Many thanks to all of you who attended our very successful Luv Some Bunnies Fundraiser on March 4, 2010.   A good time was had by all with wonderful food and drink, a silent auction, a raffle, and the wine bottle ring toss.  Thanks also to those who helped plan the event and provided the silent auction items.  Special thanks to rabbits Mufasa and Charlie who reminded all of us why this event was very important.
The cost to attend this event is $25. Pay online here:


Ohio House Rabbit Rescue

The central Ohio organization, Ohio House Rabbit Rescue (OHRR), would like to open and run a house rabbit rescue and adoption facility.

Our Mission

The Ohio House Rabbit Rescue was formed to achieve the following goals:
  1. To build and operate a facility in Central Ohio that will provide a quality environment for rescued house rabbits and offer a robust adoption program.
  2. To provide educational resources and programming about house rabbits and their care.


Our Organization

Each year hundreds of pet rabbits around Ohio are surrendered to animal shelters, which have no space for them - or they are just released into the wild. OHRR seeks a better alternative.

Ohio House Rabbit Rescue (OHRR) is an organization dedicated to the rescue and adoption of house rabbits and to the education of current and potential pet parents and the general public. OHRR is incorporated in Ohio and is awaiting approval as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

OHRR supports and works together with Central Ohio groups who rescue and seek adoptions for rabbits. The Columbus House Rabbit Society has a fostering and adoption program and the Capital Area Humane Society accepts surrendered rabbits up to the space available. OHRR will work with both groups to increase the number of rabbit adoptions and/or seek quality foster homes for rescued rabbits.

In addition to assisting individual rabbits, we hope to form a network of all rabbit rescue organizations in Ohio so we can build on each organization's best practices and successes.

Our ultimate goal is to build and maintain a facility to house and serve as an adoption center for rescued rabbits. The education of current and potential rabbit owners/parents and the public will also be an important part of the organization's work.

OHRR will be funded through donations, memberships, grants, and partnerships with businesses and organizations. OHRR does not receive government funds.



Our Timeline

The organization was initiated by Beverly May in late summer 2009. A Planning Team was recruited and the filing for incorporation and to quality as a 501(c)(3) was completed. As of December 2009, the group has accomplished the following:
  1. Incorporated in the State of Ohio
  2. Filed for 501(c)(3)
  3. Developed mission, purpose statements, and appropriate marketing materials
  4. Created an organization website
  5. Planned two fundraisers for March and April 2010


The following is the timeline for the organization:

  December 2009 - July 2010
      a. Hold several fundraisers to generate initial funding for OHRR
      b. Continue to document the great need for a rabbit rescue facility in Central Ohio and statewide
      c. Research foundations with similar interests

  July 2010 - December 2010
      a. Engage an architect and develop a conceptual design for the OHRR Center
      b. Explore and acquire a site for the Center
      c. Begin limited education and outreach programs
      d. Initiate a capital campaign to support the building of the Center
      e. Design a plan for ongoing support for the Center
      f. Form a network of rabbit rescue groups in Ohio

  January 2011 - June 2011
      a. Conclude Capital Campaign
      b. Begin initial stages of construction
      c. Implement the plan to acquire yearly, ongoing support for the Center
      d. Continue awareness and education program

  June 2011 - June 2012
      a. Construction of Ohio House Rabbit Rescue Center

  June 2012
      a. Begin comprehensive adoption and education programs in Central Ohio

  June 2012 - June 2013
      a. Explore potential for expanding OHRR into other parts of Ohio for rescue, adoption, and education


The Planning Team

The OHRR Planning Team is a dedicated group of volunteers with diverse talents that will provide the organization with a leadership and logistical infrastructure that will position OHRR to successfully complete its mission. The Planning Team members and brief introductions to their backgrounds follow.

Beverly May, Planning Team Chair, is the treasurer and CFO of a successful nonprofit educational organization, The Teaching & Learning Collaborative, a position she has held for 6 years. She had the initial vision for our rabbit rescue group because she has parented rabbits for 20 years and has seen the need for a focus on rabbits in addition to cats and dogs.

Pat Barron, Co-Chair of the Development Committee, has served 18 years as a Director of a nonprofit organization, The Teaching & Learning Collaborative and its predecessor organization, The Science & Mathematics Network. Both organizations focused on science and mathematics professional development. She has overseen statewide projects and multifaceted development efforts including K-3 IMPACT, a statewide professional development project in mathematics for K-3 teachers.

Kim Banks, Co-Chair of the Rabbit Care Team, is a naturalist at Preservation Parks in Delaware, Ohio. She has parented and fostered rabbits for over seven years. She is also a volunteer for the Columbus House Rabbit Society serving as the "rabbit presenter" at club meetings and adoption events.

Wendy Weagle, Co-Chair of he Rabbit Care Team, is a senior in zoology and pre-veterinary medicine at the Ohio State University. She is employed as a veterinary assistant by a local rabbit-friendly veterinarian and is a long time rabbit parent. Wendy also volunteers for the Columbus House Rabbit Society and the Capital Area Humane Society.

Heather Dean, Co-Chair of the Communications Team, has extensive experience in media relations and development with a degree in Communications. She worked in radio for eight years and is currently the Development Coordinator for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Ohio. Heather is a long time rabbit parent and has fostered special-needs bunnies. As head of Community Outreach, she has also managed the "Make Mine Chocolate" promotional campaign as a volunteer for the Columbus House Rabbit Society. Heather will soon be overseeing adoptions and bondings for the Columbus House Rabbit Society. She also volunteers at the Capital Area Humane Society.

Barb Armitage, Co-Chair of the Communications Team, is a retired educator with a master's degree in human resource management. She has a strong commitment to animal rights and welfare issues and has been the parent of several rescued animals.

Robert Shapter, Co-Chair of the Development Team, served for 19 years as a copy editor for the Columbus Dispatch. He has volunteered with educational literacy groups and has a long-term commitment to animal rescue and adoption.

Mary Rose Molinaro has 8 years of experience as the bunny mom of Mufasa, Bunya and Cleo (whom she rescued from the "food bin" of a reptile store!). "M.R." is a member of the Columbus House Rabbit Society, for whom she has also served as a foster parent. By day she recruits undergraduates for the OSU Crop Science, Landscape Horticulture, Turfgrass Science and Professional Golf Management programs. In addition to her experience as a PR & Marketing executive, she is a professional voice-over talent, a writer, calligrapher and the lead singer in a 17-piece Big Band.