thank the Gods and Godesses
Copper Controvery in Tacoma - Has Politics Killed This Rabbit?
- Thread starter Pipp
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naturestee
Well-Known Member
That's fantastic news! Hopefully all this attention will make the shelter a little easier for rescues to work with.
Happi Bun
Well-Known Member
slavetoabunny
Well-Known Member
It sounds like this was a win-win situation! Nose pets to Copper!!!!
Pipp
Well-Known Member
Copper is a Cottontail??? :shock: I'm not sure the pic is really Copper, this is a baby. It sure isn't a recent pic if it is.
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2009/11/copper_the_doomed_rabbit_gets.php
Copper the Doomed Rabbit Gets a Reprieve
By Caleb Hannan in Health and Welfare
Monday, Nov. 23 2009 @ 12:07PM
Sure he may look cute now, but wait till he gets hold of your jugular.
âA Tacoma rabbit that attracted global sympathy after animal-lovers discovered it was going to be put to death has now gotten a lucky break.
The controversy began when a one-year old brown cottontail named Copper was taken in by the Pierce County Humane Society earlier this month. During a routine cage cleaning, Copper took a chunk out of a volunteer's thumb, producing a gushing wound so serious it had to be treated at the ER. Then, when put into a mandatory 10-day quarantine, Copper started showing signs of an upper respiratory infection.
With two strikes against him, Copper's cause went viral, attracting pleas for mercy from as far away as London. Pleas which have now been answered.
According to Pierce County Humane director Kathleen Olson, as of today Copper is going to be in the capable hands of the Rabbit Haven Sanctuary in Gig Harbor. Copper was set to be euthanized yesterday, but no vets were there to do the procedure. In the meantime, his cough cleared up and Haven offered to provide a home.
As Olson noted in a brief phone conversation today, however, the attention Copper received was all too rare. So far this year Pierce County has killed 1,600 healthy cats. Meaning while it's all well and good that defenders of fluffy, adorable creatures made their voices heard this one time, it'd be nice if some of them were at least as willing to make other animals similar cause celebres. Or, better yet, show respect for the animal-loving employees of the Humane Society who have to make tough decisions with pets like Copper every day.
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2009/11/copper_the_doomed_rabbit_gets.php
Copper the Doomed Rabbit Gets a Reprieve
By Caleb Hannan in Health and Welfare
Monday, Nov. 23 2009 @ 12:07PM
Sure he may look cute now, but wait till he gets hold of your jugular.
âA Tacoma rabbit that attracted global sympathy after animal-lovers discovered it was going to be put to death has now gotten a lucky break.
The controversy began when a one-year old brown cottontail named Copper was taken in by the Pierce County Humane Society earlier this month. During a routine cage cleaning, Copper took a chunk out of a volunteer's thumb, producing a gushing wound so serious it had to be treated at the ER. Then, when put into a mandatory 10-day quarantine, Copper started showing signs of an upper respiratory infection.
With two strikes against him, Copper's cause went viral, attracting pleas for mercy from as far away as London. Pleas which have now been answered.
According to Pierce County Humane director Kathleen Olson, as of today Copper is going to be in the capable hands of the Rabbit Haven Sanctuary in Gig Harbor. Copper was set to be euthanized yesterday, but no vets were there to do the procedure. In the meantime, his cough cleared up and Haven offered to provide a home.
As Olson noted in a brief phone conversation today, however, the attention Copper received was all too rare. So far this year Pierce County has killed 1,600 healthy cats. Meaning while it's all well and good that defenders of fluffy, adorable creatures made their voices heard this one time, it'd be nice if some of them were at least as willing to make other animals similar cause celebres. Or, better yet, show respect for the animal-loving employees of the Humane Society who have to make tough decisions with pets like Copper every day.
tonyshuman
Well-Known Member
That pic can't be him! He doesn't have the ocular discharge etc, and that really looks like a 4 week old cottontail to me.
We get a LOT of biters. I've been at the shelter when one bit a potential adopter. We spend a lot of time being very gentle with these special-needs guys and many do come around and become sweet bunnies. Some get adopted although they are known to be aggressive (like our Frida--she bit the vet tech on the neck on her way to the spay--have to hold her so she can't get at your neck, little dracula bunny) and live happy lives in a less restricted environment.
