We got this unusual donation today, March 11, 2007,
and this letter speaks for itself, so, without further ado...
To Whom It May Concern
I would like to take this opportunity to share a story of
hope
with everyone. I have grown to become great friends with an avid
member of
the 3 bunnies' organization, David L. Fisher (your
webmaster) (and you can read his side of the story
here),
which stems from a
mutual working environment several years past. Over the course of
years, I
have come to realize that Dave holds an immeasurable passion for the
rescuing and rehabilitation of rabbits.
I must first explain my past so that you will understand why this
story is
important, and how I hope will inspire many more to follow. I have
grown up
in a family where hunting of animals was an accepted practice on all
accounts and a very common family outing. We had owned a cabin in New
Hampshire and had access to some of the best game in the area. When I
was
young, and up until recent times, I had looked at all animals solely as a
recreational target, and also as a meal for the coming week. My
family and
I were especially fond of hunting and consuming rabbits.
During past years, I have seen the frustration and disappointment that
Dave
endures on a daily basis carrying the knowledge of what rabbits are
forced
to deal with, whether they are domesticated or commercialized.
Normally, I
would have disregarded any notion that an animal is suffering or that its
quality of life is severely lacking due to the fact that for my entire
life,
I was brought up to be ignorant on this matter; ignorant to the fact that
rabbits are intelligent; ignorant to the fact that they can
communicate; and
most of all, ignorant to the fact that they have a soul and can
acknowledge
pain and happiness and many other emotions I thought were restricted to
humans. After spending a significant amount of time at his residence
socializing, and watching how he interacts with his rabbits, it had
dawned
on me one day that maybe, just maybe, there was more to these furry
animals
than what I had assumed.
The first time I had realized that rabbits were intelligent was when Dave
would offer the rabbits several varieties of foods and based on their
bodily
reaction, they would communicate exactly which food they were in the mood
for. Now, having any amount of common sense, I had realized that
rabbits do
have the ability to communicate just as we do. His rabbits also love to
create hiding areas in or under specific pieces of furniture in his
house. I
had then noticed that if the rabbits didn't have more than one means of
escape from any particular area, then that would not suit them and they
would find one that did. Having had military experience and knowing that
any area that you purposely set yourself in, with only one exit, means
that
in the event that something happens and that exit is compromised, then
you
are compromised. If you don't call that intelligent, then I'm not
sure what
qualifies.
Dave had pointed me in the direction of the 3 bunnies website so that
I may
further my education on these animals. I was surprised to have found so
much interesting information on rabbits and more so, a lot of appalling,
disgraceful, and dreadful articles and media on the treatment of our
little
friends. It had disgusted me to the point that I had given up hunting
as a
whole, consuming rabbits and other various game meats, and had really
begun
to realize the shame that had set in from years past. I cannot
change the
things that I have done in the past, but I am a firm believer that we can
change the person we are now. In turn, I had reminded Dave on several
occasions that through education and interaction with rabbits that he had
made such an impact on me, and that if you can just educate one person
and
change one person at a time, that you are that much closer to
succeeding in
the cause that all of you pursue. I feel the need to recognize and
commend
the work of the 3 Bunnies organization, and so many others like you.
With
this being said, I have decided to make a $100.00 donation to 3
Bunnies, for
the enlightenment that I have received. Knowing that it is a small
monetary
amount, I want everyone involved in fighting for this cause to know that
your efforts are working, and to not give up hope that ignorance can be
abolished and that people can change.
Every soul deserves the right to live in happiness, and as humans we
have no
right to determine what happiness is or, for that matter, what life any
animal deserves to live.
Kind regards,
David D.
Read our
webmaster's story of this unusual
turnaround.
