Everything You Wanted to Know About Rabbit Health & Well-Being

To understand a rabbit's mind, ask us and we'll tell you it goes like this: "Lettuce...Hay... Run as fast as you can around the room...Flop on your side....Hay...."

To understand your rabbit's medical needs, we always suggest you turn to Chicago Exotics.

For the second year in a row, Red Door is pleased to announce The Rabbit Seminars, a two-part series of talks and discussion about rabbits, presented by the exotic medicine veterinarians of Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital.

Because rabbit medicine differs so completely from that for cats and dogs, these seminars offer the public vital information concerning the care and health maintenance for pet rabbits, the third most popular pet in the U.S.

Chicago Exotics is Chicago's most experienced team of rabbit-savvy veterinarians, seeing hundreds of rabbit patients a month. They are the official veterinarian for all of Red Door's rabbits.

The first seminar--dealing with cardiac, respiratory and dental disease-- is March 16, at 1 p.m. Drs. Susan Horton & Stephanie Moy will be speaking. There will also be a Q & A period.

Admission is free. NOTE: This is a new location from last year. This year the seminars will be held at Devonshire Cultural Center, 4422 Greenwood St, Skokie, IL. Admission is free and there is a large free parking lot. Light snacks will be provided.

If you attended last year's Rabbit Seminars, we want to let you know that the first lecture covers all new material.

Please just send an email to info@reddoorshelter.org saying you are attending.

The second seminar will be May 18, also at Devonshire Cultural Center.

Dr. Susan Horton is a well-known leader in exotic medicine and a member of the AEMV. She graduated from the University of Illinois and has been an associate editor for the Exotic DVM magazine. She opened Chicago Exotics--a full service avian and exotic hospital--in 2000.

Dr. Stephanie Moy graduated from the University of Illinois, where she volunteered in the wildlife clinic. She has completed externships at John G. Shedd Aquarium and at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Sanibel Island, Florida.

Dr. Katy Parr graduated from Louisiana State University of Veterinary Medicine. She completed externships with Lincoln Park Zoo and the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

Here Is What NOT To Do...

For the second time this week, a box has been left at the front door with an animal inside. It's not the first time, and it won't be the last time unfortunately. However, both times, the animal that was inside escaped and the box was empty by the time the staff came in the morning. One of the animals was recovered by someone, the other unfortunately has not been found. If you find an animal, or know someone who has, please do NOT leave it at an animal shelter after hours. Aside from the animal possibly escaping and running into traffic (Red Door is located near a very busy intersection & alleyway), many times left without food or water, the animal is also exposed to the elements outside including rain, heat, snow, predators, insects, and even people who may want to do the animal harm. Also, leaving an animal at any shelter in the city other than Chicago Animal Care and Control is considered animal abandonment and is punishable by law. Understandably, people think they're doing the right thing, or may not know where else to turn.
So what should I do with an animal I find outside after hours? If you can house the animal overnight (spare bedroom, bathroom, etc) you can contact area animal shelters in the morning to check on availability. If you absolutely cannot keep the animal overnight and it's after hours, you can contact Chicago Animal Care and Control, who by law must take any stray animals for a holding period.