Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue, Inc.

Welcome Mama & the Piggies!

2011-11-05T12:55:00.002-04:00

We know...you've never seen anything so cute before in your life. Introducing Mama & the Piggies! Poor Mama had countless babies in her lifetime- but these will be her last! She came into the county shelter with 8 others and Mama was pregnant! She gave birth just days after getting there. She is a wonderful mother and the sweetest guinea pig ever. Oh, and these babies...definitely the cutest animals we've ever seen! Luckily, we already have an adopter (one of our past adopters and foster moms) who is interested in ALL 3! What a happy ending that would be for this amazing trio. Stay tuned for updates! ♥

Congratulations Benny!!!!

2011-11-05T12:54:00.000-04:00

A BIG congratulations to Hug-a-Bunny Benny on finding his "forever home" with the wonderful Lauren! Benny was left in a cardboard box outside one of our foster mom's homes (one reason we do not meet at our homes). He was in horrible shape and it was obvious he had endured a life without a lot of love. Luckily, Benny was a resilient boy with an amazing spirit! He gained weight immediately and quickly became one of our happiest and most laid back fosters ever! Finally, Benny has a home of his own who will cherish him forever! Congrats to Benny...enjoy living the "good life!"

Congratulations Chex!

2011-11-05T12:52:00.000-04:00

A big congratulations to Chex (one of the "Miracle Babies") on his wonderful new home! Chex's new human brother made this card for us (with the help of his mother) to thank us for bringing Chex into their lives. We wish Chex a lifetime of happiness in his "forever home!"

OUR 260th ADOPTION!

2011-11-05T12:49:00.002-04:00

Thanks to all of your support, we were able to attain another goal that we never thought possible. Yesterday, we had our 260th adoption! This was a huge accomplishment for us and we are so proud! Most importantly, we're happy for all of our 260 rabbits who have found amazing "forever homes!" Each one has touched our hearts and will remain there forever. Take a minute to browse through our "Hoppy Tails" section of our website(hugabunny.petfinder.com) to see all of the amazing animals who have been lucky enough to find permanent homes! Our incredible Benny was our 260th adoption. Congratulations to Benny and all of our 260 adopted Hug-a-Bunnies!

Introducing...MAYA!

2011-03-03T21:58:00.001-05:00

Introducing...MAYA! Naming entry by Jaaini Brinckerhoff, mom of our amazing Smuckers (adopted in 2008). Maya was named after Maya Angelou-for being fearless and for the courage and perseverance she showed over her year outdoors on her own. Thank you everyone for entering the contest!

Maya settling into her foster home

Maya will be sharing her quotes with you as often as she can.

Today's quotes directly reflect Maya's journey!

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." -Maya Angelou

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow." -Maya Angelou

Enjoy your new name and new life, sweet Maya!

A Whole New World

2011-03-01T21:59:00.001-05:00

Jess and the newest Hug-a-Bunny...right after being rescued

This sweet girl has been living outdoors for a year! She was abandoned by her family when they moved away a YEAR ago! Apparently, they had other rabbits and 4 cats- all who were let outdoors when they moved away and didn't want them. The cats are still in and out of the abandoned house, but all of the rabbits vanished- except one. For a whole year, which amazing girl has been living outdoors around her former (now abandoned) home and never left the property. She would go one house to the left or right, but never went farther. For a full year, she's been fending for herself. It's amazing that she survived this tough winter!

Some sweet and caring neighbors noticed that she was outdoors and wanted to do something about it. For days, they set traps with carrots inside, but she was too smart to fall for that. They reached out to us late last night and by this afternoon, we had 4 Hug-a-Bunny volunteers show up to get to work- me (Jamie), Tammie, Jessica (in picture above), and Jeri (a talented bird rescuer) all dropped everything to be there. The rabbit gave us some nice exercise to make sure we deserved to get her. We needed a few extra hands, so we asked some boys from the neighborhood to help. We all got the sweet bunny safely into one area (using my window screens, of course) and Jeri was able to get her into her net! I immediately picked her up and gave her a BIG kiss...today was her lucky day! Today, she felt love for the first time in her life. Right after I hugged her, Jess took her and hugged her too- see above picture for proof! So many people seamlessly bonded together to make sure she was safe and secure. Goes to show you what a little teamwork can do! Tonight is the very first night this sweetie will be indoors in a loving, warm home. Even before she was "homeless" she was living outdoors in a shed. This truly is a rags-to-riches story. She's on the search for her "forever home," but there's a long road ahead before that happens. Let's take it one step at a time!

Enjoy your first night of the rest of your life!!!!

Stay tuned for updates on this sweetie- and for her name! We're currently having a naming contest on Facebook to see who comes up with the perfect new name for her!

Tribute to a Wonderful Woman

2011-02-27T10:29:00.005-05:00

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we share this news with you. Our vet and personal friend, Dr. Cheryl Welch, passed away this week on Wednesday, February 23rd, after a brave fight with cancer. Cheryl was diagnosed on January 13th, only a little over a month ago. Losing Cheryl is a great loss to our community and to the whole world. She was a true advocate for animals and loved and respected every creature. We will all miss her greatly.

Our trusted vet, Dr. Cheryl Welch

Dr. Welch was there for Frannie and myself when we started Hug-a-Bunny back in 2006. However, even before that, Cheryl was the vet to my own bunny, Bella (hard to remember a time when I only had just 1!). I had rescued Bella as an adult rabbit from almost being fed to a snake and took her with me to college. I only knew the basics of rabbit care at that point and didn’t realize the importance of having rabbits spayed, which of course she wasn’t when I rescued her. Three years later, when Bella was around 5 or 6 years old I felt a mass in her lower stomach. Being so far away from home, I tried to find vets in Upstate, NY who I could trust. At the time, I took Bella to a nice vet up there who recommended spaying her, but told me it was a very risky surgery for rabbits. I wasn’t ready to put Bella through that. I waited a few months until I graduated and moved back home to New Jersey, where I researched rabbit surgery and knew how routine it was and that it needed to be done. I found the best vet for rabbit surgeries that I could.

Enter Cheryl Welch- a sweet, kind, bubbly, and wonderful woman. We hit it off immediately and sensing I was nervous about Bella’s health, she took the time to make me feel comfortable- in my case, over an hour. Immediately, I knew this was the person to save Bella’s life. The following week, Cheryl spayed Bella- the whole time I waited nearby and was a nervous wreck! They sent away her uterus and ovaries for biopsies, but Dr. Welch was pretty sure it looked cancerous. Cheryl said she thought she got it all (in case it was cancerous) but that it was one of the worst cases she’d seen. Bella recovered at home and was back to herself in about a week. Meanwhile, the results came back and we found that there was cancer all over her uterus and ovaries- all they way up onto the horns of her uterus! When I was talking to Dr. Welch on the phone about it (I was even stunned that she would call me!) she explained that Bella’s prognosis was good, since she removed everything she could see. It was from that day on that I trusted Cheryl, and I still tell anyone who will listen that she was the best surgeon I know! Just as an aside, this type of cancer is so common in unspayed female rabbits (one of the reasons we spay and neuter every rabbit we rescue).

At the same time, Frannie and I met when we were becoming therapeutic riding instructors and we realized that we were both vegetarians and that we both had a rabbit (weird) whose name started with the letter “B”- Bella and Bumbalina! Our friendship was sparked then- and soon after we started rescuing rabbits, inspired by our own two rabbits. It started with Lily, a beautiful French lop, who was going to be fed on a dinner plate when her owners no longer wanted her. We were able to rescue Lily (informally the start of our rescue) and we took her, of course, straight to Dr. Welch, who examined her and gave her a clean bill of health. Soon after, Dr. Welch spayed Lily (at the time we paid almost $400 for the spay) and we found her a foster home and then a “forever” home! Hug-a-Bunny was born! Shortly after that, we approached Cheryl and asked her to help us start our rescue- and to be our rescue’s vet. She was so proud- and never wavered in her support for us and our organization. She helped us set up a wonderful relationship with her hospital and staff. We frequented the hospital on Mondays for surgeries, Cheryl’s surgery day, often bringing 2 rabbits at a time! She was a pro at spaying and neutering our rabbits! Amazingly, my own Bella lived 5 (yes, 5) more long years, and passed in March of 2010, all due to the life-saving surgery of Dr. Welch.

Over the past 6+ years of Hug-a-Bunny, Dr. Welch was always there for us. She spayed and neutered over 80 rabbits (on a quick count) and treated countless others. She was an amazing champion to animals, large and small, and we never could have saved as many lives as we have without her constant support. She always welcomed us into her animal hospital and made us feel like part of your family there. She even welcomed two of our rescued Hug-a-Bunnies, Tre (who sadly passed away) and Stevie II, into her home! I spoke to Cheryl in January (the last surgery she did for us) about a rabbit she was doing surgery on, and she made it a point, in true Cheryl-style, to tell me how proud she was of us and how far we’ve come, even when she wasn’t feeling well herself. What an incredible woman.

Cheryl's daughter Kyra, with their adopted Hug-a-Bunny Stevie

It's a rare thing when someone can make every client, every friend, and every animal feel special- and Dr. Welch always did that for Hug-a-Bunny and so many others. Through tough times and happy times, she was always there to support us and give us advice. We hope we can do the same for her family and her four children in the days and months to come. Cheryl’s passing has left a huge hole in our hearts, but we know that her legacy will live on. We can see it every day in the faces of all of our Hug-a-Bunnies, both past and present… as she played a part in our creation. Our thanks could never be enough for all Dr. Welch has done for us personally and for our rescue. There aren't words to express our gratitude to her. She was a truly special person and an inspiration to us all. She will be greatly missed and forever appreciated.

Love,

Jamie & Frannie

Co-Directors, Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue

For more information about Cheryl or the arrangements, please visit the following site.

Hug-a-Bunny Featured on Petfinder's "Ask the Expert" Forum

2011-02-21T10:11:00.001-05:00

This week, from February 21st- 28th, Hug-a-Bunny will be the resident expert on all things "rabbit" on Petfinder's "Ask the Expert" forum! We were asked by Petfinder to reside over the questions people might have about rabbit behavior, health, care, and anything else! Take a look when you have a moment and feel free to ask a question!

Petfinder's "Ask the Expert" forum

February is Adopt-a-Rescued-Rabbit Month!

2011-02-18T19:23:00.003-05:00

Please consider opening up your home to a rabbit in need this month (or any month for that matter)! Rabbits are such wonderful, intelligent, and affectionate animals. There are so many homeless rabbits in shelters and rescues across our country! We have 30 rabbits in our rescue right now who are looking for wonderful "forever homes!"

Consider rescuing a rabbit...your life will never be the same!

From One Blogger to Another

2011-02-15T22:37:00.001-05:00

We like to keep in touch with all adopters, and occasionally we'll get some adorable photos of our past Hug-a-Bunnies in their new homes! With Leo, our toothless man, we got very lucky...his new mom is a blogger!

This attached link will take you to the blog of Leo's new mom, Anne. She and her husband Kevin were undoubtably the most amazing home Leo could find! They understand his needs and couldn't be happier to meet them! What incredible people! Hopefully, we'll be able to catch glimpses of Leo in his new home (including his chronicles with cat roommate, Pinchita) through Anne's blog! Keep up the good work, Anne!

Anne's Blog About Leo

A Valentine's Day to Remember!

2011-02-14T23:54:00.004-05:00

Today was quite the amazing day for our Hug-a-Bunnies!

We had scheduled the very first adoption for one of the Winter Babies on Valentine's Day, the very first day they could be separated from their mother at exactly 8 weeks of age! Tina had been approved to adopt Dasher, the spotted baby, from the time he was 5 weeks old! She had a countdown running until the day she met him and was coming all the way from Connecticut to come get him!

At the same time in another state, Eileen and Tom were looking for their match. They recently lost a beloved rabbit and wanted to meet a few buns to find their match. They contacted us from far away in Long Island looking for their perfect match. They hoped it was Sir and wanted to meet him, but we typically don't do "meet & greets." They were approved for adoption and were so wonderful that we made an exception this time for Sir- and we all met at the wonderful Westwood Pets in Westwood, NJ before Dasher's nighttime adoption. After just a few minutes with Sir, Eileen and Tom made the decision to add him to their family! He's such a lucky boy and now will be living the life of luxury out in Long Island! "Sir Jacob," as he is now called is one lucky bunny!

Eileen and Sir right after he found out he was going home!

Jamie (Hug-a-Bunny Co-Director), Eileen, and Sir

The new parents (Eileen and Tom) & handsome Sir

Sir in his new home! Congrats sweet Sir!

Then, I was off to meet Tina so that she could finally meet her sweet baby, Dasher, who turned 8 weeks old TODAY! He was the first to be separated and was understandably shaken. No worries- Tina was all set with her carrier and LOTS of love! Tina was so patient (and even though she was in the area early) and she waited patiently so that Sir could have his special time as well. Now Eileen (who adopted Sir) and Tina have a special connection- both brought home their sons on Valentine's Day!!! Eileen even sent Tina a special note and some goodies! What wonderful ladies!!!!

