Help Save Rabbits This Chinese New Year

ARTICLE SHARED - The House Rabbit Society - Year of The Rabbit

Usher into the Year of the Rabbit by buying HRSS' exclusive red packets to save a rabbit now!

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE RABBIT SOCIETY AND SINGAPORE HOUSE RABBIT SOCIETY URGE PEOPLE NOT TO BUY RABBITS FOR LUNAR YEAR OF THE RABBIT

RICHMOND, CA/SINGAPORE (January 27, 2011) - House Rabbit Society (HRS) and House Rabbit Society Singapore (HRSS) strongly urge people not to acquire live rabbits for the Year of the Rabbit unless they are willing to make a 10-year commitment to properly care for the animals. In the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Rabbit occurs every twelve years. Asian animal welfare groups like HRSS are warning of an inevitable outcome this year: abandoned and neglected bunnies.

In Asian countries, and in Asian-American communities in the United States, there is a growing demand for pet rabbits, who are thought to bring luck during the Year of the Rabbit. Once the year is over, the rabbits are often abandoned. HRSS reports that in the 1999 Year of the Rabbit, rabbits in Singapore were abandoned at that nation's shelters at twice the rate that they were in 1998.

Both HRS and HRSS point out that while rabbits are intelligent, curious, loving pets, they are not "lucky charms." In addition, they are not low maintenance pets. Margo DeMello, president of HRS, encourages rabbit lovers to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit by purchasing artwork and gifts adorned with rabbits. Items can even be purchased from rabbit rescue groups, which then benefit rabbits, such as the rabbit-themed angbao (red envelopes in which to give money) sold by HRSS. "Rabbits are not 'low maintenance' pets," says DeMello; they require at least the same amount of work as a cat or dog, and often more."

Mary Cotter, vice-president of HRS, says that many of the rabbits purchased for luck will never live to see their first birthday. Some will die from neglect, while others will be abandoned in local parks or left at animal shelters. "It is irresponsible for pet stores to push rabbits during the Year of the Rabbit" says Cotter. "Unless people are willing to take full responsibility for the possible 10-year lifespan of a live rabbit, they should not acquire live rabbits. They should decorate their homes with rabbit-themed items instead."

Children, especially, do not realize that rabbits are fragile, ground-loving creatures who will struggle when held and are easily hurt when dropped. Also, it is near impossible for a child to commit to a rabbit for 10 years. All too often, the child loses interest, and the rabbit ends up unwanted.

"Many pets in Singapore suffer unnecessarily because of ignorance on the part of their owners," commented HRSS President Jacelyn Heng. "During the Year of the Rabbit, many people buy rabbits for the wrong reason and do not fully understand the responsibilities of keeping an animal at home. The problem is particularly acute for rabbits because people wrongly assume that they are low-maintenance starter pets for children." Jacelyn added, "Many pet shops in Singapore are also not well informed about the care needed for a pet rabbit and often provide wrong or false information to unknowing first-time owners."

For people willing to make a long term commitment to a pet rabbit, HRS and the HRSS recommend adopting a rabbit from local animal shelters or rabbit rescue groups instead of purchasing them, as there are simply too many rabbits desperately in need of a good home. For those who are unsure about the commitment that they are able to offer, toys or rabbit-themed gifts would do just as well for this Lunar New Year's celebrations. Let's make this Year of the Rabbit a truly enjoyable time for our rabbits.

For people willing to make the long-term commitment, here are a few points to consider before acquiring a rabbit:

Housing: Bunnies need a roomy indoor space to call their own. There should be room for a litterbox, toys, food and water bowls. Playpens or puppy exercise pens are a good alternative to the small cages sold in pet stores.

Playtime: Rabbits need plenty of exercise and should be allowed at least 30 hours out-of-cage running time in a rabbit-proofed area of the home per week.

Outdoors: Rabbits should never be left outdoors unsupervised. They can, literally, be frightened to death when approached by predators such as dogs, cats, raccoons and owls. They can also dig under fences to escape.

Litter Box: Rabbits, once spayed or neutered, will readily use litterboxes that are place in one corner of the rabbit's cage; the rabbit's running space should contain at least one additional box. Use dust-free litter--not the clumping kind, and no softwood shavings.

Diet: Bunnies need fresh water, unlimited fresh, grass hay, 1-2 cups of fresh vegetables, and a small serving (1/4 c per 5 lb. rabbit) of plain rabbit pellets each day.

Health: Like dogs and cats, rabbits should be spayed or neutered. The risk of uterine cancer in unspayed female rabbits is alarmingly high, and unneutered males are likely to spray.

