Wednesday 31 October 2012

Halloween Prep

"Let's go over this one last time. Mr Bear - you're in charge of carrying the loot. Mr Bun - you're in charge or reminding them we want carrots, not sweets. I'll be in charge of tasting. If anyone asks, we're infant humans dressed as animals who are a just a bit short for our age. Any questions?"

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Growing Into Them

"I don't get it. I don't have a long nose - so why did Caroline name me Dumbo?"

Monday 29 October 2012

Patty Vs Bigfoot

"You misunderstand me. I didn't ask you to move because you are in MY run, or because you are obscuring MY view with these hideous green boots. I asked you to move because you are on MY foot."

Sunday 28 October 2012

Meshy Smooch

Jemima and Elvis are still living apart following last weeks break-up, but this morning her aggression towards him seemed to have diminished. I still wouldn't put them in the same space together yet, but at least it looks like there's some hope for reconciliation in the near future.

"Miss you! [smooch]"
"That's nice. Do you have any breakfast left over?"

Saturday 27 October 2012

Fresh Milk Delivery

"Mum, let me in! I want meeelks!"

Friday 26 October 2012

Serena Recovery Time

Thanks to a number of generous friends (and Facebook fans) of the Rescue, Serena had her operation on Wednesday. She is now back at the Rescue and starting her slow recovery.

"Don't give me your sympathy, give me your parsley! And maybe another bottle of that magic pain medicine..."

The lump behind her eye turned out to be an abscess rather than a tumour and was removed by the same surgeon that Whisky has been saved by on a number of occasions. Once she is over the initial recovery period, Serena and her partner Sushi will most likely be moving in with a couple of our committee members to live as house rabbits. There she will have a safe and unchanging environment where she can learn to race around navigating with her remaining eye and senses.

We all wish you a speedy recovery, little one!

NB - If you are feeling brave you can see the side-view of her, showing the extent of the surgery, here.

Thursday 25 October 2012

House of Chaos

My house is in chaos. It is a filthy mess and the smell of bunny wee hangs constantly in the air. My stress levels are higher than I can remember them being for the longest time and I suspect the few hairs left on top of my head are planning an imminent escape. Metaphorically it feels like I was carrying too many parcels, had somehow managed to balance them just enough to make tiny steps forward, then someone came along and stuck a big fat heavy one on the front. This big fat heavy one, to be more precise:

"Stop disturbing my naptime. I need to rest ready for the next big fight I intend to start. BTW, you might want to put shoes on before you walk through the lounge again..."

Wednesday 24 October 2012

The Cardboard Tube

"Thank you for this cardboard tube toy. Now fill it with treats and leave. Oh, and you can take the tube with you. But leave the treats."

Tuesday 23 October 2012

The Ponyo Review

"Me? Approve? Doesn't seem likely..."

Monday 22 October 2012

Attention Seeker

Jemima and Elvis aren't the only bunnies suffering at the moment. With Jemima in the lounge, Whisky has had his house-roaming privileges temporarily revoked and is getting much less of my attention.

"Wait - that tubby black lump plays up and I'M the one who gets confined to their room? How is that fair??!!"

Sunday 21 October 2012

5 Trips

"So...I'm a house rabbit now?"

It seems that every time I book a week off work, bunnies know. I don't know how they know, whether they've hacked into my Outlook calendar or whatever, but they know. They save up their illnesses and just as I'm trying to decide which exotic location to carry myself off to, they decide for me:- the waiting room at the vets.

I took Elvis in for what I thought was a simple case of GI stasis Thursday morning, not having eaten anything in front of me since Wednesday morning. But the vet felt something out of place in his tummy and the next thing we knew he was spending a few days highly medicated and under constant observation while they tried to figure out what was up and we waited for him to poo. There were x-rays, scans and second (even third) opinions. It really took my emotions somewhere I don't like them to be. It didn't help at all that I'd been through this a number of times before with other rabbits, having experienced both happy and tragic outcomes.

His first nights stay I went to visit him to cheer him up, but he wasn't really interested in seeing the person who'd abandoned him there. So the second night Jemima went with me and sure enough his mood was much improved. He'd been moved from the small animal ward into one of the big dog enclosures, which meant they even got to hang out and snuggle for a bit. And more importantly, there were poos!