Tina was so sweet and brought a gift for me and Jessica, his foster mom. We each got this incredible mug that Tina made for us! How adorable?!?!

The front of the mug, Dasher's handsome face

The back of the mug, SO ADORABLE! Thanks Tina, we'll cherish these!!!

It just goes to show you that there ARE amazing people out there. Every amazing adoption we have, we think "there can't possibly be another adopter out there like this," but each and every time we're surprised. We have had 229 amazing families adopt wonderful animals from our rescue. We feel so lucky to have such an amazing extended Hug-a-Bunny family!

After Sir and Dasher were adopted, this tallied 6 Hug-a-Bunny adoptions within the last 5 days! Add in the adoptions of the Winter sisters this coming Wednesday, and that will be 8 adoptions within 1 week! It almost seems impossible, but adopt-a-rabbit month really seems to be working! Jessie (the guinea pig), Woody, Soul, Paris, Sir, and Dasher all found homes this week, and Vixen & Dancer are next on Wednesday! We're typically lucky if we have 8 adoptions every 2 months, so this is miraculous! All we can say is, we hope this adoption streak continues!!!!!

Today we also received a few wonderful pictures and notes from past Hug-a-Bunnies in their new homes, wishing us all a happy Valentine's Day. The most love-themed would be the amazing Pickle (formely Sundance) with his best friend and sister Emma the pug. What a cute couple! It's amazing to still keep in touch with so many former adopters! In fact, we'll be starting a column titled "News from My New Life" where we get updates on past Hug-a-Bunnies in their new homes! Feel free to send in updates of your adopted Hug-a-Bunnies!

Pickle (formerly Sundance) and Emma

Happy Valentine's Day, Year of the Rabbit, and Adopt-a-Rabbit Month! We're so happy to have helped so many amazing animals find their "forever homes!" More to come...

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2011-02-13T09:37:00.000-05:00

Hi, Cupid here! Happy Valentine's Day from everyone here at Hug-a-Bunny to you and your furry family! I'm hoping to find my "forever home" soon, but until then I'll be shooting arrows at all of you!

The WINTER Babies

2011-01-19T21:26:00.001-05:00

Now unveiling...the beautiful Winter Babies! Born only 4 weeks ago, these babies are just beginning to learn about the exciting world around them! Take a look at these faces- one look and you'll be hooked! Obviously these babies need at least 4 more weeks with their mother, the fabulous Winter, but after that will be available for adoption! Please email hugabunny@gmail.com for more information or an adoption application!

In order of appearance:
Vixen (female), Comet (male), Dasher (male), Prancer (male), Donner (male), Dancer (female) and Blitzen (male)

Here's Mom...Winter! What a great mommy she's been! She's also looking for a wonderful home!

Stay updated for new pictures of Mama Winter and the Winter Babies as they continue to GROW!

Our Best Friends Article

2010-09-13T22:38:00.002-04:00

It All Started With One

Ridgewood Street Fair September 19th!!!!

2010-09-11T17:35:00.001-04:00

Fairy Photography will be a vendor at the Ridgewood Street Fair next Sunday (9/19/10) from 12-5! Make sure to stop by since they will be premiering Bella Fairy- which is the fundraiser print for Hug-a-Bunny!!!! You can purchase Bella in 8 x 10 prints and 5 x 7 notecards! It's wonderful art AND you can help save lives!!! Part of the proceeds from sales comes directly to Hug-a-Bunny!!!!

If you can't get there tomorrow, still consider ordering from their website! Just click here or tap on this link! http://www.legendofthefaie.com/Fundraiser.html

Ask Button #6

2010-09-11T17:32:00.000-04:00

Dear Button,

I have a question:
How often should my mom cut my nails? It seems like she's always fiddling with my toes and I put up with it 'cause I always get a treat afterwards but boy, does it annoy me and make me THUMP!

Thank you,
Chowder Bunny

PS: I'm Winnie the Pooh's son. I am SO happy that Dad was Adoption #200!

Dear Chowder Bunny.

What a great question! Your mom should technically be cutting your nails every 6-8 weeks. However, most of our fostered and adopted rabbits don't like getting pedicures that often. My mom usually sticks to the longer end of that time frame...so about every 2 months. Even though I hate having it done, it always feels great afterwards! Just remember, being beautiful isn't easy! So, next time your mom tells you it's time for your nail clipping, just relax...in a few minutes you'll look and feel amazing!

Hope this answers your question!

Love, Button

P.S. YOUR DAD GOT ADOPTED! CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNIE THE POOH!!!

Introducing....Bella the Fairy!!!!

2010-09-11T17:12:00.001-04:00

We were recently approached by Becky and Frank of Legend of the Faie to do a fundraiser for us! They offered to come take pictures of our rescued rabbits and match them up with stunning hand-painted fairies. Their work is truly incredible! Becky came over and we had the photo shoot last weekend (our rabbits were naturals in front of the camera) and immediately Frank was able to create a gorgeous fairy, who we named Bella!

Anyone who knows the story of Hug-a-Bunny would remember that one of the inspirations behind Hug-a-Bunny was a very special rabbit named Bella, who stole the hearts of one of Hug-a-Bunny's co-directors wayyyy before the rescue started (the other co-director's inspiration was Bumbalina). Sadly, Bella passed away in March and her hus-bun, Bumper, has had a very hard time dealing with his loss. He sat beautifully for his photo shoot and looked very handsome. When the stunning fairy was created hugging him (get it...Hug-a-Bunny!!!), there was no other name that fit better than...Bella! We like to think of Bella as a fairy (or butterfly) who is always with us all. She will definitely always be looking over Bumper!

Becky and Frank, the magicmakers of Legend of the Faie, were nice enough to create a fundraiser for us! A portion of the proceeds of any prints or notecards purchased will come directly to our rescued rabbits. Not only will you get beautiful art (with a handsome bunny and stunning fairy), but you will also be helping out the rabbits in our rescue. Who wouldn't want a stunning photograph of the cutest bunny and most beautiful fairy? Purchase yours today!!!!!

Click here to purchase Bella Fairy (and Bumper!)

Please Join or Donate!

2010-09-10T00:14:00.002-04:00

Hug-a-Bunny followers-

Please consider joining our team on September 26th at the first annual New York "Strutt Your Mutt," held by Best Friends Animal Society. Hug-a-Bunny will be the only rabbit rescue attending and we need volunteers to walk on our team and donations to reach our goal! Please consider either joining to walk with us or donating towards our cause. We can't thank you enough for your never-ending support!

Hug-a-Bunny's Bunny Pack!

TRUFFLE, Our Newest Hug-a-Piggie!

2010-08-08T08:55:00.001-04:00

Truffle the guinea pig is our newest Hug-a-Bunny addition! He's the sweetest, smallest, and quietest piggie in the world! He's looking for a home who will give him lots of hugs and kisses every day...after all he's been through he certainly deserves it! Who is looking to add the sweetest guinea pig into their home? If you're interested or want more information about Truffle, please email us at hugabunny@gmail.com! A big "thank you" to everyone involved in the rescue of this sweet boy, especially Special Needs K-9! This truly shows how rescue organizations work together for the animals!

Click here to read more about Truffle's rescue!

Strutt Your Buns!!!!

2010-08-06T10:41:00.000-04:00

To our fellow bunny lovers,

This year, Best Friends Animal Society is hosting its first east coast "Strutt Your Mutt" event in New York City on September 26th. This will be a huge benefit walk, fundraiser, and festival for dogs and other animals. It will be a wonderful event- and we hope anyone who is in the area will consider coming! The more the merrier!

While this is an event mainly for dogs, our rabbit rescue group- Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue- will have its very own "Bunny Pack!" Rabbits are always under-represented, so we're happy that we will be able to be there to represent our lagomorph friends! We are a small 501(c)(3) rescue located in Northern, New Jersey. Since we don't have a physical location, we rely on foster homes to take care of our rescued rabbits. We also exist solely on donations and fundraisers for the medical and daily living expenses of our rabbits. We're always out supporting other rescue groups and we're excited to have a team for our rescue at this event. We can't wait for everyone to unite to raise money and awareness for the loving companions that rabbits are!

Since we're all animal and bunny lovers, we would love as many people as possible to join our team and raise money for the bunnies! Gather a group of friends or come and make some new friends... sign up to walk with us for the bunnies! It's wonderful to raise awareness while also taking part in a great event for a great cause! If you can, please join our "Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue" bunny pack and walk with us! If not, we need support and would LOVE if you would sponsor us!

Hug-a-Bunny's "Strutt Your Mutt" Bunny Pack

We're so excited for this event and hope to see you all there!

Binkies and Hugs,
Jamie and Frannie
Co-Founders and Co-Directors, Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue

TRUE LOVE!

2010-08-06T09:12:00.000-04:00

Tonka (left) and Lulu (right) snuggling on a summer day

A picture is worth a thousand words! This was taken yesterday in one of our foster homes and we just had to share! Please don't laugh at Tonka's coat...they're in grooming season and Tonka HATES being groomed!

If you haven't been to our Petfinder site for a while, you should take the time to refresh yourself on the story of Lulu and Tonka, especially if you haven't read it before. Both were rescued from the same kill shelter within months of one another and were even there overlapping at some point since Lulu had been a return adoption there! It's possible that this is when their love blossomed, but soon after they were separated to go their different ways. They ended up eventually both being rescued by Hug-a-Bunny and were at the same foster home several times (Lulu moves around twice before landing back in her current foster home) and they eventually had the chance for love! The two of them tried to tell us every way they could that they loved each other, but no one here speaks "rabbit." So, they forced themselves against their enclosures to lay side by side through the bars to show their human caretakers they wanted to be together. They immediately became a pair and have groomed each other from the first minute (which is something Tonka, on the right, obviously needs in a mate) have been a bonded pair for years, looking for a home together where they can have plenty of room to run and play. Tonka is now a senior man and has a little bit of trouble seeing (he's about 10 or 11 years old now, based on our calculations) but that doesn't stop him or Lulu from playing, snuggling, and enjoying life. They have been a bonded pair for over two years, and will spend the rest of their lives side by side, just like in this picture! For as long as it takes for these two lovebirds to find a home, they're safe with us...and each other! :)

To read more about Lulu and Tonka's story, click on the link below!

Lulu and Tonka's Petfinder Profile

OUR 200TH ADOPTION!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-05-04T22:04:00.001-04:00

Thanks to all of your support, we were able to attain another goal that we never thought possible. Recently, we had our 200th adoption! This was a huge accomplishment for us and we're so proud! When Frannie and I started Hug-a-Bunny back in 2006, our goal was to save one life. I can remember a time was said to each other, "imagine how we'll feel when we get to 200!" Well, we blinked and we're here! It has taken a lot of hard work on behalf of so many amazing people.

The real stars here are our rescued rabbits, who now have a second chance at happiness! Each one has touched our hearts and will remain there forever. Take a minute to browse through our "Hoppy Tails" section of our website (hugabunny.petfinder.com) to see all of the amazing animals who have been lucky enough to find permanent homes!

Our amazing Winnie the Pooh was our 200th adoption. After being dropped at a shelter with several others, he was overlooked and lived there for quite some time. Finally, we rescued Winnie the Pooh and he lived in a Hug-a-Bunny foster home for the past two years waiting for the perfect home to come along! Luckily, Jess and Adam opened up their home to our Winnie the Pooh! He has been in our rescue waiting for his "forever home" for 2 years, and we're so happy that he finally has a family to love him like we do!

In honor of our 200th adoption, we're calling on all past adopters to send in updates on our adopted Hug-a-Bunnies. We would love to know how they're doing! If you send us a little blurb and a picture, we'll feature your Hug-a-Bunny in an "Hug-a-Bunny Update" section!

Hug-a-Bunny Adoption Event!

2010-05-01T13:23:00.004-04:00

Hug-a-Bunny is part of a big adoption event tomorrow at the Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital! We will have a few foster moms there with some of our wonderful adoptable Hug-a-Bunnies! If you are possibly interested in adopting, we will definitely have Christian Dior, Studley, and possibly a few others there! If you're goi...ng and might want to meet Sadie and Samantha (our bonded pair of girls), or Ray, let us know and I can have their foster mom bring them over too!

If you are serious about adopting, we hardly ever do adoption events where we bring our animals out, so we're really excited for this opportunity for some of our Hug-a-Bunnies to be out an meeting their admirers! Even if you aren't looking to adopt, but just want to meet our Hug-a-Bunnies and show support- everyone is welcome!

Here's the information about the event:
Where: Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital, 754 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Lakes, NJ
When: Sunday, May 2nd, 11-4pm
Who: Many adoption agencies, including Hug-a-Bunny!

Check out their website for more information!
http://www.franklinlakesanimalhospital.com/adoption-day

Thanks again for your interest! We hope to see you at the event tomorrow!

