Most photos are thumbnails. Click on them to see a larger version.

December 26, 2008 - Noon - Hopperhome is on vacation until January 5th.  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. Pictured above are Frosty, one of the Netherland Dwarf foster bunnies and one of Frosty’s own kits. (Photos: Bradley Ambrose)

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. 

Judging from the rabbit's ears going back, I wonder if he was having second thoughts about visiting tiger cubs.

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!

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 Rabit 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 Rabit 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 hum