Bunny Blog

A Blog all about House Rabbit Pets & More

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Bunny Blog Readers: The Bunny Blog has been offline for over a year so I can concentrate on other things.  I will be back before the end of 2010 blogging about bunnies.

February 26, 2009 - 10:30 p.m. - Bunny Puts Woman Behind Bars - A woman in the UK is back behind bars after she said her child’s pet bunny chewed through an electrical wire powering her monitoring equipment.  She had been in prison for three months for money laundering.  She was banned from leaving her family home in the evenings. But Cuddles (above)  chewed through the receiver unit cable in the house.  She and her husband called the engineer who could see the cable had been chewed.  However, police took her back to prison since they believed the unit was tampered with instead. Someone needs to test the cords for rabbit DNA because Cuddles looks really guilty.

On the Wild Side: In Maine the York Land Trust is celebrating 2009 as the Year of the New England cottontail, Maine's only native rabbit. (Shown on left.) They are kicking off the year long series with a three hour trek in the Hilton-Winn Conservation Area Saturday, February 28th. It is prime New England Cottontail habitat.  The New England cottontail was once the only cottontail species in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. That changed in the 1920s, when state wildlife management agencies and private hunting clubs introduced Eastern cottontails into the Northeast.

The Eastern cottontail (pictured on right) quickly expanded into all Northeastern states except for Maine. It's bigger than its native cousin, and has sharper eyes and hearing, making it less vulnerable to predators. The cottontails look so similar that only recently was the New England native deemed a unique species.  The Eastern cottontail often has a small white spot on the forehead, a marking not found on New England cottontails. The latter has a thin black line of fur along its outer edge and a black spot between the ears. Eastern cottontails are found in open fields, while New England cottontails need scrubby brush in which to hide. Maine's only other rabbit species is the snowshoe hare. E-mail: info@yorklandtrust.org.

Bunny Beds? The Pet Extraordinarium  in the UK is selling this pink playhouse. They say it gives your "little lovelies a cozy and comfortable hide-away den."  It is fully machine washable. And honestly, for my rabbits it would need to be if it lasts long enough to make it into the wash.  Pansy or Basil would rip it to pieces.  Adorable idea, but rabbits don't see the color pink.  They could see something in green or blue . . . which brings me to:

A Better Green Idea - A couple of weeks ago I bought an all timothy hay playhouse for Pansy. There are NO wire frames, no string fiber frames - just the tasty hay.  And, yes they will eat it.  I cut a hole in the other side because Pansy won't go in anything without a back door.  Now she sits in it, eats it, digs at it, stands on it, and generally has a great time.  That's more like it!  Pansy isn't into pink.  Get one from www.leithpetwerks.com - they know a good product when they see one! It's a toy, dinner and bed all rolled into one nutritious package.

February 24, 2009 - 9:00 p.m. - “Hare” Raising Chase – look at that big beautiful white bunny and then imagine him hopping down a busy road in Canterbury, UK on a Sunday morning.  Apparently, it took several attempts before two officers and several passers-by captured the big bun.  They nicknamed the rabbit “Tiny.”  A spokeswoman for Kent Police said that Officer Jackson "hopped to it when his colleague confirmed it was not a figment of his imagination.” Tiny was take to an animal hospital close by to wait for the RSPCA to collect him. 

Hitching Hare - In Bakersfield, California a rabbit darted across an auto repair shop floor and the owner of the car thought it was a shop pet. Turns out a young cottontail rabbit must have jumped on board when the driver pulled his car over on the way to have it repaired.  The mechanic caught the bunny and this is their first rabbit.  They've found cats, squirrels and even rats in cars.  The mechanic took the bunny home (I hope to release in a nice field) and named him “Hitch.” 

On the Wild Side: A small lagomorph known as a pika maybe the first mammal to be protected due to global warming and habitat loss.  A Center for Biological Diversity sued to protect the little rabbit relative under the Endangered Species Act.  The US Fish and Wildlife Agency said it would make a decision by May on whether protection is warranted.  Most domestic rabbits can become overheated over 85 degrees and pikas are intolerant of temperatures over 78 degrees Fahrenheit.  The populations of pikas move up in elevation until they have nowhere left to go according to a biologist.  More than a third of the tiny “boulder bunnies” populations have disappeared in the past century.

February 22, 2009 11:00 p.m. - Binky Bunnies – Deborah Morfette with the Boston Pet Examiner has written several articles in her rabbit series and the last one was all about the "binky." She interviewed Mary Lempert who writes The Rabbit Advocate blog and has her own companion rabbit, Graysie (lop mix) including fosters.  She is a rabbit behavior consultant to the Boston MSPCA. Mary knows a thing or two about rabbit binkies.  She has an entry on her blog called What is a binky?  There is a video demonstration.   By the way the photo of the double bunny binky above is a favorite artist of mine in Seattle, Nakisha VanderHoeven. See more of her rabbit art at: The Art of Nikisha

Rabbit Explosion - Nanaimo, British Columbia is experiencing a feral rabbit population explosion and people are being warned not to feed or pet the bunnies. In other parts of Canada such as Kelowna (mentioned on this blog before) they have similar issues. Nanaimo is located on Vancouver Island and it has a mild climate which certainly helps the rabbits survive long enough to reproduce and then some.  Of course, the real problem is the pet owners who have abandoned their rabbits to fend for themselves on the island. So far officials don’t see the rabbits as causing too many problems except for the occasional call from a homeowner wanting to rid themselves of the “pests.”  The photo above shows some of the rabbits eating food left for them by the side of a road. One official did seem to understand the issue when he said, "Look at the American Bullfrog that has taken over Vancouver Island. It would have been much easier to deal with them when there were only two."

Legal Lagomorph Fan - An Assistant Attorney General, Marc Litt, who is investigating the Madoff fraud case also happens to be a rabbit lover.  He lives in lives in suburban Westchester County with his wife and two teenagers.  According to Time, he “is also close with his pet rabbit, Whiskers, whom Litt has trained to hop into a cage at the snap of Litt's fingers." “Whiskers is an incredibly obedient rabbit,” according to friends. Although, I normally don't get political on Hopperhome, I hope Mr. Litt thumps Madoff.

Purina Refills ‘Rabbit Bites’ Bowl Rabbit Bites viewers will be happy to know that pet food maker Purina has renewed its sponsorship. The partnership will last at least through the year.  It’s nice to see someone making web video out of their house and featuring two cute bunnies, Buns and Chou-Chou.  If you aren't familiar with Rabbit Bites, the topics highlight popular culture with a satirical look through the eyes of the rabbits.  It’s a little surreal to see the buns grinding their mouths like they are speaking. I want to know what the secret is to the chewing "talking" motion. Where’s the hay?  (Chou Chou is the lop shown above and Buns is the sweet-faced sidekick show on the right.)

Bunny Dumping Makes Me Hopping Mad - In Connecticut they have experienced several incidents of rabbit abandonment. According to the Stratford TV Channel WTNH many were in “need of serious medical help."  So far they don’t know who has been abandoning the rabbits (21 of them). According to a caretaker with Hop Along Hollow, “They were found in the snow, in little milk crates with wire tops on them." Hop Along Hollow and other rabbit rescues all over the country are coping with "rabbit dumping.”  It is  becoming an increasingly bigger concern for rescuers since rabbit owners are abandoning these increasingly popular pets in a bad economy.  Go to their website link above to learn more about the bunnies, see TV segments on the issue and donate to help with medication costs. (Brandee Lacava of Hop A long Hollow shown above with one of the rescued dwarf rabbits.)

Hopperhome's house is going through remodeling.  Bunny Blog will be back on February 16th - Email will be down for a couple of days, too, from 2/6 to 2/10... until then have a Hoppy Valentine's Day.  (PS: Get the pic at left on a t-shirt from The Daily Tee)

January 19, 2009 - 10:-00 p.m. - The New Year didn't start out so hoppy for Hopperhome.  Forgive me folks, but I lost my little friend of 9 years a couple of weeks ago. Coming on the heels of loosing Mr. Hops just a few months ago, it was very difficult to lose Mr. Bumble B. Bunny so soon after. 

Many years ago when I adopted this year old lop, he was a frantic and panicked bunny who made a buzzing sound with his teeth. In time he became a very macho mini-lop. Bumble never met a vacuum cleaner or a cat that could scare him. In fact, he would hop over to the loud appliance to be vacuumed himself when he was shedding. He had a bunny wife of 7 years (Rosemary) and the rest of his life except for the last few months was spent happily with Mr. Hops.

Bumble knew about 11 words and an infinite number of my inflections of speech. Most of the words had to do with food and the rest were his name or nicknames. Bumble knew the word "dinner" and would become very lively when he heard me chopping up his salad in the kitchen every evening.  He also knew how to get attention by nudging my foot.  Bumble loved to be petted - not just for a minute or two, but through the time it took to watch a movie. I miss him very much. 

December 26, 2008 - Noon - Hopperhome is on vacation.  No problems with the "blizzard" with 2 1/2 feet of snow in less than 3 days!  It was a very Hoppy White Christmas! I have been feeding cottontails every evening at my back door.  My domesticated rabbits sit at the sliding glass doors and watch them.  Back blogging after the New Year.  Thanks for visiting the Bunny Blog in 2008!  - The View on Christmas Day:

December 20, 2008 - 6:00 pm - Blizzard and that's not the name of a white bunny.  A actual blizzard is supposed to hit my area of the country tonight so I may not be online for a couple of days if the power goes out. (The news keeps reporting power may go out.) I'm prepared with a warm fireplace, extra veggies for the bunnies, and two cats who are feline heaters.

That's a beautiful Snowshoe Hare pictured above in his winter white coat.

December 18, 2008 - 10:30 p.m. -

Too Much Dutch - The Daily Herald of Wheaton, Illinois (suburban Chicago) reported that 69 domesticated Dutch breed rabbits (pictured on right) were in the DuPage County Animal Care and Control Center awaiting adoption.  All the rabbits were found in an apartment during an eviction procedure. The woman who said her financial situation had overwhelmed her did not present a typical hoarding case.  She was caring for the rabbits and they were in good condition.  She is very upset over the loss of her home and rabbits. The oldest rabbit is about 18 months old. 

All the females have been separated and spayed.  The males will be neutered before they are released for adoption.  An animal control spokeswoman said they thought the woman initially had a pair of rabbits and got caught in a baby bunny boom.  If anyone is interested in adopting the Dutch bunnies, contact the Dupage Animal Care and Control Center at www.dupageco.org/animal control or call 630-407-2800. 

I have known more than one Dutch rabbit and they make excellent pets.  I adopted “Pansy” (a Dutch breed) a few month ago from a local shelter. She is very smart and turning out to be a sweet, affectionate pet.  Her litter box habits are perfect, too.

New Rabbit Care Book – This book was first published at the beginning of 2008: When Your Rabbit Needs Special Care: Traditional and Alternative Healing Methods by authors Lucile C. Moore and Kathy Smith.  A blog reader who describes herself as a having three ancient rabbits of 10 years plus and who is devoted to alternative medicines wrote to me about the book.  (I haven’t had a chance to review it myself yet.) She explained it contained not only alternative medicine, but also some very practical procedures like administering subcutaneous fluids.  You can find it at any of the large online book retailers.  I am certainly in favor of anything that promotes long, healthy and comfortable lives for rabbits.

Thai Topiary - taken last summer by Eric from the UK.  A herd of topiary rabbits on the lawn at the king's summer palace in Thailand: (click on photo to see larger version).

December 17, 2008 - 10:00 p.m. - Rabbits on Chairs & Art Sit Well Together! - I found Lorraine Bushek’s blog and discovered an artist, animal lover, and volunteer with the Rabbit Advocates in Portland, Oregon. According to her blog profile, she lives with her husband, 2 cats and 2+ rescue rabbits (the number is ever-changing). Lorraine paints rabbits on chairs (and in other venues) because she believes that rabbits belong in the house with their caregivers.... not outside in a hutch.  The paintings are amazing so go see them for yourself at Lorraine’s link above.  Be sure to scroll down the entire page of paintings to see more.

Usagi Ringo - According to The Yomiuri Shimbun news in Japan about 35 percent of parents in their 20s, 30s and 40s do not know how to make usagi ringo (rabbit apple), a piece of an apple with its skin peeled into the shape of rabbit's ears.  Usagi ringo is traditionally a popular item for children’s bento box lunches.  How to make Usagi Ringo

No Photos with this Entry because we’re talking about Preparation H.  I have used Bag Balm for mild cases of sore hocks and urine scald on rescued rabbits, but not Preparation H.  But it certainly worked for one bunny.  I saw the proof myself on the rabbit’s bottom after only two days of use.  I had heard about Prep H anecdotally from others and now I am convinced it can help. 

Also, my rabbit Bumble had “weepy eyes” for the first time in his almost 11 years.  The local temperatures had recently dropped so I had cranked up the heat and fireplace. As a result, the air in my home is drier than normal.  A drop of regular “Clear Eyes” in each eye for a week has eliminated the problem.  It goes without saying, but I will – always consult a veterinarian if your rabbit has developed urine scald or “weepy eyes.”   Both conditions can be very serious due to infection or other issues.

“Crowe says Rabbits Need to Fend for Themselves” is a headline circulating in the news the last couple of days.  It does Not mean Russell Crowe feels bunnies can take care of themselves.  Perhaps it was a joke, but I received an email about “Mr. Crowe’s inhumane attitude toward rabbits.”  Russell Crowe is an owner of a national rugby team called the Rabbitohs, not a domesticated rabbit.  His team is sometimes referred to as “The Rabbits,” and apparently he wants them to become fiscally sound on their own.  Just a couple of weeks ago I blogged that Crowe isn’t a rabbit rescuer even though he wears hats with his team's rabbit logo.  (I enjoy his movies.)

December 15, 2008, 9:30 p.m. -

A Rabbit in the Hen House – How can a chicken cross the road when a bunny blocks the way?  A local LA newspaper reported that one of the newest and popular diversions for people sitting in cubicles is the Hen Cam.  It’s a webcam where you can look at hens (and a lone lop-eared rabbit named Candy).  Candy isn’t confused about being a rabbit and she teases the other “chicks.”   The lop-eared rabbit creates mischief by flopping in front of the coop door which seems to frustrate the hens. Hop over to the hen cam (with bunny) here: http://www.hencam.com   Candy is pictured in the coop door. (Photo: Terry Golson)

Big Bunny Mom - In New Zealand a story appeared in the newspaper about Frosty, a white Flemish Giant Rabbit and her adopted Netherland Dwarf foster bunnies.  The Netherland Dwarf kits were abandoned by their mother the day she gave birth. Giant Frosty had just given birth to her own pair of kits at Stoney Oaks Wildlife Park. The big doe took in the three orphans. Despite the size difference Frosty is gentle with her new charges.

BBC Comfy Corner has an interactive rabbit story for young kids.  It’s called The Moon & the Rabbit . It could be named “The Elephants & the Little Rabbits." I wondered what part of Africa creates the setting for the story since both rabbits and elephants co-exist there.  However, your kids will love this interactive story about rabbits and elephants in their computer generated tropical background.

Stormy Makes Connections - The Arizona Republic reported a story about Pet Connections.  Pet Connections is a therapy program offered by Hospice of the Valley, has many types of animals that visit patients  including a rabbit named “Stormy.”  Stormy’s bunny mom says he will cuddle up to the patients and fall asleep. The rabbit is 3 1/2 years old and is going into his third year of helping patients. Stormy had a close call early in life. He was found soaked during a rainstorm and nursed back to health. Stephanie Schmidt took him in and her cats took over raising him. "He became a goofy bunny,” she said. “Patients gravitate to Stormy because he's so soft.” (Stormy pictured above.)

December 4, 2008, 9:00 p.m. - - È arrivato il Calendario 2009 That's Italian for 2009 Calendar from HRS Italy/AAE Coniglio has arrived. And, it's great!  If you didn't know the House Rabbit Society has a chapter in Italy, well, now you do and they love their coniglios (rabbits)! It is also shown in English at the link above. 

Plus, a little closer to home if you live in the USA, the Missouri House Rabbit Society calendar is always beautifully designed and photographed.  It is available at 2009 Calendar from HRS Missouri.  I also blogged about the 2009 Calendar from HRS Vancouver out of Canada a while back.  So if you live in Canada (or not), see this desk calendar on their website.

Get Out Your Rabbit Ears and check out these new educational videos from the House Rabbit Society. They are created by Drollery Press. They operate a rabbit sanctuary.  The proceeds go to the support of these sanctuary rabbits.

Your First House Rabbit Covers all the basics of caring for your first rabbit. Newly revised DVD: 43 minutes. $24.95 plus shipping.
Introducing Rabbits Both to each other and other companion animals. Newly revised DVD: 45 minutes. $24.95 plus shipping.
Assisted Living for Special Needs Bunnies Focuses on day-to-day care. Newly revised DVD: 40 minutes. $24.95 plus shipping.