Jamie & Frannie
Co-Directors, Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue

Welcome Disney Bunnies!

2010-03-07T10:08:00.002-05:00

Who doesn't love a litter of sweet, adorable babies???? Introducing....the Disney Babies!

After ending up in a kill shelter, two female rabbits had no more time and were slated for euthanasia. Luckilg, another shelter offered to take them in and they were safe from harm. About two weeks later, on a Wednesday, one of the girls gave birth to 5 babies. We were a bit overwhelmed and were making plans to get all of the rabbits out of the shelter in the following days. That same Friday (2 days later) the other female gave birth to 7 more babies...12 total. We came that very same day and pulled out all of the rabbits, and our great foster mom Tammie agreed to take them all in and help raise them! We named the moms Cinderella (Cinder) and Snow White (Snowy)!

Cinderella & Snow White

Cinderella and Snow White have been incredible moms, despite all of the stress they have gone through. It's possible they are sisters and were most likely impregnated by the same male, since they look so much alike and their babies are all so similar. In fact, both moms treated all of the babies like their own and nursed anyone who came past. At this point, we can't pinpoint for sure who is from Snowy and who is from Cinder! It's truly a blended family!

We have watched the Disney babies grow from tiny little pink babies, into fit-in-the-palm-of-your-hand bunnies, now into big-eared hearty babies! They are only 7 weeks old, but they are eating us out of house and home and are growing daily! It's amazing to watch the progression as they have gotten bigger!

Only Days Old- January 15th

4 Weeks Old- February 12th

7 Weeks Old- March 5th

Please stay updated for more information about the Disney babies- and more about adopting them!

Happy 2010!

2010-03-07T09:37:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year From Hug-a-Bunny!

We know it's already March, and we haven't been able to update our Blog in quite some time, but we want to wish you the very best for the new year ahead! We know that 2010 will be a wonderful year for our rescue. Already this year, we have been active in rescuing lives! We have actively spayed and neutered the "Upstate Bunnies," and have already had 8 adoptions this year! WOW! We also hit 190 adoptions, which is a huge accomplishment for us...only 10 more to go until 200 adoptions!

This year, we have already rescued quite a few rabbits from horrible situations. Christian Dior came to us after losing his home, and then went into a bad bout of GI Stasis. Luckily, he's doing much better and is looking for a new home! We have also rescued the Princess moms Cinderella and Snow White, along with their 7 babies- the Disney Babies! These babies are eating a lot and growing daily! Check back soon for a posting about them!

We know our goals are big for 2010 and we could NEVER do it all without wonderful supporters like you! Let's all keep up the good work in 2010. Together, we really can make a difference!

Love,
Jamie & Frannie
Co-Directors & Co-Founders, Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue

Ask Button #5

2009-12-29T13:12:00.007-05:00

Dear Button,

Sometimes I find that when I put my hand into my rabbit's cage too quickly, he gets startled and his posture changes. Sometimes I wonder if I am trespassing in his space. How do you like people to approach you when you're in your cage? This may help me make my rabbit happier when I am putting my hands in his cage.

 

By the way, I think you are very handsome...love the ears!

Love, 

Lagomorph Lover 
New York, NY

Dear Lagomorph Lover,

Why thank you on your compliments! When I was first rescued by my mom, my fur was completely matted. While I'm nearly blind and can't see my reflection in the mirror, I hear that I am very handsome. My helicopter ears always get comments from people. I'm sure your rabbit is as good looking as I am!

Your question is very thoughtful. How wonderful for you to be paying attention to the body language of your rabbit. It's true, rabbits don't love it when people shove their hands into their space. Please keep in mind, we lagomorphs (rabbits) are prey animals. We are always worrying about people hurting us and we're always watching out for predators. While we know as our owner you love and respect us, we still can get alarmed when hands enter our cage quickly! The worst is when people start to rearrange our things while we're right there! I always tell people that when someone touches our things, it would be equivalent to someone coming into your bedroom and moving things around! I know you wouldn't like that very much! It's no wonder that you see your rabbit's body posture and ear positioning change when you do this.

Personally, I love to be approached by my mom talking to me before she touches me. This way, I know it's her and I'm more comfortable. Then, I like it when she pets my head to let me know it's ok. My mom always keeps her hand on my head while she moves my bowl or rearranges my things. For some reason, this helps me and all of my fellow rabbits feel more comfortable and secure.

It may sound silly, but I do not like fast movement or hands around my mouth. As soon as I sense hands underneath my chin or closer to my mouth, I tend to "box" at them to try to get them out of my way. I don't mean to lunge at people, but I do get very defensive of my home and this is the only way I know to defend my space. I've spoken to many other rabbits, and they all seem to agree that this isn't the best way to approach us.

In all situations, we like to be respected and given the space we need to feel comfortable.

Please write back with more questions! I LOVE getting mail!

Love your Hug-a-Bunny friend,

Button

The BIG Winter Rescue of 2007

2009-12-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

In December of 2007, Hug-a-Bunny was alerted to a situation in a farm about an hour away. Many animals had been abandoned and were living in the elements in the freezing cold. Some of the ground was covered in muck and mud, and the rabbits were caged in with an angry turkey who also was neglected. The farm found placements for all of the animals, including the turkey, but desperately needed help with the rabbits. We could not leave the rabbits there. We had heard that some were given away to use as bait for dogs, while others were just let loose. We knew we had to act quickly.

Here is a picture of some of the rabbits (Sterling, Ella, & Madison) before being rescued. Freezing and malnourished, the rabbits were looking for food anywhere they could.

We agreed to help and took in all 8 of the rabbits from this farm! This involved catching them in 3 different rescue efforts (each which took us getting down and dirty in the mud), bringing them indoors, and helping them settle in as indoor bunnies! These were all domestic rabbits who were dumped into a very bad situation and we were happy to welcome all of them into the rescue! Ella, Sterling, Madison, Butch, our babies Peace and Love, and last members Jolly and Jingle all came from this location! Sadly, Love died shortly after coming into our rescue. All of the rabbits were all checked by vets, spayed and neutered, and were litterbox trained. All of them are now in new homes enjoying their lives!

A big congratulations to Ella, Jolly and Jingle, Peace, Sterling, Butch, and finally Madison on their loving, forever homes! Madison joined her home in December of 2008 and that marked exactly a year from when they had been rescued. It has even been a year since Madison joined her new home! We're happy to announce that all of the rabbits from this big rescue effort are safe and in amazing homes!

Ella

Jolly & Jingle

Baby Peace

Sterling

Butch

Madison

Congratulations to all of the "Big Winter Rescue of 2007" rabbits!

Ask Button #4

2009-11-28T10:36:00.003-05:00

Dear Mr. Button,

I hate to ask, but you keep mentioning that you are blind. What happened to you to make you blind? I'm sure you have been asked this before, and you don't have to share if you're not comfortable!

Love,
Button's Biggest Fan
Franklin Lakes, NJ

Dear Button's Biggest Fan,

WOW! I've been waiting to meet my biggest fan for some time now! I'm glad that there are people out there who love and support me! For a while there, I thought no one was reading my posts. It takes me so long to type (in fact, sometimes I need my mom to type for me) and I was about to give up the column to a faster bunny typer.

Don't worry about asking personal questions! I'm happy to share my story with you, although I'm sure it will make you a bit sad.

I was found outdoors in a very busy city-like town in Bergen County, NJ. When I was rescued, I was dehydrated and wasn't moving on the side of the road. My fur was all matted and tangled in knots that extended over 3 feet away from my body! I was in such a horrible state. To top it off, my eyes were sealed shut with thick disgusting crust. They were hurting me so I didn't want to open them. I think after living in an abusive situation for so long (my past "people" really did a number on me) and then living on the streets (can you believe they just let me go to fend for myself??) I was just in horrible shape. When the Animal Control officers took me to a nearby county shelter, I was actually a bit relieved. At least there I was safe from the elements and could try to find my way around without opening my eyes. I actually got food and water there too, which is not something I was getting before.

After living at the shelter for a few days, Hug-a-Bunny was alerted to my sad situation. Jamie from Hug-a-Bunny came to see me and immediately pulled me out of the shelter. I was still in horrible shape- my nails were so long, my fur was all matted, and my eyes were in so much pain. She immediately took me to a vet where I got eye ointment and pain medication to help my painful skin and eyes. The next stop was to try to be shaved by a veterinary technician. After 45 minutes and 2 technicians, they only made a tiny dent in my fur. It was matted so horribly and the fur was pulling on my skin so badly that they had to go very slowly! I just couldn't stay there any longer. So, I went back home with Jamie and started my process of rehabilitation.

Here I am settling into my home with my painful eyes shut

After relaxing and eating a bit, Jamie got to work on my horribly matted fur. It couldn't wait since the veterinary technicians found that the fur was matted so horribly that it prevented my legs from moving! My breed is a Jersey Wooly, characterized by our amazing majestic hair. In this case due to so much neglect, the hair grew in knots around my body. In some spots, the skin was actually ripping open already. I sat patiently for 10 minutes at a time while Jamie uncovered my tender skin using tiny scissors. This worked better than the clipper that the vet techs were using. She was so careful not to cut me. Each snip of the scissors freed another part of my body and after 3 short sessions (I would rest and eat in between) I had some of my back exposed and I could hop again! I felt so great, but we still had a long way to go.

This picture shows some of the fur Jamie got off of me from my tail and back leg area. I already felt better, but we had so much more to go!

So, we kept working at it and after over two hours of clipping (and stopping for breaks a lot) I was finally freed from my horrible matted fur! In my fur, Jamie found staples, sticks, and other small household items. It was clear that I hadn't been cared for in some time. My fur (and body) smelled so horrible and was discolored. It came off in thick disgusting clumps of fur. The backs of my legs were so raw and tender, but I knew that it would only get better from here! In my first picture after having the gross hair off of me, I actually opened my eyes and looked around a bit! Look how much better I look already! You can see that my eyes are very cloudy- which the vet said was likely from damage to them from living in the elements for so long. It's possible that I was housed outdoors (before they let me go) without any protection from the elements.

I felt so great after all of the gross fur was off of my body!

Jamie kept calling me "Button," which struck me as interesting since all of her rabbits (aside from Apple) are named with the letter "B" as the first letter. I knew almost immediately that we built a bond and after hearing what she started calling me, I wasn't surprised when this safe haven became my "forever home" shortly after. Since all of her other rabbits live in pairs, I was the only single bunny and bonded with Jamie immediately! I also fell in love with my cousin Parker, who is a rescued poodle mix. He and I get along so well together and he comforted me on the very first day I came to my house! You can even see Parker behind the gate in the picture below.

Learning how to hop again after my legs were freed! My cousin Parker is behind me cheering me on!

As the days went on, the crust began to leave my eyes. I opened them more, although I couldn't see much. The damage to my eyes had caused scar tissue to form leaving cloudy white spots in front of both eyes. At that time I was completely blind and had a hard time even seeing light. Over time, and with tons of TLC, even these white spots began to fade a bit. I now keep my eyes open all the time, but do have a very hard time seeing directly in front of me. While my eyes feel 100% better, I do still have some trouble seeing. I rely on my senses of sound and smell a lot more than sight. I prefer people to approach me very slowly and talk to me before touching me. I now can see light and I know when someone is approaching me, although I often don't know who they are until I hear or smell them. I also have big fears of being out of my cage, unless my mom is right there with me, since I am always afraid of what's out there if I can't see it to protect myself. My mom keeps saying there's nothing dangerous in my home, but I'm still nervous. Even the smallest sounds startle me and cause me to panic. So, I like to be out of my cage when I'm with my mom- or my favorite...on the bed with her watching TV! I'm a big snuggler and actually love to lick my mom!

I'm confident that my sight will continue to improve, or at least I'll start dealing with it better. As you can see from more recent pictures of me, I keep my eyes open all the time now and I'm feeling great. My fur has since grown back and I love to have it brushed. Sometimes I still like to be clipped down, but most of the time I wear my hair long. I'm so happy where I am and I'm getting more confident every day! I was even offered to write this column since I love to talk and hang out with people!

Here's a picture of me only a short time after joining my home. Look how good I looked! Wow, I'm handsome!

Anyway, sorry to be so long-winded about my story. I'm sure you've learned a lot more about me!

Take care!
Love,
Button

Come See Us At Barnes & Noble!

2009-11-27T02:36:00.004-05:00

In an effort to raise money this holiday season, Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue will be hosting a gift-wrapping table at a local Barnes & Noble for several days over the next two months. The goal is to try to raise as much money as possible to fund our upcoming spays and neuters, as well as the daily care and medical expenses for our many wonderful Hug-a-Bunnies. While at the Barnes & Noble, our volunteers (many of whom foster or have adopted Hug-a-Bunnies) will be wrapping gifts purchased at the Barnes & Noble. Customers who come to get their gifts wrapped by us will make donations towards our cause. It's a win-win situation!