Grooming: Rabbits shed their coat 3-4 times per year; use a flea comb and brush away excess fur.

A person who chooses a baby rabbit as a pet must:

Have lots of time, a household that can withstand some chewing, and a stable residence.

Expect an unneutered/unspayed baby may spray urine on the walls. Know that neutering/spaying (at four to six months) will greatly alleviate or stop the problem.

Expect accidents when baby forgets the location of the litterbox.

Allow the rabbit at least 30 hours a week of free time outside her cage.

Know the cute baby will soon be an adult rabbit and may have a different personality.

House Rabbit Society is an international, volunteer-based nonprofit organization with two primary goals: 1) to rescue abandoned rabbits and find permanent homes for them; 2) to educate the public and assist humane societies in teaching proper rabbit care. HRS has fosterers, educators, and chapters around the world, and a rabbit adoption and education center in Richmond, California.

The House Rabbit Society Singapore is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to rabbit welfare and awareness. The HRSS runs a fostering program to rescue and re-home abandoned rabbits and participates in numerous public events to educate the general public about rabbit care and behavior. 

Angpao are small envelopes or packets (traditionally red) that are used in Asian communities to give gifts of money.

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RELATED BLOG POSTS:

Year of the Rabbit: Deadly start for impulse pet buys

2011 : Year of the Rabbit

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LINKS

The House Rabbit Society

The House Rabbit Society Singapore

Year of the Rabbit: Deadly start for impulse pet buys

Buying animals on impulse is usually a bad idea for starters because people don't fully understand about caring for the rabbit and what is involved. Pet rabbits are then often given up because they are not what they expected and have special needs.. I really like to push information on correct rabbit care to everyone and tell you to do your research before purchasing a rabbit..  Unwanted rabbits must never be dumped or released into the wild ( or Universities ) for that matter ! 

Taobao.com is one site where online vendors sell bunnies online and has sold 89 rabbits in the past week at 30 yuan (US$4.5) each. But according to customer comments, many pets died in transit or shortly after arrival. :( Many of the vendors will not give a refund unless the dead animal is returned which is also illegal to send dead animals in the mail... read more  I tried to translate the website and do a search for live pets but I think they have possibly been banned since releasing of these news articles. :)
I think sending bunnies in the post is a hideous thing to do! Rabbits can die so easily from heat stroke and I'm wondering what water and food they are getting during transport, and with poor ventilation and going to the bathroom in the box would most likely cause suffocation. It is actually illegal to post live animals this way and the boxes are supposably labelled as Fragile - Glass.  Some deliveries take 5 days which is terrible as rabbits need to eat constantly. Correct feeding and diet is so important for them. I feel sick when I think about the poor buns being mailed that way. Rabbits also get easily stressed and can die easily from shock, so death is highly likely from transporting rabbits this way :(

 Buying a rabbit online before seeing the bunny is not always a smart idea as you don't get to see what it's health or temperament is really like. It is recommended that rabbits are purchased from a trusted breeder. Bunnies that have not been handled from a young age can often have temperament issues and more likely to be scared of being picked up and handled, which can result in an unfriendly bunny.

Buying Roxanne was definately not an impulse buy for me as I had planned to get her over a year ago was just waiting for the right bunny to be bred .  It just happened that I got her just before Year of the Rabbit is to begin, which is a co-incidence! :) .. (incase you were wondering).. 

READ ARTICLE -

Article Shared : CNN

Dead rabbits are showing up in Chinese mailboxes as pets ordered for the Year of the Rabbit aren’t surviving the shipping process, the Shanghai Daily reports.

The Year of the Rabbit commences on February 3 under the Chinese lunar calendar and bunnies are in demand to celebrate it. One online search showed more than 600 vendors selling rabbits at prices from 15 to 2,000 yuan ($2.25 to $300), Shanghai Daily reported.

But, the paper said, the rabbits can spend five days in shipment and many have suffocated or frozen to death in the small boxes in which they are sent.

At least one vendor had stopped shipments because of the deaths, the paper reported.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued a statement from its Shanghai office on Friday urging people not to bring a rabbit into their home for the Chinese New Year.

"Rabbits aren't just cute and fluffy - they're high-maintenance animals who require significant resources, equipment, attention and veterinary care," PETA’s Maggie Chen said in a statement.

"Rabbits are complex animals, and potential caretakers - who often purchase the animals on a whim - rarely understand the specific needs of their new companions," the statement said. “Once the novelty has worn off, many bunnies are neglected, dumped at animal shelters, or simply turned loose in the wild.”

