Oxbow Animal Health Announces 2014 Rescue Grant Winners

Murdock, NE, January 12, 2015 — Oxbow Animal Health, a leader in the innovative care and nutrition of small and exotic animals worldwide, has announced the recipients of its 2014 Oxbow Animal Health Rescue Grants.  The eleven winning organizations will receive funding totaling over $20,000 for a variety of projects and programs that benefit the welfare of small animals throughout North America.  Grant winners are chosen for excellence in the areas of educational outreach, public awareness, and project impact.

“On behalf of the entire Oxbow family, I would like to congratulate the 2014 Oxbow Rescue Grant recipients,” said John Miller, President and CEO of Oxbow Animal Health.  “The ongoing work of small animal rescue organizations and wildlife rehabilitators is truly inspiring.  We are proud and humbled to support these organizations annually and we so impressed by the work of this year’s recipients.”

“We are beyond thrilled to have been chosen as one of the 2014 Oxbow Rescue Grant winners,” said Erin Ramsey, President of the Bunny Burrow Rabbit Rescue in Watauga, Texas.  “The grant will be used to build a climate controlled bunny house, enabling us to take in more unwanted rabbits.  The need in our area is great, so we are excited about the opportunity to ‘grow.’  We cannot thank Oxbow enough and look forward to rescuing and rehoming even more rabbits in 2015!”

Cindy Conrad, Treasurer for Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue in Silver Spring, Maryland, expressed similar sentiments for the grant awarded to her organization.  “Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue is honored to be awarded the 2014 Oxbow Rescue grant.  The merchandise and monetary award will help us place more rescued guinea pigs in their new ‘forever’ homes.  Education of proper guinea pig care and feeding is also included in our mission.  We are proud to have Oxbow’s partnership.”

Applications for the 2015 Oxbow Rescue Grants will be accepted from June 1, 2015, through August 31, 2015, for small animal rescue and rehabilitation projects throughout the United States and Canada.  For more information about the program and Oxbow Animal Health, visit www.www.oxbowanimalhealth.com.

2014 Oxbow Animal Health Rescue Grant Winners

• Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society – Edina, MN
  • The primary goals of the MCRS are education and adoption.  By educating the public and assisting humane organizations, MCRS works to reduce the number of unwanted rabbits and improve their lives.  Through adoption, MCRS helps rabbits find permanent homes.
• STAR (Save the Animals Rescue) Foundation – Middle Island, NY
  • STAR Foundation is a volunteer organization, dedicated to the welfare of domestic and wild animals.  The foundation’s goal is to provide a safe haven for every injured or orphaned Long Island animal in need of medical care, rehabilitation, or humane euthanasia, and to return as many healthy animals as possible to their natural habitat.
• Georgia House Rabbit Society – Marietta, GA
  • The mission of the Georgia House Rabbit Society is to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home abused, abandoned and neglected domestic rabbits; to spay and neuter, foster, and find them great homes; and to educate the public on the proper care of domestic house rabbits.
• Gold Country Wildlife Rescue – Auburn, CA
  • Gold Country Wildlife Rescue is a non-profit, volunteer organization, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned wildlife.  GCWR is permitted through the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service.  The organization has been serving the local community for over 20 years, and do so at no charge.  Gold Country Wildlife Rescue is a non-profit, volunteer organization, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned wildlife.
• Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue – Silver Spring, MD
  • The purpose of the Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue is to rescue, rehabilitate, and find new homes for guinea pigs in their area.  MGPR also works to educate the public on the proper care of guinea pigs.  MGPR works with animal shelters in our metropolitan area, and at times, also does special rescues.
• Bunny Burrow Rabbit Rescue – Watauga, TX
  • The Bunny Burrow Rabbit Rescue is a no kill organization dedicated to saving unwanted domestic house rabbits and educating the public on proper house rabbit care.  BBRR’s goal is to rescue/spay/neuter domestic rabbits and provide them a safe haven until their forever homes are found.  BBRR also provides medical care for sick and/or injured rabbits.
• Animal Welfare League of Arlington – Arlington, VA
  • The Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s mission is to improve the lives of animals.  The League provides care and refuge for homeless and suffering animals, places animals in loving homes, prevents cruelty to animals, provides animal control services, educates the public, and provides community services.
• Center for Wildlife – Cape Neddick, ME
  • The Center for Wildlife is a private organization with a mission to build a sustainable future for wildlife in its community through medical treatment, rehabilitation, educational outreach, research, and conservation activities.  The Center’s clinic treats an average of 1,600 injured and orphaned wild animals annually, and its education team presents programming to 7,500 participants annually.
• Luna’s House – Abingdon, MD
  • The mission of Luna’s House, Inc. is to instill in members of its community (and beyond) compassion and respect for animals through humane education; to provide resources for animal guardians and other citizens interested in animal welfare issues; to foster the innate connection between humans and animals by recognizing, acknowledging, and valuing every animal as a distinct individual; to provide compassionate and appropriate treatment to companion animals in need; to determine the best course of care for each animal and accordingly place each into the situation most conducive to his/her ongoing comfort and wellbeing.
• The Rabbit Haven – Scotts Valley, CA
  • The Rabbit Haven rescues injured and abandoned rabbits and accepts surrendered rabbits from the general public or the SPCA in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey Counties.  They then work to place these rescued rabbits into loving permanent or foster homes.  The Rabbit Haven also works in the community, at schools, and with the local SPCA shelter and other education groups to educate the public on rabbit care, feeding, grooming, medical needs, social requirements, and behaviors.
• Virginia Beach SPCA – Virginia Beach, VA
  • It is the mission of the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (VBSPCA) to create a more humane and responsible community by decreasing tolerance for cruelty while increasing the capacity for compassion.