Rabbit Adopts Kittens - After blogging about the video of Snaggle Puss and her adopted kitten, Bubbles yesterday, I received a few emails asking if rabbits will adopt kittens.  I found one in my files about a lop named Summer who was mom to six kittens after their own mother abandoned them.  They followed her everywhere and from the picture it looks like they climbed all over Summer, too.
 

December 3, 2008, 9:30 p.m. - Bunny Blog of the Weird – you know it's a slow bunny news day when I group some fairly "off the wall" entries for the blog like below.

Reason #327 Why Rabbits Should Be House Rabbits – A family in Methil, Fife Scotland was visited by a “big cat” recently.  It mangled their rabbit hutch.  They heard the commotion, but only caught a glimpse of a large black shape running away.  The hutch “was covered in scratch marks” several feet off the ground and one of the legs of the hutch was completely detached.   Lucky for the rabbit, it was inside the house with the family during the mysterious attack on the hutch.  The police wildlife liaison officer said he would not rule out the possibility of one or even a number of big cats at large.  He commented “It’s possible that a creature such as a leopard would take a pet rabbit.” In Scotland? 

What’s with the Tiger Cubs and Rabbits in China?   I received a photo showing rabbits frolicking  with tiger cubs in Sanya, a city in South China's Hainan  Province. Then I received an email with the second photo below of tiger cubs “playing” with rabbits at a zoo in east China's Zhejian Province. The rabbit was not harmed by the cub, and was playing nearby before entering the tigers' cage on his own.

I have two cats and the newest addition to my bunny family, Pansy plays with my five year old snowshoe cat.  I also have firsthand experience with maternal cats and baby bunnies with my first rabbit Groucho and his cat mom, Luca.  A recent addition to Youtube shows a cat caring for an orphaned baby rabbit. See the video at: Snaggle Puss & Bubbles

If you have ever wondered how a newly adopted rabbit, perceives their new family, drop by the New York City House Rabbit Society and see this cartoon From a rabbit's point of view: How They See Us.

Singing Rabbit Ad – I finally caught this Skittles ad on YouTube after hearing about it from several people.  I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry.  When the man tries to trade back the rabbit for his Skittles and then lets it run off in the rain struck me as disturbing.  But see for yourself.   Any domesticated rabbit running off into the outdoors in a TV Ad viewed by millions whether it "escapes" or was abandoned sends the wrong message. Ad on Youtube 

Watch for Falling Rabbits:  This sign was sent to me and the return email address was blocked. I couldn't ask if it was for real.

Rabbit Sign – I found this sign a little odd.  (Maybe it’s the tie.)  It sits atop a restaurant called “Chez Zee” in Austin, Texas.  I went to their website and they Do Not serve rabbit or a rabbit logo beer. 

December 2. 2008, 9:00 p.m. -  “Long-Eared Guinea Pigs" in Australia? - Janene from Queensland sent me an article that appeared in her local newspaper about the ban on pet rabbits.  The article quotes a Pet Industry spokesperson who said at least three tons of rabbit food is sold through Queensland pet shops every year. It seems there are hundreds of “long-eared guinea pigs” in homes and a “secretive network” of people with companion rabbits. There is a heavy fine if a rabbit is discovered in the home (see photo above).  However, rabbit raids aren’t being conducted on private homes according to the newspaper article. 

Pet owners aren’t the only ones questioning the ban so are the experts. The RSPCA spokesman said, "Two years after Western Australia decided to allow pet rabbits, they did an environmental impact study which concluded the impact was nil.”  But it’s unlikely anything will change soon. An official with the Primary Industries and Fisheries Ministry recently said, “A decision to maintain the ban on rabbits as pets was made after extensive community consultation. There is currently no intention to review this decision in the near future." 

I lived with rabbits in apartments with lease restrictions on keeping pet rabbits for a while without detection, but this is ridiculous.

Only in New York - In the Metropolitan Diary Section of the New York Times, a writer recalled a recent incident while walking her dog Mooshi: “Recently, a group of men were playing Hacky Sack there [in a park in the Chinatown area]. Mooshi, who is used to seeing elderly Chinese men performing tai chi, was intrigued by this new game, and kept staring at the men. But it wasn’t the Hacky Sackers who had caught Mooshi’s attention - it was the little white rabbit chewing the grass next to them. As a native New Yorker, I’m not surprised by the unusual, but a rabbit? In Chinatown? Mooshi ran toward the unknown creature, barking. Soon, a shirtless and muscular Hacky Sacker jogged toward us. I assumed he wanted to know why Mooshi was barking in their direction, or maybe he wanted to share a laugh about the rabbit. Instead, he stopped a few inches away from me and, with a stern face, looking me straight in the eyes, said, ‘Get your dog away from my bunny!’”  (The photo above is Will Bullas’ watercolor painting, “Bad to the Bun” and you can find prints Here)

Bunny Bird Cage - Here's an idea a Bunny Blog reader thought might fly - house rabbits in habitats intended for chickens. Roger who has 3 rabbits in his Texas home was thinking about using this large British built poultry house as a model for his rabbits' new luxury digs in his family room. He thought it was a much better than the smaller cages and runs sold in pet stores. He has dogs and to avoid a tragedy, he cages his bunnies during the day when his family is out. See the website where he found his inspiration: UK-CKC Poultry House

On the Wild Side: Biologists thought the snowshoe hare cycle in Interior Alaska reached its peak last year, but this year is also shaping up with an abundance of the hares.  The snowshoe hare population has a cycle that predictably peaks every 10 years for a year or two and then plummets. It takes two or three years before it starts climbing again. The cycle of snowshoe hares in Alaska matches that in other northern latitudes across Canada.  It’s still a great mystery in ecology how the hare populations can be so synchronized across such a vast territory.

Frosted Hare - Speaking of hares, I also received a photo yesterday of another icy pair of hares, but these were decorating a table along way from Alaska. 

November 25, 2008 - 8:30 p.m. - Topsy Is Comfortable in his Own Skin - PETA Europe's new anti-fur ad features Topsy, an adorable lop rabbit and Natalie Imbruglia, Australian singer/actress/model.  Both are gorgeous, of course.  You can read about the campaign Here.  Over the years PETA has featured beautiful rabbits with pretty people to garner attention for the atrocities of the fur trade.  Thousands of rabbits are kept and killed in unimaginable circumstances.  You can check out PETA's Shopping Guide to Compassionate Clothing for cruelty-free resources. Topsy would approve!

Bunnies Instead of Babies - PetPlan, a pet insurance provider in the UK conducted a survey recently that showed 60% of the 3,000 people surveyed would put off starting a family due to the current economic downturn.  Instead, they would choose a pet.  The results were equally divided among men and women. With all the pets being left at shelters in the USA due to the economic crisis, I was wondering when all these folks will start adopting their new fur babies.  Relinquished and abandoned pet are on the rise due to economic reasons. By the way, Rabbits in the UK survey made the Top 5 most popular child substitutes: 1) Dog, 2) Cat, 3)  Rabbit,  4) Guinea Pig  and  5) Rat.  I hope anyone who decides on a bunny (or any pet) instead of a baby understands the commitment to a pet is a lot like parenthood!

Lego Rabbit Art - John from Cleveland (rabbit dad to Spotty and Runner) emailed this photo he found of a Lego Rabbit. (Click on photo to see a larger detailed version). John said he'd like to try this, but he would need money from his Monopoly Game to afford the amount of Legos it took to do this sculpture.

November 24, 2008 - 9:45 p.m. - Laverne & Shirley’s Hoppy Days - A pair of Flemish Giant rabbits received a lot of publicity when they were awaiting adoption at the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast.  The two big girls at 20 lbs. each were adopted by the Dills family of Vero Beach, Florida.  A friend of the family had seen the report on the hefty bunnies on TV and told them about the pair.  The Dills had just purchased a baby Flemish Giant the week before. The Dills family hopes to eventually start a rabbit rescue organization. The family has five other bunnies, four of them are rescues.  Most importantly, this is a very hoppy ending for Laverne and Shirley (pictured above) who came to the Humane Society after their previous owner passed away.

Feral Rabbits in Canada - According to the local Vernon newspaper in British Columbia, Canada the overpopulation of feral domesticated rabbits could force tight regulations. The North Okanagan Regional District board is going to determine if local municipalities want a bylaw regulating the sale of unaltered rabbits.

The concept for a bylaw demanding that rabbits be spayed or neutered was put before the committee by Rabbit Rescue, a volunteer group that live traps rabbits. They have the rabbits neutered or spayed and find them homes.  “We have all but eradicated the feral rabbit problem in Vernon, but we are getting more calls from elsewhere in the North Okanagan.”  Rabbit Rescue went on to say, “The only way to stop the problem is to shut off the source [rabbit sales].” 

Practice Turns into Rabbit Rescue – In Denver firefighters practicing ways to rescue victims of rollover crashes had the chance to test their skills. They found a rabbit trapped inside a wheel of the truck they were about to carve up.  Apparently,  one of the firefighters looked up into a wheel well, and saw two shiny brown eyes staring back. The twitching nose made them realize the bunny was alive and probably their next door neighbor.  The rabbit had been minding his own business until the firefighters had ruined his day by turning the truck over.  With their new hydraulic saw, the rescuers started to extract the rabbit. Once the rabbit was freed, it was discovered he was covered in antifreeze and so they had to decontaminate the patient in a bath. The bunny endured the ordeal, and after his wash and fluff, he was released. The firefighters were smiling as the bunny hopped off – it was a good rescue!

Baseball Bunny Manager - The new Seattle Mariners Baseball Manager, Don Wakamatsu has a pet rabbit. His name is Dexter. The bunny takes walks on a leash with the family.  Asked to explain himself following his introductory news conference at Safeco Field, Wakamatsu said it wasn’t his idea to get the rabbit.  However, "Dexter's mine by default.”  His wife said that he built a fenced in area in the backyard so Dexter could run around.  Early next year, Wakamatsu will head to Seattle with his family plus Dexter, their rabbit and their dog, “Asia.”

November 19, 2008 - 9:30 p.m. - British Bunny Gets a New Chariot – Four year old, Ethel, a beautiful white lop was paralyzed by a disease earlier this year.  Zoe would not have her pet bunny put down against the advice of vets.  Ethel lost control of her bladder and bowels, but she wears a special bunny diaper at night. Zoe researched and found a company in the USA (Dogs to Go in Texas) that makes custom carts for disabled pets.  Zoe says, “It gave Ethel a new lease on life.  At first she struggled to keep her balance and kept tipping over, but she soon got to grips with it especially on flat surfaces.  Now she loves it. As soon as we put her in it, she starts hopping around and really enjoys it.  Ethel was even featured on British TV on "Cutting Edge:  Special Needs Pets." Photo: SWNS

By the way, the prices on the Dogs to Go website are the most reasonable I have seen for this type of cart.  The “extra small” size (10 lb. and less) is $65.00 which does not include shipping, or extra wheels, etc. Visit their website link above for current pricing and more information.  Also, visit Hopperhome’s web page Caring for a Disabled Rabbit for more information on disabled rabbit care.

Photo of the Day: Occasionally I receive a picture in the email that depicts rabbits in our culture in some fairly odd ways.  These orange rabbit themed caution tape holders would get anyone's attention:

On the Wild Side:  The Amami rabbit is an unusual rabbit since it evolved in isolation on two small islands in Japan.  It is designated as an endangered species in Japan with fewer than 5,000 left. In order to save the species Japanese scientists say they have now created a cloned embryo from cells taken from a rabbit that had previously died. In 30 days they will know if they are successful when the host mother rabbit gives birth.  The chances are less than 10% they will end up with a true Amami rabbit in the mix of genes.  If one of the offspring looks like the pudgy fellow pictured above, they may have accomplished their goal. 

Amami rabbits have dark brown dense fur with heavy bodies, short legs, small ears and no tail.  They also have long, curved claws. Amami have a call that sounds like another lagomorph - the pika. His nose is definitely a bunny nose and so is that inquiring tilt of the head.  Amami don’t breed as prolifically as their cousins like the domesticated rabbits or other wild rabbits. They only give birth to one offspring twice a year. 

The Amami Rabbit is endangered, due to the usual suspects like hunting (stopped in 1921) before legal protection. Deforestation is another cause along with predation by dogs, cats, and especially an introduced mongoose released by people to kill poisonous snakes.

November 18, 2008 – 7:30 p.m. - Is that “O’Hare” Airport?  No, it is a 56 foot long red fiberglass rabbit that will be installed in the new terminal building at the Sacramento International Airport in 2011.  (That year just happens to be the next Chinese Year of the Rabbit.) The rabbit will soar in the terminal’s rafters  toward a sculpted suitcase across a four-story atrium near baggage claim below.  The artist, Lawrence Argent, “hopes the public will find the artwork amusing and invigorating.” 

Perched Lionhead - Janene from Colchester in the UK, emailed me a story about a rabbit, Eragon, and his human, Mr. Fletcher, from Clacton-on-Sea.  It seems Eragon, a dwarf Lionhead rabbit enjoys perching on Mr. Fletcher’s shoulder as he goes about his business in town.  According to a video of the two (link below), it all started when Eragon was 7 weeks old.  He would hop on Fletcher’s shoulder when he was asleep on the sofa.  The rabbit was content as his human walked around the house and it evolved from there.  I love this video - Play Video Here  Most rabbits detest being off the ground, but Eragon started very early and in a non-threatening way.  It looks like both human and rabbit enjoy their time together.

Bunny is Welcome to Lunch with Rhino Umquali – A very small wild rabbit has lunch dates with a white rhinoceros at home in a compound at the Western Plains Zoo in New South Wales, Australia.  The rabbit now known as “Robby” is the only rabbit brave enough out of his colony to join the mother rhino and her calf, Nadira for meals.  They make an odd pair in their size difference of a 2 ton rhino and about a 2 pound rabbit: See Full Article Here with more photos.  Click on photo above to see larger version.

November 17, 2008 - 8:30 p.m. Hop Hop Hooray! Petco Will Stop Selling Rabbits.  Petco issued a press release today stating they will phase out the sale of rabbits in favor of adoptions by early 2009.  They went on to say that that they already work with rabbit and humane groups in several areas to provide in-store rabbit adoptions, and now want to expand that effort. (Petco News Story)

About a third of their 950 stores offer rabbits for sale currently.  This is great news.  I applaud Petco for this humane decision. This new program will help in several ways.  First, it will prevent further impulse purchases of rabbits at Petco stores, it will offer rescue/adoption groups a good venue for "adoption days," and most importantly rabbits will find good homes. See House Rabbit Society Press Release

Pancake Bunny - The Petco news is enough good news for one day, but I want to share a photo sent to me by a Bunny Blog reader yesterday.  I knew about Oolong the pancake wearing rabbit from Japan. But even though my dad was a chef, I never ate pancakes quite like the one pictured on the left.  By the way, never share your pancakes with your rabbit for breakfast.  Also I don't recommend your rabbit wear one as "performance head art" even though Oolong was an internet sensation. 

November 16, 2008 - 9:00 p.m. -  A Pair of Boys Saved a Pet Rabbit in Raynes Park, UK this last week.  They found Patches wandering on a street on their way to school. They immediately took the bunny to a nearby veterinary clinic where it happened Patch’s brother Fluffy was scheduled for a visit the next day.  The family who lost their rabbit said Patches had been missing for four days and they were very grateful to the boys pictured above who rescue him.  Four days for any pet rabbit outdoors is a very long time and Patches is very lucky to have survived. 

In search of the First Pet – My vote is for a white house rabbit, of course.  But it looks like the president elect’s first girls are set on a puppy.  I’d like to see a real rabbit on the White House Lawn instead of the Easter Bunny (pictured on left) who visits every spring.  The only First Family that had a "first rabbit" was John F. Kennedy’s clan.  They had a white rabbit named Zsa Zsa among several other pets.

Rabbitohs are a Rugby Team - I received an email last week from Melissa who lives in New York City.  It seems Melissa spotted Russell Crowe with a hat similar to the one on the right and she wanted to know if he was involved in rabbit rescue. I don’t have any idea if Russell Crowe enjoys the fluffy type of pet rabbit, but I do know he is a co-owner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a National Rugby League Team.  The team is also known as “The Bunnies,” or “The Rabbits” in Australia.  The team was founded in 1908 and got their name, “Rabbitohs,” from their early days when they earned money by selling rabbits.  Not exactly a rabbit rescue activity and it was discontinued a long time ago.  I’m sure they are a fine rugby team and if Russell Crowe is ever involved in rabbit rescue, I will be the first to write about it in the Bunny Blog.

