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On a warm Summer day in 1993, someone found a lost baby bunny in Alameda's Fernside area and brought it to the City's Animal Shelter. The bunny was very friendly, and as one of the shelter volunteers would hand-feed it, the bunny would show its appreciation by giving "bunny kisses". The volunteer was quite charmed by the bunny, and when no one came to claim it, the volunteer took the bunny home. She was christened Bonnie.
And thus began Rabbit Row.
It used to be that few of the rabbits who found themselves at the Alameda Animal Shelter had much of a chance. Typical of municipally-run animal shelters, the rabbits were pretty far down the companion animal totem pole. They received no special care because no one was interested in providing it for them. A few were adopted. Most were euthanized.
But all that changed when Bonnie hopped into that volunteer's life. She taught him that rabbits are very social animals who can thrive on human attention and are capable of giving lots of love and affection in return. Because of his wonderful experience with Bonnie, the volunteer began to educate himself about rabbit care, using information from the House Rabbit Society and other sources.
When you visit our Rabbit Row, you'll see how we house the "residents" in their own special area. You'll learn that rabbits will use a litter box. You'll learn that they like to have a "hiding place" where they can feel safe and secure, or climb on and play in. You'll learn about the importance of a proper diet...no, they don't just eat carrots! And you'll learn about what not to do, like not to stuff them in a small wire cage or condemn them to a forgotten backyard hutch. Or that they're not a "present" for a small child.
Before adopting a rabbit, stop by and visit us. Ask for our rabbit care information sheets. Look at what we do. Ask yourself if an adult in your family is emotionally and financially prepared to provide all the love and care that will be required for the next five or ten years. A rabbit is unlike any other pet, and will require some special considerations. If your answer is "yes", then you've come to the right place!
Rabbit Row is self-supporting. Adoption fees are applied directly toward the purchase of rabbit feed. Each time a bunny is adopted, we buy a 50-pound bag of rabbit pellets from Pagano's Hardware. Hay, that's so important for a rabbit's digestive system, veggies, toys, and wooden chew blocks, are donated by the shelter volunteers, staff, and the public. To learn about our rabbit medical program, click on RABBIT MEDICAL FUND.
Rabbit Row has been extremely successful in placing rabbits into loving homes. Over 500 rabbits have found new homes since our program began in May 1997. We have also been able to send many Special Needs rabbits to homes willing to care for disabled bunnies, as part of the Rabbit Rehab program described on our Rabbit Medical Fund page. And we are always looking for rabbit-experienced foster parents.
So, stop by and visit Rabbit Row. Shelter hours and directions are shown on the Main Page. Or, e-mail RabbitRow@aol.com for more information.
A postscript...
On January 9th, 2004, Bonnie was gently helped to begin her journey across the Rainbow Bridge. She was 10 1/2 years old. For nearly two years she courageously battled congestive heart failure, osteoporosis, and arthritis, all the while giving her human companion the unconditional love and affection that was the hallmark of her personality.
Bonnie's legacy is the more than 500 rabbits that have been adopted from the Alameda Animal Shelter because of her. Her work is not complete, and she would want us to continue to find homes for unwanted bunnies, in the hope that somewhere out there is a human and bunny who will have that special bond that Bonnie and her human shared.
 This photo, Bonnie's last, was taken in fall 2003 after she and her human companion had returned from the Blessing of the Animals.
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