When I brought him home yesterday, accompanied by a selection of medicines to get him through to his next appointment, I was looking forward to seeing him back with Jemima enjoying the garden. What I didn't expect was that their happy reunion would break down the moment Whisky peered into their run to welcome Elvis home. Elvis and Jemima turned on each other and wouldn't quit. Jemima had to spend the night indoors.

I had hoped today (Sunday) would be much better, but unfortunately things got worse. Jemima lunged at Elvis on first sight and I had to separate them again. Just as I was about to take her back indoors, Elvis slipped past me and they tore into each other again with great ferocity, drawing blood and leading to vet trip number five (in four days).

So another night with Jemima sleeping on the floor tonight and I am really, REALLY hoping Monday is a little quieter and, at the very least, free from further trips to the vet.

"YOU hope Monday is vet free? Guess what..??!!"

Saturday 20 October 2012

Missing my Buddy

In rummaging for photos whilst I'm filling in for Gary for a couple of days, I kept finding lots of my favourites of my special boy, Buddy. Very sadly he passed away in August due to (probably) kidney failure. Obviously, we are absolutely devastated at losing him and miss him loads. He was such a happy, chilled out dude (who would turn into a scary bitey monster at the vets but for some reason that just made me love him more), not to mention very handsome and very tolerant of his whirlwind of his friend, Boo. He gave us over 3 happy years of his company and was one of our first pair of buns adopted from the Rabbit Residence. Here are a few of my favourite photos of him. 




Friday 19 October 2012

Housework

"You want me to tidy up this poo, you say?"

"How's this?"

Thursday 18 October 2012

Bendy Sticks

There was an article in Rabbiting On some time ago about a poor bunny who jumped into his cage clipping his leg on the way in and breaking it. Even before this, Caroline and I had talked about how we don't really like the plastic cages as bases for house bunnies because of this jumping up and through to get in, which apart from anything else bunnies will struggle with when they get older. Often they will even try to use the wire door like a ladder to climb up, which makes me feel uneasy at the thought of what could happen to toes if they slip.

I myself have a 150cm cage that I use to contain baby bunnies when I foster them for the Rescue. As they get older and I start letting them out for playtime more and more I am faced with this same problem. Here is one simple solution - bendy sticks!

Available from most pet shops and easy to hook over the entrance, they cover up the wire and provide proper purchase for little fluffy feets. And based on the speed bunnies have been flying in and out of their cage this week, I'm pretty sure this configuration has met with little fluffy approval.

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Mastermind

"Welcome to Mastermind. Here are the rules. I am your master. You don't mind."

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Cross-Cut Shredder

"Look at me! A dancing rabbit! Which is far more interesting than what may or may not have happened to your newspaper..."

Monday 15 October 2012

Gonna Be a Contender

Well just as I am finally convinced that Rocket isn't randomly biting people for no reason any more, we have another crazy chomper in. Meet Rummy, who has already had a go at Caroline (who saw the attack coming and dodged) and two of the volunteers (who didn't). Very painful for those that have fallen foul of his temper, but for the rest of us this little guy is so tiny it's hard to take his tough attitude very seriously! Just look at that cute little Netherland Dwarf face!

"So what is the record for chomping volunteers that this Rocket dude holds?"

"Because, Mr Camera Guy, I think I just figured a way to get one closer to beating it..."

Sunday 14 October 2012

Saturday 13 October 2012

Headlock to Finish

"I submit, I submit!!!"

Friday 12 October 2012

Thursday 11 October 2012

Those Eyes...

"Watch and learn, Blinky, as I stare deep into this stupid humans eyes and just will him to bring us more snacks..."

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Flat for the Feets

After some grooming and claw clipping last night, Whisky decided that he needed to go over everything again to make sure I hadn't left any fur out of place.

After several minutes doing his ears, front and back he did something I'd not seen him do before - because why do all that stressful sitting up to clean your front paws when you can do it lying down?

"[shlurrrp]"

Tuesday 9 October 2012

I Didn't Dig It

"Digging a tunnel? No, no, I was just erm... looking... for some loose change I dropped earlier. Yes, that's it, that's the completely believable and not at all suspicious thing I was doing just then."

