In June of 2008, Bunny World Foundation (BWF) founder, Lejla Hadzimuratovic, volunteered for PETA to investigate the illegal vending of animals in the garment district of Downtown Los Angeles’ Santee Alley. What was discovered there was horrendous; animals including turtles, birds, reptiles, bunnies and even puppies being sold at no more than 2-3 weeks old. These animals were kept in filthy cages while being dehydrated, starved and exposed to extreme weather conditions. Hawked as pets for children, those who bought them typically ended up with a sick or dead animal within a week.  Baby turtles were found to be transmitting salmonella to humans and other animals.

Being the owner of 10 bunnies herself, Lejla was drawn to helping save the baby bunnies.  As a result, she contacted the LA Fashion District authorities and gained their cooperation to rescue confiscated baby bunnies that would otherwise end up euthanized at the North Los Angeles Animal Shelter. She then assembled a talented team of animal lovers to help her create Bunny World Foundation.

For the past TWO YEARS BWF has been helping to put an end to the illegal sales of animals in Downtown Los Angeles’ Santee Alley.  We have taken in almost 1000 un-weaned baby bunnies, provided them with medical care, and found homes. This requires the hand-feeding and medicating of bunnies; spaying and neutering as they mature and housing them in the process. 

BWF is working tirelessly to stop the pain and suffering of under aged animals being sold in Downtown Los Angeles’ Santee Alley. The Los Angeles Police Department recently requested from BWF a guideline that defines “Animal Cruelty”.  These guidelines have helped facilitate the arrest and implementation of existing laws to punish these criminal acts.

Your support at this time is crucial.  Until now, the care of these rescued baby bunnies has been solely financed on our own.  However, we can not afford to do this without help and this is why we are reaching out to you.

Can you help by making a donation today?  Each bunny we rescue costs BWF approximately $400 until it reaches the adoptable stage.  Some that have serious medical conditions run up our vet bills as high as $2,000.

Your gift will help us:

·       Rescue baby bunnies being bred and sold illegally in downtown L.A.

·       House and care for these rescued bunnies while they await adoption.

·       Provide food, medicine and medical treatment. 

·       Cover spaying and neutering costs.

To see a list of items used monthly by BWF please see our “Wish List”.

A gift to BWF makes a real difference in the fight to end animal cruelty and find permanent, loving homes for adoptable pets. 

Thank you for considering making Bunny World Foundation and the animals we serve a part of your life!

For information about adopting, fostering or volunteering please email us at info@bunnyworldfoundation.org or visit www.bunnyworldfoundation.org

Kind regards,


Bunny World Foundation, Inc.
A 501(c)3 Nonprofit
4470 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 482
Los Angeles, CA 90027

FOR MORE NEWS ABOUT OUR CURRENT EFFORTS:

"Rabbits, Turtles, Iguanas Rescued from L.A. Street Corner" KTLA News - 11:50 AM PDT, March 18, 2010 

The complete article can be viewed here:

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-animals seized,0,4271509.story

Is there an end in sight?  Yes, we have been collaborating with LAPD and Los Angeles Animal Control in an effort to shut down Santee Alley’s illegal animal sales.  Also, we have been interviewed by KTLA news and Blog Dowtown News website.

Recently, LAPD requested from Bunny World Foundation guidelines that define “Animal Cruelty”.  These guidelines have helped facilitate the arrest and implementation of existing laws to punish these criminal acts.

Unfortunately, the battle continues...

A recent raid on illegal animal sales in Santee Alley's Fashion District which led to ten felony arrests failed because of overcrowding in Los Angeles' jail system.   


Here are some excerpts from Blog Downtown News:

http://blogdowntown.com/2009/11/4829-overcrowded-jails-lead-to-quick-releases

http://blogdowntown.com/2009/09/4695-animal-sweep-nets-arrests-around-santee-alley

http://blogdowntown.com/2009/08/4626-agencies-look-to-teamwork-in-fight-against

http://blogdowntown.com/2009/08/4618-fashion-districts-other-illegal-inventory

VARIOUS NEWS ARTICLES:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/04/officers-on-alert-for-animals-being-sold-illegally-in-las-fashion-district.html

http://network.bestfriends.org/14758/news.aspx

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/04/illegal-animal-sales-continue-in-las-fashion-district.html

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-animals-seized,0,4271509.story

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/28/local/la-me-santee-animals28-2010mar28

We were interviewed by Carolyn Costello on KTLA 10 O’clock news 8/22/09: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mTM2WOjB30

The Mission of Bunny World Foundation (BWF) is to rescue neglected, abandoned domestic baby bunnies, to provide them with medical care, and to find permanent, loving homes for them. We also wish to educate the public about the proper care of these intelligent, social, complex, loving and magical animals, to help reduce rabbit overpopulation and abandonment, and to eradicate the illegal sales of underaged baby bunnies, puppies, kittens, birds and turtles in Downtown Los Angeles' Santee Alley and other parts of Los Angeles before expanding our mission globally.

Since its inception from August, 2008, BWF has rescued over 800 baby bunnies from Santee Alley Los Angeles Fashion District. Bunny World Foundation is a NON-PROFIT 501 (c) 3, NO-KILL animal welfare organization based in Los Angeles, California.

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4470 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 482, Los Angeles, California 90027
Tel 310.498.8600            Fax 310.822.1761
www.bunnyworldfoundation.org