(PRESS RELEASE) OMAHA, NE — Oxbow Animal Health has announced the recipients of its 2020 Oxbow Animal Health Rescue Grants. The 11 recipient organizations will receive funding and donations totaling more than $33,000 for a variety of projects and programs that benefit the welfare of small animals throughout the U.S. Grant winners are chosen for excellence in the areas of educational outreach, public awareness and project impact.
The 2020 Oxbow Rescue Grant Recipients are:
- Florida Wildlife Hospital – Melbourne, FL
- Binky On! Rabbit Rescue – Hahira, GA
- Hunter Hollow Bunny Bed and Breakfast – Syracuse, NY
- Animal Assisted Happiness – Sunnyvale, CA
- Bunny Lu Adoptions – Waynesboro, VA
- The Fluffle House – Traverse City, MI
- Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) of Waukesha County – Waukesha, WI
- Fort Wayne Wildlife Center – Fort Wayne, IN
- Kaitlyn’s Critter Castle – Bluffton, IN
- Wheek Care Guinea Pig Rescue – New Kensinton, PA
- Twin Harbors Wildlife Center – Montesano, WA
“Oxbow is honored to support the small animal rescue and wildlife rehabilitation communities through our 2020 Oxbow Rescue Grant Program,” said John Miller, president and founder of Oxbow Animal Health. “The groups work tirelessly each day on behalf of animals in need and Oxbow is humbled to support their passionate work.”
Binky On! Rabbit Rescue – Hahira, GA
“Binky On! Rabbit Rescue, Inc. is incredibly honored to be chosen as one of the 2020 Oxbow Rescue Grant recipients,” said Jennifer Barfield, director. “With over 20 new rabbits in from the Savannah Hoarding case, this grant will help cover the immense food costs as well as help with spay and neuter. We humbly accept this award and appreciate Oxbow Animal Health for giving us the opportunity to help save bunnies one binky at a time!”
Fort Wayne Wildlife Center – Fort Wayne, IN
“We’re so thankful for this awesome gift from the Oxbow Rescue Grant,” said Holly Eggelston, fundraising, social media and marketing manager at the Fort Wayne Wildlife Center in Fort Wayne, IN. “ We’re so thankful to be able to upgrade our small animals to offer them the 5 star care they deserve! Having larger cages will help us serve as an example of exemplary care these little ones so deserve and having extra money for spays and neuters will help prevent accidental litters!”
Hunter Hollow Bunny Bed and Breakfast – Syracuse, NY
“Hunter Hollow Bunny Bed and Breakfast is thrilled to receive a 2020 Oxbow Rescue Grant,” said Annie-Laurie Hunter, executive director at Hunter Hollow. “The bunnies often arrive here from difficult situations and providing quality nutrition is a large part of getting bunnies healthy and ready to find a new home. This grant will help make that possible.”
Twin Harbors Wildlife Center – Montesano, WA
“Twin Harbors Wildlife Center’s team includes 2 wildlife veterinarians that are licensed wildlife rehabilitators, volunteers, partners, Grays Harbor Veterinary Services staff, and the communities we serve, “ said Sonnya Wilkins, director. “We opened our doors in early 2019 in order to meet the needs of more than 150 species that inhabit the Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. This grant has created widespread excitement throughout our volunteers. In a year of so much uncertainty and anxiety, this grant has infused us with a renewed sense of purpose and hope that will motivate us to continue with our work. Thank you so much Oxbow!”
Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County (HAWS) – Waukesha, WI
“We are thrilled to be supported by an Oxbow Rescue Grant,” said Lynn Olenik, executive director of the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County. “We are expanding, adding a 77 acre farm for the purpose of Humane Education. This grant from Oxbow will allow us to build an area specific to rabbits and guinea pigs, allowing children to enter and learn how to care, interact and to provide love and attention to our resident rabbits and guinea pigs. After learning the ins and outs of appropriate care, these youngsters, with staff oversight of course, will care for these little critters. They will be coached on nutrition, housing requirements, enrichment activities and they will add the final ingredients: LOVE.”
Wheek Care Guinea Pig Rescue – New Kensington, PA
“We work so hard to give the guinea pigs in the rescue a better life than they may have had previously, but there are some basic improvements we would like to do to the rescue to make our job easier or more effective,” said Julene Robinson, executive director at Wheek Care Guinea Pig Rescue in New Kensington, PA. “This grant will enable us to achieve most of our goals and we are so excited to get started. Thank you, Oxbow, for giving us that chance.”
Florida Wildlife Hospital – Melbourne, FL
“We are honored and excited to be a 2020 Oxbow grant winner,” said Tracy Frampton, executive director of the Florida Wildlife Hospital. “We see about 5,000 wildlife patients per year and Oxbow products help us in many ways. Specifically, we have been using Critical Care Herbivore and Critical Care Carnivore and will continue to do so. We will also use the grant to purchase some enrichment and chew toys for our fast growing patients such as baby squirrels and rabbits and well as many songbirds.”
Kaitlyn’s Critter Castle – Bluffton, IN
“We are so excited to receive a rescue grant from Oxbow,” said Renee Vitatoe of Kaitlyn’s Critter Castle. “We have rescued over 200 animals in the last year and currently have almost 65. We took a loan to have a building put on our property but due to needing to have it finished we have not been able to use it. This grant will help us get the building finished allowing us more room and to help more animals. This will also help us afford more vet bills.”
2021 Oxbow Rescue Grant Applications
Applications for the 2021 Oxbow Rescue Grants will be accepted from June 1, 2021, through August 31, 2021 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.oxbowanimalhealth.com.