Animated Big Rabbit - If you haven’t seen Big Buck Bunny, it is a short animated film created by a company in the Netherlands.  It tells the story of a giant rabbit with a heart who is harassed by three mischievous rodents. In the typical cartoon tradition he prepares the nasty rodents a comical revenge. If you have kids, they would enjoy it.  See Big Bunny Here  Also, I really enjoyed the images on the website (like the one above - "Don't Mess with the Bunny") and you can Download Images Here. Big Buck Bunny reminds me of my own big white bunny, Mr. Hops.

November 12, 2008 - 9:30 p.m. - The Grass is Greener - About once a week I treat my rabbits to wheat grass.  I don't grow my own, but I find it locally in the produce section of the grocery store sprouted about 4 to 5 inches high.  Wheat grass is highly nutritional and full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.  It is certainly safe for rabbits.  Most people buy it to juice it and drink it themselves as a "living food." Wheat grass is simple to grow and it is a lot less expensive than store bought.  You can find the seeds for sprouting in a natural foods store or go on the web and search for "wheat grass."  Hundreds of websites will result. They sell everything from the seeds only to growing kits online.  I have never had a rabbit turn it down after a quick sniff.  Like a bunch of little lagomorph lawnmowers, they mow it down in minutes.

A Rare Rabbit Cancer - Yesterday I received an email from Bill in Northern California about his rabbit, Radar, who had been diagnosed with Thymoma and passed away shortly thereafter.  He wondered if I knew anyone whose rabbit had developed this disease.  Fortunately, I haven’t encountered this relatively rare cancer in rabbits myself. Thymomas are tumors of the thymus gland (other mammals including humans have a thymus, too). I’m sure vets are seeing it more in the last few years since house rabbits are living longer and it seems to be prevalent in senior rabbits. Treatment options for thymoma are expensive and difficult choices such as surgery, or radiation therapy.  Here are three articles about the disease: House Rabbit Society – Thymomas in Rabbits, A Miracle for Hopnoodle and Virginia Rabbits – Dusty’s Journey with Thymoma. 

November 11, 2008 - 9:00 p.m. - “Pansy” Blooms in Her New Home – introducing Miss Pansy, my new one year old rabbit from the humane society.  Her records indicated that she was already spayed, and had lived with children and lots of cats.  A cage in a garage was her primary residence.  I love a challenge. 

My 10 year old lop, Bumble, has been consistent in his daily attempts to coax Pansy to be friendly. It is going to take time. This little 4 lb. bunny wasn't very socialized and obviously didn’t recognize a fresh vegetable when offered at first.  Initially, she sat in a corner and boxed me every time I came near. Three weeks later she isn’t running for cover or rearing up to throw a paw at me.  Fortunately, Pansy is fastidious and used her litter box from day one.  As for my cats, they are polite, but she seems to think they are her rightful species.  Fortunately, Bumble is a very patient old rabbit.  Pansy’s antics in the puppy pen next door seem to have lifted his spirits.

Artful Rabbits Everywhere - Visit Kozydan -This is a website for a couple that freelance as illustrators in Los Angeles and have created some fascinating posters featuring rabbits.  If you visit their website at the link above take a look at the poster "Grey Hares" in the larger version to see all the rabbits in the print. It’s a delightful surprise.  "Bunnies Fall" is another wonderful print overflowing with rabbits.  My favorite is a toss up between "Bunny Blossoms" (on the left) and "Uprisings."   The posters are a bargain for under $20 each. 

Click on photo to see larger version or better yet, see all the hoppy posters at their link above. 

Hare Mat – here’s one you don’t have to groom.  It’s a door mat based on a 1920’s pictogram.  I believe I read they are made out of coconut fiber (and if you’d rather, you can get a hippo door mat instead).   They are on the pricey side at over $100 .  I think I’d hang it on the wall instead of let people or pets hop all over it.  Find it Here

Eggstatic over Rabbits – for the rabbit fan who has everything there are Bunny Egg Cozies from Germany. These felt bunny cozies come in gray, pink or lavender and are about 6.5 inches tall when ears flop. Breakfast is fun again!

November 10, 2008, 8:30 p.m - Dog Blogs About Bunnies – on ABC Channel 7 in Denver. There is a blog in the Family Section of their website and normally the human Ross blogs.  But, this time the dog, “Oden,” blogged about his visit to a foster home for two beautiful rabbits, Daisy and Thumper.  You can see the article Here. The two adorable rabbits are available for adoption at the Evergreen Animal Protective League Website.  The article also noted that the Colorado House Rabbit Society has 120 rabbits who need homes! By the way, the rabbit foster mom, Beverly, is an artist and she creates beautiful rabbits paintings. Click on the photo above to see the detail in the painting!

Fine Changes at Oxbow Hay – First of all, if you haven’t been to the Oxbow Hay website lately, there are some great changes.  It has a spiffy new look!  All the same products are still available.  However, I noticed in the veterinary section for health related products, Oxbow is now offering Critical Care – Fine Grind.  This is a great idea.  Critical Care is a product you can get through your vet or with your vet’s okay through Oxbow Hay.  It is a recovery food which can be given to your rabbit that can’t or won’t eat their normal diet due to illness, surgery or poor nutritional status.  

Critical Care has helped save more than one rabbit I have rescued or rehabilitated from a serious illness.  But, my one issue was that I had to mix the Critical Care powder with a lot of water so it would easily go through a syringe for feeding.  With this new fine grind Critical Care, Oxbow has solved this problem.  Thank you Oxbow Hay!   If you want to get a large syringe to keep on hand, you can find them at Bunny Bytes – Outfitters of the Urban Rabbit.  Bunny Bytes also has their Christmas bunny products online for some early shopping for that special rabbit.

I have so many photos of Bunny Bento Boxes and Usagi treats that have been sent to me from Japan, they need their own web page. 

November 9, 2008 - 8:00 p.m. - It’s a Zoo Out There – Some bunnies found a home in the Oakland Zoo recently.  Normally, I don’t like to see rabbits in zoos where they are sometimes squeezed between the goats and chickens in the “Farm Exhibit.”  But this time 14 cute rabbits are now housed in a large exhibit in the Wayne and Gladys Valley Children’s Zoo in Oakland.  From all the articles I read, it seems the rescuers and zoo staff understand the rabbits’ plight as ex-Easter pets.  Their exhibit is located next to the WildLife Theater in the Children’s Zoo. Click Here to watch the local television news story about the rabbits with a view of their new “digs.”  (Pictured above are two of  the new zoo rabbits.)

The rabbits had been turned loose on the grounds of the Laney College baseball field and then the college officials noticed they were multiplying fast.  Traps were set to catch them and a volunteer from the shelter noticed.  She left a note on the traps that she wanted to rescue them.  After the first six rabbits were easy caught, the rest were more evasive while their rescuers waited for hours to round them all up.  By the way, Oakland Animal Services has lots of spayed and neutered rabbits available for adoption.

Boy, Oh Boy – Bunnies Rescued by Family - A kind family and the SPCA in Canada helped save three domesticated pet rabbits abandoned deep in the woods. The family (including their three boys) were looking for firewood in the forest when they heard a rooster crowing so they went to investigate. On top of a big woodpile sat a beautiful Bantam rooster and in the woodpile were two beautiful bunnies they described as “definitely out of their element.”

The rabbits were abandoned with a little hay and no food.  The family contacted the Queens SPCA in Nova Scotia and they visited the site with them.  Live traps were used to capture two of the three rabbits, and on a subsequent search the third rabbit was caught and brought to safety.  The family who originally found the rabbits couldn’t keep the rabbits themselves, and the mother said explaining such cruelty to her sons was difficult.  ““My three boys are animal lovers and to think anyone could hurt an animal - they can’t comprehend that, they just don’t get that. I told my children some people can’t afford to keep animals anymore and let them go but what they should do is call the SPCA to help out. That’s why we had to save them.”  The rabbits pictured above with the boys are now up for adoption.

Finding Sanctuary - It is not only pets in the United States that are falling victim to the financial crunch.  In Bradford, United Kingdom Bunny Camp Sanctuary owner Sonia McDonough is hopping mad because people are abandoning pets they can no longer afford like the five rabbits brought to her in one week recently.  According to the article, Sonia and her family have 40 rabbits at their home where they operate their non-profit rabbit sanctuary.  She said she was seeing one rabbit a month come in and now it has exploded.  The rabbit pictured above with Sonia is six month old Melita.  This rabbit was discovered shivering in a park by an elderly couple who took her to Bunny Camp.  The rabbit’s ears were badly infected.  Visit the Bunny Camp Sanctuary website at the link above.

It’s Sew Fun – Win a Bunny Quilt! The Rabbit Resource (Upstate NY Chapter of the House Rabbit Society) has a very bunderful quilt you can win and all of the proceeds go to assist rabbits in need.  Visit the website soon at the link above to learn how to enter.  The drawing will take place on December 14, 2008.

Fill’er Up - Time to Help the House Rabbit Society Build Up their Emergency Rescue Fund – Since the Emergency Rescue Fund was began in 2007, the House Rabbit Society has helped to fund other organizations as well as HRS Chapters who need help with large rescues.  It’s impressive that the HRS has spent $11,000 so far and you can see which groups have received funds Here.  Make a donation to this fund at link. (Be sure to include Emergency Rescue Fund in the description field of the online donation form.  Also, donations via snail mail are also gratefully accepted.)

Mobile Bunnies - On the island of Funen in Denmark, Flensted Mobiles, a family business, designs and makes mobiles.  I found this rabbit themed mobile online at Design Public.  The mobile features five geometrical bunnies, all made out of circles. (Click on photo to see larger version) It’s a perfect gift for newborns or someone who would enjoy watching the slow motion of the bunnies enliven their space.  Find it at Flensted Bunnies Mobile at Design Public

A heartfelt "Thank You" to everyone who sent me emails and e-cards of condolences. I haven't been able to answer each one. I was overwhelmed at how many people contacted me about Hops' passing. I want you to know all of your kinds words and thoughts were very much appreciated! 

I miss seeing Hops' run to see me with his happy head shakes when I get home at night.  Hops was always "the comedian" and full of spirit.  He was a real joy and it was a privilege to have him in my life for as long as I did.

Mr. Hops Crosses the Rainbow Bridge - I lost my big, beautiful, white house bunny today, Mr. Hops (aka “Hopper Bopper”).  He went to the vet on Tuesday because I noticed he wasn’t eating that morning and was sitting hunched up.  Hops loved to graze on his hay so I knew something was very wrong. He was fine the night before. I was fortunate to get him into an experienced rabbit vet since my regular rabbit vet was out.  The vet diagnosed GI Stasis.  She started treatment and by evening he was doing better and eating some hay. His symptoms were diminishing. I checked him at noon today and I realized he wasn’t out of danger.  When I came home tonight I noticed his best buddy, Mr. Bumble grooming him like crazy and Hops was flopped on his side.  Hops had not been able to flop on his side since he had a seizure 8 years ago when I first rescued him.  I knew then that he was gone. 

Mr. Hops befriended Bumble my little crippled 10 year old lop rabbit and spent hours grooming him and cuddling up next to him.

Hops could intimidate cats.  He jumped over them, turned 180 degrees and lunged at them grunting. He never met a vacuum cleaner that he feared.  Once when I came too close with a hand vacuum before he was neutered, he  took aim and sprayed my head. No apology.  However, after he was fixed Hops would sit quietly beside me and grind his teeth in his bunny purr when he was happy which was often. He would wake me up by throwing his toys especially when I slept in on the weekends. When I’d come home from work he would do a happy head shake and hop to see me at the fence of his pen. He was a Lavender Point Californian Breed Rabbit who loved pets and kisses on his forehead most of all. After Hops was rehabilitated completely about a year or so after his rescue he wasn’t sick until this past Tuesday – almost 7 years later. I will miss him.  Hop's Story

 “My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today.” Watership Down

August 5, 2008 - 9:00 p.m. - Letter Opening Stars - A rabbit named Texx might need a publicist now. The video of the 1-year-old dwarf rabbit opening an envelope with his teeth has generated close to a million views on YouTube. The rabbit’s human is a young woman who is a 27 year old graduate of MIT.  She took the video of her bunny chewing the side of the envelope of her Chase credit card bill in November 2007.  She said her bunny Texx had a thing for eating paper. In fact, he once ate her homework. “I just decided to videotape him because it was just so funny,” After a few months, the head of Plankton Productions, company that operates bestofyoutube.com, featured the video on its web site. As of Monday, the video has generated over 800,000 views and counting. Watch it at:  MIT Bunny Letter Opener.  Of course, rabbits love paper and there are some cute “copy rabbits” such as Dutch Rabbit Open Letters, Too and My bunny Can Open letters.   If you want to see a talented card chewing rabbit watch:  A Very Talented Bunny – Rabbit & Cats Play Cards

46 Rabbits Rescued - The Buffalo News reported late last week that 46 rabbits were pulled from “a dilapidated ‘hutch’ in a yard outside a dangerously cluttered house" in Newstead, NY (that’s near Buffalo).  The rabbits were stained with filth and badly infested with ear mites.  One had a broken leg.  Fortunately, an anonymous caller tipped off the SPCA about rabbits and other animals “living in squalid conditions on the property.”  The SPCA officer went to the house the same day and was concerned when she saw the condition of the house and the backyard. She went back to get a search warrant and returned Wednesday with more officers.   All of the animals were taken to the SPCA where a team of vets were waiting for them.  The SPCA learned that the couple and their three children were on vacation.  Conditions were so bad inside the house he SPCA also notified housing authorities and Child Protective Services. 

You Know It’s a Slow News Day When . . . a fiery red cardinal is featured in the local paper making a fuss over a rabbit.  The bird saw a cottontail attempting to move in on his food.  I have squirrel, wild bird and cottontail squabbles outside my back door quite often. The squirrel always wins.

Hare Raising Escape - In Dekalb County, Georgia a family was trapped by spreading fire in their second story apartment.  They tossed out mattresses and then dropped their children on to the soft landings. I have to give one father a lot of credit for not only saving his children, but for also tossing out two pet birds and the family’s pet rabbit to the mattresses.  The parents then jumped out themselves.  Pets and people were all fine after their daring escape.

Mix It Up – Ming Tong is a designer who makes home appliances fun and even seem a little frivolous.  Look at this RabMixer.  It’s cute instead of modern stainless.  It comes in other colors, too.  I don’t bake enough cakes to buy one just for fun. (I wonder if Amy Sedaris could use one for her cupcake business.)  It doesn’t seem to be available online or local retailers yet.  But I like it – carrot cake, anyone?  Designer: Ming Tong

Buried Bunnies Saved in UK – a bunch of folks came together in a community in Cumberland to save some kits when they popped out of a load of chippings being delivered by a landscape company. The little European rabbits poked through the ruble and people started hopping to their aid. They carefully dug out four kits. Volunteers cleaned them up and they started to liven up.  The rabbits were small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. They went to a wildlife rehabilitator who will release them when they are old enough.  All were thriving.  One volunteer on hearing the hoppy ending said, “That’s brilliant news. “Isn’t life fantastic when you can help.”

Orange Isn’t Necessarily an Alert – I get one or two emails a week from people new to pet rabbits. They are frantic about orange or reddish urine. (I was, too, with my first rabbit.) After asking them about diet, the color can be accounted for by something like carrots in the diet.  A rabbit’s urine can vary from yellow to orange to brown to red.  It depends on diet, hydration and even medications.  Blood in urine is rare and is an emergency.  The color of urine I am most concerned about in my house is white, “sludgy” urine.  This is due to excess calcium in the diet and the urine can sometimes look like it is “sandy.”  If kidney stones develop, it can mean surgery. It is certainly painful for a rabbit. My sister, Bonnie, administers fluids to her senior Netherland Dwarf (9 years old) twice a week for this reason.  For excellent reading on the subject see these articles: Aging Bunny, Aging Bladder on the New York House Rabbit Society Chapter website and these two articles on the House Rabbit Society website: Bladder Disease and Bladder Disease in the Rabbit and Red Urine: Blood or Plant Pigment

Update:  Bumble Bunny is better, but he's headed to the vet tomorrow just in case. 

August 3, 2008 - Bunny Blog will be updated evening of August 5th.  My 10 year old lop bunny, Bumble, is ill and he is taking all of my attention. He's a tough little guy, but he's up there in years for a rabbit. His best bunny buddy, Mr. Hops, hasn't left his side. 

July 28, 2008 - Noon - Happy Birthday Beatrix Potter! Today is the Beatrix Potter’s birthday – she would have been 142 years old. I have always admired Beatrix Potter because even though she was the creator of wonderfully illustrated children’s stories, she was talented in many other ways. Despite growing up as a daughter in a Victorian era family she was an artist and writer, and known as a gifted natural scientist and botanical illustrator. In her later years she bought farmlands and became a sheep expert. She was also a conservationist and left her lands in a national trust.
 

