Monday 30 November 2015

Letters

"OMG! November's over already?! We'd better start on our Xmas list! How do you spell those things carrots come in, is it 'sacks' with a 'c k' or 'sax' with a 'x'?"

Sunday 29 November 2015

Menu Of Dreams

As Whisky's health and condition gradually deteriorate, the rare moments of what was once normality become delights. The head-butts and paw-punches that show me there's still a bit of fight in him, the bugging me for carrot sticks when the feelings of resentment in him subside enough to want to be in the same room as me. It's strange how experiencing such simple joys can bring you to tears though.

For Whisky, there are other highlights in his day. Having exhausted most of the healthy options and being at a point where we just want him to eat something, we have given him complete control over large parts of his own diet.

"This breakfast muesli is pretty good but it could do with a tastier topping than pro-biotic powder... Do we have any carrot and apple sprinkles? Bring the big jar. And leave it."

Saturday 28 November 2015

Bolder Dash

I don't know what has been happening in my absence, or whether the weather is just making bunnies more eager for food to fatten up for winter insulation, but many of the usually cautious bunnies were uncharacteristically bold today. Some who would normally hide or keep a safe distance were racing towards me demanding food.

My favourites were Pea, Pod and Cosmos. Sure, they have often taken treats from my hand, but today they actually FOLLOWED ME ROUND while I fed their neighbours, pretty much demanding their breakfast! It was both sweet and hilarious!

"You know what's hilarious? We get to eat the tasty food, while you humans get to clean out our litter trays. Enjoy!"

Friday 27 November 2015

TGPGHFA - Pt 5

"Hey! Where's MY parsley??!!"

Thursday 26 November 2015

Wednesday 25 November 2015

TGPGHFA - Pt 3


When asked for parsley pictures for the theme, I realised I didn't have any. However, I did have a bag of parsley and a lot of test subjects. This turned out to be more difficult than I expected due to the sudden hyperactivity created by the appearance of little green sprigs but I eventually convinced a fairly shy rabbit to slowly creep out and sit still.


As for the others... Well, let's just say they weren't prepared to wait for me to sort the camera out.


Tuesday 24 November 2015

TGPGHFA - Pt 2

As you can see, we have a theme for this week...

Sunday 22 November 2015

Stress and Medicine

"I thought I told you not to take photographs from my bad side?"

This is nearest I've gotten to being bossed about by Whisky today as he is not feeling too well. His respiratory issues a few weeks back seemed to start a period of not eating much hay which affected his digestion, the antibiotics to treat the respiratory issues just seemed to make his digestion issues worse. He is now mainly ticking along eating a terrible diet of carrots, muesli mix and syringe food (and he hates syringe food). He flat out refuses to eat the good quality pellets that he loved his whole life until now. His eyes are weeping as well and his tail end needs multiple cleans a day due to the goo that comes out of him. Basically, he is a bit of a mess.

We do have a new medicine to start today, so we will see how that goes. In his mouth and then his tummy, is what I am hoping, but with the week I'm having I'll probably end up just wearing it.

Saturday 21 November 2015

You Lose Some

When I went to put the fresh veg into the snackbarrow before breakfast I found not only a small amount veg left over from yesterday, but also a large number of poos. Almost like somebun had spent a fun afternoon just grazing the rest of the veg away.

So todays task: Keep Mr and Mrs Tubby-Fatbottom out of the barrow.

I think I succeeded, but it didn't feel like much of a victory. Probably because, after leaving the barrow unattended for a few minutes to retrieve some special diet snacks for sick bunnies from the other end of the Rescue, I returned to find this:

"...nom.nom.nom..."

"Uh-oh."

"Erm...we were just helping you clear up this veg that...er...fell out the snackbarrow entirely of its own accord. So, really, you should probably thank us for helping...with some treats?"

Well Boadicea, I would give you some carrot tops, but strangely none of the carrots in the snackbarrow appear to have tops anymore. I guess they fell off the carrots of their own accord too, did they?

Thursday 19 November 2015

I Promise

"And so concludes the demonstration. Now, if you don't get with the snacks pronto, it'll be more than just a plastic stool I'll be putting on its head."

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Family


As many volunteers will know, some of the rabbits at the rescue have a greater link to me than others- four of the residents, Beyonce, Kylie, Christina and Cindy, are in fact my 'granddaughters'.

I adopted their father, a little black and white Netherland Dwarf called Oren (RRR name Mr Jinx) in 2008 when his twelve children were only babies, just a couple of months old but the same size as their father due to the interesting choice of mother- Amelia was a large breed with a lithe frame, absolutely nothing like her partner at all.