Monday 8 October 2012

Shocking Bills

One of the common misconceptions of rabbits is that they are a cheap pet to keep. I am always eager to educate people and give them a more realistic perspective, which sometimes is achieved by telling them roughly what Whisky's vet bills have been for each year I've had him. It's difficult to describe the reaction this gets, so I asked Aero to watch some of the visitors this week while I told them and then attempt his best impression of what he saw.

Sunday 7 October 2012

Superbu

"Hmmm... Cape yes, hat no. Now, get me a side-kick outfit for Malibu and a catchy theme tune and I think we're ready to fight crime. "

UPDATE: Having realised I got Bacardi and Malibu's names round the wrong way, I have corrected the tag, switched the names and will shortly be apologising to the bunnies.

Saturday 6 October 2012

Here Cometh The Dandelion Man

"Ah, good man, you're here. What tasty breakfast treats have you brought to fill my delicate tummy this week?"

Friday 5 October 2012

Thursday 4 October 2012

Crazy. Really, Really Crazy.

When you first take delivery of a new baby foster bunch from Caroline they are often indistinguishable. Just 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 little excitable floofs that tear around in all directions until food appears (despatched in a floofy swarm) or it's naptime. But as time goes by they grow, their personalities develop and despite having the same environment and interactions with the world, they all turn out differently. One might become exceptionally friendly (Arrietty), one might be a little shy (Nausicaä), one might turn out to be exceptionally sweet (Yuki), one might even prove to be a bit piggy (Rei). And if you are really lucky, one will turn out to be absolutely, super-confidently, no-sense-of-danger, run-up-the-walls, jump-up-on-your-head crazy. This bunny, this time, is Ponyo.

"What? If you don't want me to jump up on your head, don't come at me with the nail clippers. Simple."

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Thoughts for Serena

No funny tale today. Instead I'd like to update you on sweet little Serena, who lived in my house with her partner Sushi last winter. Currently living at the Rescue, she has been doing really well in the warmer weather despite her stiff legs, but we found out today that she has some sort of tumour or abscess growing behind one of her eyes.

We are hoping to have her seen by a vet who has experience with this issue in rabbits to see what the best treatment might be, so please pray, send good vibes or just think positive thoughts for our dear Serena. I will update you when we know more.

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Rocket Escapes

Rocket is a bunny so fearsome and with such a history of liberating blood from inside volunteers that the gate to his warren has big blue "danger" signs on both sides.

Putting up those signs was entirely necessary. Passing visitors would see a cute little orange bunny, full of character, come bounding up to the front of his warren, stand high on his back legs and put his paws on the gate. They'd think "Awwwww, look at that little cutie, he wants a nose rub!", then they'd start to lean over the gate...

Rocket's perspective was entirely different. From afar, he'd see a stranger approaching his gate. "I'd better warn them off" he'd think. After charging towards them didn't seem to work, he'd rear up and throw his ears back to show he was ready to fight to defend his territory. But if they still came at him, he was fully tensed and ready to launch into the air to bite back...

There was a time when he was relentless. You could barely get through the gate at all, let alone anywhere near his shed to clean. But these days he is somewhat more forgiving of people, especially those bearing snacks, though I still advise people not to lean over him.

So it was with some slight dread that I discovered he had dug under the fence into the next warren and was refusing to go back. There was nothing for it but to, [gulp], pick him up.

I didn't know whether to feel relieved or terrified when I crouched down to try and grab him and he immediately jumped straight into my lap. I quickly realised there was no aggression in his actions and it didn't take me too long to figure out what he was up to. All those times I've sat on the ground in his run feeding him parsley, teaching him people are not out to harm him, he just thought it was snack time.

He was none too happy when I cradled him, stood up and carried him back to his own house. Not wanting to leave him with negative feelings towards me, after I'd filled the hole to prevent further Rocket adventures I really had no choice but to come back and remind him why he started trusting me in the first place.

"I am Rocket, hear me roarrmmmmnom..nom.nom... What was I saying again?"

Monday 1 October 2012

Cookie Vs the Parsley

"I shall defeat and devour you, my green curly foe!"