Hurricane Helps Save the Easter Bunny

Using a marketing technique that's all warm and fuzzy, Hurricaine Electric will work with The House Rabbit Society to rescue rabbits purchased as Easter gifts and then abandoned.

by Michael Singer of siliconvalley.internet.com [April 1, 2002]

You hear about it every year about this time, thousands of rabbits being abandoned after Easter morning celebrations.

Now, technical services provider Hurricane Electric says it wants to help.

The Fremont, Calif.-based firm announced Wednesday that it would again donate space to host The House Rabbit Society. The all-volunteer, non-profit organization is dedicated to rescuing abandoned rabbits and has launched this year's campaign, "Rabbits and Easter Don't Mix." The site is designed to educate consumers on the impact of purchasing a bunny as an Easter present.

The website sees a traffic spike every year in the weeks prior to and after Easter, generating an average of 4.5 million hits a month.

Contributions from Hurricane, volunteers, and others from 23 different states, allowed the Society to open a new Rabbit Center last year in Richmond, Calif. and increase their membership to 7,000.

Since the inauguration of the Rabbit Center, the "Adopt a Rabbit" campaign has placed over 40 abandoned rabbits in foster homes with the means to spend the $3000 a year it takes to properly care for a rabbit.

This year, Hurricane Electric donated yet another site to the House Rabbit Society for technical development, online registration, a donation center, a chat room, and a bunny photo randomizer.

The website, which is the core of the national organization, educates parents on the responsibilities of raising rabbits and provides a sign up for a monthly newsletter as well as access to newsletter archives.

"Hopefully this Easter, less rabbits will be bought and abandoned due to our website," said Society spokesperson Paige Parsons.

The House Rabbit Society also educates the public on proper rabbit care and assists the local humane societies with teaching courses.

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