"I am an advocate for a variety of organizations that are committed to animal welfare, rights and a better future. The Ladies Blend website and Ladies Blend Thymes blog are responsibly used as a means to portray, relay, support and assist." Pennie Mills
Amongst daily business, company changes and challenges, new product labels, new product pictures, getting the paper work together for Co-op America's Green Pages Directory and CCIC (Coalition for Consumers Information on Cosmetics), a lovely invitation was received to partner with Make Mine Chocolate!, a group of dedicated and caring people committed to educating the public about the responsibilities involved in keeping a companion rabbit before a rabbit is brought home.
What turns out to be the demise of too many fragile rabbits, (not limited too, but especially this time of the year) is truly heart wrenching and terribly sad. I'll be writing more about this wonderful organization, in the meantime, please take a moment to read about their mission and visit their website where you will find all kinds of information, materials and a raffle for a beautiful piece of art work painted and provided by Joseph Larkin.
From their website:
Each year, unwanted, former Easter rabbits fill local rabbit rescues and humane societies. The goal of the "Make Mine Chocolate!" campaign is to break the cycle of acquisition and relinquishment by educating the public about the responsibilities involved in keeping a companion rabbit before a rabbit is brought home.
Rabbits are a familiar symbol of the Easter holiday. In the days leading up to it, they appear on television commercials and packages of candy, and stores are filled with stuffed rabbits. It is no surprise that children beg their parents for a bunny of their own. Ill-prepared to care for these unique creatures, their "owners" often quickly tire of them. In the months following Easter, local humane societies and rabbit rescues are flooded with rabbits, former Easter gifts whose "owners" no longer want them. The unlucky ones are dumped outside where predators, cars, illness, and injury virtually guarantee an early death.
In 2002, in an attempt to address the problem, the Columbus House Rabbit Society began a campaign to educate the public on the realities of living with a rabbit, and to discourage giving live rabbits as Easter gifts. Using ceramic pins in the form of chocolate bunnies as the symbol, the campaign's goal is to spread the message that rabbits should not be casually acquired and to educate the public about the special needs of these often-fragile creatures. The pins serve as conversation starters. Comments about the pin provide the wearer the opportunity to share our message with the general public. These informal conversations are supported by a card that is distributed with each pin, and by business cards that can be handed out to interested parties. Both the pin card and the business card list important facts that should be considered before bringing a rabbit into the home. Our goal is to educate the public of the challenges of properly caring for rabbits and to encourage them to purchase chocolate Easter bunnies (or stuffed toy animals) rather than live rabbits.
Website: "Make Mine Chocolate!"