I'm so glad Copper has found a home. However, it happens a lot that animals are PTS for health issues, particularly dogs and cats. Obviously lots of dogs are PTS for being biters too, although I think rabbits communicate more with their teeth than the average dog. Other things that happen are for feral cats and some breeds of dogs in some places (pitbulls in Detroit for instance: the Michigan Humane Society will not adopt out pitbulls no matter their temperament--they euthanize them).
Humane Societies are local not for profits with a loose association to the national Humane Society of the United States. They only get a little bit of money from the national organization. Each local Humane Society can have its own rules, depending on what they can do. The money to run them comes from donations, grants, and sometimes from local governments if they are contracted to be the shelter for the county. If they are under contract to the county, they have to hold strays (usually for 10 days before adopting out/PTS), animals that are evidence in any case (cruelty, etc), animals that need protective custody (owner is in jail for some alloted period of time), and surrenders. This means that they run out of space because the shelter cannot turn these animals away, like a rescue can.
Most humane societies make their intake/euth/adoption numbers available. I've read the ones from my local shelter, and the majority of animals PTS are for medical reasons, or being feral cats. We have a farming community that likes to take in feral cats as organic pest control, and a special rescue that does just that, but there are still too many feral cats. Sometimes owners request that an animal be euthanized when they drop it off, which baffles me. I think it's terrible to euthanize an animal for behavioral issues, but you have to consider the risk to staff and the amount of resources available versus what is needed to rehabilitate these animals. Sure, Ceasar Milan can turn a former fighting pitbull into a loving pet, but no shelter has the time or expertise to do that to the hundreds of fighting dogs they see each year.
This is my local shelter's stats for Oct 09 (freely available at their website). It's pretty interesting, especially since this is a pretty successful shelter, that rarely euthanizes for "space".
http://www.giveshelter.org/uploadedfiles/file/OCT2009STATS.pdf
We get a LOT of biters. I've been at the shelter when one bit a potential adopter. We spend a lot of time being very gentle with these special-needs guys and many do come around and become sweet bunnies. Some get adopted although they are known to be aggressive (like our Frida--she bit the vet tech on the neck on her way to the spay--have to hold her so she can't get at your neck, little dracula bunny) and live happy lives in a less restricted environment.
I'm so glad Copper has found a home. However, it happens a lot that animals are PTS for health issues, particularly dogs and cats. Obviously lots of dogs are PTS for being biters too, although I think rabbits communicate more with their teeth than the average dog. Other things that happen are for feral cats and some breeds of dogs in some places (pitbulls in Detroit for instance: the Michigan Humane Society will not adopt out pitbulls no matter their temperament--they euthanize them).
Humane Societies are local not for profits with a loose association to the national Humane Society of the United States. They only get a little bit of money from the national organization. Each local Humane Society can have its own rules, depending on what they can do. The money to run them comes from donations, grants, and sometimes from local governments if they are contracted to be the shelter for the county. If they are under contract to the county, they have to hold strays (usually for 10 days before adopting out/PTS), animals that are evidence in any case (cruelty, etc), animals that need protective custody (owner is in jail for some alloted period of time), and surrenders. This means that they run out of space because the shelter cannot turn these animals away, like a rescue can.
Most humane societies make their intake/euth/adoption numbers available. I've read the ones from my local shelter, and the majority of animals PTS are for medical reasons, or being feral cats. We have a farming community that likes to take in feral cats as organic pest control, and a special rescue that does just that, but there are still too many feral cats. Sometimes owners request that an animal be euthanized when they drop it off, which baffles me. I think it's terrible to euthanize an animal for behavioral issues, but you have to consider the risk to staff and the amount of resources available versus what is needed to rehabilitate these animals. Sure, Ceasar Milan can turn a former fighting pitbull into a loving pet, but no shelter has the time or expertise to do that to the hundreds of fighting dogs they see each year.