But most of all Beatrix loved animals and the 'real' Peter Rabbit who was a Belgian buck rabbit she called Peter Piper. She said of Peter that he was 'bought at a very tender age, in the Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush, for the exorbitant sum of 4/6'. This little rabbit she called her 'affectionate companion' gave his first name to one of the world's best-loved fictional characters. (Rabbit illustration on left is her drawing of the "real" Peter Rabbit.)

July 27, 2008 - 9:00 p.m. -  "My Rabbit Hoppy" is a short film shot in a Melbourne backyard for a few hundred dollars and starring the filmmaker's children and their pet rabbit was in the running for one of the Cannes Film Festivals top prizes earlier this summer.  My Rabbit Hoppy was the creation of Oscar-nominated director Anthony Lucas and was among nine contenders for the coveted short film Palme d'Or (Golden Palm). The film tells the tale of a school project that turns horribly wrong. Lucas's wife, Julia, produced the movie and their children, Henry, 8, and Peggy, 6, acted in it alongside co-star Hoppy.  Lucas said this about Hoppy, "It's funny because I never wanted the rabbit but the wife and kids wanted a pet rabbit because they're all doe-eyed, but I knew I'd end up being the one to look after it all the time," he said.

Benny’s From Heaven:  I loved the first person article in the Columbus Dispatch by Kathy Soukup about her rabbit "Benny."  Turns out Benny was a girl bunny who Kathy had spayed.  Benny was destined for her basement to live, but never made it past the kitchen where she lives in a large pen.  Read Kathy’s article at the link above.  I could relate to Kathy’s statement about shopping for fresh veggies at the supermarket – “I shop often for the freshest produce; the supermarket thinks I have a wonderfully correct diet. And, in fact, I am starting to incorporate some Benny food into my eating.”  Hopperhome agrees that having a rabbit companion is better for your health in more ways than one!

German Police Take “Bunny Murders” Very Seriously - The victims have names like Rocco, Fussel, Marianne and Fluffy. They are the “bunny murders” — 40 domestic rabbits all killed at night in their hutches in the Ruhr Valley area of Germany. If the killing of rabbits isn’t enough, now police are concerned “that whoever is killing rabbits may go on to kill humans.” “Sadists often begin with violence against animals,” said Mark Benecke, a criminal psychologist who has been advising the police since the killings began last year.  The German police are dedicated to finding the criminal responsible. About 300 breeders have been interviewed. The assumption is that the killer is male and computer-literate because he seems to have identified houses with backyard rabbit hutches by using Google Earth.  They think he is most likely living locally. Rabbits in the Ruhr Valley are bred for competition and some as pets.  Now breeders are bringing their rabbits indoors and/or installing alarm systems.  

Jumping on the Bed & Other Bunny Fun from YouTube - Louise from Arkansas sent me this link Arkansas Bunny Rabbit Rescue 2008 that recorded a couple of good old boys rescuing a cottontail rabbit during the flooding earlier this year.  The bunny is stranded, captured (without a lot of finesse), but taken to dry land.  The rabbit does decide to jump ship and swim the last few feet to shore.  After all, it is a wild rabbit and the stress of the rescue itself was probably enough for one day.  Also, once I get to YouTube, it’s hard to leave and all of a sudden I found myself watching “binky videos” of happy pet rabbits.  Some of my favorites were the multitude of rabbits in the HRS Binki Movie,  two videos that share the name “ultimate" in their titles Ultimate Binky Movie, The Ultimate Binky.  There is a happy, athletic bunny featured in The Bunny Olympics.  Of several videos which show rabbits jumping on human beds, I liked this one -  Even bunnies like to jump on the bed.   Bernie Dancing on Lucy shows a rabbit dancing on a poor dog who really doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about.

July 24, 2008 - 9:30 p.m. - Rabbit Hero Hops to Rescue – a rabbit simply named “Rabbit” was all over the news today touted as a hero in Melbourne, Australia. A beautiful black rabbit saved the lives of an Australian couple from a fire that was burning in their house as they slept according to the Times.  Rabbit awoke his owners by thumping loudly in his cage as smoke poured through the house. The blaze spread fast and destroyed part of the house and roof.  But Rabbit saved the humans (and himself) just in time.  Rabbit is normally allowed to roam the house freely except at night when he is in his cage.  The fire commander said Rabbit had been responsible for rescuing Mr. and Mrs. Finn. "The rabbit saved the couple from injury," he said.  Pictured above are Mrs. Finn and her hero - Rabbit. See CNN video: Bunny saves couple from fire

Lucky Bunnies Hop to a new life in Massachusetts at the Lowell Humane Society.  Some good Samaritans rescued a total of eight rabbits (most New Zealands) at an interstate intersection near Littleton, MA.  They were dumped by three people and six of the rabbits have survived their ordeal.  These stories of rabbit abandonment are heartbreaking, but there are always kind people who hop to help these rabbits.  I read it every day in my research for the Bunny Blog. 

Rabbit Doll - Ted Sato was inspired by the pretty bento box food art on the Bunny Blog Tuesday and sent me this photo of a Usagi-doshi Kokeshi, a year of the rabbit doll he bought for his daughter who was born in 1999.  The dolls are given for birthdays, and other holidays and for good luck in Japan.  The next Year of the Rabbit is in 2011 just two years away.  (Other past rabbit years are: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987)  You can find the Kodeshi Dolls at Japanese Shop online.

It's Just Fine - in the UK a father was fined for kids neglecting pet rabbits – Julian (a bunny lover from London) sent me an article about a fellow who was prosecuted by the RSPCA because his four children neglected their pet bunnies.  The dad said the children “`nagged and nagged' him for pets until he `gave in'.  So he bought Fasty, Bubbles and Squeak and installed them in a wooden rabbit hutch in their garden.  The kids lost interest shortly thereafter.  A neighbor tipped off the RSPCA that one rabbit had died and the others were in dirty hutches and malnourished.  The father said: "I would urge all parents to make sure their children keep on top of their duties. My children nagged and nagged me for pets and I gave in. Then I find myself in court.”  He also paid a fine of 500 pounds. The rabbits were seized and will be adopted out to another home. 

24 Carrot Rabbits – Last month the ASPCA released their list of the cost of caring for various pets.  Keeping rabbits as your companions is more expensive this year.  Dr. Katherine Miller, assistant science advisor for the ASPCA and chief author of this year’s listing, said not everyone is aware of the equipment a rabbit needs, such as a large cage or pen, toys to keep its teeth healthy, a litter box, bedding and abundant hay in addition to other food such as pellets. She said “Rabbit food is a bit more expensive than cat food.” Annual care for a rabbit was estimated at $730 while a cat was $670. Miller stressed that although the figures released are estimates, they are not “guesstimates.” “I think the estimates are very solid this year,” she said. “It is a scientific process.”  Any bunny knows the price of hay has gone up and so have veggies for those of us who feed their bunnies fresh salad.

July 22, 2008 - 8:00 p.m. -    “Hi, bunny, You're Home”  -  There was a great article and video about a new chapter of Rabbit Rescue Started by Patti Brant and Liz Ober in Daytona Beach.  (The original group is based in Gainesville.) They were motivated to help after seeing a growing number of rabbits ending up at the Halifax Humane Society, where they volunteer. A pure white bunny named Snoopy was featured in the article.  It seems “not long ago, Snoopy was anything but pampered and loved. His owners foreclosed on their house and pet. When rescued, Snoopy's nails were 3 inches long and his collar was tightening like a vise around his neck.”   Snoopy was left to die, but now he has a forever home with Liz Ober.  (Snowball with Patti Brant above.)

Kathy Finelli who is the program director for Rabbit Rescue in Gainesville explained the difference in having a rabbit in the home.  Also, there is a great Video about Rabbit Rescue accompanying the article. 

Bunderful 20 Year Celebrations - The House Rabbit Society continues to celebrate their 20^th Anniversary with events around the United States.  Several events are listed at their home webpage link above.  Also, while you’re at it see the video made by Rabbit Bites to commemorate the HRS 20th Anniversary and then go read Best Friends wishes House Rabbit Society a Happy 20th Birthday!

Hoppy Endings - The Pittsburgh Tribune Review wrote about Wendy Weir who “was scared and confused in her new surroundings. She couldn't find food or shelter. She was dehydrated and sick with diseases from the more than 15 ticks that latched onto her skin.” Wendy is a young Mini Rex rabbit and at the time she was alone and slowly dying in the Greenwood Cemetery in O'Hara. Fortunately, Wendy was rescued by Mary Cvetan founder of the Pittsburgh House Rabbit Club Wendy the rabbit was named after the Weir family, who maintains the cemetery grounds. The Rex rabbit had to have “parts of her thick, jet-black coat of velvety fur shaved to remove the ticks”  But according to Mary, “"She would live on my lap if I let her," She has hopes that when Wendy’s health is back to normal she will find a family and have a permanent indoor home.  I like Mary’s last thought in the article: "There's a lot of houses out there that need bunnies in them." (Mary and Wendy are pictured above.)

Hopping Around the Web – Dora-Marie’s Flickr Web Page has the most “hare”larious and sweet video of her female rabbit Noisette who enjoys napping with her male cat Tigger.  See the video at the link above. Crafty Rabbits: I am amazed at some of the creative crafts with rabbit themes at Esty like a  Pink Bunny Mini Clutch Look closely at the design when you visit the website.  That is definitely a rabbit in the pink design.  Are you absolutely knitty about rabbits – it seems Nanette Blanchard is and she has a pattern for Rabbit Finger Puppets on her Knitting in Color Blog.  She has used this pattern to make puppets for the shelter to sell in their gift shop. See some adorable pet rabbits ready for adoption in Albuquerque, visit her other web site Four Corners Bunnies .

Play with Your Bunny Food  - Hiroko sent this wonderful photo of how she and her friends celebrate usagi (rabbits) in Japan. Not as food, but as foodie art! So get out your kitchen utensils and see if you can recreate this work of art!

April 29, 2008 - 9:45 p.m. - Update on Midwest Rabbit Rescue & Rehome & ZooToo – They deserve big bunny Congratulations for placing sixth in Zootoo's million-dollar shelter makeover contest!  It was a dramatic 11th hour effort and rabbit fans from all over the country supported them.  They had dropped out of the top 20, to 21, but gained close to 900 new members over the final weekend and soared into sixth place.  Midwest Rabbit Rescue & Rehome is the only rescue specifically for rabbits that competed.  They will receive $5,000 for their rescue makeover. The rabbits are the real winners here!   The 20 finalists will be presented at the HSUS's Animal Care Expo in Orlando on May 15th. (Foxy pictured above is one of the rescue's handsome rabbits ready for a new home.)

Poster Rabbits in Singapore – Linda (mom to Muppet the rabbit) from Los Angeles emailed me two posters shown here after her trip to visit a friend in Singapore.  She thought the "shelf rabbit" poster was from a 2006 campaign by the Singapore Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority.  There were several posters made with "shelved" dog, cat, rodents and the one shown below featuring a rabbit.  The other poster showing a child in a bunny suit crying in a hallway is a campaign against abandoning pets.  It’s a pretty powerful message.   A chapter of the House Rabbit Society is located in Singapore and you can visit their website at: Singapore House Rabbit Society  Click on the photos to see larger versions.

And while we're talking about exotic places - Visit the Flickr web page by RosyBunny in Hong Kong.  The photos are fantastic.  RosyBunny is mom to several bunnies and is a member and educator of the House Rabbit Society.  She also authored a Chinese book on rabbit care, "家有寶貝兔", published by Wan Li Book Co.

April 28, 2008 - 9:30 p.m. - Rabbits Short on Space -Friends of Rabbits, located in Maryland, D.C., and Northern, VA are in urgent need of fosters! The Montgomery County Humane Society is overwhelmed right now in their small animal room. They are overflowing with guinea pigs and hamsters so the bunnies are being moved to a back room (yikes!). If you can help, call Lori at 301-725-7505.  Or visit the website for more contacts at Friends of Rabbits  That's Bandit above who is just one of many amazing rabbits available for adoption with Friends of Rabbits.

Bunnies Past Their Prime – I have two bunnies one over 9 and the other 8 years old (see pic) and my sister, Bonnie has two rabbits pushing 10 years old.  Unfortunately, older rabbits are often passed by for adoption.  A story I read about Bongo last week in the Wall Street Journal has a good ending for one senior rabbit. It seems Bongo was in an animal shelter in rural Pennsylvania that reached rabbit overload and after a fight with another rabbit he lost a piece of his ear.  He ended up at the Animal Friends shelter in the Pittsburgh area.  Then a group called the “Red Collar Society” stepped in to help.  It’s a a society for people who adopt older pets, which means dogs more than five years old and cats over six. The article said “rabbits are considered old at three.”  The Red Collar Society appears to be effective since it was formed last April, more than 300 older cats, dogs and rabbits have been adopted from the shelter.

 An older man adopted Bongo who he considers to be a rakish rabbit -- "tough, aggressive and independent, like a one-legged pirate."  The gentleman’s first rabbit passed away and he missed his bunny.

Red Collar members can attend monthly programs on bonding and estate planning.  Bongo’s new human has arranged for Bongo to be taken care of by Animal Friends if the rabbit outlives him.

Rabbits in the Moon:  Rabbits in Asian myths are common particularly in China, Japan and Korea.  The Chinese rabbit moon goddess was mentioned in the conversation between Houston Capcom and Apollo 11 crew just before the first moon landing:

Houston: Among the large headlines concerning Apollo this morning there's one asking that you watch for a lovely girl with a big rabbit. An ancient legend says a beautiful Chinese girl called Chang-o has been living there for 4000 years. It seems she was banished to the moon because she stole the pill for immortality from her husband. You might also look for her companion, a large Chinese rabbit, who is easy to spot since he is only standing on his hind feet in the shade of a cinnamon tree. The name of the rabbit is not recorded.

Collins: Okay, we'll keep a close eye for the bunny girl.

In 2007, China launched its first lunar probe, named Chang'e 1 (Chinese: 嫦娥一号; pinyin: Cháng'é Yī Hào) in the rabbit goddess's honour.

Bunny Lune is a book I happened upon at the bookstore last week. (Clarion Books) Author Kae Nishimura has written a fanciful book offering beautiful art and an original story.  A big-city rabbit named Bunny Lune wants more than anything to go to the moon. His friend Pyonko has told him about the Japanese tradition that rabbits live there. It's for young children and you can find it online at major book sellers.

Child’s Play  - Students at a Danville, Indiana Middle School learn about  animal anatomy and behavior, from a language teacher arts who knows his way around pets.  In describing the Dutch bunny visitors that day, the teacher told a group of middle-schoolers: "They've been handled a little, but you have to be careful and always support them. If they get frightened, they'll kick."  It’s all part of an enrichment activities program during a new "flex" period.   Educators hope activities like these engage kids, motivate them to do better, enjoy academics more and help them discover new interests and explore career paths.  (We could certainly use more  Rabbit Rescuers or rabbit veterinarians.)

Blogging about Bunnies -  After my own absence from blogging the last couple of weeks (life got way too busy), I missed my daily rabbit research. Since I started blogging over two years ago, blogs about bunnies have exploded onto the scene especially in the last six months.  I list over 50 blogs about rabbits on my Jump to Links web page and I still can't keep up with all the new rabbit blogs creating lots of bunspace out there.  Here are a few I discovered recently:

The Life and Times of Bunnies – Gus and Betsy make up all the bunderful fun on this blog.  The video from April 28^th is cute, but the April 15^th blog entry “The Destruction of Betsy” is accompanied by a photo that says it all. 

Ruth over at The Bunny Gardener combines two of my favorite activities, gardening and rabbits.  I love the photos of the garden and her entries like the one on April 14^th called “How Much Garden Does It Take To Feed Two Bunnies?!!” 

I also enjoy reading A Houseful of Rabbits which is all about “one house 2 people and 11 rabbits.  I want to know how they find the time to blog. 

April 7, 2008 - 9:30 p.m. - Whimsical Rabbits - who would have thought rabbits live under “marshmallow trees.” Scroll down the page at the following link to see whimsical rabbit paintings by Kristiana Parn.  And, if you have ever wondered how to make a rug in a bunny shape, then go to Bunny Rug on Makezine Blog.  Plus, the handmade craft website, Etsy.com has several leftover bunnies from Easter like this Handmade Blue Felt Bunny. 