Last year, we were able to raise just over $1,500 during our gift-wrapping fundraiser in this same Barnes & Noble. We know money is tight this year, but we're hoping to match what we raised last year! In order to do this, we need support from Barnes & Noble customers, as well as from our Hug-a-Bunny supporters! If you are around and available, save some holiday shopping for the times when we'll be around in Barnes & Noble. Spread the word to family and friends to tell them exactly when to get their holiday shopping done! The money we raise here helps us save many more lives than we ever thought was possible!

We will be at the Barnes & Noble in the Caldor Plaza in West Paterson, NJ. It is located at 1156 Route 46 West.

Here are the dates and times that Hug-a-Bunny representatives will be gift wrapping at this location:

November-

Friday, November 27: 9am-11pm

Saturday, November 28: 9am-11pm

Sunday, November 29: 9am-9pm

December-

Thursday, December 3: 3pm-11pm

Tuesday, December 8: 3pm-11pm

Thursday, December 10: 3pm-11pm

Saturday, December 12: 9am-11pm

Sunday, December 13: 9am-9pm

Tuesday, December 15: 3pm-11pm

Thursday, December 17: 3pm-11pm

Saturday, December 19: 9am-11pm

Sunday, December 20: 9am-9pm

Thursday, December 24: 9am-6pm

As you know, when we all come together for a common goal we can make a huge difference in the lives of so many. Last year we were able to raise more money than we could have dreamed of. We realize that many of our biggest supporters live far away and may not be able to come out to support us. We know you will be there with us in spirit! Thank you all in advance for your support! We could never have made such a difference without each of our supporters!

Happy Thanksgiving...we'll see you at Barnes & Noble!

Jamie & Frannie

Co-Directors, Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue

Our Hug-a-Bunny Video

2009-11-21T19:14:00.001-05:00

Hot off the press!

Thanks to one of our amazing and dedicated volunteers, we have an amazing video that captures the adorable faces of some of our Hug-a-Bunnies! Most of the rabbits featured in this video already have permanent loving homes. You may recognize former Hug-a-Bunnies Apple (originally found taped inside a shoebox), Bug (who has head tilt) or Button (who is partially blind and the star of the post "Ask Button"). Even Bella, the inspiration behind Hug-a-Bunny makes a quick appearance!

The only rabbit in this video who is still on the search for a loving home is Sprinkles, the adorable black and white English Spot. She is such a wonderful girl! In the video, she's the one with the HUGE bowl of greens and getting kisses on the bed- and she's still looking for a wonderful family to come along and scoop her up! We know that a family will love and cherish Sprinkles for the wonderful lady that she is, and she's happy in her foster home until her family comes along.

A heartfelt thank you to Hug-a-Bunny volunteer Jessica who has donated her time to help our bunnies on many occasions. Nothing could be more special than this video, which captures the vision of Hug-a-Bunny! Thank you!

Click HERE to view our Hug-a-Bunny video!

Happy Birthday Blossom's Babies!

2009-11-20T07:05:00.002-05:00

On November 19th, 2008- exactly one year ago- we got a frantic call from a shelter who had taken in what they thought was a HUGE male Flemish Giant. The poor rabbit had been running the streets of the town for several days. The day after they caught her and brought her into the shelter, she gave birth to 10 babies, one of whom was stillborn! Unequipped to care for even one rabbit, we were faced with the daunting task of rescuing this scared, dehydrated, and malnourished mom and her remaining 9 tiny babies. We named this rabbit Blossom.

Here's a photo of Blossom, after living outdoors and being chased for days, one day after giving birth to 10 tiny Flemish Giant babies.

After committing to the long-term care of Blossom and her babies, it became apparent that we had a serious problem. Blossom was in such horrible health that we weren't sure if she would make it. This also caused a huge issue for her 9 living babies. Without being healthy on her own, Blossom was not able to make milk or nurse her babies. We were afraid for Blossom's health and knew she would have to be separated if we wanted to save her. We knew we had to take matters into our own hands and that we would need to hand-raise her babies if they were to survive.

This is a picture of Blossom's 9 tiny babies (minus the one who passed at birth), just one day after being born.

Luckily, we were connected with a woman who devoted hours of her time every day to bottle-feeding each baby and documenting their feeding and growth. She made it her personal mission to try her best to keep the babies alive and healthy. Unfortunately, baby rabbits do not have a great survival rate without their mother, so we knew there was a big chance we would lose them all. However, their foster mom continued to bottle feed them, stimulate them to go to the bathroom, and kept them warm, just as Blossom would have if she had been able to. Sadly, 4 more babies didn't make it. However, due to all of their foster mom's hard work, 5 of Blossom's babies continued to do well! Eventually their eyes opened and we knew they were in the clear.

Blossom's 5 surviving babies, just weeks old.

Despite having all odds against them, Blossom's babies continued to grow and thrive. In a separate location, Blossom got stronger and stronger and became healthier each day. While they all had a long road ahead of them, at this point we were confident that Blossom and her 5 babies would be survivors! At this point, they began eating solid food and were more active. They loved running around and being together. Finally, at 8 weeks old the babies were ready to find their "forever homes."

Here is the last picture of the 5 babies together, at 8 weeks old- Nicholas, Gingerbread Boy, Maurice, Angelina, & Holly. This was Nicholas' adoption day and the last time all of Blossom's babies were together as a group.

It is a true triumph that Blossom and her 5 babies beat the odds and were able to survive after all they had been through. We feel so lucky to have been part of their journey. Even though all of the babies had gone on to join their new homes, Angelina was recently returned to our rescue and is still looking for her permanent, loving home. These babies are now a adult Flemish Giants! Even after all this time, November 19th, 2009 marks a special day for all of them. They were able to survive with the odds stacked against them and grow into wonderful adult Flemish Giants. While we still have Blossom in our rescue too, we know she will find an amazing, loving home. Happy 1st birthday to all of Blossom's babies...we can't believe it's been a year already!

In Memory: Sage

2009-11-18T07:31:00.001-05:00

One of our most memorable Hug-a-Bunnies was old man Sage. Although Sage was with us for 16 months without ever finding his "forever home," we was deeply loved by his foster mom, Frannie. Sage was one of our long-time Hug-a-Bunnies and always brought a smile to our faces. He was rescued at 7 years old from a kill shelter and lived out his life "retirement style." Sage passed away a year ago on September 29th, 2008. He is still greatly missed by all those who knew or met him, but most of all by his foster mom, who gave him a life better than most.

Although it is very sad Sage didn't find a permanent home of his own, he was deeply loved by his foster mom Frannie and he was safe and happy and felt like he was home. Sage was treated as if he was our own. Sadly, Sage never got to enjoy a life where he was the one and only rabbit. However, we know that Sage was loved and spoiled during his days and months with us and he will be in our hearts forever.

Welcome Pairs!

2009-11-13T07:11:00.003-05:00

Consider Adopting a Bonded Pair!

We want to extend our welcome to new Hug-a-Bunny bonded pairs! A bonded pair in rabbits is unlike many other species. When two rabbits bond together (which is a long and intricate process) they are bonded for life. Once bonded, rabbits will lay together, share food and toys, and a litterbox and living area. Most of all, bonded mates groom one another to make sure their loved one is clean and healthy. Once you've experienced a bonded pair, it becomes clear that there's nothing else in the world like it. I personally have several bonded pairs of my own- all of whom I've bonded together from single rabbits! It's so heartwarming to see rabbits snuggling together in a "bunny pile!"

Unlike dogs or cats, once a pair of rabbits is bonded, they must always be kept together. If one rabbit in the pair needs to see a vet, both rabbits must go so that they can be together for moral support. If one has time out of the cage to explore, the other should never be far behind. Truly bonded rabbits share a living space. Once the bonding process is complete (stay tuned for an additional post about the bonding process) the rabbits are a pair for life and need each other for happiness.

Many people come to us looking to bond their rabbit to another. The problem with this is that bonding is a long and intricate process and doesn't happen overnight. It can take months of daily bonding sessions- and sometimes the bond still doesn't happen. At Hug-a-Bunny, we ONLY adopt out for loving, forever homes. We DO NOT adopt out for bonding purposes. However, bonding for us is an added bonus. Many people come to us saying they want a single rabbit now, but may want a second down the road. I always tell people if they are even thinking of 2 as a possibility, to strongly consider a bonded pair as a wonderful option. Unfortunately, bonded pairs are very hard to find homes for and typically will be in foster care for a while. This puzzles us, since we love bonded pairs and gives a huge benefit to both rabbit and humans! You know what they say...two are better than one!

Click on the names of any of the pairs below to learn more about them!

Rosie & Dakota

These stunning ladies were victims of neglect, since their owner wasn't caring for them properly for some time. Their nails had grown into claws and they were in serious trouble. Eventually, when their owner had to leave for jail, she was ready to give them over to us- along with the pair Molly & Mia. Amazingly, Rosie (white/grey) was our 2nd adoption ever back in 2006 and was returned to us, along with her bonded mate Dakota (brown) and the other pair Molly & Mia when her owner went to jail. These girls are sweet and wonderful, and will make a family very happy. They are great with their litterbox, love to eat, and groom each other all the time!

Molly & Mia

Like the pair above (Rosie & Dakota), these ladies were victims of neglect, which has left them a bit scared a nervous. When their owner went to jail, theyh were turned into us in sad condition. However, Molly (orange) and Mia (brown) are an adorable pair who will make someone very happy! They are learning to enjoy being petted...right now the girls are pretty independent and love to lounge around. They are perfect with their litterbox skills and love to lay together to relax. What a pair!

Thelma & Louise

These stunning ladies were victims of the worse type of abuse- they were minutes away from being hung from a tree by young boys in an inner-city park. Thelma (brown) and Louise (black/white) were rescued and were taken in. While Thelma does have many scars from her past life (including a scar through her ear), she is loving life now as she learns to be spoiled! Louise is only a very young girl and appreciates Thelma's company now. They likely hadn't met before that fateful day, but were brought together and never want to be taken apart. These ladies love to lay together and groom each other's faces.

Sherlock & Holmes

Sherlock and Holmes are the Hug-a-Bunny detectives. After being bought together and living in their home for 4 years, this adorable pair were given up. They weren't too upset, however, since they really were never touched or talked to in their past home. Now that they have more room, Sherlock and Holmes love to run and explore- but always love to come back together from grooming sessions! What a pair!

Lulu & Tonka

Lulu (black) and Tonka (black/white) are the pair we've had the longest. We've had them for almost 2 years! While they are very happy in their foster home, Lulu & Tonka (who is a senior bunny) would truly love a home of their own, where they can have a family and people who love them as much as they love each other. This pair met in their foster home...they kept trying to get through the bars to each other. Eventually, we put them together and it was love at first sight! Nothing can separate these two! They love to lay together and groom each other.

Gracie & Buster

We have also been working to help Gracie & Buster find an amazing home. These rabbits were both found outdoors and through a series of events ended up in the home of a wonderful woman. She had them spayed and neutered and was looking for a home for them where they could stay together. Unfortunately, she couldn't find a placement that would accept them both and keep them bonded. When she was diagnosed with cancer, their foster mom emailed us with a plea for help. When she contacted us, we told her that we would help her find them a home. Luckily, we've found an amazing home for them with a wonderful person! They will be joining their home this weekend!

In the past we've had many amazing pairs find homes! These include Smokey & Indiana, Midnight & Moon (who are now part of a trio with our Blue J.), Star & Rainbow (now Hedwig & Boo), Max & Milo, Penelope & Clarence, Simba & Nala, Thunder & Lightening, Charlotte, & Fern, Elvis & Marilyn, Jolly & Jingle, Jack & Rose, and Martin & Georgina! Many of our adopted Hug-a-Bunnies have gone on to bond with others in their new homes! Who doesn't love a companion?!

Please consider opening up your home to one of our incredible pairs!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Hug-a-Bunny!

2009-11-12T19:23:00.002-05:00

Can you believe it's been 3 years since our very first adoption? On November 10th, 2006 our beautiful Lily joined her permanent home with her new mom Rian. That was our very first Hug-a-Bunny adoption and gave us hope that there were good things in store for us! Since that date just 3 years ago, we have made a lot of progress! After 3 years, we've had over 175 adoptions, which shows how hard we've been working! Many amazing rabbits have joined permanent, loving homes. We have helped to spay and neuter over 150 rabbits and have rescued an astounding amount of rabbits out of harm's way. For example, we took about 40 rabbits out of our local county shelter JUST in 2008! Combined with all of the personal surrenders, pulling from other shelters, and rabbits we've helped right off the streets, we've done a great deal!

With all of the success we've had so far, Frannie and I have many people to thank. First, we want to thank all of the adoptive homes who have opened up their hearts to our amazing Hug-a-Bunnies. It couldn't be done without your amazing support! We want to send a special thank you to all of our foster homes, who have been with us since the very beginning. As read in our post "Where are the Hug-a-Bunnies" you learned that without our foster parents, this mission could not work. This includes Tammie (and Donna), Denise, Lisa, Lorin, Loren, Judy, Maki, and the staff of Westwood Pets for all of your work and dedication to our mission. Thank you to anyone who has offered their home to foster one of our rabbits in the past- there are too many people to name! We simply couldn't do it without all of your help! THANK YOU from the Hug-a-Bunnies!