This is my local shelter's stats for Oct 09 (freely available at their website). It's pretty interesting, especially since this is a pretty successful shelter, that rarely euthanizes for "space".
http://www.giveshelter.org/uploadedfiles/file/OCT2009STATS.pdf
pla725
Well-Known Member
The person should have known better than to clean his cage with thehim in it. Must have been someone new.
Glad he found a place to take him.
Glad he found a place to take him.
Pipp
Well-Known Member
Yup, the reporter has apologized and confirmed the pic isn't Copper, just a cute bunny shot.
But he says Copper is a Cottontail according to the HS Director, which actually doesn't make sense seeing as if he was, he wouldn't be at the Humane Society at all but a wildlife rehab. Odd.
sas
onder:
But he says Copper is a Cottontail according to the HS Director, which actually doesn't make sense seeing as if he was, he wouldn't be at the Humane Society at all but a wildlife rehab. Odd.
sas
onder:
JadeIcing
Well-Known Member
Pipp wrote:
As long as I am not the only one thinking that.
Yup, the reporter has apologized and confirmed the pic isn't Copper, just a cute bunny shot.
But he says Copper is a Cottontail according to the HS Director, which actually doesn't make sense seeing as if he was, he wouldn't be at the Humane Society at all but a wildlife rehab. Odd.
sas
As long as I am not the only one thinking that.
slavetoabunny
Well-Known Member
Copper pictures are up on The Rabbit Haven website. Definately not a cottontail.
http://rabbithaven.org/
*edited to add the link!
http://rabbithaven.org/
*edited to add the link!
cheryl
Well-Known Member
Yay for Copper!!
I went and had a look at his picture on the website,and aww he's just adorable..it's nice to see a picture of him instead of just seeing his name.
I went and had a look at his picture on the website,and aww he's just adorable..it's nice to see a picture of him instead of just seeing his name.
Luvmyzoocrew
Well-Known Member
JadeIcing wrote:
i too was thinking that?Pipp wrote:Yup, the reporter has apologized and confirmed the pic isn't Copper, just a cute bunny shot.
But he says Copper is a Cottontail according to the HS Director, which actually doesn't make sense seeing as if he was, he wouldn't be at the Humane Society at all but a wildlife rehab. Odd.
sas
tonyshuman
Well-Known Member
I can't find the pic on the Rabbit Haven's site. Did it get pulled?
slavetoabunny
Well-Known Member
tonyshuman
Well-Known Member
Oh I was looking at THE Rabbit Haven, in Cali, not Rabbit Haven, in WA. He has agouti coloring which is probably why they thought he was a cottontail. Not the right shape for a cottontail at all!
Pipp
Well-Known Member
He looks like a lop/dwarf cross to me, but not my area...
And to demonstrate how 'vicious' he is, he was purring in this pic.. .
RO has a little money in our rabbit ER transport/rescue fund, I was going to check into making a donation towards Copper's care, but whether it goes to the Tacoma Humane Society as a payoff for not murdering the poor guy or the Gig Harbor Rabbit Haven remains to be seen.
I'm not mad at the HS for the decision to put him down, but I really don't like people who lie and/or twist the truth, and the amount of BS that came from that facility is ridiculous.
sas :grumpy:
And to demonstrate how 'vicious' he is, he was purring in this pic.. .
RO has a little money in our rabbit ER transport/rescue fund, I was going to check into making a donation towards Copper's care, but whether it goes to the Tacoma Humane Society as a payoff for not murdering the poor guy or the Gig Harbor Rabbit Haven remains to be seen.
I'm not mad at the HS for the decision to put him down, but I really don't like people who lie and/or twist the truth, and the amount of BS that came from that facility is ridiculous.
sas :grumpy:
tonyshuman
Well-Known Member
Just how does a rabbit bite a person so badly that they have to go to the hospital, is what I would like to know.
Pipp
Well-Known Member
PS: Here's some donation info for all involved:
http://rabbithaven.org/donate/
http://rabbithaven.org/wish-lists/
And this is the link for Rabbit Meadows, the sanctuary founded by Sandi Ackerman, the woman initially quoted in the media. (I personally LOVE this kind of sanctuary).
