A New "Friend"

A couple of weeks ago, we had company come and stay over. It was the Other Slave's mom. Can you guess what she brought with her? A Dog-bunny! He has these funny floppy ears, he must be some kind of lop. Anyway, his name is Russel. He is going to stay with us now. We're not sure what we think of him, and I kind of think the feeling is mutual....

Here he is with Jack. Mom says he's an older guy and we should be nice to him. We don't really bother each other, but you should see him and Jack! It's like this guy doesn't speak rabbit. See, Jack will tell him to GO AWAY with a big scary lunge and a grunt, and you know what he thinks?? He thinks she is playing! He gets this dopey grin and wags his stupid long tail! And he makes this really LOUD noise!

So the rest of us usually just stay still and let him come over and groom us. Then he gets bored and goes away. Not Jack, though. She launches at him in full attack! Yesterday she bit his head. He still thought she was playing. Maybe he speaks some other bunny language.... like Backwards Bunny English or something. Definitely a foreigner.

Monday Bunday, how we've missed you!

We haven't really missed Mondays... but Monday Bunday is another story!

          

             

Here are Norbert and I enjoying a cuddle... Until Mom got the stupid camera that is! As far as bunnies go, we have all voted at our house, and decided that Norbert has a HUMONGOUS head. Okay, so I'm 12 lbs of fabulous-ness, and Norbert is only 10 lbs., but look at how much BIGGER his head is than mine!

       

Anyone else know some big-noggin bunnies? We can have a contest! (Don't worry Norbert we still love you even if your head is mutant-large!)

             

At Last!

All hail our glorious return!

Mom is finally back in the USA. Actually, she has been back for almost three weeks, but too busy (so she says) to catch up with the blog! We were glad to have her back, though the other bunny slave was very good and took his direction well. Abbey had him eating out of her hand... or rather, hand feeding her so she could eat out of his! She has that effect on humans.

Back to the important part! I sure have missed reading about all of your adventures! It will take me forever to catch up. I don't even have any new photos to share. So I will let Mom fill you in on what she has been up to....

Yes thank you Fez, I am back in the USA. I finally got my visa and am one step closer to my green card. While back in Canada, I had no job and little to do so I began to volunteer at the local SPCA/Humane Society. Where I grew up is a very rural area, and so the shelter was very small and expected to take care of a very large area. We used a converted tractor trailer as the shelter, which had been renovated and insulated, at least half of it, and brought up to code to house people and animals. There were about 70 cats able to be kept at the facility, and more in foster care. Dogs were kept in foster care. The SPCA was also expected to conduct primary investigations and go on emergency and wildlife calls. Since I had nothing else to do, and quickly fell in love with the job of a rescue worker, I devoted most of my time to the shelter for the 11-12 weeks that I was there. In addition, I fostered a little bunny, who came in named "Snow White with Makeup on" but when I discovered it was a male, I renamed him Cooper (think Alice). I do have his pictures to show you...

Cooper having fun with his toys

Cooper visiting the camera

Cooper is a very good bunny, about 5 months old, learned his litter habits after he was neutered and is very playful and affectionate. Every time you pet him he lays down right away, and he gives kisses like crazy. He is still looking for a forever home, so put the word out all you Southern Ontarians!

I got back at the end of August and since then we have bought a condo (2 bedrooms yay!) and we have also just taken in a new doggy friend, named Russel. Russel is an 8 year old Beagle, who is epileptic, but it's under control. He is a very good dog and is getting along well with the bunnies.

Okay okay, you have gone on long enough! We can update you all more another time... now to catch up!

Cupid: A special Valentine's bunny

                            

This is Cupid, shortly after he arrived at the rescue. Cupid is burned in my memory, both for his happy ending, as well as the horrific way that we found him. As you can see in the picture above, he is scruffy, dirty, and bony (note his jutting hip). When we got the call from the shelter he was at, they told us he didn't seem to be eating. We had little room in the rescue, but in these cases where the rabbit needs vet care, we often will find the room and step in to see what we can do.

        

I drove to the shelter Valentine's day of last year, dreading it as I always do during shelter visits. I knew that I could only take the one bunny as we didn't have any other room. My heart ached for the others there and I braced myself even before walking in. All that I had been told, was there was one bunny not eating. I was not prepared for what I found.

