By LORETTA WINDAS
Contributing Writer
It was all about the bunnies at the New Jersey House Rabbit Society’s fourth annual
BunnyFest 2005, held on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Matawan United Methodist Church.
The seventy-plus attendees came from all over New Jersey and beyond to spend a few
hours soaking up all things bunny.
Guest speakers included animal communicator Karen B. Peters and Mary Cotter,
Chapter Manager of NYC Rabbit Rescue and Rehab.
Rabbit “parents” and plain old rabbit lovers had ample opportunity to gain insight into
bunny behavior. Free educational materials could be found at several tables, and loads
of lagomorph paraphernalia was available for purchase.
Peters, the first speaker, held attendees’ attention with her description of her arrival at
“animal communicator” as a vocation. For someone with a scientific background (she
holds a degree in environmental science), she did not expect to be calling it a career.
She remembers communicating with animals at a young age, but veered away from it as
she got older. “We are socialized by society to think this can not happen,” she said. It is
not commonplace because it “isn’t socially accepted; our minds are too busy; and our
personal doubts [about having this ability] get in the way.”
According to Peters, all people have the ability to communicate with animals on some
level.
“The way to do it,” she says, “is to believe animals are cognizant beings; believe it can be
done; clear your mind of mental clutter; be willing to accept the message in whatever
form it comes (such as a thought, image, sound, color), and picture what you’re
communicating.”
BunnyFest attendee and NJHRS member Donna Ryder of Howell, New Jersey, would
seem to be in agreement. “I talk to my bunnies all the time,” she told this reporter.
Attendees also had the chance to have a private session with Peters later in the
afternoon. Several people eager to know what their animal companions had to say lined
up for the sessions.
Ryder, who was attending her fourth BunnyFest, brought along “Kramer,” one of two
companion rabbits, to take advantage of the nail trims session. Kramer is a two-and-a-
half-year-old white male New Zealand rabbit who is blind in both eyes. In spite of that
handicap, he “gets around the house well,” and is “a very happy bunny.”
When asked why she comes to BunnyFest, Ryder responded, “I always learn something!”
This sentiment was echoed by others in attendance. Kathy, Andy and Claire Joyce of
Tinton Falls say they’ve returned to BunnyFest twice because of the wealth of knowledge
they’ve gained at each event. Claire, the proud “parent” of two rabbits, loves the fact that
after learning to do bunny nail trims at last year’s BunnyFest, she is now able to
confidently perform this necessary service on her own animals.
“Plus, we love being here to see the other
bunnies,” she said.
Back for her second year as a guest
speaker, Mary Cotter once again wowed
the crowd with her “rabbit whisperer” ways
during her presentation of “How To Work With A Difficult Rabbit.”
She took questions from the curious, and demonstrated the answers with her “demo
rabbit” borrowed from the audience. Her vast knowledge of rabbit behavior stems from
years of experience fostering rabbits.
Cotter started Rabbit Rescue and Rehab in 1994, and is chapter manager of that
organization. She is also the marketing director of the national House Rabbit Society.
Thanks to House Rabbit Society chapters, “the euthanasia rate of rabbits at shelters is
down,” she says.
In addition, she stated, “I hope rabbits are growing in popularity as pets, although I don’t
know if the rate at which they are dumped at shelters is up or down.”
Two foster rabbits found permanent homes as a result of BunnyFest; Charlene now has
a forever home thanks to a foster alumni in attendance, while Annie, another foster
rabbit, will be going home with one of the event’s volunteers...after she recovers from
spay surgery.
Other fun diversions at BunnyFest included a bunny photo contest, door prizes, “nearly
new and really great old stuff” for sale, and both vegan and non-vegan refreshments.
Shelley Stack, NJHRS chapter manager, feels BunnyFest is growing in popularity. This
year’s event was held in a larger space to accommodate all who pre-registered, as last
year’s venue was, she said, “too small for everything going on and for all the people who
came.”
Here’s “hopping” next year’s BunnyFest will be as big a success as 2005’s.
About The Organization
The New Jersey Chapter of the House Rabbit Society is one of 30 local
chapters of the House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org.)
The chapter’s mission is to rescue abandoned rabbits from shelters and find permanent
homes for them and educate the public and assist animal shelters through publications
on rabbit care, phone consultation and workshops including “Living with Rabbits” which
present facts about rabbits and proper rabbit care.
For information about BunnyFest or the New Jersey Chapter of the House Rabbit Society,
call them at (732) 583-0278, or contact them at njrabbits@hotmail.com.
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