Good Bunny Book Finds for Kids -  It doesn’t matter what season it is for Anna Dewdney's Nobunny's Perfect dedicated to Beatrice Potter, "who knew bad bunny behavior when she saw it." Three young rabbits "mostly do the things they should," but when sad or mad, they can, in a flash, turn seriously bad. The author seems to adore the "rude rabbits" as well as ones who are "polite and kind and true." (This is a lot like bunny fanatics – guilty here.) Along the same lines is Franny Billingsley’s Big Bad Bunny.  It’s all about Baby Boo-Boo creating the persona of Big Bad Bunny to get some respect from her family.  Clare Turlay Newberry's Marshmallow, is an award winning book from the 1940's and was recently reissued in a revised edition by HarperCollins.  Oliver, a fat, spoiled tabby cat, and Marshmallow, a newly arrived baby rabbit who manages to convince the hoity-toity Oliver that he's really a kitten and well worth adopting. Visit Barnes and Noble online or your local bookstore to find these books.

Speaking of Beatrice Potter, my sister gave me a book for Easter, Beatrix Potter: A Journal (thank you Bonnie).  This lavish, illustrated journal describes Beatrix Potter’s life as a young woman in Victorian England as she struggled to achieve independence and to find artistic success. Using commentary taken from Beatrix’s own diaries, the journal features watercolor paintings, sketches, photographs, letters and period memorabilia to recreate the world in which she lived.

All Ears - My lop rabbit, Mr. Bumble, developed an ear infection a month ago without overt symptoms.  He was sneezing a little which prompted me to take him to the vet. Both Bumble and I are lucky since this is his first ear infection at the ripe old age of 9 ½ years. (His lungs were clear). All breeds of lop rabbits are prone to chronic ear infections.  Their ear canals can be very narrow and deformed.  The floppy ears covering the ear canal make a great environment for bacteria to multiple.  Any excess wax debris gets lodged in the ear and it’s an infection just waiting to happen.  Mr. Bumble’s ear cleaning scheduled has been stepped up to once a week now that he has recovered from the infection.  If you have a lop breed of rabbit, please check their ears weekly and ask your vet how to clean their ears.  Pictured above is a beautiful English Lop I found sitting regally in the “Bunny Building” at a county fair last year.

The Bunny Rescue of Nashville, Tennessee was featured in The Daily Herald newspaper.  Laurie Montgomery was interviewed for the article.  “Montgomery said educating owners is Bunny Rescue's primary goal. "Every time I get a call from an owner wanting to dump the rabbit here, I try to talk them out of it," she said. "Most of the problems they have can be solved with a 10-minute conversation."  Bunny Rescue takes in rabbits from across Middle Tennessee, including the Maury County Animal Shelter, where they're often taken after being abandoned in outdoors.  Visit their website above to see all the good work they do for rabbits.  Visit their adoptables web page to view photos of all their wonderful rabbits like Vivian pictured above.

After Easter Rabbit Care – There have been several articles in newspapers online since Easter about how to take care of that new “Easter Bunny.”  The Sacramento Bee published a long and detailed article in their newspaper covering most of the important issues of proper care from diet to housing.  They also gave the House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org) a well deserved compliment when they said it is the best site on the internet for pet rabbit information.  Hopperhome agrees.  I refer people who email me for in depth pet bunny information to the HRS website all the time. They have a truly comprehensive bunny “knowledge base" online thanks to their founders and hundreds of volunteers.

Acts of Kindness in Scotland - some very kind people rescued a dumped pet bunny in the UK recently found in rubbish and trash bins.  The rabbit was abandoned in a white and blue bag with a bag of food.  The little rabbit (pictured above on the right) was taken to Inverclyde Animal Rescue in Scotland near where it was found.  As the animal rescue representative said “She is only about 14 weeks old and is a lovely wee thing.”  Indeed, she is.

Pipsqueak Rabbit Ancestor – If you haven’t heard, archeologists discovered the tiny bones of a 53 million-year-old hamster-size bunny ancestor.  The ankle bone, top, and heel bone of the oldest found rabbit relative have features that resemble modern-day bunnies and allow them to hop. This amazing find was discovered in a coal mine in Gujarat, in west-central India. It sounds like this half pound ancient ancestor was a lot like pikas who are hamster-sized rabbit cousins. But Pikas don’t actually hop and so he was more rabbit, and quite a hopper.  The bones were found embedded in material deposited in land once covered with swamps and bays, suggesting the rabbit was a near shore dweller (in other words, the first beach bunny).  

Bunny Blog will be updated Monday evening, April 7th because of website maintenance due to technical issues.  I do all my own website maintenance and sometimes the problems multiply like rabbits.

March 26, 2008 - 10:00 p.m. - Bunnies Survive a Close Call - Two beautiful pet rabbits from Auckland, NZ survived a close shave when their outdoor hutch was set on fire.  The family discovered newspaper ashes and burn marks around their rabbit hutch on the day after Easter. The rabbits, Bert and Snowy, were unharmed, but Bert’s whiskers were singed.  The family is very upset since it would have been their 11 year old daughter who would have found her rabbits destroyed had the hutch actually caught fire.  This isn’t the first time the family say there has been an intrusion.  A few months ago they found the hutch open and Snowy and Bert running around the yard.  Time to make those rabbits house rabbits!  (Snowy pictured above.)

Hopping  to a Different Drummer – Last week among the articles on the perils of buying a live Easter rabbit on impulse, the Akron Beacon Journal did a terrific profile on a house rabbit living with a couple in their apartment.  The Schwietzers adopted Matilda from the Columbus House Rabbit Society about a year ago.  The article made the point that rabbits are not cats and dogs and their owners must be properly equipped and prepared to meet their needs including finding a rabbit vet, feeding the rabbit properly, and learning rabbit psychology.   

"She's been such a joy in our lives," said Susan Schwietzer. "Rabbits do so many different things all the time. She's our baby. ... Just looking at her cheers me up."   The Schwietzers gave the reporter a tour of their living room: Not an electric cord in sight. Matilda is not "spoiled"; she's "indulged," said Ryan Schwietzer. Once you scratch the surface, rabbit fever goes deep, say the Schweitzers. 

Make Mine Earl Grey - I love this photo of “Earl Grey” being tempted with  a piece of lettuce last week at the Northeastern Satellite of the Colorado House Rabbit Society in Greeley. The Rabbit Resource Center has five rabbits for adoption, and also has supplies and provides education about rabbits. The Greely Tribune wrote a nice piece on the chapter and their resource center manager, Debby Schmidt.  (That is a very intent lagomorph.) 

 And speaking of lettuce . . .  

Biggest Bunny - I want to know who goes around measuring big rabbits so once a year they can proclaim someone has the biggest rabbit in the universe. It's bizarre.  Anyway, I digress . . Amy, a Continental Giant breed rabbit, is 4 ft. long and 3 stone (around 35 lbs.)  Her bonded mate is Roberto who previously held the heavyweight title. Last year their owner had the big bunnies "marry" in a ceremony probably only enjoyed by humans.

I actually agree with a Continental Giant breeder who said in the Daily Mail newspaper, "It's a load of rubbish."  He and his wife, Sue, bred 28 lb. Dancer - also once said to be the biggest rabbit in the world, but Wayne says that anything heavier is not naturally big, but simply an obese pet.  "it's probably just a big, fat rabbit.  If so, it would be cruel.  Like anything, when you're overweight it causes problems," he says. Another article noted that Amy is fed “two apples, a handful of carrots, half a cabbage, fresh hay, and a dog-sized dish of rabbit mix every day.  Of course, Amy and Roberto have been busily breeding at their home in Worcester (UK), and their owner is confident that one of their 32 offspring will turn out even larger. It is interesting to note that the Guinness Book of Records no longer logs amazing animals because owners were force-feeding their large pets to obesity.

Hopping Mad About Hairless Rabbits -  A professor of animal and wildlife science and director of the Texas A&M’s Rabbit Research Program, is now breeding furless rabbits so they can provide “a solid and sustainable food source for developing nations in warm, tropical climates where other rabbits would have difficulty surviving.”
Underestimating the capacity of humans to have compassion for animals under any circumstance, there is another purpose behind the rabbit’s unnatural appearance according to Professor Lukefahr.  Quoting his statement in the newspaper article: "Many Americans get all emotional about when it comes to eating cute, cuddly rabbits," he said. "They've got a face only a mother could love."
The professor has apparently never met a rabbit lover before. (He probably has never heard of Sphynx cats who are hairless and adored by cat lovers or the Mexican Hairless or Chinese Crested dogs.) Appearance is inconsequential. In my opinion, there are many, many things fundamentally wrong with the entire program of even breeding these rabbits.

Japanese Rabbit Cozy - a Bunny Blog reader, Joann, sent this photo of two rabbits relaxing in their very cute home in Japan.  She made one for her own rabbits in an afternoon on her sewing machine and reports that her rabbits shredded it in record time.  Joann said she had less mess since she skipped putting shag carpet under her version.  She also wanted to know why Japanese rabbits are so well-behaved.

March 19, 2008 - 9:30 p.m. Easter Weekend at the Burrow! Kim Scharf over at the Bunny Bunch SPCR in Montclair, California asked me to be sure to mention this event.  Anyone thinking about getting a rabbit for Easter and who happens to live near Montclair in Southern California should hop over this weekend, March 22^nd & 23rd from Noon to 4:00 p.m. They will be happy to explain proper rabbit care, offer refreshments and do free nail trims.  They will also have free Chocolate Easter Rabbits while supplies last.  Easter is also the debut of "Photos with Rabbits" – they will set-up a holiday themed booth for rabbits (chinchillas, guinea pigs, rats, etc.) to have their own photo shoot.  100% of the $10.00 donation for a photo will help them to keep rescuing rabbits.  Visit their link above for more information!  (Sesame is pictured above - just one of many, many  Bunny Bunch rabbits.

Midwest Rabbit Rescue and Rehome are in the www.ZooToo.com competition for a shelter makeover. The contest ends at the end of this month and they still need help to stay in the place to win at least a $5000 prize for their rabbits. Go to Midwest RR&R link above to get information on registering with ZooToo .  They started this in October and have steadily climbed up the list.  It would be great to have a rabbit rescue become a winner.

Tsai-fi Dust Bunnies, my sister Bonnie found these online. They look like very fat, round cuddly plush rabbits with a lot of personality.  The Dust Bunnies come in several styles and colors. The artist  designs her creations from vector drawings.  This one is called "Rosey Posey."

European Rabbit – A doe and her kit enjoy a quiet moment in the photo below. This photo was emailed from an anonymous rabbit fan.  A wild rabbit who was the precursor to all the domesticated breeds.

March 18, 2008 - 9:00 p.m. - Baker Raises Dough to Save Rabbits – The Great Harvest Bread Co. located in Shorewood, Il (near Joliet) offers “honey bunnies” as a healthy whole grain alternative to live pet rabbits.  Matthew Simpson of Great Harvest Bread Co. is partnering with the Will County Humane Society for Easter. The store will donate $2 of every honey bunny loaf sold to the humane society. The bread company averages 500-700 loaves of bunny bread sold during Easter.  As Simpson said, “The kids can have a bunny, but it won’t be sent to the humane society afterward.” For more information on the store go to Great Harvest Bread Company  The bunny loaf is shown above.

A Rabbit Round-up in Kelowna, Canada was a kinder option rather than a cull some people are proposing to deal with the “rabbit problem.”  The Responsible Animal Care Society was out wrangling feral rabbits this past weekend hoping to save them from a cull.  They managed to capture 25 and those rabbits are on their way to being neutered or spayed. Several third graders lobbied a council member to find an alternative to a cull. "They asked what rabbits had ever done to me and that was it.”  As a result the council agreed to give the rabbit wranglers a chance to promote a more humane solution of catching and neutering the rabbits and offering them for adoption.

Kelowna is not the only Canadian city to be hit by a rabbit population explosion and controversy over how to rid towns of feral rabbits. In the suburb of Richmond parks are teeming with rabbits and animal rescue groups are pleading with residents to leave bunnies in the pet store this Easter.  They say if you go to Minoru Park it is possible to see a 100 rabbits within a few minutes.  That’s because it is estimated 1,000 feral domesticated rabbits live there.  See one of the rabbit residents pictured on the right. He is certainly someone’s adorable ex-pet.

Helsinki’s Long “Hares” – Urban feral rabbits are becoming a much bigger issue due to a mild winter in normally cold countries like Finland. This coming summer all previous population records are expected to be shattered. According to estimates there are up to five thousand feral and wild rabbits living in Helsinki. The rabbits have good taste in music since the National Opera lawn is their favorite spot.

March 17, 2008 - 9:30 p.m. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day I located a media file of an old Irish music box jig called Rabbit in the Field (sheet music for you musicians).  Play the file while you visit Irish Baby Hare Cam The webcam shows a pen of leverets (baby hares) located in a rearing facility in the Sperrin region of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The facility is specifically for Irish hares. The orphaned leverets arrive from all over Ireland to raise, rehabilitate and release. The Irish Hare Initiative is an independent not-for-profit group working for the conservation and protection of Irish hares.  (Photo above is a Wendy Walsh Irish Hare Watercolor. Click on photo to see larger version.)

Make Mine Chocolate!  Yes, you can have a chocolate bunny or give one as a gift this year and make it Dairy-Free, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free or Food Allergy Free! Try these chocolate makers online for some guilt-free nibbling.   Okay, they are Not calorie-free.  

Amanda’s Own Easter and Passover Chocolates
Divvies Chocolate Bunny 

Chocolate Emporium Chocolate Bunny Assortment
Sweet Earth Foil Wrapped Easter Bunnies
Indulge in Chocolate Vegan Chocolate Easter Bunny

Pre-Easter Rescues – The first was located in Botetourt County (Virginia) where Animal Control officers seized dozens of sick rabbits from an 81-year-old man with a history of animal abuse.  The rabbits were mite infected and if they hadn’t been removed, they could have ended up as Easter gifts in a flea market.  Channel WSLS ran a story Sick Bunnies Find New Home showing the rabbits in a new and safe environment.  The Angels of Assisi loaded up a van at the SPCA on Thursday and took them to Harmony Farm nearby.  They have their hands full with baby bunnies and newborn kits and they expect more are on the way.  The rabbits are recovering from the mite infestation and doing much better.  These are 43 rabbits that won’t be ready for Easter!  But in a few weeks they will be tested again and ready for adoption. See the 90 acre Harmony Farm Sanctuary at the link.

In another large rescue more than 300 rabbits were rescued from "deplorable conditions" at a rabbit meat farm in Simcoe County, Ontario.  The local newspaper reported the OSPCA are still investigating and their shelter was hopping with rabbits.  According to the newspaper, “most of the animals were female and many of them were already pregnant, even though they were nursing litters.”  The conditions were considered "filthy" and many rabbits were sick. The good news is that several area shelters joined in the effort and foster homes were also enlisted to take in rabbits. (Alisa Sears, manager of the Barrie OSPCA, cuddles one of the 300 rescued bunnies above.) 

Last year it was Paris . . . Paris Hilton bought a pair of bunnies for Easter a year ago and this year it is Miley Cyrus.  Several teen gossip websites reported last Sunday Miley Cyrus spent time with her family in Los Angeles where she stopped by a pet store after attending church.  She bought a rabbit she named Jack. While I can appreciate her desire to have a rabbit, her style and behavior is copied by thousands of pre-teen and teenage girls.  I’m hoping this is one time she doesn’t start a trend especially during the week before Easter. 

Shooting with a Camera –  Recently a crew of filmmakers were on campus shooting rabbits with a high-definition camera. The crew is filming a documentary for Animal Planet Canada and the Discovery Channel HD about resourceful domesticated animals running wild in unlikely places.  They hope to make the film into a 12-part series. According to the recent article in the Times Colonist, the “documentary was inspired by a trip Erin Skillen took to Pompeii with her husband in 2005.”  She began researching the phenomenon of domesticated animals living as feral animals and in danger of elimination by humans who regard them as pests. (The newspaper in Victoria noted the culling of university rabbits last year as part of an article on the rabbits.) As a passionate animal lover, Skillen was unsettled by injured rabbits in the University of Victoria’s feral rabbit population during filming.

March 12, 2008 - 9:30 p.m. - Unbunlievable! - Newspapers in Portland, Maine reported that a local teenager was charged with stealing a pet bunny and trying to extort money from the 16 year old bunny owner.  The 17 year old broke into the other teenager’s apartment and stole a gray dwarf rabbit.  He then called the other boy and demanded payment of a $100 or else the rabbit would be hurt.  Fortunately, the local police say the rabbit was recovered “in good condition.”  The thief could take a lesson from the young man in England I wrote about on Tuesday who cares for 90 animals.

Rabbitats for Humanity – Since rabbits are my “Maine” subject tonight, I wanted to share the link  above for a rabbit sanctuary located on the South Bristol pennisula of mid-coast Maine.  is a labor of love founded and maintained by Quan Myers. A non-profit organization since 2006, it has become home for more than 100 rabbits.  Read some of their stories here.  You can also read how and why Quan started Rabbitats for Humanity. As is the case with many of us who rescue rabbits, it just takes one rabbit and Quan’s was Harvey.  Best Bunny Wishes to Quan for helping rabbits!