That’s the problem an ocean away from China at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

The school is saying unwanted pet rabbits dumped on its campus after February 28 will be killed, according to a report in the Victoria Times Colonist.

The university has been trying to rid its campus of the creatures for two years because of damage to landscaping and playing fields, according to the Times Colonist report. More than 800 have been trapped and moved to sanctuaries, it said.

But people are still seeing the campus as a place to dump their pets so the university is adopting the get-tough policy.

“While UVic is willing to dedicate some resources to rabbit removal, it is unrealistic for the university to divert funding to this task in perpetuity,” facilities management director Tom Smith told the paper.

Read article : http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/21/year-of-the-rabbit-deadly-start-for-impulse-pet-buys/?hpt=C2

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Related NEWS: 
Misery of Online Trade in Rabbits

UVic wants to get rid of all rabbits at its campus

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Related Blog Post: 2011: Year of The Rabbit

2011 : Year of the Rabbit

VIDEO: 

Year of the Rabbit, 2011
"2011 - The Year of the Rabbit", YearOfTheRabbit.info

In Chinese mythology, the Rabbit is a symbol of endurance and their essence is said to have originated from the Moon. During the Chinese mid-Autumn festival when the Moon is usually at its best, Chinese children still carry lit paper lanterns made in the form of a Rabbit, and climb the hills to look at the Moon and admire the Moon Hare.

Rabbit Years come fourth in the cycle of the Chinese New Year, and recur every twelve years. The Chinese New Year does not occur on a particular date, so it is vital to check the calendar to find the precise date on which each Rabbit Year really starts. Years of the rabbit include 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011. Year of the Rabbit 2011 is February 3, 2011 to January 22, 2012.

The Year of the Rabbit is a peaceful year, very much welcomed and desired after the fierce year of the Tiger. We should go somewhere tranquil to sooth our wounds and get some well deserved rest after all the encounters of the year before. Good taste and enhancement will excel on everything, and persons will recognize that influence is better than force. A time to make sure that we do not become too indulgent. The influence of the Rabbit tends to spoil those who like too much comfort and therefore weakens their value and sense of responsibility.

Law and order will be negligent; rules and regulations will not be firmly enforced. No one seems to be inclined to bother with these distasteful realities. They are too busy having fun, entertaining others or just relaxing. The outlook is tranquil and serene. We will all have a tendency to procrastinate on unlikable tasks for as long as is possible. Money can be made without too much effort. Our way of life will be relaxed and leisurely as we permit ourselves the luxuries we have always wanted. A moderate year with an easygoing pace. It may actually seem possible for us to be untroubled and contented without much infuriation.

Characteristics of People Born in the Year of the Rabbit

Article Shared from : Chinese Zodiac – 2011, Year of the Rabbit

People born in the Year of the Rabbit have certain characteristics that reflect those of the rabbit. The rabbit symbolizes sensitivity, compassion and creativity. These people are often friendly, outgoing and enjoy the company of other people. They prefer to avoid conflict and tend to shy away from aggressive and competitive situations. In fact, they approach conflicts with consideration for the other party. According to Chinese astrology, people born in the Year of the Rabbit believe strongly in friends and family and a lack of these relationships can lead to emotional problems.

Rabbits tend to have a serene nature and do not get visibly upset. Due to this trait, others sometimes take advantage of these individuals. The Chinese zodiac states that these people are typically conservative and don't like to take risks. As well, rabbits are determined, honorable, sophisticated and well-mannered. They are most comfortable being at home and entertaining at home; their homes are usually neat and organized. One thing people born under the Year of the Rabbit need to work on is building self-worth and self-confidence to feel more secure.

In regard to health, people born in the Year of the Rabbit tend to keep their feelings inside and when they are not expressed and this can lead to illness. They would benefit from more daily activity to reduce stress and thus, improve health. In relationships, rabbits are very sexual creatures that tend to give more than they should and they sometimes have unrealistic expectations. Career-wise, people born in the Year of the Rabbit are good communicators and make excellent diplomats and politicians. Some good career choices include writer, publisher and doctor.

Rabbits and the 5 Elements

People born under the Year of the Rabbit can be further distinguished using the five elements:

Metal (years 1951, 2011)

• these rabbits are more intense in their actions, whether work-related or romantic
• metal strengthens, making these people more resilient and determined

Water (years 1903,1963)

• people born under this element prefer to go with the flow and avoid conflict
• they are very supportive of others, but are easily taken advantage of

Wood (years 1915,1975)

• these rabbits do a lot for others; they always want to make others happy and they are easy to take advantage of

Fire (years 1927,1987)

• fire adds a spark to the rabbit personality
• these people seek new adventure, but are prone to tantrums
• they seek to avoid conflicts

Earth (years 1939,1999)

• these rabbits are grounded in reality
• advice from these people is harsh but honest
• home life is important, as are money and material goods

Rabbits are most compatible with the pig and the dog, but they are incompatible with the rooster and the rat.