Frannie and I started Hug-a-Bunny on a mission to save the life of Lily and any others that we could. We never dreamed that 3 years down the road we would have made such an impact and would have become a 501(c)(3) organization. We feel that part of the reason that we've been so successful is our determination to make a difference in the lives of animals. We will continue saving lives for as long as we can, and we thank all of our supporters for joining us in our mission!

Most of all, thank you to all of the AMAZING adoptive homes who have offered a safe haven to our rescued rabbits. We would never be able to do what we do without amazing homes out there like you! From all 178 adopted Hug-a-Bunnies out there, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Now, go give your adopted Hug-a-Bunny a kiss and hug from us!

We look forward to great things in the year to come!

Love,
Jamie & Frannie

Ask Button #3

2009-11-09T18:03:00.001-05:00

Dear Button,

I'm so confused! I keep hearing people talk about "binkies!" What the heck is a "binky?" Sorry if this is a silly question, but I just had to ask it!

Love,
Seriously Confused Bunny Hugger
Warwick, NY

Dear Seriously Confused Bunny Hugger,

Not to worry! No question is silly and I'm happy to take the time to answer you!

A "binky" is a rabbit happy jump. You may see your companion rabbit jump in the air out of nowhere. Sometimes the jump includes a little body shake and many rabbits can pick up serious air time when they binky. Some rabbits binky straight up in the air, while others binky across a room!

A lot of people see binkies all the time, but never knew there was a word for it! Just to let you know, when rabbits binky, we are truly happy. It's a type of celebration and can mean that we're excited or happy! Whatever it means, just know that it's the happiest type of jump you can encounter!

I called up some of my friends (who happen to be adoptable Hug-a-Bunnies) to get them to have a photo contest using pictures of them binkying. It took some time to get their foster parents to take the pictures, but here's what we came up with! I picked my favorite 3 pictures...here they are!

Second Runner Up: Angelina with her dive bomb binky

First Runner Up: Sunflower with an Across-the-Room Binky- Look at the air she got!

And Finally... The Winner!

The Winner: Sunflower (this chick loves to binky) with the sideways Towards-the-Camera Binky!

Just to let you know, we sent Sunflower an extra leaf of escarole for winning this contest!

I hope this answers your question and entertained you! I kept trying to get a picture of myself binkying, but all of them made me look fat. I'll keep trying and I'll get back to you! Please feel free to write back with any questions you might have.

Love,
Button

Need a Petsitter?

2009-11-07T11:59:00.005-05:00

With the holidays around the corner, we know that many people are going away to visit family or to go on vacation. One thing I always worry about when I'm going away is who will take care of my furry family members when I can't be there. Personally, I always feel that it is best to have my rabbits (and cat) stay in their home instead of being boarded somewhere. A petsitter- someone who will come into your home and care for your animals in their environment- has always been my solution!

Frannie, the co-president and co-director of Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue is an accomplished petsitter. She is a veterinary technician and cares for animals of all species. Frannie is very knowledgeable and petsits dogs, cats, rabbits, small furry animals, reptiles, and birds...basically any pet that lives in a home! If you are going away are are looking for someone to care for your animals in their home, this may be your solution! If you have pets that are on medication, Frannie can administer the medication to your pets. She is paid per visit and will happily come as many times per day as you'd want her there to check on, feed, care for, and play with your pets.

Since Frannie works full-time and already has many petsitting clients, petsitting appointments are on a first-come, first-served basis. Unfortunately, due to her busy schedule she can only petsit animals within a certain distance of her work and home. If you are interested in finding out if Frannie's petsitting services are a match for your home, feel free to email us at hugabunny@gmail.com. We can give you more information about specifics and see if Frannie would be a match for your petsitting needs. If Frannie isn't available, she may be able to refer you to another petsitter that she works with!

Happy traveling!

Welcome New Adoptable Hug-a-Bunnies!

2009-11-05T09:04:00.007-05:00

We want to extend a sincere welcome to our newest adoptable Hug-a-Bunny members...Maxwell, Flopsy, Petunia, Sophia, Dexter, and Cassie!! Each and every one of them has had a rocky start, and we're happy to welcome all of them into the Hug-a-Bunny family. Here they will be safe, happy, and on their way to finding a new "forever home!" If you are interested in opening up your home to any of these amazing rabbits, please feel free to email us at hugabunny@gmail.com for more information or an adoption application.

Read more about each rabbit by clicking on their name above each picture. This will take you directly to their Petfinder bio.

"The Mayor"

"Mr. Handsome"

"Miss Personality"

"The Sophisticated Lady"

Dexter

"The Underdog"

Cassie

"The Laid-Back Beauty"

Welcome to all of our new Hug-a-Bunnies!!! We hope your "forever home" comes along quickly!

Welcome Back, Angelina!

2009-11-03T15:33:00.002-05:00

Although we never like to have return adoptions, the most recent return adoption has had us all melting. Last year, in a big rescue effort, we rescued our adoptable Flemish Giant Hug-a-Bunny named Blossom and her 10 babies right after they had been born in a shelter. After all of the abuse, neglect, and time in the wild, Blossom was not equipped to raise her babies. Sadly, one of them died at birth. We knew that we needed to step in if her babies were going to survive. Luckily, we found a nice woman who devoted her time to hand-raising and bottle feeding Blossom's babies. While many of them did not survive over the first few weeks (baby rabbits often cannot survive without their mother nursing them), 5 of Blossom's babies did wonderfully! The babies were hand-nursed with a special formula for 8 weeks, the babies were ready to be on their own. After being with us for 8-12 weeks, all of Blossom's babies- Nicholas, Gingerbread Boy, Maurice, Holly, and Angelina- found homes! While we couldn't physically watch them grow into huge Flemish Giants, we were happy to adopt them out to families who would care for them like we would.

Angelina right before adoption, 11 weeks old

Sadly, after almost a year in her home, Angelina was returned to us. The home she was adopted to had another male neutered Flemish Giant who was very docile. Angelina's new mom said she would hopefully bond to after she grew and was spayed, but that the adoption was forever. The home guaranteed us that this was a "forever home" for Angelina despite the fact that she may not bond to their other Flemish Giant. We made it VERY clear that for us, bonding is an added bonus and that we adopt out our rabbits only to loving, forever homes. Well, many months later and after being spayed, Angelina and the male Flemish still didn't get along and were not a compatible match for bonding, which is not unlikely. Unlike what they had told us in the beginning, we now got an email saying that Angelina was being returned since they didn't not have the capabilities to keep the rabbits separate and give them the time and space they deserve. While it was devastating to hear that Blossom's daughter was being returned just shy of her first birthday, we couldn't wait to see her when she got here! We knew that this time we would do the right thing for Angelina and look for the perfect "forever home."

Angelina now, 11 months old

Angelina certainly grew over the last year! She is quite the Flemish Giant, weighing in at around 11 pounds, just 4 pounds shy of her mother. Aside from being slightly smaller than Blossom (any by slightly, I really mean slightly), Angelina is a carbon copy! She is HUGE! Every detail, even down the shape of her extremely large ears, the white shading of her underside and tail, and the shape of her head are all exactly identical to her mother's. The only major difference is that instead of the silver coloring, Angelina's coloring (like all of the siblings except Maurice, who is white) is brown. Even the way she breathes is the same as Blossom's! When she's angry or stressed, she has the same breathing pattern and her big ears warm up....just like Blossom's! The similarities astound us!!! The last time we saw Angelina, she was 12 weeks old and was only about 4 pounds! Now, she was about triple that size and had grown into quite the lady.

Beautiful Angelina relaxing on the bed

In addition to the looks, Angelina's personality is identical to her mother's. She craves human attention and will literally follow you around looking for affection. She loves to know what's going on around her and will explore for a while before flopping out her body in exhaustion. Just like Blossom, she is very trusting and doesn't mind any part of her body being touched. She loves to eat and will come when her name is called, especially if there's a small treat involved! Angelina (like Blossom) is more like a dog than a rabbit! She's perfect with her litterbox and would be an amazing free roam rabbit. Angelina (or Angie as we've been calling her) has a spirit like no other. She loves to run and hop, and will binky (a rabbit happy jump, see picture below) non-stop when she's happy! Just like Blossom, she does NOT like to be held, which is likely due to her large size. She has an incredible spirit and will make a wonderful companion to a loving person. Angelina's new foster mom, Judy, marvels at how she comes when she is called and climbs up "doggy steps" by the bed! She truly loves to be around people.

Angelina doing her incredible binkies...the happiest rabbit around!

While we are so happy to have Angie back and will keep her for as long as is needed, we would love to get her settled in her "forever home" as soon as possible. At about a year old (she will have her birthday party on November 19th), Angelina is still a young lady and has tons of spunk. She's gone through a lot and is ready for a place to call home forever. We're looking for a situation where Angelina can be free roam, possibly with an exercise pen for when her family isn't home. We are only considering serious inquiries, since we want Angelina to be at her final home where she never has to move again. After the last bonding debacle, we're not concerned with finding a potential bondmate. We're more interested in finding Angelina a home where people can give her large amount of attention, room, and love...and a place to live for the rest of her life!

THE END

Congratulations to Daphne, Rock, & Echo

2009-11-02T16:59:00.004-05:00

It is with great pleasure that we congratulate 3 recent adoptions of our wonderful Hug-a-Bunnies! Daphne, Rock, and Echo all came to Hug-a-Bunny to escape uncertain pasts and were given a safe haven to recuperate and live while they were looking for loving, wonderful homes. While all of them came from different pasts, have very different life histories, and spent different amounts of time with us, each was abandoned and neglected and found their way into the Hug-a-Bunny family. We are so happy for Daphne, Rock, and Echo in their new homes!

DAPHNE

Daphne came to Hug-a-Bunny after being abandoned at a local county shelter. She was thought to be a male and came in with a big abscess on her cheek, which was taken care of. After living at the shelter and not being out of her cage for 5 straight months, Daphne felt threatened and upset when a strange person stuck their hand in her cage and startled her. Daphne defended herself by lunging forward, which was considered by the shelter staff as an aggressive act. After this incident, we knew Daphne was on borrowed time and pulled her out of the shelter immediately to get her out of harm's way. Immediately in my home, Daphne began using her litterbox, calmed down, and started acting like the lady that she is. She was so relieved to be out of the shelter setting that her personality completely changed and she was able to let her true self show. Daphne was so sick of being called a boy...and wanted everyone to know that she's a true lady! She is an elderly woman, at around 5 years old, and matched with her unhappy personality was not very desirable for adoption at the shelter. However, in my foster home Daphne proved to be a wise and happy soul and had a gift for making other rabbits happy as well. She would even follow me around for attention! What a special girl!

After living in foster care with me for a few weeks, Daphne showed a complete turn-around from how she acted at the shelter. She loved attention, loved being kissed, and would sit for hours to get her head rubbed. Eventually, Daphne moved to a new foster home where she could have more room. To get to the new foster home, Daphne made the trek to Delaware, to be fostered by the amazing Donna, who is the adoptive mother of our past Hug-a-Bunny Lincoln. Donna has a gift for shy and abused animals. After spending a few days in this foster home, it became apparent that Daphne loved Donna, and that the feeling was mutual! After just a few days, Daphne's calm demeanor (and amazing litterbox skills) allowed her to permanently roam her home freely and she could go wherever she wanted! Soon after, Donna emailed saying Daphne fit in so well with her two single male rabbits and her cat that she couldn't imagine letting her go. So, Daphne's foster home became her adoptive home! Daphne has since inspired the other males (elderly lop Buck and our man Lincoln) who never got along previously, to all play together nicely! Her favorite activity is snuggling with Donna on the couch and making herself right at home. We couldn't be happier for Daphne in her new home and we know she has found a place where she can live happily for the rest of her life. She brings joy to her new parents and furry siblings. After all she's been through, she deserves it!

ROCK

We originally met Rock in 2006 when he showed up as a stray in our local county shelter. Rock immediately showed his personality as a happy and independent guy. It became clear that Rock would need a free roam type setting where he could have tons of time to roam and relax. he hated being confined in small areas. Luckily, Rock joined our rescue and shortly after met his match and was adopted in November of 2006 by a nice guy who became his companion for the next three years. Rock (who was renamed Butters) loved laying under the bed, relaxing all flattened out, and of course eating a delicious meal. Recently, we got an email that Rock would be coming back to us (it states in our contract that all Hug-a-Bunnies must be returned if they can no longer be cared for) since his owner was taking a new job which required him to move. Sadly, Rock lost his home and came back into foster care.

