A typical environment for a dumped bunny in Vegas. This is Mochi, who was dumped during the pandemic. She has heart disease and will have cost $2000+ in less than a year! ©Rusty & Furrriends
Erin, founder of the Rusty & Furriends: Vegas Dumpsite Bunnies, has been working on providing the best care for abandoned pet rabbits in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the last five years, she and her small group of trained volunteers have worked hard bringing in dumped rabbits and providing them with the best food and medical care until they are adopted to loving homes. They have helped hundreds of bunnies, with an average of 125 bunnies a year. She has sent rabbits across the country, and even as far as parts of Canada!
At first, Las Vegas rescues focused on massive rabbit dumpsites common in 2015. Today, it is less likely to find such large gatherings of rabbits. This does not mean that there are no more feral rabbits out there, however. Because most of the rescues in the area focus on shelter rabbits, Erin has made it her mission to focus on feral rabbits, especially those who need special medical treatment. The label “feral” can often be off-putting to potential rabbit owners; being feral simply means the rabbit lived outside for some time and/or was born outside. According to Erin’s expertise, feral rabbits make awesome pet rabbits, often without any cage/food aggression behaviours.
Zinnia has curled front leg and was found running in the rocky ravine at the large Charleston Dumpsite in February of 2018 after a series of poisonings. ©Rusty & Furrriends
Apart from her direct work with the rabbits, Erin prioritizes community outreach. When others are interested in helping/rescuing feral rabbits, she will often serve as a guide and supply people with materials such as pens. Especially under Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, potential feral rabbit catchers were able to reach out to Erin and her trained volunteers to get information on how best to bring in these rabbits.
Unfortunately, like many other locations, the local government does not do much to help these feral rabbits. Depending on where the rabbits are—in a park or a private community, for example—there are different rules implemented. Some communities have caused some backlash against the rescue of feral rabbits because they have come to think of them as their community’s “wildlife.” Despite this, Erin and her crew will not hesitate to pick up a dumped rabbit, wherever he/she may be.
Lanka and Tater are backyard bunnies from a neighbourhood where colonies of feral rabbits have formed. Some of the residents of the community consider these rabbits as part of their area’s “wildlife” and are against their rescue. ©Rusty & Furrriends
How to Help:
If you would like to donate and help Erin’s rabbit rescue, please see the options below and check out the rescue’s Facebook and Instagram!
- Send donations through Paypal to erinurano@gmail.com.
- Purchase some supplies for the rabbits through Amazon Wish List.
- Send a check directly to the rescue’s rabbit vet located at Southern Hills Animal Hospital, c/o VEGAS DUMPSITE BUNNIES, 6545 S. Fort Apache Road, Ste. 150, Las Vegas, NV 89148 (ph # is 702-586-1300). Email address is southernhillsah@gmail.com
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.
