Why Such a Bunny Rabbit Lover You Ask???
Why am I a Bunny Rabbit Lover??? hmmm...where to start...
First of all let me say, I love ALL animals!!! ALL ANIMALS!!!
But I have a little soft spot for those furry little hopping creatures that can be somewhat of a mystery to many people.
I learned this, unfortunately, the hard way. It was years ago when I was volunteering at a shelter, which, for the most part, focused on cats and dogs. When I first walked in, I saw a White New Zealand Rabbit in a small cage, under a counter and behind a cage door. So I asked the people about this rabbit. Why is he/she under there? Why is he/she in such a small cage? How long has he/she been here? What's his/her name? I got almost no answers. What I did get, which is common in a large majority of shelters, was the answer, "We don't really know much about rabbits." I was shocked!!!
I thought to myself, "Well then maybe you could have learned! Never treat any animal like this!"
I didn't know much about Bunnies but even I knew this was just plain wrong!
So that is just what I did...I read books, I searched internet sites, I eventually became a member of a rabbit rescue (House Rabbit Network), I BECAME INFORMED...I then taught the rest of the staff about what I learned, wrote a manual for the staff, made up adoption packets for rabbits, including, everything they would need to know to have a Happy House Bunny and lastly I gave them my name and number just incase they had ANY questions at all. I took charge.
Unfortunately, I was, at the time, unable to adopt this poor rabbit, so I set her up in a dog crate and gave her the utmost comfort I was able to give. I made sure there was a feeding chart for the volunteers, plenty of fresh veggies, hay, pellets, and fresh bedding always available. I also made sure that EVERYDAY she got out to run and play. (This is something she had been denied of for almost two years.) When I first let her out she was unable to hop!!!
I then knew I needed to get her out of the shelter and into a home. So I soon became friends with the rabbit rescue I had known about, The House Rabbit Network (HRN). I spoke to them day and night until there was a foster home available for my sweet little "Monkey" (which she was soon named by me).
Well I stayed very close to her and her foster and we saw each other often. The problem??? The foster had so many bunnies (she was an angel) that Monkey was not able to get the undivided attention she so desperately needed in order for her to come out of her shell. So in speaking with her foster mom, Cheryl, I said I would "just foster her"...and I did...for the rest of her life!
Since this had all happened, I have learned so much and tried to educate others as to what amazing, smart, silly and loving animals bunnies are.
So now what??? My ultimate goal is to spread my experience and knowledge with others who may need it. I hope to allow others to share stories, read about other "bun lovers" who have stories, and most of all be here for you and your buns as a Bunny Buddy to help answer questions that may pop up in your everyday life with your furry little angels.
Christie
