang it wherever you can. You can also get a free flyer pack by calling the HopLine at (413) 525-9222 or by emailing us

    b)
    Please feel free to download and print (in color is best!) and post on your bulletin board, at work (if they’ll let you) or anywhere else you feel it will garner some attention!

    The Willimantic Chronicle (CT) created and is distributing this PSA for HRC. They are sending it out to other papers in case any of them have space for this worthy PSA. Please keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you see it in print anywhere!

  3. Donate money
  4. Assist at in-store events
    Sit behind a table for a few hours on a weekend with other volunteers (training provided). Answer questions, share stories about your bunnies antics, distribute bunny care guides and sell rabbit-related retail items. Often there will be a foster bunny present too!
  5. Donate Goods
    WISH LIST: If you are planning to visit our spring or fall Rabbit Fest and are able to help us to support the work of our fosterers, please consider making one of the following donations of goods:
  6. Become a HopLiner
    Return phone calls one day a week or even on a back-up basis.
  7. Clean bunny cages
    The MSPCA Animal Care & Adoption Center in Springfield, MAcan always use help cleaning cages, feeding rabbits, and on an occasional basis, working with rabbits on social skills.
  8. Outreach
    The education committee is always looking for assistance in spreading our message to the general public and doing special presentations to school groups.
  9. Join a committee
    Development and Events, Education, Foster and Adoption, Membership, Newsletter, Sanctuary, Veterinary -- they all need new ideas and energy!
  10. Become a member of HRC and run for the Board of Directors
  11. Contribute your own unique skills
    (Just a few of the skills that are always in demand -- grant writing, copy writing, graphic design, public relations ...)

.

For more information about donations or volunteering, please call the HopLine at (413) 525-9222 or email us.

HRC's educational billboard, used in the spring of 2006, 2007, and 2008

As seen in Springfield, MA (I-291),West Hartford, CT(I-84), Hartford, CT (I-90), and New Haven, CT (I-95)

 

Ad on PVTA bus

HRC ran these on buses in Springfield & Hartford for several years

 

The HRC by-laws may be viewed here

Click for results of HRC's 2003 Membership Survey.

HRC in the News. Here are links to articles about our continuing efforts to educate people about the plight of domestic rabbits (especially at Easter time).

IMPORTANT:   As a fostering agency, The House Rabbit Connection sometimes finds itself in an adversarial role with pet stores. Often, pet stores create the conditions for people to bring home rabbits into inappropriate environments. Rather than ignore these circumstances, (which I'm not going to elaborate here) the HRC continues to try to work through education to raise the quality of life for all pet rabbits. That means some of our members interact with the owners and the workers. Our policy at this time is to encourage reports of neglect and abuse to animals to be reported to the Better Business Bureau. The unfortunate truth is that this is the one place that may get the attention of owners who think no more about their pets as inventory than as living breathing beings. If you find yourself in this predicament, please file a report with your local chapter of the Better Business Bureau, and then let us know.

Are you a Bunny Sitter?

HRC is hoping to build a database of bunny sitters. If you are interested, please take a moment to contact us, with any pertinent information so we can add you to our database. Please include any contact information as well as whether you are a professional bunny sitter or if you're an HRC member who would like to swap sitting with others in your neighborhood..

 