Rabbit Meadows Sanctuary
And of course the Tacoma Humane Society... but I think I honestly prefer supporting the rescues.
Feedback welcome!
sas :bunnydance:
http://rabbithaven.org/donate/
http://rabbithaven.org/wish-lists/
And this is the link for Rabbit Meadows, the sanctuary founded by Sandi Ackerman, the woman initially quoted in the media. (I personally LOVE this kind of sanctuary).
Rabbit Meadows Sanctuary
And of course the Tacoma Humane Society... but I think I honestly prefer supporting the rescues.
Feedback welcome!
sas :bunnydance:
Pipp
Well-Known Member
And the RH Press Release...
Contact:
Angie Green
Rabbit Haven of Gig Harbor, WA
425-788-8184
[email protected]
http://www.rabbithaven.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rabbit Haven Rescues Copper After Worldwide Pleas to Save Shelter Rabbit
Rabbit Haven of Gig Harbor, WA., worked with the Tacoma Humane Society to rescue Copper the Rabbit after he was scheduled to be euthanized. The story of Copperâs situation went viral online, resulting in worldwide email campaigns, and a new home at Rabbit Haven.
Gig Harbor, WA. November 23, 2009 -- Copper the rabbit has been given a permanent home by Rabbit Haven of Gig Harbor, WA., after worldwide pleas, protests, and outpourings of sympathy led to the cancelling of his euthanization.
Copper was initially rescued by the Humane Socity of Tacoma, Wa. Two weeks ago, Copper bit an inexperienced volunteer who had reached down between Copper and another unneutered male. Copper is a young rabbit who had just come into the shelter and was separated from his sister. He was under a lot of stress and was very scared. According to the Tacoma Humane Societyâs policies and procedures, Copper was placed in quarantine for ten days, during which it was determined that he had several medical issues. He was scheduled to be euthanized on Sunday, November 21, 2009. Copper was spared because there was no veterinarian on duty on Sunday to perform the euthanasia procedure.
Meanwhile, Copper became a cause célèbre. Calls, emails, and pleas came into the Tacoma Humane Society from locations around the globe. Local animal rights advocates protested outside of the facility. Several rescues and individuals offered to take Copper to spare his life, but were initially denied due to policy issues and concerns about his medical issues, which have since resolved themselves.
On Monday, November 23, 2009, Kathleen Olsen, Executive Director of the Tacoma Humane Society, agreed to allow Rabbit Haven of Gig Harbor, WA., to take Copper. Copper was picked up and brought to Rabbit Haven by Sue Brennan, the rescueâs founder. âWe are thankful that we could work with the Tacoma Humane Society to find a solution for this very famous rabbit,â said Brennan. âThe Tacoma Humane Society does wonderful work and has found homes for many bunnies and other animals, and weâre grateful for what they do. At Rabbit Haven, we have bunny specialists well-equipped to handle even the most terrified and anxious rabbits, who sometimes bite out of fear and because theyâve been so mistreated in the past. Copper is a healthy, rambunctious teenage rabbit who will get the love and care that he needs to turn into a good house bunny.â
âThis was a potentially sad story that had a very happy ending,â said Brennan. âHouse rabbits are wonderful, intelligent pets with great senses of humor. They can be litter-trained, do tricks, and more and more families are finding out how fun it is to share their homes with a house rabbit. We hope that Copperâs story will inspire more people to learn about house rabbits, and to support the work of animal shelters.â
Copper has already started to show progress at Rabbit Haven. Under the care of highly experienced rabbit experts, he has even started to âpurrâ when held (rabbits purr by chattering their teeth.) At Rabbit Haven, Copper will continue receive the attention and care he needs to recover and learn to trust and socialize with humans. He will be neutered and, if possible, he will eventually be âbondedâ with a spayed female rabbit, as rabbits are happiest when they live in pairs and groups. Rabbit Haven will continue to work with local rescues to find homes for abandoned and mistreated rabbits.