On the Wild Side:  The sight of brown hares "boxing" is one of the most arresting spectacles of the countryside in the fields of lowland Britain. But the behavior that gave rise to the legend of "mad March hares" is likely to become a less common sight in the future. Conservationists believe because of a change in European Union rules about how farms are managed, the animals may start to decline after a program is abolished that paid farmers to leave some of their land uncultivated.  The program dates back 20 years and left 8 percent of Britain's arable land as scruffy, weedy sanctuary benefiting hares and other farmland wildlife. Conservation groups are urging the government to initiate new programs to help farmers and wildlife.

March 10, 2008 - 8:00 p.m. - It Started with Jessica Rabbit -  An article caught my attention from the Leicester Mercury in the UK  about a young man who took home his first abandoned rabbit (Jessica) when he was only ten years old. Five years later he is caring for more than 90 unwanted pets at any one time.  He spends about six hours a day at it before and after school.  Word got out about James and people started dropping off their unwanted pets.  He now cares for 29 rabbits, 22 guinea pigs, six cats, six dogs, four cockerels and eight hamsters.  James says that a lot of the animals are from “unwanted litters.” His parents don’t need to help since he takes full responsibility for his rabbits and other animals. He earns the money to care for the animals himself, but it is expensive.  His mother, Helen, said: "He loves his animals. I just wish we hadn't got so many.”  

Rabbits Dig a Manor House – Speaking of the United Kingdom . . . Jim and Wendy just got back from a trip there and emailed Hopperhome about some rabbits who helped dig up the remains of a manor house dated back to the 13^th century. The couple heard the story from locals and decided to investigate.  The house is located near Leamington and the bulldozer bunnies unearthed a large ornate window about six years ago.  It was a breakthrough for archeologists who had been searching the area for 10 years previously.  The dig site was once the location of a moated manor house torn down in the 15^th century.  The window became part of the rabbit warren.  The rabbits were discriminating, though; they kicked out much of the glass from their burrow.

Blog Find - On your next coffee break, surf over to the Friendly Farms Blog to see stories of rescue, adoption and fun bunny business as it unfolds at Friendly Farms.  To the left is a photo of a beautiful trio - Spot, Freddie, and their mom, Sara. They are happy to be rescued rabbits. It seems Sarah was a pregnant teenager when she was abandoned outside in the winter of 2000. Fortunately, she found her way to Friendly Farms, where she had her babies in safety. They are permanent residents now.  Friendly Farms Is located in the Monterey County, California area. They are a foster home and sanctuary dedicated to assisting in the placement and protection of rabbits at risk of euthanasia because of overcrowding at local animal shelters.

Busy Bunnies - I took a few minutes out from shopping to look over the spring books for kids in the store tonight.  One in particular caught my attention.  All of the photos in the book were of real rabbits demonstrating normal rabbit behavior.  No costumes, no funny backgrounds - just rabbits being rabbits and easy for young children to understand.  Visit the link above at Barnes and Noble.  (Hopperhome doesn't belong to any affiliate programs.)  I give this book two paws up.

March 9, 2008 - 9:00 p.m. - 2008 Run for the Buns Benefit will be held on Saturday, March 22nd, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  This event supports the Sacramento House Rabbit Society.  They are in their tenth year of rescue, adoption and outreach programs.  See the flyer here: Download an information & registration flyer here. 

Attila the Bun - Two weeks ago I received an email from Marcella in Florida who received a “Christmas present” in the form of a cute little dwarf rabbit. Just a few months later her rabbit took on the personality of “Attila the Bun” and needed a trip to the vet for neutering.  Marcella was very reluctant to take her rabbit in for the surgery since she heard “rabbits are fragile” and many do not survive anesthesia. 

Before there were enough rabbit savvy vets educated in rabbit surgical techniques, it was a risk.  However, I reassured her with the list of veterinarians I sent her, her bunny would be in good hands.  Plus, I emailed her  the following link to a detailed article by Susan Brown, DVM in her Small Mammal Health Series:  Taking the Fear out of Rabbit Anesthesia.  Yesterday I received another email and her rabbit is now a week out from his neuter surgery and doing very well.  He has started to calm down and is back to giving her nose kisses.  Plus, he may get a partner soon who will go in for her own spay surgery. Hip Hop Hurray!  (The Attila the Bun print is available from Will Bullas Studio)

Uptown Rabbit Gifts - Every year I think it is interesting to see what extravagant rabbit themed presents are available at the pricier retailers – like Neiman Marcus, for instance.  This year they have some downright almost affordable offerings like the Neiman-Marcus Bunny Paper Towel Holder, or an amazing (and yummy) Bunny Chocolate House for $47.00 with a one year shelf life and a bewhiskered rabbit poking his head out the window.  A notch up or two in price is a very pretty Basil Bunny Box for around $160.00. It’s the hand-set multicolor Swarovski® crystals in the dewlap that probably bump this over the hundred dollar range.  One of the more expensive items is the Buster Bunny Figurine at $595.00.  If you have this much cash to drop, send it to a rabbit rescue instead please! 

Make Mine an Easter Chocolate Cake – Wow!  The folks in Chicago are lucky because The Bleeding Heart Bakery has beautiful rabbit cakes available by custom order only.  See an example of one of their cake rabbits pictured on the right.  If you live in the windy city, inquire @ 773.327.6934 - To learn more about the Make Mine Chocolate! campaign, please visit the link.

February 28, 2008 - 8:30 p.m. - Million Dollar Mission!  - There are a bunch of rabbit lovers from all over the US trying to win a shelter makeover for Midwest Rabbit Rescue & Re-Home by writing product reviews for a new web site called Zoo Too. Ray Milkey from Rabbit Haven in Scotts Valley, CA emailed me about this effort.  The top 20 shelters get to compete for a $1 Million donation for a shelter makeover. 

Midwest Rabbit Rescue is the sole rabbits only shelter competing for the prize. They are ranked number 10 right now which means they are really in the running for the big prize.  But as Ray said, “the 19 runners up will receive $5,000, which isn't too shabby either.” I’m going to Zoo Too after I finish the blog tonight and sign up.  If you want to help, you can go to www.zootoo.com.   If you want more info you can also visit Midwest Rabbit Rescue & Re-Home

Hops for Hope:  If you live near Ypsilanti, Michigan (30 miles from Detroit and close to Ann Arbor) join the Midwest Rabbit Rescue for a benefit on Saturday afternoon, March 22nd at the Corner Brewery.   This event features the www.makeminechocolate.org campaign.  There will be lots of chocolate to try, a beer tasting, and a vegetarian buffet.  Limited advance tickets – so go to Midwest Rabbit Rescue & Re-Home to learn more about this to benefit the 300+ rabbits they rescue each year.

Wild Bunny Kiss - Erin from County Mayo in Ireland sent me this photo of South African native Noeline Haylett who divides her time between work, caring for injured animals and raising money to help a community in Ghana. She founded the Mayo Animal Welfare in 1994, and now takes in injured wildlife from every corner of Ireland.  She is pictured here nose to nose with an recovering wild European rabbit. 

 Bronze Bunnies - Steve Worthington makes bronze animal sculptures.  He videotaped a wild rabbit lounging on a lawn and made prints of freeze frames to work from. You can see the entire process in pictures showing how he creates his bronze sculptures of rabbits at Steve Worthington Art 

Usagi (rabbit) Habitat - Chizuko from Japan read the blog about pet rabbits being walked on leashes in Japan.  She sent a photo to share of her rabbit's home in her small apartment near Tokyo.  Click on  the photo to see a larger version.  The bunny has free reign of her studio in the evenings.  The pen makes my x-pens look pretty drab and she even has a wood litter box.

February 26, 2008 - Latvian Lagomorph Passes - Leonardo da Vinci, (Lisis for short) was the pet rabbit of Latvian President Valdis Zatlers. The "First Bunny" passed away last week.   Several news media picked up the story as “weird news.”  Anyone who has experienced the loss of a beloved bunny wouldn’t find this “odd news.”  I’m sure the Latvian President and his family will miss their pet of five years. The photo above shows the President with his rabbit.  He felt Lisis may have died from stress since the bunny did not adjust to the move to Riga Castle in the capital where he had free run. The Zatlers family originally thought Lisis was a female and called him Mona Lisa, before discovering their mistake and renaming him.

Make Mine Chocolate

is easy to do in 2008!  Last year this time I blogged about all the chocolate alternatives to a live pet rabbit in the spirit of the Make Mine Chocolate campaign.  This year the same chocolate makers have fabulous offerings, but I’m adding a new one to the list.

Up in New England there is a gourmet chocolate company, L.A. Burdick’s Chocolate  that makes a spring time egg hunt (see pic above) with chocolate bunnies.  It can be used as a centerpiece and then dig in afterwards.

Vosges Chocolates – Solid chocolate bunnies with exotic flavors like the one called Red Fire Easter Bunny with Mexican ancho & chipotle chilies plus Ceylon cinnamon in dark chocolate.

Harbor Sweets – they carry Robert L. Strohecker rabbit assortment, but also some great rabbit themed tins. (See tins shown on the right.)

Jacques Torres Chocolate – Smiling bunnies in dark or milk chocolate.

Moonstruck Chocolate Company - Milk chocolate “calico floppy eared” bunnies in two sizes.

Christopher Norman Chocolates – Retro Racer bunny - Hand painted molded chocolate hollow bunny sitting in a woven convertible.

Martine’s Chocolates – a good variety of chocolate rabbits including Bugs Bunny and a Bunny with a marzipan carrot.

Lake Champlain Chocolates -  for a big Chocolate rabbit at 16-1/2" tall and weighing 3 pounds there is “Mr. Goodtime Bunny”

Bunny Girl - a young woman has garnered a following while walking her bunnies on her college campus according to the Daily Texan.  They call her “Bunny Girl” or “Rabbit Girl.” Her rabbits, Eris and Darle, let her know they want to go for their walk by running circles around her in her apartment. There's even a FaceBook group dedicated to sightings of her. As a freshman, she originally walked her bunnies as a source of comfort on the large campus. She explains that she now walks the bunnies for others, for the joy that it brings them.

In Japan this isn’t so unusual since many bunny lovers routinely put their bunnies on a harness completely decked out in a “costume” for walks.  The following link is in Japanese, but it shows several rabbits in their fancy harness attire on walks. Usagi in Japan The little lop on the right looks like he wants to say “get me off this leash and just let me go dig a hole wearing my own fur coat.”  Well, the rabbits do look pampered even if I prefer them in their natural state.

Foster Rabbit On the Early Show (CBS) they featured a story on “Foster Parents for Pets” and how it is catching on.  A foster family for animals in Burr Ridge, Illinois was profiled with their foster pets including three dogs, two horses, two cats and a momma rabbit and her baby.  See picture above of one of the rabbits.  It seems fostering animals has seen a surge since Hurricane Katrina when many Americans took in pets of homeless victims.  The trend isn’t fading. 

Saving Abandoned Rabbits in Michigan - Two women in Michigan have braved cold temperatures to walk along roads looking for rabbit tracks. They weren't hunting. They are searching for signs of rabbits that had been left along the road. Several rabbits were spotted wandering along the side of the road recently.  Two males, both Jersey Woolies, were saved and one was a baby only four weeks old.  Another was found the next morning with obvious signs it had been attacked by a predator.  It didn’t survive.  The rabbits had identification markings on their ears associated with show rabbits. Cascades Humane Society stopped accepting rabbits about a year ago. 

Bunny Blog will be updated on Tuesday night, February 26th. A white bunny (who shall remain nameless since he's so embarrassed) made a rather large mess this evening involving several primrose plants that were waiting by the backdoor to be planted.  The rabbit wasn't white anymore and neither was a large section of the carpet which put the Bunny Blog off schedule.

February 20, 2008 - 7:50 p.m. - Make Mine Chocolate Campaign 2008™ – is hopping along since the Easter holiday arrives early this year on March 23rd. 

This year their raffle painting is "Across the Universe," from artist, Joseph Larkin, and is pictured above. You can purchase raffle tickets for this stunning 8” x 18” painting at the link. Be sure to visit their Cafe Press store; and check out the “Make Mine Chocolate! ™” pins.  

Dutch Bunnies - I recently discovered a new type of Dutch Bunny and it’s not a new breed.  Tiny Dodo is a Dutch online store that sells well-designed products primarily for children.  For instance, the Dorst Ontwerp Hanging Rabbit.  I’m not sure what to do with them, but they are kind of cute and they can hang from tables, crib side, etc.  (maybe, even from the side of a bunny condo).  Tiny Dodo also carries other handcrafted Dutch products in rabbit designs like their very functional knitted Tea Cozy and Egg Cozy.  If you visit the website, be sure to click on US currency on the left side of the page since prices are displayed in Euros.

Politics & Rabbits - In Curry County Oregon District Attorney Everett Dial is running for re-election to the non partisan position.  He is also a rabbit fan.  Two thirds into an article about Dial in the Curry Coastal Pilot, the discussion turned away from crime and law in Curry County. Instead, Dial discussed life with his house rabbit.

Dial and his wife live with their pet rabbit, Nigel, a large black and white French Lop. According to Dial, "He follows us around the house and gets rather bossy sometimes. He won't let us put anything on his chair." It seems Nigel has his own chair and ottoman, in different rooms. "He's somewhat petulant," Dial said. "He's not allowed in the room with the washing machine and dryer. He'll get in when he can, then bang his foot on the dryer to let us know he got in."

February 19, 2008 - 9:00 p.m. -  "I never met a pet I didn't like," artist Andy Warhol once wrote. Portraits of a rabbit, a cat and a dog from Animal Friends (located in Ohio Township close to Pittsburgh)  were painted in Warhol style for The Warhol Museum's "Canis Major" exhibition. The dog and the cat have been adopted. And, I’m hoping, Evelyn, the rabbit (pictured on the left) will get her 15 minutes of fame (something Warhol predicted) and find a home, too. Anyone interested in adopting a pet from Animal Friends can call 412-847-7002 or visit their website at the link above.   Warhol loved animals and this Inspired the "Canis Major" exhibition featuring photographs, paintings, screen prints, drawings and videos of animals, including his own pets. 

Bowling for Bunnies – If you live near Plymouth, Michigan, you can have fun and support the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary  Saturday, February 23^rd –  advance ticket sales only and go to the link above or call email tim@rabbitsanctuary.org for more information.

Cards for Bunny Lovers - Those creative people up north have created some bunderful cards and postcards to support their rescue efforts with SARS BC (Small Animal Rescue Society, BC)  The photos depict rescued rabbits and several other types of small animals in natural poses.  Their rescue stories are printed on the back of the cards which makes them more personal. As much as I love the rabbits, there was a chinchilla named Maggie who caught my attention and a teddy bear hamster called Jean Grey who qualifies for cute overload, too.  (Pictured: “To My Hunny Bunny” card) Go see them all for yourself at SARS BC Cards

February 18, 2008 - 3:30 p.m. -  - The House Rabbit Society certainly has something to celebrate in 2008 - their 20th Anniversary.  Started in1988 by Marinell and Bob Harriman and a few other rabbit fans, the House Rabbit Society has grown from a small group of San Francisco Bay Area volunteers to a network of thousands of members and hundreds of volunteers across the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia.  With this amazing network of dedicated volunteers, the HRS has compiled the most comprehensive website on rabbits on the internet, published a highly regarded journal, educated thousands of people over the last twenty years, and most importantly rescued 20,000 rabbits over the years. To see where and when House Rabbit Society chapters will be holding special events around the country in 2008 visit their website at www.rabbit.org.  Also, they have Commemorative items available for sale at CafePress. 
 
 Bunnies Mean Business for MS Office 2007 – Bunny Lover, comedienne, writer and actress Amy Sedaris created a short spot for the Office Online promotional campaign.  It’s called Rabbit Rescue and features Amy plus her bunny Dusty (shown on right) and friends. See Video Here on YouTube

In Microsoft’s Q&A with Amy she says this about her fluffy co-stars:

Office Online: OK, first off: how do bunnies compare with your other co-stars of the past?  

Amy Sedaris: I've worked with a lot of actors with bigger teeth, larger ears, and bushier white tails.