Sources:

"Chinese Zodiac - Rabbit", ChineseZodiac.com. Accessed June 10, 2010.

"2011 - The Year of the Rabbit", YearOfTheRabbit.info. Accessed June 10, 2010.

Read more at Suite101: 

Chinese Zodiac – 2011, Year of the Rabbit http://www.suite101.com/content/chinese-zodiac---2011-year-of-the-rabbit-a248098#ixzz1BNyUm0Cu

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Well 11 is my favourite number (November) and the rabbit is my favourite animal so hopefully 2011 will be a good year. :)

Kirky & Roxanne xx

Ghost Marriage : In sickness & in health.. or even after death?

In China, death doesn’t necessarily stop one from getting married. In the Chinese tradition of ghost marriage, one or both of the parties are dead. Chinese ghost marriage was usually set up by the family of the deceased and performed for a number of reasons, including: the marriage of a couple previously engaged before one member’s death, to integrate an unmarried daughter into a patrilineage,  to ensure the family line is continued,  or to maintain that no younger brother is married before an elder brother. 

Article Shared From Neatorama: 

There are many practical reasons to marry a dead spouse. For example, when an unmarried woman has no children to take care of her in old age, she can be "married" into another family. If a son died before he has descendants, his parents can arrange a ghost marriage to provide a "wife" who remains chaste, as a pretext to adopt a grandson to continue the family line. Another reason is to give the deceased a "spouse and companion" in the afterlife.

How is a ghost marriage performed?
Singapore Paranormal Investigators has the story:

Next, the priest empowered the East Gate with a lighted joss paper folded in the shape of a cone, which is also known as the "fire brush". Soon after this, the priest struck the paper gate three times with the sword and declared the gate to be opened at his order. At the same time, the family members were to shout out the name of the deceased. Finally, the priest declared, "From the East Gate, out you come" The whole atmosphere became very tense as the ceremony was going on. After the "destruction" of all the gates, the priest took a paper effigy out from the centre of the squared shape model. This meant that the spirit had been rescued from the gates of hell.

The paper effigy was placed in front of the altar by the priest. Beside the paper effigy, there was another effigy which was much taller and larger in size. Madam Tham continued to explain to SPI, "The paper effigy which was just rescued from hell represents the current state of the spirit, she carries the illness and sufferings she had when she was alive. The much larger paper effigy next to her represents the healthier form. The priest will soon heal her spirit and she will regain her original healthy form again."

The ceremony: Presiding Taoist priest Lu Rong Xin lights up incense straws in front of paper effigies of the bridal couple.
The pair of white-faced lovers are then prayed over and manipulated like large Barbie dolls,  bent over to take their vows in front of temple gods. Photos - Singapore Paranormal Investigators

Requests from the afterworld
Ghost marriages are often set up by request of the spirit of the deceased, who, upon "finding itself without a spouse in the other world," causes misfortune for its natal family, the family of its betrothed,  or for the family of the deceased’s married sisters. "This usually takes the form of sickness by one or more family members. When the sickness is not cured by ordinary means, the family turns to divination and learns of the plight of the ghost through a séance."

More benignly, a spirit may appear to a family member in a dream and request a spouse. Marjorie Topley, in "Ghost Marriages Among the Singapore Chinese: A Further Note," relates the story of one fourteen-year old Cantonese boy who died. A month later he appeared to his mother in a dream saying that he wished to marry a girl who had recently died in Ipoh, Perak. The son did not reveal her name, but his mother used a Cantonese female spirit medium and "through her the boy gave the name of the girl together with her place of birth and age, and details of her horoscope which were subsequently found to be compatible with his.

Other instances of ghost marriage
Because Chinese custom dictates that younger brothers should not marry before their elder brothers, a ghost marriage for an older, deceased brother may be arranged just prior to a younger brother’s wedding to avoid "incurring the disfavour of his brother’s ghost."  Additionally, in the days of immigration, ghost marriages were used as a means to "cement a bond of friendship between two families." However, there have been no recent cases reported.

READ MORE:

More on 'Ghost Marriage' from WIKIPEDIA

SPI: Ghost Marriage