To see photos and updates on Copper, or if you would like to donate to help him or other rabbits in Rabbit Havenâs care, please visit http://www.rabbithaven.org
About Rabbit Haven:
Rabbit Haven is a 501c3 non-profit organization that was founded in 1986 by Sue Brennan. For more information about Rabbit Haven, visit www.rabbithaven.org.
###
Contact:
Angie Green
Rabbit Haven of Gig Harbor, WA
425-788-8184
[email protected]
http://www.rabbithaven.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rabbit Haven Rescues Copper After Worldwide Pleas to Save Shelter Rabbit
Rabbit Haven of Gig Harbor, WA., worked with the Tacoma Humane Society to rescue Copper the Rabbit after he was scheduled to be euthanized. The story of Copperâs situation went viral online, resulting in worldwide email campaigns, and a new home at Rabbit Haven.
Gig Harbor, WA. November 23, 2009 -- Copper the rabbit has been given a permanent home by Rabbit Haven of Gig Harbor, WA., after worldwide pleas, protests, and outpourings of sympathy led to the cancelling of his euthanization.
Copper was initially rescued by the Humane Socity of Tacoma, Wa. Two weeks ago, Copper bit an inexperienced volunteer who had reached down between Copper and another unneutered male. Copper is a young rabbit who had just come into the shelter and was separated from his sister. He was under a lot of stress and was very scared. According to the Tacoma Humane Societyâs policies and procedures, Copper was placed in quarantine for ten days, during which it was determined that he had several medical issues. He was scheduled to be euthanized on Sunday, November 21, 2009. Copper was spared because there was no veterinarian on duty on Sunday to perform the euthanasia procedure.
Meanwhile, Copper became a cause célèbre. Calls, emails, and pleas came into the Tacoma Humane Society from locations around the globe. Local animal rights advocates protested outside of the facility. Several rescues and individuals offered to take Copper to spare his life, but were initially denied due to policy issues and concerns about his medical issues, which have since resolved themselves.
On Monday, November 23, 2009, Kathleen Olsen, Executive Director of the Tacoma Humane Society, agreed to allow Rabbit Haven of Gig Harbor, WA., to take Copper. Copper was picked up and brought to Rabbit Haven by Sue Brennan, the rescueâs founder. âWe are thankful that we could work with the Tacoma Humane Society to find a solution for this very famous rabbit,â said Brennan. âThe Tacoma Humane Society does wonderful work and has found homes for many bunnies and other animals, and weâre grateful for what they do. At Rabbit Haven, we have bunny specialists well-equipped to handle even the most terrified and anxious rabbits, who sometimes bite out of fear and because theyâve been so mistreated in the past. Copper is a healthy, rambunctious teenage rabbit who will get the love and care that he needs to turn into a good house bunny.â
âThis was a potentially sad story that had a very happy ending,â said Brennan. âHouse rabbits are wonderful, intelligent pets with great senses of humor. They can be litter-trained, do tricks, and more and more families are finding out how fun it is to share their homes with a house rabbit. We hope that Copperâs story will inspire more people to learn about house rabbits, and to support the work of animal shelters.â
Copper has already started to show progress at Rabbit Haven. Under the care of highly experienced rabbit experts, he has even started to âpurrâ when held (rabbits purr by chattering their teeth.) At Rabbit Haven, Copper will continue receive the attention and care he needs to recover and learn to trust and socialize with humans. He will be neutered and, if possible, he will eventually be âbondedâ with a spayed female rabbit, as rabbits are happiest when they live in pairs and groups. Rabbit Haven will continue to work with local rescues to find homes for abandoned and mistreated rabbits.
To see photos and updates on Copper, or if you would like to donate to help him or other rabbits in Rabbit Havenâs care, please visit http://www.rabbithaven.org
About Rabbit Haven:
Rabbit Haven is a 501c3 non-profit organization that was founded in 1986 by Sue Brennan. For more information about Rabbit Haven, visit www.rabbithaven.org.
###
slavetoabunny
Well-Known Member
I just renewed my Platinum membership and would be happy to see some of our funds go towards a donation to Rabbit Haven. I wouldn't drain the account dry, but a nice donation would be in order. Are we allowed to ask how much money we have in the account?