It had been three years since I had seen Rock and he looked and acted just the same! He was still eager to explore and wander and still didn't love being petted or held but would tolerate it, just as I had remembered. Rock wanted to socialize with you on his terms! He still remained amazing with his litterbox habits! Despite this laid back independent personality, Rock is also stunningly handsome. He has a face that no one can resist and long beautiful lop ears. We knew we would have to find a home that loved Rock for who he is, would give him enough room to explore, and who would offer him a loving "forever home." After a few weeks of living in my home, Rock moved to another foster home where he had more room to move around. He did great at this foster home and connected with his new foster parents immediately! He even let them pet him and seemed to really enjoy the attention! Just like we were hoping, a week later an amazing home came along! Rock joined Claudia in her home and is now a free roam rabbit! He has free reign to explore, relax, and be himself. Claudia is a very patient person who loves Rock for who he is. Rock is so lucky to have found this loving, amazing home. We couldn't be happier for Rock in his new home!

ECHO

Echo has been one of our all-time longest fosters and has a story that can be matched by no other. In April of 2008, we were alerted to a rescue effort, where a backyard breeder in Egg Harbor Township, NJ was caught mistreating and neglecting 57 rabbits in his backyard. The rabbits were all living in dumpster-like creations, with crowded conditions and with little to no food or water. Many news stations were covering this on the news and all of the rabbits were seized from the location. Luckily, many rescues and shelters stepped forward to save these rabbits and none of them had to be put to sleep. We happily took in 4 rabbits from this rescue effort. Sadly, Forest died shortly after coming into our rescue. Bryce (who had one ear, one eye, and half a nose) and Sundance (now Pickle) were both fostered for many months and found loving, wonderful homes! Echo, who was the friendliest of them all, remained in foster care for over a year and a half. Out of all of the rabbits we took in from this rescue effort, Echo was in the worst shape, but was the friendliest. He had sores on his body, was painfully thin, and had (and still has) a crooked ear- likely due to muscle damage from being lifted by his ears. While the sores faded and Echo quickly put on weight, his ear will always tilt as a result to the trauma. Still, through it all, Echo remained trusting of people and one of the friendliest rabbits that has ever come through our doors. What an incredible spirit!

After joining the Hug-a-Bunny family, Echo lived with Frannie for a while, then came to live with me for many months. He was such a happy boy living in foster care! When another Hug-a-Bunny was adopted, Echo "hopped" on the chance to go live at foster mom Judy's house, where he had tons of room to roam and lots of attention, which he loved! Judy said that Echo (even after all he's been through) is one of the friendliest, happiest rabbits she has ever met, and offered Echo a place to live for as long as he needed it. He took her up on that offer, and lived at Judy's for almost a year!

Now, Echo doesn't need to live at Judy's anymore. While there is no doubt that they will both miss one another, Echo's "forever family" finally came along! Echo's new family adopted our Pumpernickel (Nikki) from us in 2007 and gave her an amazing home for two years. Sadly, Nikki passed away last month, leaving a huge hole in her place. Nikki had a dynamic personality, and I knew that this family would need another rabbit with an incredible disposition. Echo was the perfect fit for this family! While he filled a void in their hearts, they were able to provide Echo with an incredible "forever home!" Sounds like a match made in heaven! Echo joined their family soon after. The family says that Echo has brought so much joy into their lives and has made them smile again. Echo's new human brother, Andrew, takes amazing care of him and treats him like a member of a family. Most impressively, Echo lives in a huge 3-story rabbit abode and has tons of time out of his cage every day. He is relaxed and happy in his new home. We couldn't be happier for Echo's new family, and of course for Echo himself. What a perfect ending to Echo's story!

We can't say it enough how happy we are for these three wonderful rabbits! We wish them much happiness in their new "forever homes" and can't wait to her updates as they continue to become more comfortable in their new homes!

Ask Button #2

2009-10-29T07:05:00.001-04:00

Dear Button,

I want to give my rabbit treats that she really loves, but I know that commercially-made treats aren't the best for her. What are some natural treats that you love to eat?

Love,
Health-Conscious Bunny Mom
Paramus, NJ

Dear Health-Conscious Bunny Mom,

Wow! Your rabbit is so lucky to have someone who is looking out for her health and happiness! My mom always gives us the best treats. Since I'm blind, it does take me a while to recognize new smells that I like. However, my mom always introduces new yummy healthy things to me and my furry siblings!

You're right- commercial treats aren't the best for us lagomorphs (by that I mean rabbits). They are often too fattening and sugary for us. Although many of us have a sweet tooth and love yummy treats, they really aren't the best for us. Treats with many different colors or seeds on them really aren't good for us either.

Some of my favorite treats are dried fruit! My mom bought freeze dried strawberries and blueberries from Trader Joe's, and they were a big hit around here. We also love Oxbow's Papaya Tablets and we get about one of those a day, although I do beg for more! Occasionally, my mom will give us each a small piece of fruit like apple or banana. Me and the other rabbits in my home also love our fresh dark, leafy greens, and I feel like I'm getting a treat each night when my mom serves them to us!

Check out the approved fruit and veggie list on the House Rabbit Society's website. They have recommendations of healthy food that you can introduce to your rabbit slowly. They even have a veggie shopping list!

Remember, like me, your rabbit may not love the new treats on the first try. Don't worry- she may come around! Just leave the treat in her food bowl and she may try it later!

Keep up the good work- your rabbit will definitely appreciate it! Thanks for writing in!

Love,
Button

***Feel free to send in your own questions for Button to answer!

Adopt a Hug-a-Bunny!

2009-10-24T08:47:00.001-04:00

If you're looking to expand your furry family and think you can offer a "forever home" to one of our rescued rabbits, read on!

We are always looking for amazing and loving families to adopt our amazing rabbits. They have all previously lost their homes for one reason or another, and many of them have been the victims of abuse and neglect. At Hug-a-Bunny, we are not looking for a quick fix or to find temporary homes. Once our rabbits are adopted, it is our expectation that they will be adopted to a loving, forever home. Remember that rabbits have very specific needs and that they can live to be 8-10 years of age. Please consider this when thinking about adopting!

Rabbits are affectionate animals and need homes where they can have a safe place to live and play.

The rabbits in our care are wonderful creatures (of course we're partial) and we would be willing to elaborate on any of their qualities if you feel that you need more information! There is something special and unique about each of our rabbits. Please take your time and read about each of the Hug-a-Bunnies, even if you aren't quite ready to adopt. You never know, a Hug-a-Bunny might steal your heart, as they have done to ours! And yes, all of our rabbits ARE huggable!

We will adopt to indoor homes in the tri-state area (or outside of this area for special exceptions). Please take a look at our rabbits to see if any of them are the right match for you! If you don't see your match, email us and we can tell you about rabbits in our care that are not yet posted online. There is a $50 adoption donation, which allows us to rescue and spay/neuter more rabbits! This fee offsets the money we spend rescuing these rabbits.

If you are interested in any of the rabbits on our site, please email hugabunny@gmail.com for more information and an adoption application. Please note that all Hug-a-Bunnies are adopted to indoor homes only. Once we receive an inquiry, will get back to you quickly!

Please keep in mind that we may have several people interested in the same rabbit at one time, and adoptions are based on the most fitting home for a bun, as we always have their best interest in mind. We also have other rabbits that aren't currently listed on Petfinder since they aren't yet spayed or neutered or aren't yet in a Hug-a-Bunny foster home.

Ask Button #1

2009-10-21T20:12:00.001-04:00

Dear Button,

Why does my rabbit rub his chin on everything?

Love,
Curious Rabbit Mom
Wayne, NJ

Dear Curious Rabbit Mom,

Hi, I'm Button, the amazing past Hug-a-Bunny. I volunteered to answer any rabbit-related questions since I want people to know how we truly feel and what we do really means!

What a good question you have! Your rabbit must really love you and his home! When we rub our chin on things, we're actually putting our scent on it, or are "marking" it. We do this so we remember where we've been and so we can claim things as ours. I often tell people that every time we rub our chin on something, we're thinking, "this is mine....this is mine...." It's true! I love to put my scent on everything so I feel at home. Rabbits like me do this more if another rabbit lives nearby or uses the same play area at a different time. Sometimes we even rub our chin on our favorite human or food so that we know those are ours too! I guess we just want everything to be ours!

Anyway, that's all for now! I hope this answered your question! Feel free to send in another question soon!

Love,
Button

***Ask Button is a new series of postings where our adopted Hug-a-Bunny Button will be answering questions about rabbit behavior, health, and care. Feel free to send in any of your own questions for Button to answer! Simply email your questions to hugabunny@gmail.com and Button would be happy to answer them all! Please be aware that it may take a few days for Button to answer you, since he's still learning how to write!

Congratulations Clover Lop!

2009-10-18T08:45:00.001-04:00

We want to give a big congratulations to our sweet girl, Clover Lop, who was adopted on Wednesday, October 14th! Clover Lop's adoption marks another special milestone for us- our 175th adoption! We can't believe how far we've come in only 3 short years! We are so happy for Clover Lop in her new home!

Clover Lop came to us when her family could no longer care for her. While they loved Clover Lop, they knew they couldn't keep her and wanted to do the best thing for her. Clover Lop fit into her foster home beautifully and was a joy to have around. Clover Lop joined an amazing home, where is living free roam and will be treated like a queen for the rest of her life! Congratulations Clover Lop!!!

Rabbit Health: GI Stasis

2009-10-17T14:30:00.002-04:00

Is your rabbit eating???

One of the most important things I tell people about rabbit health is that they should always be on the lookout for their rabbit's appetite! Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits cannot go without eating for extended periods of time. They are grazers and if you watch your pet rabbit, you'll see that they eat throughout the day. They love to munch on pieces of hay and will get up often to have a few bites before relaxing again. Rabbits should never stop eating for an extended period of time. If they aren't eating and aren't acting like themselves for more than 12 hours, there's a good chance your rabbit is going into or has already gone into GI Stasis.

In the rabbit world, gastrointestinal (GI) Stasis is called the "silent killer" because it isn't an outward illness that you can spot and treat. It can come quickly and strongly, and can quickly claim a rabbit's life. I always tell people to monitor their rabbit's eating so they can catch any issues right from the start.

According to the House Rabbit Society's article by vet Dana Krempels, a rabbit's intestine's can become static (or will stop moving) for a variety of reasons which include, "(1) stress, (2) dehydration, (3) pain from another underlying disorder or illness (such as gas, dental problems, infections, or urinary tract disorders), (4) an intestinal blockage, or (5) insufficient dietary crude fiber" (http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html). If you notice your rabbit looks like they are in pain, isn't eating, or isn't being him or herself, GI Stasis could be the culprit. The important thing behind this is that you are on a race against time to help your rabbit. As stated in the article, this stopping of a rabbit's normal intestinal movement can "result in a painful death in a relatively short period of time. If your rabbit stops eating or producing feces for 12 hours or more, you should consider the condition an EMERGENCY. GET YOUR BUNNY TO A RABBIT-SAVVY VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY" (http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html). Read the quoted article for more specific information about GI Stasis and what you can do if you come across it.

Essentially, GI Stasis is when a rabbit's gut slows down from its normal pace, which may cause their stomach to become dehydrated (and therefore harder to pass the food) and can fill with gas, which is very painful for a rabbit. This snowballs into a larger issue if the food stops moving through the intestine completely.

Your rabbit should always be eating. A rabbit should never go more than 12 hours without eating. There are many clues to pick up on to know if your rabbit is in GI Stasis. First, your happy rabbit may be hunched in a corner of the room. You may be able to hear loud gut noises (gas) and see the rabbit grinding his or her teeth (sign of pain). To know for sure if your rabbit is refusing food, offer him or her a favorite treat. If they won't eat it, you may have an issue. Fecal size is also another indication of a rabbit's health. If you suddenly see your rabbit's poop get smaller and harder, this may be a sign that GI Stasis is upon you. You know your rabbit the best, so continuously look for clues that might point to a bigger issue.

We receive many emails from people asking what to do when their rabbit isn't eating. First and foremost, get your rabbit to a rabbit-savvy vet immediately. This is not something that can wait for another day. For some rabbits, the vet appointment can be the difference between life and death. The vet can assess the situation and give your rabbit some much-needed assistance. Many times, vets will give Sub-Q fluids to the rabbit (fluid inserted under the skin since rabbits in stasis are often dehydrated), pain medication like Metacam (stasis is very painful), gut mobility drugs like Reglan (to help the gut get moving again), and maybe even antibiotics if your vet feels that it is necessary. At home, you can offer your rabbit a healthy diet (see our posting titled Rabbit Health: Diet) and offer the rabbit plenty of freshly-washed dark leafy greens so your rabbit can get as much water as possible. Allow your rabbit to eat anything they will- pellets, unlimited timothy hay, greens, and offer any of your rabbit's favorite treats. It's so important to get your rabbit's stomach moving actively again, and offering their favorite foods will hopefully move this along. Also, offer your rabbit tons of water (in both a bottle and a bowl) to allow him or her to get as much water in their system as possible! These small accommodations may help your rabbit and you might see them eating more immediately. Still, it is important for your rabbit-savvy vet to check out your rabbit to determine if there is any supportive care needed.