February 17, 2008 - 9:30 p.m. -I like the theme the Humane Society of the United States chose to publicize the 14^th Annual Spay Day USA this February 26^th.  They say “It’s not just rabbits who multiply like rabbits!”  That’s certainly true, and I’m all for neutering and spaying cats, dogs AND rabbits!  There are several events and activities take place throughout this month.  To learn more and How to Participate in Spay Day USA 2008 click on the link - Spay Day USA 2008

It’s Open House to Find "Somebunny To Love" - Leesburg Today reported that The Loudoun County Department of Animal Care and Control has teamed up with RabbitWise, for Adopt-a-Rescued-Rabbit Month. During the month of February, all rabbit adopters will receive free spay or neuter services for their new pet, a free "Bunny Fun Pack," which includes toys and treats and a complimentary personal consultation with a RabbitWise expert who will answer any rabbit-related questions.

If you live near Waterford, VA (Leesburg area) be sure to stop by the shelter for the "Somebunny To Love" open house on Saturday, February 23^rd from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  RabbitWise representatives will show rabbits available for adoption and answer questions about their care. Visitors will also learn how to build a low-cost rabbit habitat. For more information and pictures of available rabbits go to:  www.loudoun.gov/animals.  To learn more about RabbitWise, visit www.rabbitwise.org

Think twice about live bunnies - Cristina Popa wrote in the Summerville Charlotte Observer about the upcoming Easter season when kids start demanding bunnies and most often the live type.  She gave a realistic picture of what it takes to take care of “Mr. Bunny.”  Easter is coming up soon this year – March 23^rd.  There will more on that in the Bunny Blog in the coming days.  By the way, the photo is of “Taffy,” a rabbit rescued from outside Atlanta.  She is waiting inside the Citadel Mall while a rabbit condo is constructed for an adoption event.

Toothy Problem in UK - According to UK Pets online The Wildlife Information Network, (WIN) expressed alarm, at the start of National Rabbit Week (held in late January) at the extent of dental disorders found in captive rabbits compared to that of wild rabbits in whom dental disease is rare. Win’s Senior Veterinary Editor, WIN, said “"We find it alarming that the syndrome of acquired dental disease is rare in the wild rabbit, yet is one of the most common presenting disorders that vets see in pet rabbits and will often require lifelong treatment. Although, there are a few factors that can contribute to the development of this disease, poor nutrition is the most significant and is easily preventable.  As a result of this finding, WIN is going to add a specific chapter about dental disorders in domestic rabbit to its forthcoming volume: "Lagomorphs: Health and Management" due to be published mid-2008.

A Big Thump to Rabbit Dumpers - I read in Gary Bogue's column (Contra Costa Times)  that someone is dumping rabbits on the side of the road.  Apparently, someone called the Pleasant Hill 4-H Rabbit Project about 10 rabbits from babies to adults who were being left to fend for themselves.  They managed to find homes for some of them and are fostering others.  But it happened again and they are unable to help.  The Walnut Creek Parks Department rangers are trying to round them up. 

In Gary’s response he asked the writer to call him at the newspaper so he can help them come up with a solution for the rabbits.  That is going above and beyond what most columnists would do.  But then Gary has been a daily newspaper columnist on pets, wildlife and environmental issues for Contra Costa Newspapers in Walnut Creek, CA, since January, 1970 and he understands the issues regarding dumping any type of domesticated pet. Like Gary said in his column “If the person who is dumping those bunnies out there reads this, please check with rabbit organizations such as the House Rabbit Society in Richmond (www.rabbit.org) for advice on rabbit care, or for help in finding homes for your rabbits.”

Earth, Wind and Fire - These are just a few incidents of human saving their pet rabbits over the last few weeks while the bunny blog was on vacation:

Tornados have ripped through several areas of the country in the past couple of months including Arlington, TN.  A family of ten weathered the storm with their pet rabbit in a downstairs five by five bathroom. While the tornado tore bricks of the structure and imploded an entire wall upstairs the cramped family and their rabbit survived without a scratch.

Firefighters save rabbit Maisey.  The nine year old pet rabbit was trapped in an underground tunnel five feet deep in the British garden.  Maisey’s owners tried for two hours to dig Maisey out before they called the fire service for help.  It took an additional hour and a half while firefighters carefully dug out the rabbit that was trapped in tree roots.  The couple who own Maisey were very grateful to the firemen and were sure their beloved pet would have died otherwise.  "I know people might say it's just a rabbit but she's a member of the family."  Maisey is a senior rabbit and normally doesn’t go down holes.  She is pictured above - safe and sound after her ordeal.  So much for plans for a warren in the backyard. 

A bad house fire near Bellingham, WA forced two teenage girls to escape smoke and flames at their home recently.  The girls saved their pet rabbit and were upset they couldn’t save the cats and dogs still inside. But they had to leave the first floor since they would have been overcome by smoke.  They went to the second floor and jumped from a second story porch roof.  This is a good reminder to have a “pet fire escape plan” in place at your home.  I have carriers in a closet near the front door already to go.  But, I also have a “Plan B” ready if I can’t get to the front door.  Unfortunately, not all plans work and like these brave girls, the best thing is to get up and go.

February 14th - 10:30 P.M. - Unpacking rabbits from the vacation - will be back bunny blogging this weekend - sorry for the delay folks - the bunnies and I are hoppy to be back.

January 16, 2008 - Highway Mirage of Fluffy Rabbits – The Associated Press reported from Ivins, UT that “they appeared in the desert as if part of a cuddly mirage." No one is sure where they came from, but sometime Sunday, 17 lop-eared Angora rabbits (obviously not an indigenous) hopped onto Utah Highway 91. Fortunately, local officers took action to save them from a tragic accident on the road and rounded them up.  The local animal shelter representative said "They're just a mess. They have been neglected."  Their fur was matted with dirt and feces and many of them had injuries to their ears.  Since the shelter didn't have the resources to house 17 rabbits, they started making calls.  By Tuesday, three rabbits had been adopted and four were in foster care. Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, UT took the remaining 10 rabbits.  (If I get photos of the rabbits I will post - above is an American Fuzzy Lop.)

Puppy Training Pads - Roger from Texas emailed me to say he has been using several different brands of “puppy training pads” to keep his rabbits from having “accidents” on his carpets.  He has a litter box for his two rabbits, but they still find other corners to use as additional bathrooms in his apartment.  A friend with a dog told him about the puppy training pads.  He gave it a try and it worked for his rabbits.  I may investigate this even though my rabbits are very good at using their litter box.  Puppy Training Pads are sold under many brand names such as Piddle Pads, Way to Go, WeeWee Pads, etc. at pet supply stores.  Drop me an email if you try them. 

January 15, 2008 -  President Pinkerton Bunny - Thanks to Diane from Fuzzy Termites, I was alerted to a new candidate for President. Mr. Pinkerton, a New Zealand White rabbit with pink eyes will make a run for President in 2008.  Pinkerton certainly looks like he could lead the herd of current candidates. His campaign website says he has “innovative and effective solutions to longstanding problems, such as global warming . . .”  Since his little lagomorphs cousins, American Pikas  maybe one of the first mammals in North America known to fall victim to global warming,   Mr. Pinkerton will have his paws full if he is elected.  Read about this bunderful campaign: Mr. Pinkerton at Save A Bunny
 

Scientists Unveil Super Carrot - The BBC reported that a new genetically-engineered carrot could ward off osteoporosis in humans since it will provide extra calcium.  As a rabbit fanatic, I don’t want to worry about too much calcium in the small bits of carrot I give my rabbits as an occasional treat.  Calcium can cause kidney and bladder problems in rabbits. But human bones need it and a human will absorb 41% more calcium if they eat the new fangled carrot.  However, the calcium-charged vegetable still needs to go through many safety trials.  So it will be awhile before the new carrots will be in the local Safeway, and I have to take them off my rabbits’ dessert menu.

Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month – The House Rabbit Society promotes Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month in February.  The effort promotes adoption and educating potential adopters to help prevent impulse purchases of rabbits especially a couple of months later at Easter.  The promotion not only demonstrates the dedication of HRS volunteers who work many extra hours in February, but independent rescue groups who also support the campaign. 

This year the Elmbrook Humane Society in Brookfield, Wisconsin is getting a hop ahead of things. For Adopt-a-Rescued-Rabbit Month in February, "Rabbitopia" will be held at the society on February 2nd.   Bunny care classes, free nail trims for rabbits and shopping for bunny gifts are just some of the activities. For more info, check out the Elmbrook Humane Society website.

Art Without Rabbits – A large arts and crafts store chain has agreed to stop selling rabbit fur pelts and have further adopted a no-fur policy in response to a request from PETA.  In appreciation PETA sent a vegan chocolate bunny and a thank-you note are to A.C. Moore’s CEO Rick Lepley.  A.C. Moore joins a growing list of retailers that refuse to sell fur, including Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Forever 21, Wet Seal, Abercrombie & Fitch, Target, and Banana Republic. By the way, if you want to buy vegan chocolate bunnies for next Easter go to Chocolate Decadence

January 7, 2008, 10:00 p.m. - Rounding Up Rabbits - The House Rabbit Network rounded up two big white bunnies the other night in a neighborhood of Plymouth, MA  The volunteers were able to easily capture the bunnies. The rabbits were part of a group that was spotted in the neighborhood on Dec. 26th as reported by the Patriot Ledger newspaper.

According to the president of the HRN, they have been here before. She thinks someone is “illegally releasing litters every few months when they can no longer handle a large number of rabbits.” They have captured 30 domesticated rabbits since March.  If you live in the Massachusetts, visit the House Rabbit Network website and learn how to adopt a rescued animal. By the way, they have their beautiful 2008 Calendar Available in their website store.

Bunny Walking In Winter Wool Scarf - I found this super soft scarf while surfing the web - This original scarf is handmade in Melbourne. No two are alike. Felt details are cut by hand, which are then hand- and machine-stitched. It is "itchiness-proof." Not a real rabbit, (it's wool) but warm and cozy.  Click on picture to see the scarf details.

 

Bunny Smiles - for National Rabbit Week in the UK January 21 – 27, 2008– it will focus on dental health, and the painful problems caused by incorrect feeding. Pet owners in Wales can take their rabbits for a free dental check-up with local vets in Wrexham.  According to dentistry.co.uk, three out of four rabbits seen by vets are diagnosed with dental problems.  During the health check, rabbit-owners will also be given advice on how to avoid the inevitable dental problems. Pippa (on the left) is from the South Wales Animal Rescue

January 2, 2008, 9:30 p.m. - Bunny Surrogate Moms - A couple of months ago I received an email from a woman in Eastern Washington State asking if female rabbits will foster another doe’s kits.   It seems Joann had a surprise litter of two from her recent pet bunny purchase.  Unfortunately, the female rabbit, Gracie, passed away within days of giving birth, and Joann was left trying to hand raise the kits.  She wanted to find a foster rabbit mom if possible.  I referred Joann to a very informative article on the House Rabbit Society website called  Domestic Baby Bunnies and Their Mom by Sandi Koi.  I also told her to start calling anyone who might have rabbits.  As a result, Joann found a doe that had recently lost her litter.  She bought the doe outright, took her home and it was a success. The kits were weaned a week ago and the doe has an appointment for spay surgery. The two bunnies will also be spayed as soon as they are ready.  It’s a good ending for both the unexpected litter of two females and the surrogate mom rabbit.  All are going to stay with Joann permanently.  

I recently read another story on the Rabbit Haven (Scotts Valley, CA) website about Lyra, Lute and Kazoo.  The doe (Lyra) is caring for her own fuzzy lop kits and one tiny brown kit (domesticated rabbit in an agouti color) who came into her care at 14 days old (see photo above). Click on link to read their story.

"Even My Hare Hurts" -  I heard this phrase after New Year's Eve and it brought to mind Will Bullas' irreverent watercolor.  Prints are available at his website: Will Bullas Store

January 1, 2008, 2:30 p.m. - Hoppy New Year for Abandoned Rabbit - from the Working Mail & News in Surrey, England, a pet rabbit abandoned on Christmas Day has a new home after being found by two kind young men in their yard. The rabbit was hopping around in the garden and there was a note stuffed in the gate that said, “ ‘I’m not wanted any more, please look after me.” A sister of one of the men  who was visiting her family for Christmas from Cheshire decided to take the rabbit home. The rabbit’s new name is Alice and it seems she has found her wonderland.

Odd Law: In a recent newspaper column that listed weird laws in different states, I came across this: In North Carolina, it is against the law for a rabbit to race down the street. Perhaps they should scrap that one and make it illegal to abandon a rabbit instead.

Rabbit Cut Up - In the "I've gotta have one category," I came across these "hare"larious scissors while shopping online this week:  Rabbit Scissors

Click on the picture to see a larger version and visit the link above if you want to get a pair.

December 30, 2007, 6:30 p.m. Bunny Biting Art - Rabbit Dental Poster  You may not want to decorate your living room with this poster, but your vet might like it for reception area art or as a teaching aid in an exam room for rabbits. The poster shows a normal rabbit skull, teeth, radiography, anatomy and endoscopy.  It is full color and adapted from the Rabbit and Rodent Dental Handbook by Vittorio Capello, DVM & Margherita Gracis, DVM, Dipl EVDC and AVDC. It sells for $14.95 at the link above.  Click on the poster to see a larger version.

Rabbit Baled Out by Hay - Another solo bunny rescue comes out of Centralia, WA from the flooding earlier this month. Several dairy farms in the area flooded with heavy looses of cows and other farm animals. When the floodwaters kept rising, some farmers joined their cows on the higher ground of the another family farm. They knew from the 1996 flood that this was a refuge. But this time everything flooded. One small furry survivor stayed behind on this farm. It was a rabbit that was found earlier on a hay bale along the banks of the rising river. Someone had carefully placed the hay bale inside the barn and that is where he was found . . . sitting on his dinner (the bale of hay) and he certainly had plenty of water to drink. The owners of the farm nicknamed the rabbit Lucky.

Bunny "Dude" - Alise from San Francisco sent in this pic of a "rabbit" in Stern Grove.  I did a little research and found out it is a bronze created by Gerald Heffernon and it is called a “rabbinoid” sculpture.  It was created in human-scale with a human body and a rabbit head. The sculpture leans against a boulder and talks on a cell phone.  I will add this to my little gallery of rabbit sculptures.

Apple Bunnies Making food into decorative shapes is a favorite children’s bento lunch technique in Japan where it is an art form. See the link above on how to make a apple rabbit.

December 27, 2007, 4:00 p.m. - Moving Experience – The Seattle House Rabbit Society is moving their adoption center to Rabbit Meadows Sanctuary by the end of the year.  You can check out their moving page for the latest news and continued updates as their move progresses.  If you live in the Seattle area they still need volunteers for at both the shelter and sanctuary (soon to be one and the same).  You can make a difference in somebunnies lives. By the way, that is Tess pictured above who came to the shelter and shortly thereafter had a litter.  All of the cute babies are adopted out and Tess is still waiting.  They say she is a friendly and loving rabbit.

On the Wild Side:  In January 2008 issue of National Geographic they featured the endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit.  The one page story explains the challenges with reintroducing this smallest of rabbits back into the wild.  The best part of the article is an actual life size photo of Ivan as an example of their small size. He fits on the magazine page! Ivan makes my sister Bonnie's dwarf Hotot and Netherland Dwarf rabbits look large.  You can see Ivan in the magazine which is on sale now at retailers.

December 26, 2007, 9:30 p.m. -     

Hop on the Bus – a large rabbit (looks like a French lop perhaps?) was abandoned on a bus in Britain over the weekend. Marble (pictured on the right) is waiting for someone to think he is just the ticket and give him a new home. For now he is safe at the RSPCA's Bawtry Animal Sanctuary. The animal care manager at the RSPCA says “It is hitting us hard already . . . we’ve got animals everywhere. I wouldn’t advise anyone to give a pet as a gift at Christmas as a lot of the time they are unwanted. The giant rabbit was found on a bus by a conductor who contacted the RSPCA to say someone had left it. The RSPCA can be contacted in Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire if they would like a large pet rabbit. Marble looks like a real cuddle bun.

Post Christmas Shopping Alert – Skip the faux fur-trimmed clothing because some of it is Not fake. Following up on last winter’s HSUS investigation that uncovered a faux fur scandal in the apparel and retail industry, the deception continues this year. The Fur Products Labeling Act currently requires the labeling of fur apparel only if the garment contains more than $150 worth of fur.” Because of the loophole consumers don’t know they are buying real fur. And, unfortunately after testing they found rabbit fur among others. That's enough to make a bunny lover hopping mad!
 

Bunny Fun on Flickr:

Amy Sedaris’ Rabbit Dusty on Flickr   Amy Sedaris is an actress, comedian, author and playwright.  She lives in Greenwich Village with her mini rex rabbit Dusty and is involved with the New York House Rabbit Society. A friend took several pics of Dusty and shares them on her Flickr page. What a great bunny face!

Also, see Bungee & Pounder two beautiful lops photographed in all their activities like digging holes, washing their bunny faces and being adorable.  There is a handsome dog in the mix, too.