Successes

These rabbits have all been featured on this site and have found new homes, and often new names too.
Alfie, Clover & Gumpdrop, Kalua, Midnite, Charlie Chaplin, Flint, Jet, Cleo, Squirt, Persia(renamed Harley) Whisper, Big Wig, Holly, Harvey and Mocha, Double Stuff, Sage, Bartles, Mud Puppy, Poison Ivy, Cain, Suede, Pongo, Bijoux, Squirrly Nutkin, Isadora, Willow, Shimmer, Indigo & Sunami, Esperanza, Hershey, Bugs, Snowball, Sanora, Sprout,
Prairie, Emma, Lila & William, Claudia, Amadeus, Princess, Tundra, Pre, Hobbes, Kiko,
Rasputin, Hollis, Twilight, Twiggy, Pita, Q-Tip, Vienna, Hannah, Ally, Pie, Rocky, Lucy Lou, Pippin, Goliath, Astrid, Eva, Greta, Darcy, Herbie, Hannah, Chip, Merrick, Peanut, Alice & Trixie, Cadbury, Nicole, Smokey, Paco, Zephyr, Charlotte, Misha, Shakespear, H.R. Puf 'n' Stuf, Sinclair, Malaki, Hercules, Southpaw, Marley & Pollack,Laverne & Shirley, Kiwi, Anja,
Johann, Curious George, Theo, Mischa, Jasper (permanent residence at the New England Rabbit Sanctuary), Otis, Angus, Harlowe, Arthur, Gordita, Winston, Onyx, BK, Elsa, Splinter, Gandalf, Hannah, daVinci (now Evil Dr. Sprinkles), Caleb, Guinevere, Harry Mudd, Jellybean & Lilly, Yeti, Shaker, Hansel and Gretel, Grace, Pinto, Lady Marmalade, Molly, Clarissa, Christina, Jack Flash, Ariel, Wyatt, Bilbo Baggins, Brooke, Zag, Ben, Daisy, Charles, Brownie, Hagrid, Horatio, Pixie, Chesterfield and Rose, Angel, Ziggy, Abbot "the happy lop", Bianca, Mischief, Betsy, Lonnie, Lorena, Bernie Parker, Max, Esther, Ryan, Lindsey, Ginger, Piper, Shadow, Annie, Kala, Coco, Mississippi Buttercup, Karl, Angelique, Grover, Smidgeon, Hampton, Pearl, Cadbury, Sanguine, Salem, Grayson, Legend, Ben, Gracie, Dimitrius, Dexter, Cardamom, Lula, Ajax, Rodd, Morgan La Fay, Cal, Sarah, Todd, Shakespeare, Jetta, Tamari, Rupert, Alice and Trixie, Yasmine, Nadia, Bugaboo, Peabody, Chai and poppy, Basil, Ally, Celestail, Montgomery, Jimmy D, Falcor, Toby and Morton, Ezra, Abby, Richard Clinton, Bugs, Heather, Jason, Freida and Paulo, Lucy, Blackberry, Pajama Mamma, Zorro, Sebastion, HollyBerry, Starbuck, Carrie, Dark Bitty and White Bitty, Greta, Daisy, Georgia Peach, Frankie, Arthur, Heidi, Sam, Princess, Lexus, Blackie, Evan, Izzy,Picabo and Kermit, Levi, Zorro, Pajama Mamma, Pookie, Jackie, Cloud, Lolita, Kermit, Picabo, Sebastion, Greta, Click, Clack, Frankie, Snaggle, Martha, Sugar Boy, Jetson, Baxter, Coleslaw, Lulu, Thumper, Raphael, Tristan, Reno and Vegas, Kipper, Spiderman, Rex Reed, Mongo, Quigley, Evan, Dottie, Bessie, Blue, Buddy, Marshmallow, Cinnamon, Zena, Faith, Batman, Reva, Nico, Beauty, Sienna, Finnegan, Martha, Nicole, Leroy, Buster, Georgia, Rooster, Bear, Kala & Angel, Takoda, Marshmallow, Squee, Cloud, Misty, Archie, Clark, Yiska, Julene, Tobey, Hopper & Popcorn, Denver, Murphy, The Trio (Sugarbush, Berkshire, and Winn), Sandy, LoompaDoompa, Violet, Tatiana, Julius, Cocoa Puff. Cassandra, Teddy, Bunnina, Sasha, Rodney, Rosie, Shelby, Popeye, Ashley and Tabitha, Lillian, Lewis, Emma Pearl, Lacey, Lhotse and Makalu, Merilee, Hannah. Sweet Pea, Pepe, Wendy, Franklin, Hunter, Snowy & Violet, Lily & Snowball, Bailey, Orville, Leah, Dustin, Buster, Dustin, Elliot, Springer, Tiffany, Wednesday, Riley, Yogi, Antonia, Blink, Conundrum, Juliette, Marcel, Abbott, Smoosh, Sneakers, Heloise. Bailey II, Merlin, Sammy, Hialeah, Avril, Van Gogh & Lela, Casper, Kaylee. Noah, Harry & Sally, Luka, Joanne, Sadie, Breezy, Lizzy & Pumpkin, Justine, Veronica,Cicely, Switch, Mischief, Fern, Johnny Damon, Gilligan, Nora & Cooper, Scutterbotch, Chyna, Minnie-Bea, Whish, Muriel,  Valentine & Tansy, Monika & Flopsy, Aurora, Ryan and Brittany, Charlotte, Lucky, Walter, Ebony, Comet, Chloe, Hope, Levi, Crystal, Calypso and Electra, Brando, Houdini, Tux, Odessa and Kaleb, Whisper, Boo , Money & Bill, Roxie, Spot, Bridget, Eden, Anthony, Patches, Bennett, Sunderland (twice), Felix, Corey & Casey, Bella, Reggie & Daisy, Two Bits, Asti & Vegas, Sneakers, Ziggy, Honey, Roscoe, Wynkin, Blykyn & Zephyr, Barney & April,  Rita, Amelia, Bonnie, Zakk, Peepers, Valentine, Lucky, Pedro, Brittney & Devin, Ozzie, Meranda, The Trio "Bella, Lilly, &Noah", Bertie, Judie, Oreo, Lady Godiva, Bigelow, Eva, Cassidy, Harvey, Rhonda, Jake, Ramona, Timberland, Diamond, Frye, Calvin, Christie, Maxie, Rosemary, Bender, Sylvie & Felicia, Acorn, Sandy, Lincoln, Carmel, Molly, Thumbellina, Edward T. Bunny, Nanci, Q-Tip, Leland, Ryan & Brittany, Chubs, Whish, Dylan, Kiss, Sweet Pea, Johnny, Pixley, Goldie, BamBam, Zoe, Fredericka, Gina, Glen, Hunny Bunny, Chocolate, Col. Mustard, Alexandra, Whoopie Pie, Tara & Matilda, Garth, Cindy Lu, Guinness....
To see some of our past adoption successes...

Visit the HopLine Archives 2008
Visit the HopLine Archives 2007
Visit the HopLine Archives 2006
Visit the HopLine Archives 2005
Visit the HopLine Archives 2004
Visit the HopLine Archives 2003
Visit the HopLine Archives 2002

Pictures from CT Pet Expo 2005


Pictures from Spring Rabbit Fest 2004

Pictures from Rabbit Fest 2003

 

 

Pictures from Rabbit Fest 2001

Rabbit Fest 2001 Rabbit Fest 2001 Rabbit Fest 2001

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We cannot & do not take rabbits from the public

It would really help you and us, if you read the following articles before contacting us.