Aside from medication given to you by the vet, there are other things you can do at home to help your rabbit beat a bout of GI Stasis. This includes:

Simethicone- This is a gas relief formula made for infants and is sold in a liquid form in almost all drug stores. It is for the relief of acute gas pain which accompanies GI Stasis. It is sometimes called Mylicon (but the main ingredient is Simethicone) and helps to break up the gas bubbles that build up in a rabbit's stomach. Simethicone has been a saving grace for us more than once and can help instantly to break up the gas that is building in a rabbit's GI tract and we feel it has been a key ingredient for us when curing GI Stasis. We always have some Simethicone on hand in case of an emergency and recommend that all of our adopters and foster homes do as well. This is in liquid form and can be used through the dropper to put directly in the rabbit's mouth. For dosing, 1-2 cc (of the 20 mg/ml suspension) can be given as often as every hour for three doses, then 1 cc every three to eight hours" (http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html). Since the substance has no known drug interactions and is not absorbed through the intestinal lining, it is safe for rabbits to use. You can use Simethicone safely as a precaution (if you think you may be having a problem but aren't sure) since it is not given long-term. Of course, if this doesn't help your rabbit within the first day or two, a rabbit-savvy vet should be consulted for further advice and prescription medication.

Oral Fluids- If you have a small syringe, you can give your rabbit some water through their mouth, which may help to hydrate the gut and keep things moving. Make sure to drop the water into their cheek behind the incisors slowly so the rabbit can still breathe while they are drinking. Do not put the syringe too far back in the rabbit's mouth- you don't want to aspirate them! Be careful! Gently give your rabbit a little bit of water into their cheek at a time. On occasion, we've added a tiny bit of fruit juice to the water so the experience is a bit more enjoyable for the rabbit. You can give the rabbit a little bit of water each hour, or more often if they will tolerate it.

Force Feeding- If instructed by your vet, your rabbit may need you to give them supportive feeding care through a syringe. Oxbow Hay Company creates a wonderful product called "Critical Care," which is a powder (you add water to it) made to supplement the diet of an herbivore. Once water is added, it creates a slurry that you can force feed to your rabbit. If you don't have Critical Care, you can also take your rabbit's pellets and create a slurry by using 2-3 tablespoons of pellets and 1/2 cup of warm water to break them down. This can be put into a feeding syringe as well. Another option would be to use fruit or vegetable baby food or applesauce. Make sure it's something your rabbit would enjoy! You can force feed your rabbit 1-2 cc of food at a time, but be careful not to squirt it too quickly or down their windpipe! Give your rabbit time to chew and swallow before feeding more. Be VERY careful not to go too fast as it could injure your rabbit more! Don't take the word "force" in force feeding to heart. Be gentle with your rabbit and feed them slowly into the side of their cheek by their incisors. If your rabbit is in Stasis, the last thing they want to do is eat! I suggest putting your rabbit on your lap (legs together) facing outward. Then, put the syringe in your rabbit's cheek and put a little of the Critical Care mixture into their mouth. Go slowly!!! You can feed your rabbit every hour, or more if they will tolerate it.

Abdominal Massage- Since GI Stasis involves a belly full of gas, abdominal massage can be a help in breaking up the gas and easing the pain for your rabbit. If your rabbit tolerates this (it may feel good for some rabbits while bad for others), gently massage the abdomen (stomach area). You may feel a hard belly full of gas, and massage can help break it up!

Again, we are not vets and are only making recommendations based on what vets have instructed us to do in the past and what has worked for us. As always, please make sure to check with your own rabbit-savvy vet before making any of your own medical decisions. Your rabbit's life could depend on it!

Try to stay calm and confident to help your rabbit work their way out of GI Stasis. Sometimes there's nothing you may have done to onset the issue, but you can help the rabbit once they go into stasis. Being an observant bunny parent is one of the best gifts you can give your rabbit, since you may be able to catch any eating or health issues before they become a bigger problem.

Although we are not vets, feel free to email us at hugabunny@gmail.com for any individual questions that we may be able to help answer.

Donations Kindly Accepted

2009-10-16T07:02:00.001-04:00

We operate our rescue solely from money from our own pockets and generous monetary donations. If you would like to donate financially, kindly send your checks to our address (Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue, P.O. Box 223, Rutherford, NJ 07070) or click here to donate directly to our Paypal account. Remember, since we are a 501(c)(3) organization, all of your donations are tax-deductable!

In addition to our much-needed financial support, we are always in need of supplies used to help us take care of the rabbits in our care. If you have any of the items listed below (or want to purchase them for us) and are willing to donate, we will gladly meet to receive the items from you! We don't have a physical location for drop-offs, but we always make it work!

-Blankets (primarily fleece)
-Cages of any size (dog crates, plastic-bottom Marchioro rabbit cages, Leith Petwerks cages)
-Litterboxes (rabbit or cat)
-Animal Carriers (new or gently used)
-Exercise Pens
-Carefresh bedding
-Oxbow food and/or hay products
-Rabbit toys
-Cleaning Supplies (garbage bags, animal-safe cleaner)

Thank you from our Hug-a-Bunnies!

Why Should I Adopt?

2009-10-15T06:57:00.001-04:00

This post has a lot of meaning for us, since we're an animal rescue group! There are so many unwanted animals out there. Shelters and rescue groups are just overflowing with rabbits who are looking for homes, many of whom never make it to one. Why is there such a dilemma? Well, first, rabbits can procreate very quickly. A rabbit's gestation period is only 30 days long and they can get pregnant again right after! Many litters are accidental, and many of these babies end up in shelters.

People can also be careless and do not fully research about an animals before they buy or rescue them. Therefore, many people "get sick" of an animal shortly after taking them home. This causes a problem for the animal, since their chances of getting adopted again after being returned to a shelter aren't great. We know there are many pet stores and breeders out there who make it seem desirable to purchase an animal. However, in our opinion, this is not the way to go. There are many more animals on death row in shelters across the country who never have a second chance. Many times the animals in shelters are pure bred animals and originally came from a pet store or a breeder. For example, look at Sunflower below. She was purchased from a breeder for Easter of 2008, then dumped at a kill-shelter where her life eas in danger. Sunflower is a pure-bred Lionhead, one of the most desirable breeds of rabbit out there!

Adoption is the best option for all animals- including dogs, cats, rabbits, or any other species of animal! If you're looking for a specific breed, many dog rescues are split up by breeds. Other rescue groups will help any animal who comes along. As a rescue, Hug-a-Bunny will help any rabbit in need and our goal is simply to save lives. We go around to shelters where rabbits are in danger of being euthanized, and we give them a second chance at happiness. Again, many of these rabbits are products of a breeder, pet store (breeders supply them too), or accidental litters. The animals in shelters need our help, since it may be their only hope. Consider opening up your heart and homes to an adopted animal- they will be forever grateful!

**Before you adopt an animal, please fully research about the species and their needs. It's so important to make a decision that is best for you and the animal so they don't end up homeless again. We are always looking for permanent, loving homes.

Featured Adoptable: Echo

2009-10-14T21:35:00.002-04:00

If you're looking for a friendly, wonderful, handsome Hug-a-Bunny, look no farther! Meet Echo- our Hug-a-Bunny ambassador! Poor Echo was rescued as part of a bigger rescue campaign when trying to shut down a horrible backyard breeder. After being followed for years, the authorities were finally able to rescue 57 rabbits from living in filthy dumpster-like enclosures with little food or water. Echo, Bryce, Sundance, and Forest all joined our rescue in Easter of 2008. Poor Forest passed away shortly after, but Bryce (who only had one ear, one eye, and half of a nose) and Sundance went on to find amazing, wonderful homes. Poor Echo is the only one left behind.

One of Echo's best traits is his amazing personality. He's so friendly, loves people, and enjoys spending time with his foster mom! He loves to eat, does binkies, and is a friendly and playful guy. Echo doesn't even mind the cats and small dogs living in his foster home. He's perfect with his litterbox and really is an all-around amazing guy. We know that any family would be lucky to have Echo join their home...we're just waiting for them to come along! He's been waiting for over 1 1/2 years in our rescue, and we know his forever home isn't far away!

Another trademark of Echo's is his one sideways ear. While this is adorable, it was actually caused by people picking Echo up by his ears, which is horrible for a rabbit. While this causes Echo no pain, it is a constant reminder of the life he left behind, and how lucky he is to be living such a great life now. Echo doesn't take any minute for granted and enjoys every day.

While we don't know how old Echo is, we know he's in good health and has lots of life left to give his future home. We would love for Echo to find a family like his friends Sundance and Bryce. With such an amazing personality, it's a wonder why he hasn't already been scooped up!

Please consider opening up your home and heart to our amazing Echo.

In Memory: Pumpernickel (Nikki)

2009-10-13T21:20:00.002-04:00

It is with great sadness that we say farewell to one of our favorite Hug-a-Bunnies. Sweet Nikki (Pumpernickel) passed away on September 25th, 2009.

Nikki was rescued after being found outdoors roaming the streets. She was caught and showed up at a local shelter, which is how we met her and rescued her. After living with her foster mom Lisa for months, she found a wonderful new home with an amazing family. Nikki was very loved and spoiled, and lived in her home happily for two years.

Nikki's human family members remember all of the times Nikki made them laugh by doing binkies and jumping on her owner Andrew's bed! As seen in the picture above, even Nikki's foster mom had a laugh when she came into the kitchen and Nikki was sitting inside her garbage can looking for goodies! What a spectacular personality! Sadly, Nikki had a growth on her lungs, which eventually claimed her life. Her spectacular personality will be hard to match. We will miss you Nikki!

Make Hug-a-Bunny Cash Through iGive.com!

2009-10-12T17:04:00.003-04:00

Are you an internet shopper? If so, there's a simple way to make Hug-a-Bunny some extra cash, that costs you nothing!

Many people shop online anyway, and here's a way to support us at the same time!! When you sign up through IGive.com and shop, you will raise a percentage of your purchases for Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue! Just check us off as your chosen charity and shop away! A percentage of your purchases (different at every store) will be donated directly to us to use for medical and daily care for our rescued rabbits. It's so simple to do and you can have fun at the same time! Just go to the website (linked below) and follow the instructions on the page to locate and choose our rescue as your chosen charity!

Click here to go directly to iGive.com

All of our supporters have already raised over $300 through IGive.com! Please keep shopping online through IGive's mall and make sure to pick Hug-a-Bunny as your chosen cause! Thank you to all of the "shoppers" who support Hug-a-Bunny through this website! Again, it costs you nothing, but has amazing benefits for our rescue! Happy shopping!

Rabbit Care: The Scoop on Litterbox Training

2009-10-11T09:56:00.004-04:00

Many people are surprised when they find out that rabbits are easily litterbox trained. It's the truth! If given the proper supplies, most rabbits are quite easy to litterbox train! Rabbits are very clean animals and like to keep their space clean. Offering a litterbox is appreciated by many rabbits (since again, they are very neat and clean) and can often work immediately! We have rescued over 200 rabbits and have been successful in training every rabbit who has passed through our rescue. Our technique is based on years of trial and error!

First, it's important to note that wire-bottom cages (also called fall-through cages), where rabbits poop and it falls to a tray below, aren't good for many reasons. They don't promote litterbox training since the poop and urine falls through to a tray below. In the past, rabbits were kept outdoors and weren't members of a family. Now, as the house rabbit has become more popular and is now the "norm" in many places, wire bottom cages are no longer as acceptable. Wire also can be bad for a rabbit's feet. Wire can cause an issue called sore hocks, which essentially are sores that can cause infections. We like a solid floor for a rabbit's feet, whether in a plastic or linoleum-bottom cage, exercise pen, or as a free roam bunny. Many people think rabbits need pads, towels, or sheets to keep the bottom surface comfortable, but we find that that many rabbits like a clean bottom for the cool floor. In our experience, most rabbits also like to bite through and pee on any sort of fabrics. So, until your rabbit is litterbox trained, make sure the floor of the rabbit's living area is bare and easily cleaned- it may take a few days for the rabbit to get the hang of it!

Many people who do keep their rabbits indoors still use cedar or pine bedding on the bottom of their rabbit's cage. While these products are ok for smaller animals, cedar and pine bedding is not good for rabbits. In fact, according to highly esteemed exotics vets from the House Rabbit Society, the "phenols in cedar shavings may cause liver damage" (http://www.rabbit.org/journal/1/liver-disease.html). Further, the oils can cause problems with their skin. If you currently have or use cedar bedding for your rabbit, kindly donate it to a local shelter or rescue group that can use it!

The same goes for cat litter! While it is safe and wonderful for cats, clay litter is not appropriate for rabbits! Rabbits should never be living on scoopable cat litter.