Finally, there are Two Dutch Rabbits to see at Flickr. Lisa, from Cambridge, England is a computer games producer, and talented photographer.  She has photos of two beautiful Dutch bunnies on her Flickr page.

December 19, 2007 - PetSmart Will Stop Selling Rabbits -

Hoppy Holidays - Great News for Rabbit Rescuers & Fans - I just heard that Petsmart has decided to cease their "test of rabbit sales" when all the rabbits in the stores are sold. It's amazing what rabbit news can get to me even when I'm on my bunvacation this month.   Now I need to put down the Christmas cards I'm writing and write my thanks to PetSmart for this decision and here's where to write.

PetSmart
John Alpaugh, Vice President, Specialty Merchandising
19601 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85027
(623) 580-6100
corpcommunications@ssg.petsmart.com
 

And, after New Year's let's all make a resolution to redouble our efforts to Stop Petco from selling rabbits.
 

Hopperhome's Bunny Blog will be back on after December 27, 2007.  Have a Great Holiday!

December 7, 2007 - 8:45 p.m. - Flood of Help for Rabbits - Thanks to a woman’s quick thinking in Washington State, eighteen domesticated rabbits were rescued from flood waters and put in her backyard. But a wall of water came and the rabbits were quickly loaded into the back of a pick-up, but there wasn’t anywhere to keep them safe. After coordination with Lewis County, Pasado's Safe Haven joined the rabbit rescue of those eighteen lops and other breeds.  Pasado volunteers picked up the bunnies (see photo above) and took them to a temporary homes where they will remain until their home is habitable again. Many other animals and pets are the focus of rescue efforts in the last few days as flood waters recede. See Pasado's link above for information on donations to help. 

December 6, 2007 - 9:45 p.m. - Preschoolers are visiting Bunnytown – It’s a Saturday morning Disney show for young kids that revolves around a town of brightly colored rabbit puppets. There is lots of music from disco to country to hip hop. The sly rabbits in Bunnytown can spy on the human inhabitants of Peopletown. There is a series of tunnels for observing those wacky humans. It’s fast, musical and showcases a variety of silly jokes. The musical numbers occasionally feature original lyrics and are played by the Bunny Band. So “Get off your chair and mess up your hare!”

Rabbit Feet & Sore Hocks - Today, I received an email from a first-time bunny mom who said her rabbit developed sores hocks in the last couple of months. She took her bunny, Mr. Wiggles, to the vet and was upset he developed pododermatitis since he has a clean/dry home and no wire flooring.  While damp, unsanitary conditions and a wire bottom cage can certainly cause “sore hocks,” There can be other factors such as:

 ~ Long nails that put too much weight on the back of the foot

 ~ Some breeds have less fur on the foot to protect the skin

 ~ Obesity - it puts pressure on the feet

 ~ Abrasive flooring and even some carpets 

 ~ Large breeds seem to be more susceptible to this condition

 ~ Sedentary rabbits

My rabbit, Rosemary, never developed sore hocks even though she was very thinly furred on the bottom of her feet. I helped her stay healthy with lots of pedicures especially in her old age.
 

December 5, 2007, 9:30 p.m. - Smile the Holidays are Coming! - I couldn't resist sharing this photo of Eva from the Cute Little Animals Set.  Visit the link for more photos of Eva by a talented photographer and art director Laura McCaskill on her Flicker.com web page. With all the rabbits pics I have taken, a smile is really tough to capture - it's those receding chins.

Hopperhome’s 2007 Online Bunny Gift Surfing – I did a little online window shopping for holiday rabbit gifts for both people and bunnies, By the way, Hopperhome doesn’t accept advertising so these are just for fun!)  Hoppy Holidays! 

Take Thyme and check out the third Vancouver Rabbit Rescue & Advocacy Rescue Calendar.  The calendar features rescued rabbits and their stories. It is a desk calendar in a CD case. (Pictured on the right.) Each month features a different rabbit with their story on the back of the card. Go to the link above to order.

Animal lovers Anne and Jennifer at The Bunny Store have bunny themed holiday ornaments.  The Bunny Store will be donating $1 per rabbit ornament sold to the rabbit rescue group of your choice throughout the holiday season. They really have a nice assortment of decorations like the Dutch Bunny ornament pictured on the left.

Bunny Stocking  - Bunny Bytes, Outfitters of the Urban Rabbit is stocked up with special stockings for your rabbit.  They are filled with a variety of toys and healthy treats for bunnies.  There are several styles available.  Go to the link above to see them.  Bunny Bytes pictures the goodies in each stocking so you know what each one contains.  They are original and very pretty!

BunnyLuv’s Critter Castle is a safe activity center for active, chew happy lagomorphs. The Critter Castle will accommodate all rabbits and will hold over 100 pounds when assembled correctly. The original design was created with the help of BunnyLuv's foster rabbits especially for house rabbits.

Snow Bunny from Busy Bunny This year they have a snowman for your bunny!  The folks at Busy Bunny have created a willow snowman which is all natural & chewable.  It can be used as a decoration, but I suspect your rabbit find it tasty and tons of fun.

Cats and Rabbits and More has a special holiday special! from November 15th through December 31^st they will be making a 25% donation off the retail price of all sales from their website to the National House Rabbit Society.  Take a look at all their rabbit products at the link above.

Funny Bunny Toy Co Creates natural wood toys for rabbits including a reindeer toss toy.  My rabbit, Mr. Hops loves to throw everything around except his friend Bumble Bunny.  This might be under the tree for Hops this year and no worries - the wood is safe for chewing. 

Speaking of Rabbit Tossing – Hops also tries to toss his litter box from time to time, but RabbitCentral.com has just the right litter box to lock on the side of a cage or pen.  A practical gift!

By the way, the picture shows clay litter - never use clay litters for rabbits.  Hay, pelleted recycled newspaper or pelleted straw litters are safe.

Home for the Holidays The Rabbit Stop carries the Ware Rabbit Den for a cage free alternative.  This would be perfect for a small rabbit or maybe a pair of dwarf rabbits with good litter habits.

  For A Bunny Holiday Brunch - Botanical Hay from OxbowHay.com  After testing this product this summer, my rabbits can recommend this enticing blend of Western Timothy Hay and a rich array of three fragrant herbs.  It is an appetizing, long-strand fiber brunch for your bunnies.

Sam Elliott has Hare - Quote of the Week (a long quote):  In the new movie The Golden Compass, actor Sam Elliott, has a jack rabbit named Hester as his spirit sidekick.  An interview with the actor included a section on jack rabbits at movie.com:   

“A lot of people have been kinda looking down their nose at the rabbits of the world. Hester’s a jackrabbit. Initially I thought maybe a horse, but that would’ve been kind of [tough] having a horse in a gondola, a flying ship, but maybe a little more macho kind of an animal or something. I didn’t think that way very long because it occurred to me because of where my family heritage is which is in Texas. . . I used to go there as a kid a lot to see relatives and every time I went there, there were all these billboards or signboards in those days up and down the highways and in the shadow of every billboard there were hundreds of jackrabbits. I mean like this [demonstrates] no elbow room, just fields of ears. So it occurred to me that a jackrabbit is kind of an iconic character in Texas and it made total sense that Hester would be a jackrabbit."

Also, the official movie website included a twenty question test to determine what your “daemon” (animal spirit) would be. So I took the test and should have known it was going to be a Hare!

November 27, 2007, 8:30 p.m. - Congratulations to Amy and Scot, owners and founders of www.leithpetwerks.com for two big events in their lives. First of all, they deserve a pat on the back for their recent “adventure in moving.” They moved the entire company (and household) from Indiana to Salem, Oregon cross country in trucks! I’m a native Oregonian and I certainly understand why they chose to settle in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Secondly, on November 22, 2007, Petwerks officially turned ten years old!  Scot and Amy have been creating wonderful homes for rabbits in more ways than one for ten years – they are very active in rabbit rescue (Indiana House Rabbit Society Chapter and more recently the Oregon Humane Society Rabbit Advocates) -- plus, they make terrific bunny abode condos and apartments.  That's my rabbits Rosemary and Bumble a few years ago in their first condo   above.  By the way, the door was normally open, but they enjoyed the top level for lounging and I closed it for the photo op.

Artfully Stitched Rabbit Tutorial - Betz White has been stitching felted wool into amazing creations for quite sometime.  Now she shares one of her rabbit designs on her blog for anyone who wants to try out this woolly bunny.  Go to Cashmere Bunny Tutorial on Betz White's Blog

November 26, 2007, 9:45 p.m. - Bunny Huggers Wanted! The Bunny Barn renovations at the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary were completed recently and they report the rabbits are very happy in their newly updated, warmly insulated, cheerfully bright Bunny Barn.  They had a lot of help to get this big barn finished and now the bunnies need one more thing - hugs!  As the GLRS acknowledges (and most rescuers have experienced) when rabbits come to into a rescue facility they are normally very frightened. The GLRS is in need of volunteers to help these rabbits regain their social skills.  Volunteers help by holding these rabbits, grooming them, or just by talking to them softly. It is a very rewarding! If you are interested in helping socialize rabbits please contact karen@rabbitsanctuary.org If you aren't located in Michigan find a local rabbit rescue and hug a rabbit today!

November 25, 2007, 9:30 p.m.  - Rabbit Adopts Kittens – or was it the other way around?  This week several newspapers reported on a rabbit in Aberdeen, Scotland who has become a mom substitute for six abandoned kittens.  A veterinary technician took the three week old kittens to her home where the rabbit, Summer, normally lives outside.  But the rabbit was inside due to “Bonfire Night” so she wouldn’t be frightened by the fireworks. 

Apparently, the kittens climbed all over the five-month old rabbit and tried to nurse.  Summer wasn’t bothered by all the attention and just let the kittens cozy up to her (see above).  According to their human foster mom, “now they follow her [the rabbit] everywhere. They can't bear to be without her. They're all so lovely together.”  The four male and two female kittens are doing well and a local cat welfare agency has plans to rehome them. See video of rabbit and her kittens:  

"Owners Swear By Their Hares" - the Sun Herald in Biloxi, Mississippi has a column called “Humane Helper” that is written by Christine Harris of the Humane Society of South Mississippi in conjunction with ASPCA.  This past week the column touted rabbits as pets.  As the article said, "in the U.S., rabbits have gained a reputation as short-lived, 'disposable' pets, and are often passed over in favor of cats or dogs. Pet owners who buck this trend are happy to tell us how much we're missing." The rest of the article was a review of just a few of the reasons bunny lovers enjoy their lapin pals.

Pet Therapy Licks Loneliness -  Sam a 4½ year old Rex Mix breed rabbit is a frequent visitor to a local Capitola, CA assisted living facility.  According to an article in the Sentinel, this therapy rabbit calmly munches on his favorite foods – carrot tops and basil while he waits patiently to see his friends. Several other pets also visit with their owners. They are members of an all-volunteer nonprofit called Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Service who visit once a month for an hour of unconditional love with the residents at this long-term senior care facility. “Mietz Egli saw an ad in the paper for Furry Friends and thought Sam (pictured on the left) would be a perfect candidate because he loves being petted and is really social.” 

Furry Friends is an  all-volunteer organization and is the oldest of its type in the area.  According to one of the Santa Cruz County volunteer captains, "We are only limited by the number of people who are willing to volunteer."  Even though most Furry Friends members have dogs, the group welcomes all types of pets including birds, reptiles, guinea pigs and livestock.  "Bunnies are perfect, we would love more bunnies.”  See their website at www.furryfriends.org

Hunters Save Pet Rabbit from House Fire – in a unusual twist  four hunters in Ohio rescued a rabbit.  The four men witnessed a fire start in a rural house and jumped into action to rescue a pet rabbit and a truck. The family wasn’t home at the time of the fire, but the hunters checked the house quickly before the fire burned out of control. The four men pushed the truck away from the house and snatched the rabbit from a back deck before the entire structure was engulfed.   

Fat Rabbits - A recent study, carried out by the insurance firm Petplan, showed that a quarter of all pet rabbits are overweight in Britain, with eight out of 10 vets saying the trend is escalating. They found that some owners were giving treats such as honey and even chocolate.  Carrots were also a problem since newer varieties are grown for their high sugar content for human tastes. They noted that “obesity in rabbits is rapidly approaching the same levels found in dogs and cats, of which about one in three are obese. Some rabbits are twice their recommended body-weight.”  Vets said not only are house rabbits putting on the pounds, but also outdoor rabbits kept in hutches that are too small for exercise.   Another culprit cited was “richer processed pet foods.”   Two of the country’s largest pet insurers say obesity-related issues now make up 25% of claims for rabbits.

Out of the Fire - The North County Times published a recent article on how Westwood residents have reacted to the fire devastation.  It seems in Rancho Bernardo, one family member found joy in the sight of a dirty, but quite lively rabbit hunkered done in the flooded bushes outside her half-burned family room door.  She said “When I saw it, I was so happy I just started jumping up and down.”  I’m sure the rabbit felt the same way!

Nothing But Blue Skies for Stormy the Rabbit - Stormy, a 2-year-old dappled black-and-white bunny was one of several rescued pets honored for courage at gala event in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Stormy was rescued from drowning in a flood at two months old.  He was taken to the East Valley Bunny Rescue, where caretakers expected him to catch pneumonia and die.  Instead, Stormy went to a foster home where he was brought back to health with the help of his human fosterer and two pet cats.  His foster mom said Stormy thinks he’s cat, but remains a vegetarian.  Stormy has a career, too.  He volunteers for Hospice of the Valley, visiting patients and he cuddles right up to them. 

Former Pets Take over Campus - I have been reading about the feral rabbits at the University of Victoria, British Columbia for quite sometime.  The university now has a rabbit committee to deal with their multiplying problem “that hops around campus and even delays soccer matches.”  There are so many rabbits they are now moving off-campus and into neighborhoods nearby.  The new committee plans to “. . . look at ways to hear everyone's concerns and determine the scope of the issue." Eight more rabbits were found over the weekend during a women’s soccer game that was delayed when a rabbit popped up near the goal net.  Inside the rabbit hole were eight newborn bunnies.  They were taken to a nearby animal hospital and the game resumed. (Pictured above is just one of the abandoned pet rabbits at the U of V.)

October 24, 2007, 9:00 p.m. - News for Fire Displaced Pets - Thanks to Ray Milkey of Rabbit Haven who sent this good news for fire displaced pets in Southern California - VCA

animal hospitals (in Southern California) are offering free care for displaced pets while they have room.  You can get a list of the hospitals along with contact info from their website: Rabbit Haven

October 23, 2007, 8:00 p.m. - Cats and Rabbits and More home of the Cottontail Cottage has provided information for people with companion rabbits in San Diego. They note that thousands of people are affected by the fires including volunteers and supporters of the San Diego House Rabbit Society. Foster homes have been forced to evacuate and many local shelters have contacted the San Diego HRS to foster their rabbits while this emergency continues. Although, shelters are accepting pets, many people will still need help with their pet bunnies.

The San Diego HRS has started an online list for the rabbit community to post requests and offers of help. To join the group:  San Diego Emergency Rabbit Assistance - Note: anyone can post and it is the responsibility of individuals to evaluate offers of help.

Fire Air Quality Hazard to Rabbits!  I know about this firsthand from a large fire in Carson City, NV a couple of years ago that got within a mile of home.  Leave your pet rabbits inside or bring them in if they normally spend time outdoors.  Rabbits need clean air with good circulation so find a room for them in the house.  It can really be an issue especially for an older rabbit or a bunny who is compromised medically.

October 22, 2007 - 9:00 p.m. - Things that Go Hop in the Night - Bunnicula is a children's tale about two family pets, Harold the dog, and Chester the cat who try to warn their human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire.  In 1979 James Howe published Bunnicula, and Halloween isn't just for ghosts and ghouls anymore.  Bunnicula went on to receive numerous awards as a children's favorite.  There are also two sequels, Howliday Inn and The Celery Stalks at Midnight.- Go to Barnes & Noble’s page of Bunnicula books.  The Bunnicula Plush Doll pictured above is from Stuffee & Nonsense

The Bunny is Green! – Earlier this year the House Rabbit Society started the National HRS Rescue Emergency Fund.  This fund is earmarked to help in emergency rabbit rescue situations around the country for 50 to 1500 rabbits.  They have now exceeded their goal thanks to very generous donations! They have already made grants to Animal Friends, Inc to help with a rescue of over 50 domestic rabbits in Pittsburgh; Bunny Bunch of Southern California to help with a rescue of over 500 domestic rabbits in Garden Grove, CA; Wild Rescue of Texas to help with a rescue of 45 domestic rabbits in the Louisville Metro Animal Services of Kentucky to help with a rescue of 100 rabbits from a basement breeder.  By the way, if you want to make Donation to this fund go to the link. To apply for these funds, rescue groups and shelters please Click Here.