The pairing is natural: the House Rabbit Network is teaming up with the Blue Bunny bookstore.
"They're basically an animal rescue league specifically for rabbits, so we thought that would be kind of cute for the Blue Bunny, to bring in the rabbits," general manager Janet Reynolds says of the visit to her bookstore by two friendly bunnies this Thursday.
The bunnies will be accompanied by Liz Orenstein, a House Rabbit Network volunteer and a bookstore customer. Several months ago, Orenstein asked if the store would consider associating with the network. Reynolds said sure, asking if she could come by with a bunny.
At 11 Thursday morning, Orenstein is dropping by with two furry animals that she is caring for at home.
"She's going to bring a couple of rabbits and explain their care and their habits, and what they need," says Reynolds of the "animal education for kids" event.
The House Rabbit Network, which operates in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, works to rescue homeless rabbits and find "good indoor homes" for them, and also educate the public about rabbits and their care. The network's activities include providing foster care, arranging adoptions, and rehabilitating mistreated or abandoned animals.
"They're really excited about having a new place to reach out and meet children and talk about the rabbits," Reynolds says.
In conjunction with the visit, the Blue Bunny will launch a small fundraising project to sponsor one rabbit and pay for its medical bills, extra expenses, and the like. The store will raise money for that rabbit for the rest of the summer, according to Reynolds.
The Blue Bunny is also hosting a second animal-themed event next Tuesday, Aug. 18, when Lucy the R.E.A.D. dog will visit with her owner, Pat Howes of Walpole, at 11 a.m. R.E.A.D. stands for Reading Education Assistance Dogs, a program which improves children's reading by having them read to a dog.
"The idea is to give kids confidence in their reading, when they feel like they're reading to an animal and not necessarily to a parent or a teacher who's going to be judging how they're reading," Reynolds says.
For years Lucy has been a presence in Howes' classroom at the Newman Elementary School in Needham, but the teacher also takes the black lab mix to visit other schools and libraries.