Both parents have since passed away (coincidentally within a week of each other) but their legacy lives on. I find the result of the crossbreeding to be vaguely entertaining... what do we call them, Netherland Giants? It's clear to see that they get their larger size and, in the case of the trio, dark colour from their mummy but not one actually looks like her whatsoever. I see Oren in them far more because alongside the shorter ears, every single one of them is round and fat like their daddy.

"Hey, did you hear what she just called me?! Are you going to let her get away with that?!"

"Hey, be careful how you talk to my lady! Now, if you don't mind, I'll just hoover up this lot so she doesn't get any fatter."

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Miley


One rabbit that has featured in the blog in the past is Miley, alongside her big and popular husbun Nelson. Both rabbits lived in one of our fancy Special Needs Units, mainly due to Nelson's continual poor health that often was a consequence of his previous mistreatment, and ruled the grass area alongside. Whenever their door was opened they automatically assumed it was time for them to run around, regardless of whether or not it was actually their turn. With Nelson requiring a lot of exercise as a large breed rabbit and to build up his weakened muscles, they usually got their wishes and so they became two of the more well known characters around the rescue.

Unfortunately, after Nelson's unexpected passing at the beginning of August, Miley had to give up her coveted SNU in favour of various other special needs pairs and was clearly lonely and anxious without him, however as well as the summer months being by far our most busy time of year in other areas, her chronic dental issues and development of ear abscesses requiring daily treatment meant she was not considered suitable for putting through bonding at that time.

Sadly, after surgery that was designed to correct her ear abscess issues, complications arose that meant that last Saturday a decision had to be made and I regret to inform you all that despite our good intentions in trying to prevent a lifetime of daily health care, she is now reunited with her Nelson.


Binky free Miley, I hope your new grass area is big and lush.

Monday 16 November 2015

A Winning Mouf

Monday Mouf is not a competition, but if it was, I know somebun that would be a contender for the top prize...

"I won Monday Mouf?"

"I WON MONDAY MOUF!!!!"

No Gabriel, I was just saying... Oh well, maybe I'll just let him have his moment.

Sunday 15 November 2015

A Sunday Out Of Sight

"WHY am I hiding under the table? Because I don't trust you - this time yesterday you made me eat syringe food that smelled like my butt!"

Along with his digestive issues, Whisky has an 'uneaten caecotrophs' problem. His vet had a suggestion for how to get his gut bacteria back into balance. I'm just wondering if Whisky's going to make me pay when he figures out why the syringe food smelled like his butt...

Saturday 14 November 2015

When The Munching's Over...

Too easy to get distracted staring at those nomming little chompers. Not sure I've left enough time and parsley to escape. Oh well, the peace was nice while it lasted...

...nom.nom.nom...

Saturday Saturation

"Well that's it, is it? I've got to eat my breakfast out here in the rain? Let me show you my unimpressed face."

BHV: Isn't that just the same face you usually look at me with...never mind. Maybe I'll just go see if we have any bunny-sized umbrellas.

Thursday 12 November 2015

Grumpy...But Clean

This last few weeks, following a course of antibiotics, we were battling bottom leakage while we waited for Whisky to start eating enough hay and caecotrophs for his digestion to head back towards normality. Instead it continued to get worse, lots of goo gurgling out from under his tail leaving a trail wherever he went, turning to pools of gooey liquid and soaking his rear anywhere he sat. Needless to say, we were spending quite some time every day trying to keep his fur (and the carpets) clean.

So back to the vets we went and now have a new bottom cleaning and diet regime on top of all the nebulising and nose wiping we are still doing.

Only one day in, but last nights clean-up seemed lighter and had to be paused while an actual, fairly dry, well formed (though a bit small) poo came out. I am hoping this is a good sign. It almost made up for all the tiny fluffy grumpiness I found myself on the wrong end of...

"One is not impressed. One is considering one's response. In the meantime, one of these containers had better have something VERY tasty in it..."

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Try Saying No


A lot of our rabbits have to share what we call "binky areas"- grass enclosures where they can roam around, play and graze while staff are at the rescue to supervise them. When I clean out, I do try to give the inhabitants a quick run around while their houses are undergoing work but it isn't always possible if it is not their Turn.

When that's the case, it does mean that some residents have to resort to emotional blackmail...


Tuesday 10 November 2015

Tuesday Tail #58

This photo is from a few weeks back, I believe I am just out of shot to the left getting mildly chomped. That said, out of me and Valentino, I'm still not sure I got the worst end of this deal...

Monday 9 November 2015

Step Up 2 - Jester Boogaloo

BHV: OK bunnies, it's Monday, who wants to be todays Monday Mouf?

"I've not done it for a while, I might be interested..."

