Haviva Porter – Executive Director
Haviva has always had a passion for animals; she became a vegetarian at age 3 years and went vegan as an adult. Growing up, she was constantly involved in both animal rights and environmental issues; attending and organizing protests, raising awareness, rescuing animals and spending her time volunteering with a variety of animal charities. She has a specialized honors degree in Environmental Science. Some of the charities she has worked for in the past include, WSPA, Animal Alliance, Earth Day Canada, Toronto Wildlife Centre and Earth Rangers to develop their education programs.
Haviva founded Rabbit Rescue after falling in love with Marbles (the bunny that started it all and the reason that RR exists today!). She realized the huge lack of resources available for domestic rabbits and wanted to change that. While many rabbit rescues could be found in other parts of the world, there were none in Canada! So, with extreme determination and hard work, she would not let anything stand in her way of establishing Rabbit Rescue Inc!
In 2001, she quit her job (environmental education/wildlife rehabilitation) to run the Rescue full time. Starting small, she incorporated the organization and obtained charitable status on her own. Haviva has a knack for bringing good people together, and volunteers quickly followed suit to make Rabbit Rescue what it is today. Rabbit Rescue was the first registered rabbit charity in Canada and has been operating for well over two decades now.
Haviva spends her days (and nights) coordinating with shelters, answering inquiries, running the social media pages, fundraising, arranging medical care for the rabbits, and over seeing the running of the rescue. If she has a rare spare moment, she can be found making tea, hiking, cooking, reading a book while snuggling a bunny, or dreaming of Disney.
Haviva lives with her 2 daughters, partner and an assortment of loved furry friends.
Haviva can be reached at: haviva@rabbitrescue.ca
Brittany Hamilton – Adoptions and Foster Manager
Brittany became actively involved in rabbits and animal welfare in 2007, when Trixie (pictured below) came into her life sick and needing veterinary care. She quickly realized the lack of information and protections surrounding rabbits as pets. From that point forward, she began to take in injured and chronically ill rabbits, nursing them back to health with the help of an amazing vet, and offering them a place to stay with her. Throughout the years, she has shared her home with many animals in need, including rabbits (of course!), cats, dogs, chinchillas, hamsters, mice… the list goes on!
In October 2018, after volunteering with Rabbit Rescue for a few years, she was offered the position of Adoptions and Foster Manager. She gladly accepted, thrilled to be able to assist more rabbits in need.
Brittany currently lives with her bunnies Peach, Jeff, & TicTac who have taken over her home and her Instagram account! Peach was adopted from Rabbit Rescue in December 2018, and is a constant reminder of the amazing work Rabbit Rescue does to save bunnies every day!
Brittany can be reached at brittany@rabbitrescue.ca
Liz Dieckmann – Online Store Manager
Liz’s love for animals started as a child on her family farm in Germany. After a move to Ireland, her animal size needed to be reduced to smaller companions which is when she rescued her first bun called Paws. He was followed by a rascal bun called Schlappy.
In 2018, Liz moved to Canada where she met her partner John, who coincidentally also had a rabbit called Flappy. It seemed like a good match since she had a passed bun with a similar name to his. After Flappy passed, they wanted to help other buns in need. A friend shared a Rabbit Rescue post of two young buns who only had 24 hours to live after being placed on a euthanasia list at a Quebec shelter due to overcrowding. They needed an urgent foster home and Liz couldn’t say no! Chip and Dale were two fluff balls who they couldn’t let go so they adopted them, joining the beloved “foster fail” club. Now they are Tony and Lenny with Tony being named after Tony Beets from Gold Rush. They are identical!!! Lenny, also known as couch bun, is featured in the picture with Liz.
Since adopting the boys, Liz wanted to help more and more. She started by taking urgent foster buns and has now joined Rabbit Rescue as the Online Store Manager.
Liz can be reached at store@rabbitrescue.ca
Helen Goreski – Board of Directors
Helen found Rabbit Rescue when she was looking for a new friend for her rabbit, after his mate passed away. Knowing about the number of rabbits in foster care looking for a home, and wanting to support an organization that aligned with her ethics made her glad to find Rabbit Rescue! Having had a wonderful experience adopting from Rabbit Rescue, she wanted to be part of the solution to people dumping their pets outside. She is thrilled to be joining the Rabbit Rescue board and is looking forward to working together to increase education and give every rabbit a second chance at a loving home.
Yvonne Chypchar – Board of Directors
Yvonne feels that Rabbit Rescue is a well-run organization and wants to contribute any strategic planning abilities and resources she can to its future growth and development. Rabbits are a beautiful mix of vulnerable and resilient, loving and curious. They need our help and protection.
Sweet affectionate Hoa bunny was her first foster. She is grateful that she can continue to know about his life as husbun to Daisy bunny in the rabbit community. From a shelter in Las Vegas to a home in Canada, Hoa is a testament to what a network of people can accomplish.
Emmett Borg – Board of Directors
Emmett is an analytics professional with experience in finance, healthcare, biotechnology, and digital marketing. He holds degrees in Mathematics and Engineering, with a focus on storytelling with data.
His two free roam bunnies Bubs (a Netherland dwarf) and Rory (a Holland lop) keep him constantly entertained and on a tight treat schedule.
Emmett is passionate about rabbit welfare and aims to drive change through awareness and adding efficiency to the Rescue’s operations wherever possible. Emmett joined the Board in 2023 and can’t wait to make a meaningful difference in rabbits lives.