Puffin, a bunny rescued in partnership with a local vet hospital after he was surrendered at the vet with a broken leg.
Triangle Rabbits has been active for over ten years serving the Triangle area of North Carolina. About four years ago, they were officially labelled as the central North Carolina chapter of the House Rabbit Society—an international, non-profit organization focused on rabbit rescue and education. I spoke with Wendy, a long-time education volunteer of Triangle Rabbits to learn more about how they work to keep rabbits off the streets through education and community programs.
As a long-standing rabbit rescue, people will often look to Triangle Rabbits for help when it comes to rescuing abandoned pet rabbits and advice in taking care of their own pet rabbits. Triangle Rabbits’ website is a wonderful resource for both new and long-time rabbit owners. The organization has long-held partnerships with other groups to hold large events where educators, veterinarians, other rescues, local craftsmen, and local artists can come together. Without a space of their own, Triangle Rabbits relies on this sort of community support, as well as a reliable group of fosters to care for the rabbits they rescue.
As many rabbit rescues, this organization is completely run by volunteers, and thus they need to constantly hold fundraising events to cover vet care and other necessities for the rabbits. As we’ve been seeing across the continent, the Triangle area (Wake, Durham, Orange, and surrounding counties of North Carolina, U.S.A.) has seen increasing rates of abandoned rabbits in the past years. Although a small rescue, Triangle Rabbits does its best to take in as many rabbits as they can. Last year, they were able to adopt out 35 rabbits despite the ongoing pandemic.
According to Wendy, the rescue is really looking forward to once again being able to hold their community educational events. It had been over a year since they were last able to do them. Fortunately, the team of dedicated volunteers have been holding “Hoppin’ Talks” via Zoom every two weeks as a way of keeping the rabbit community informed and connected in these isolated times. Similarly, adoptions are being held over video chats to minimize unnecessary exposure. Triangle Rabbits also just recently debuted their YouTube channel, which includes content on rabbit health, enrichment, and other interesting topics.
You can find information about making donations, both online and through mail, on Triangle Rabbit’s website. On their Facebook page, you can also follow any upcoming auctions to raise money for the rabbits, as well as when the next Hoppin’ Talk is happening. Be sure to check out volunteer Becky’s Bunderland toy bundles on Triangle Rabbit’s online shop; all proceeds go to the rabbits!
Article written by:
Amanda Puitiza
Amanda Puitiza is a Peruvian American with a Master’s in Animal Behaviour and Conservation. Her career goals are to partner with others and use inter-disciplinary methods to help with the conservation of species in need. She has had and worked with rabbits for most of her life. When she is not enjoying time with animals, she can often be found reading or creating music.