BHV: Well Jester, it's Monday and we want to cheer the readers up with a big smile to start their week. Do you think you could manage that?

"Maybe. What's the going rate for a Monday Mouf these days? I don't just roll out the old Jester smile for nothing you know..."

BHV: Since it's you, how about some grated carrot? What do you say to that?

BHV: Thought so.

Sunday 8 November 2015

Sunday Selfish

"You woke me for a selfie? I thought you said snackies! Well forget that then, after I've finished weeing in your slippers I'm going straight back to my nap."

Saturday 7 November 2015

Saturday Morning Breakfast Carrots

I have decided to give in to what I believe was Samosa's plan all along - the only sure-fire way to avoid a good chompin' from those teefs is to be super-quick stuffing snacks in their way.

"...nom.nom.nom..."

"You've nuffin' to fear from my teefs."

"And for as long as I'm getting these good carrots with the tops for breakfast, I'll be happy to put a good word in with Samosa for you and your fingers..."

Friday 6 November 2015

Thursday 5 November 2015

Wild Beasts


While we the humans didn't do anything special for Halloween down at the rescue, it seems that some of the rabbits got into the spirit of things that day...


A pair of wild beasts appeared before me, their eyes red with the blood of their victims! (Now that I think about it, where did that new volunteer go?) I was almost tempted to check to see if their nice grass-nomming little teeth had turned more decidedly long and pointy...

"What? I haven't GOT any teeth... and you pressed the wrong button on your camera, silly human! Now stop waving that thing in my face and bring me my dinner!"

Wednesday 4 November 2015

The 2016 RRR Calendar

Since we are on the theme of fund raising today, here is some exciting news from Amy...

Hi everyone,

As many of you know we sell calendars each year to raise funds for the rescue. The 2016 calendars are now ready for sale! They come as either a wall calendar or a desk calendar. If you would like to order a calendar please email rabbit_residence@hotmail.com and state how many of each type you would like. Postage is per calendar as its calculated by the weight of the package.

Wall calendars are £10 each + £1.20 postage*.

Desk calendars are £7.50 each + £1 postage*.

This year one of our volunteers has been making keyrings to raise money for the rescue. They feature a photo of a rescue bunny on one side and the rescue logo on the other. These are £1 each + £0.75 postage*. If you would like to order one please email us on the above email address.

(*Note: Postage amounts given are for UK orders - we will post overseas, but please email for more info on costs)

Payment can be made via paypal to rabbit_residence@hotmail.com. Please send it as a gift so we don't get charged a fee and add a comment so we know that you're paying for calendars. Once we have received your order and payment we will confirm the delivery address and send your order to you.

All profits from the calendars and keyrings go directly to the rescue to help care for our rescue rabbits.

Thanks,

Amy


BTW I have just heard that both Sprat and Bugsy came through their ops OK and are back at the Rescue recovering, having each had two molars removed (plus Sprat's abscess). Not eating yet, but hopefully after a bit of time and some tasty syringe food they will be back to their old selves. Thank you to everyone who has already donated!

The Teefs of Sprat

I think Pandoren may have forgotten to publish the post she drafted for today, but that's OK, it gives me a chance to post about one of my dear little fluffy friends.

Former foster Sprat is a real favourite of mine having once lived in my house and been temporally somewhat of a pal to Whisky. He is also I think the last remaining of Camilla's offspring, his siblings having succumbed to various issues I suspect resulted from bad breeding.

Well anyway, I am posting about him today because he is at the vets as I type this, along with his partner Bugsy, getting dental surgery. He has a newly discovered jawbone abscess to be operated on and a molar that needs removing. Bugsy, coincidentally, is in for a dental as well.

I try to avoid bothering readers here with requests for donations, so many of you are already very generously giving as part of the RRR monthly sponsorship scheme, but as he is such a special little guy I am going to make this exception. So here goes: if you are interested in donating towards Sprat's surgery, you can find information about the different methods on our website.

With that out of the way, here's the handsome little bun himself...

"I'm at the vets? Is this a dream? If so, where is the grated carrot mountain that's in all my other dreams?"

Thank you for reading and thank you for supporting our Rescue.

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Tuesday Tail #57

Of over 200 rabbits in the care of the RRR, most will come running if they think I've come packing snacks. Some of those will even straight up mug me for food.

A few of the ones with wild blood will keep to themselves, but that is to be expected.

But we do have a small handful of completely domestic residents who, for whatever reason, still maintain their cautiousness and suspicious nature around any volunteer they don't see every day. Snooki is one of those residents.

"Let me explain to you the geometry of personal space. See this line? While you are in my aviary, your space is that side of it and mine..."

"..."

"...is way over here behind this one. Simple, eh?"