            

When I walked in, I saw him immediately. I barely announced to the staff that I had arrived before running to the cage that Cupid was in and pulling it open. Even from across the room I could see how diminished and bony he was. When I picked him up, a feeling of horror coursed through me - it felt like I was lifting a furry sack filled with bones. In his cage, his food was untouched, and not a single poop. I nuzzled him, doing all I could not to burst into tears, wrapped him in some towels and put him in the carrier. In the car, I drove as quickly as I dared - fearing the entire time that he would have a heart attack before we could get him to the vet. I dropped him off with another volunteer (Fluffy's mom!) to finish the journey, and the look on her face when she saw him mirrored my own. He tugged her heartstrings, as he had mine, and she named him Cupid.

        

Cupid had been surrendered by his owner to the shelter. He was that way when they got him. He had been so neglected that he was starving and his owners didn't even notice or care. But he made it. He pulled through, weighing in at 2.2 lbs (less than half of an average holland lop). Miraculously, he had no internal damage to his organs. He made wonderful progress in his foster home, putting on weight and stealing everyone's heart. He was dirty, and missing a lot of fur, but he soon could clean himself without falling over, and his fur grew back. He was affectionate and trusting, showing little sign of the horrific past he had suffered. He was happily adopted and now lives with his loving, forever family.

To see some better pictures of Cupid, visit this link and scroll down about 1/3 of the way. You will find Cupid's story, and a before and after picture of him. His story is a close call, but a happy ending - one of the rabbits that make those of us who volunteer in animal rescue remember that it's worth it.

        

Catherine: Home at Last

As promised, I'm posting some stories about bunnies that Rabbit Rescue has adopted out, that I have been the adoption co-ordinator for.

First I want to tell you about Catherine. Here she is....
            

          
Catherine is very special to me. Partly, it is because she looks a lot like my Abbey. She is also an English Spot, and has a very sweet and loving personality. She has been adopted out and returned to the rescue three times now. The last time, I was very upset with her return. We all thought this girl had finally found her forever home. So, we reposted her on the website, and placed her back in her foster home where she had previously been. This particular foster home is wonderful, and really understands Catherine. Cath even jumps in bed and sleeps with her foster mom. She loves the cats in the home, and loves to play and binky, despite being bounced around so much.
            
Some of you might remember my post about Snarfy, who passed away tragically. Catherine was returned at about that same time. A few weeks later, while checking out the Rabbit Rescue website, looking at bunny pictures, Snarfy's adoptive mom saw Catherine. She send an email asking about her, and literally I got goosebumps. I knew how hard the loss had been on her, and that she was a wonderful and dedicated bunny mom. When she asked about Catherine, it immediately felt right - I knew they were meant to be together. Catherine has finally found her home forever, and I know that she will stay there and be loved, the way that she deserves!

Safe and Sound... but without bunnies...

Hi all, Fez's Mom here, Amy. I've arrived back at my mom's house safely in Canada. Luckily the weather is beautiful! No bunnies here for me, so I'll have to keep up with my bunny blogosphere for a daily fix. I will get to bunnysit Fluffy McFlufferson and his buddies next weekend while his family is away for a vacation!             

Also while here I do have a doggy companion named Austin, a little mutt belonging to my mom who likes to sleep on my pillow when I am here. In order to provide bunny pictures and some warm and fuzzies for you all, I've decided to post some stories of some of the rescues I have done with Rabbit Rescue over my time volunteering with them. I continue to volunteer even when I am in Virginia, they are a wonerful group and very close to my heart. I have many heartwarming stories from them, including of course all four of my own rascals - but you know their stories!
             

She's leaving us again....

Yep, she is the worst bunny Mom. She is leaving us with the Other slave again. This time for over a month!

           

Norbert is so upset he's eating paper... and me?

               

            

Passed out in shock. She has to go back to Canada and finish sorting out the whole visa thing. She said she'll be back in July for a bit, but mostly will be back and forth.

             

We still get attention and treats when she is gone... and this time she better bring us back some really good stuff to make up for being away AGAIN!