An important thing to note when beginning to litterbox train your rabbit is that rabbits will pick a corner where they will typically go to the bathroom. If you're able to spot that corner and put the litterbox there, you're one step closer to having a litterbox trained rabbit! In addition, rabbits love to poop and eat at the same time! You may notice that your untrained rabbit will go to the bathroom while eating. Once your rabbit is litterbox trained, move the hay hopper or holder (for information on diet, see our posting titled Rabbit Health: Diet) closer to the litterbox so the rabbit can eat and relieve him or herself at the same time! This will increase your chances of having a fully litterbox trained rabbit!

If you have recently adopted a rabbit, make sure to cut the rabbit some slack! They have been most likely moved around more than once, and will take some time to settle into a new home and routine. Even our most perfectly litterbox trained rabbits have had some issues transitioning into a new home. This is not uncommon, especially if the rabbit is entering a home where other rabbits are or were present. Rabbit scents don't leave overnight and a newly adopted rabbit will be able to smell scents left by other rabbits. This may cause a newly adopted or recently moved rabbit to "mark" their territory, and may throw off their litterbox training. Make sure to thoroughly clean an area before you can expect a rabbit to be perfectly litterbox trained there.

In order to litterbox train your rabbit, there's a few supplies you'll need. Please note, everyone litterbox trains rabbits differently. The way we litterbox train our rabbits is based on successfully litterbox training about 200 rabbits. While we know this works for our foster rabbits, feel free to use whatever works best for you and your rabbit!

The supplies we use are:

A square hi-bac litterbox (or a medium to large-sized cat litterbox)- In our experience, these plastic litterboxes are the best choice for rabbits. They are the most inclined to jump in this litterbox and can easily eat and relieve themselves at the same time! We use this litterbox for most of our rabbits and find that they prefer this box to others out there. This can be purchased at most pet stores like Petco, Petsmart, and Pet Goods (on Rt. 17 South in Paramus).

Carefresh Bedding- This product is made from recycled paper and is soft and wonderful! It holds in odor and is easy to clean. While the product does come in white and other assorted colors, we love the classic grey Carefresh litter the best by far! This can be purchased at most pet stores like Petco, Petsmart, and Pet Goods (on Rt. 17 South in Paramus).

Once you have the correct supplies, fill up the litterbox only with about an inch or less of Carefresh bedding. Again, the rest of the cage should be bare, without anything on the bottom. Place the litterbox in a corner of the cage facing either front or sideways, whichever you and the rabbit prefer. Place the hay source near the litterbox so it is easily accessible from there. Once in place, gently guide your rabbit to show them the litterbox. You can softly place your rabbit inside the litterbox. Rabbits are very intelligent and do understand praise. You can reward your rabbit when he or she is in the litterbox, and when they go to the bathroom in there. Find a treat (like a piece of dried fruit) that your rabbit loves and feed them the treat when you see them using their litterbox!

When accidents happen, which is common in the beginning, soak up the urine with the Carefresh bedding and place it back in the litterbox. Throw all poops (which are small, dry, and odorless to humans) back in the litterbox. For the first few days that a rabbit is being trained (or if a rabbit has recently joined your home), let the litterbox get a little dirty. This will allow the rabbit's scent to be in one place, which will help the rabbit realize that they should be going to the bathroom in there.

To clean the litterbox, simply put the whole thing inside a plastic shopping bag and tap the backside. You can use a rabbit-safe cleaner or diluted white vinegar to clean the bottom of the litterbox if needed. Then, refill the litterbox with Carefresh bedding. You can spot clean the litterbox daily by putting a bag on your hand and grabbing the corner where the rabbit urinates. The whole litterbox should be cleaned every 2-3 days to keep the area odor-free and clean!

Below you can see a picture of our adoptable Hug-a-Bunny Winnie the Pooh sitting in his litterbox. You can see the clear floor below him, the square hi-bac litterbox with Carefresh bedding in it, and the hay source (a shoebox clipped to the side of the cage) right near him! What a setup!

Eventually, as your rabbit gets the hand of litterbox training, you can add in a carpet remnant into the cage for added comfort. We suggest waiting, since if a rabbit has an accident while training takes place, the scent will often stay in there and may deter the rabbit from using the litterbox!

There are other litter materials that have been known to work. Yesterday's News is a litter that is widely used for rabbits. This litter is also made of recycled paper and is made in pellet form. Some rabbits do like this litter and it is another popular choice for litterbox training rabbits. We like Carefresh more, since you can soak up any accidents to put back in the litterbox. Some people also use newspaper on the bottom of their litterbox and cover that with hay. While that may work for some, we don't like our rabbits urinating on their hay, since it can get very messy. Plus, if they come across a pile of hay as they're hopping about, we don't want them to think it's ok to pee in it! We prefer to stick with Carefresh litter!

When your rabbit has time out of his or her cage to play, make sure the food, hay, water, and litterbox are all accessible at all times! You can either buy a second litterbox to put in another spot, move the litterbox into the play space, or leave the cage door open for the rabbit if they are playing in the same place that their cage is. It may be hard for the rabbit to transition with his or her litterbox skills out of the cage, so be patient. It will take time for your rabbit to realize that they need to go in the litterbox wherever they may be! If more than one rabbit plays in the same spot (if they are NOT bonded), they may try to mark the spot where the last rabbit was. Make sure to clean the area well.

Below, you can see our adopted Hug-a-Bunny Blue J. (adopted in 2008) sitting in his litterbox during playtime. The food, hay, and water (the water bowl is out of range of the picture) is all easily accessible to him!

Of course, even if you follow these directions religiously, you may need some help troubleshooting. In the event that you've tried our suggestions and still need some advice, feel free to email us at hugabunny@gmail.com for some additional help! You may find that your rabbit prefers a different brand or type of litter. Please also note that everything listed above (and everything on this blog for that matter) is our opinion. Feel free to follow what you believe in!

Good luck litterbox training!

Welcome Scout!

2009-10-10T12:23:00.001-04:00

We'd like to welcome a new, adorable guy into our rescue! Welcome Scout! Scout is an adorable little dwarf with fur of beautiful shades of peaches and creams. Unfortunately, his life didn’t start out so beautifully. Scout was found outdoors by a nice person and was brought to a vet’s office where they wanted to euthanize him. Luckily, that day a nice vet was there and she literally saved his life, since not everyone wanted to give him a fighting chance. At the time, Scout had a small abscess on his chin, which no one wanted to treat. The sweet vet took Scout, cured, him, and gave him a temporary home until we had room. She also neutered Scout herself and helped him recuperate before he came into our rescue. We feel so lucky that Scout's path crossed with the doctor’s that day, since she gave him a second chance. Now, he's safe and happy in his foster home.

Even after all that's happened to Scout, he's still a very sweet boy. He doesn't mind being petted and held for short periods of time. He also loves to eat, and he's definitely been making up for lost time. He's still a small guy and we don’t think he’ll grow much more. As I mentioned before, his coat is stunning and soft, and he loves to show it off to anyone who will look his way! Scout is about a year old and was neutered about a month ago. Even though he's small, he's not the best pet for children, since rabbits can get scared easily. He is litterbox trained and is finally ready for a home of his own. We're happy to have Scout in our rescue, and we have a feeling his stay here will be short-lived. We're sure an amazing, loving home will come along soon for this adorable man! However, he'll have a happy and safe place with us for however long it takes to find his perfect placement! Welcome Scout!

Make Mine Chocolate!

2009-10-06T17:22:00.001-04:00

As a rescue focused on rabbits, every Easter we face a big challenge with people purchasing rabbits for the wrong reasons, since the rabbit is the symbol of this holiday. Many people like the novelty of having a young rabbit at their Easter party or as a gift for their kids. People buy baby rabbits for their children (who often beg for the cute fluffy bunny), then realize that they are a big commitment and get rid of them when the rabbit grows and reaches sexual maturity. Even shelters see an influx of potential adopters around this time of year.

About 2-3 months after Easter, there is a huge increase of rabbits dropped off at shelters. We call these rabbits "Easter rejects" since they are the poor victims of people buying or adopting rabbits for the wrong reasons and then dumping them when they no longer want the 8-10 year commitment.

In 2002, the Columbus chapter of the House Rabbit Society created a movement to put a stop to this pattern. They call their campaign, "Make Mine Chocolate." The focus is on just that- encouraging people to give chocolate rabbits as gifts rather than an innocent live animal. Their aim is to educate people on rabbits and their specific needs and to discourage people from buying or adopting rabbits as Easter gifts. If people gave chocolate bunnies to children instead of needing to buy a real bunny, many lives would be saved. Click here to visit the "Make Mine Chocolate" website.

As a rescue who cares about education and welfare of rabbits, we fully support this mission. Sadly, we do have some rabbits in our rescue who are victims of this horrible situation. One of them is Sunflower, who was purchased in Easter of 2008 and dumped at a shelter soon after. She is still on the search for a permanent, loving home. Even though this message relates to Easter and a specific time of year, this campaign helps people realize that rabbits should never be used as a gift. Even though fall is upon us now, this campaign has a great message that we wanted to share with everyone.

Where Are the Hug-a-Bunnies?

2009-09-28T19:43:00.002-04:00

There is a big difference between a rescue and a shelter. Many people do not know the difference between the two. I can't tell you how many emails Frannie and I get from people asking us what our address and hours of operation are. This posting will hopefully clear up the difference between the two and will let you know where all of the Hug-a-Bunnies are!

A shelter is a bigger operation (usually city-run) where homeless animals live while they are waiting for a home. Most (not all) are kill-shelters, meaning they euthanize animals based on time at the shelter, space (or lack thereof), or for medical reasons. Shelters have many animals and it's a place where people can come to look at animals and adopt. Shelters are typically set up in stacks or rows of cages to maximize space. Animals typically have little time out or individualized attention, since there are so many animals at one location.

A rescue is a group of people (typically volunteers) who have dedicated themselves to making sure that EVERY animal has a fighting chance. Sometimes rescue groups have a physical location where the animals live, and where people can come to look at the animals, but many rescue groups exist within a network of foster homes. Most rescue groups are no-kill and they typically believe that all animals deserve a chance to live. Unlike a shelter, rescue groups take less adoptable animals that would have otherwise been put down, and help them find a home.

At Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue (notice the word RESCUE) we truly believe that every animal deserves the chance to live a full, complete, happy life. This includes animals of all species. For rabbits specifically, we believe that every rabbit deserves to receive the very best medical attention and to be safe and loved. We treat all of our Hug-a-Bunnies with the very best care, as we would our own rabbits. Each rabbit gets their own unique cage or enclosure setup- whatever works for them. Our rabbits are truly spoiled with the best nutrition and medical care.

When we rescue a new rabbit from a shelter, off the streets, or from a family who no longer wants them, we intake the rabbit with health checks and temperament testing. Then, the rabbit moves on to live in one of our amazing foster homes. At any given moment, we have 8-12 amazing foster homes (which currently includes me, Frannie, Lisa, Tammie, Lorin, Judy, Loren, Denise, Maki, and Westwood Pets) who take care of our Hug-a-Bunnies like their own. These foster homes are our secret to success. No matter how many adorable and amazing rabbits we have, we can't do anything without our foster homes to make it all happen. Since we don't have a physical location, these foster homes are the difference between life or death in some cases, as we pull out rabbits only when we have room open in a foster home! We depend on our foster homes to do all of the daily care of our rabbits. They are the backbone behind this rescue! Each of these foster homes takes care of the rabbit until the day they are adopted. This way, the rabbits are safe and happy and learn how to become a member of a family. All of our rabbits are litterbox trained in their foster homes as well. Many of our foster homes take another Hug-a-Bunny as soon as their rabbit is adopted.

Since all of our rabbits live in foster homes, we DO NOT have a physical location. There is nowhere for people to come to meet our adoptable rabbits, which is by design. We exist only in our foster homes. For some people, they feel the need to go to a shelter to meet and greet all of the adoptable animals. With a rescue, you are adopting from a tight-knit family where we know our rabbits so well. We have been able to make over 170 successful matches, all without having a physical location to meet up! Most of the time, adopters meet their rabbit on the day of adoption, but this is after weeks of working together and them learning every little thing about the potential home and adoptable rabbit beforehand. Again, remember the rabbits live in a home with a loving foster mom, so the foster mom knows the rabbit as if it were her own! This has worked for us very well, and we plan to continue this the way it is.

So, what are our hours of operation? We don't have them! Where are we located? We don't have a location! All of our Hug-a-Bunnies are safe in their foster homes waiting for their permanent homes to come along. Shout out to the Hug-a-Bunny foster moms out there!

Welcome Back, Rock!

2009-09-26T13:59:00.004-04:00

Hi there, Rock here! You can also call me Butters, which has been my name for the past 3 years. If you’ve been following Hug-a-Bunny from the beginning, you may recognize me from a while back. I started out as a Hug-a-Bunny named Rock back in 2006 after I was found on the streets. I ended up at a local shelter in August of 2006 where I was very unhappy being kept in a cage. Finally, I was pulled out by Hug-a-Bunny and was living in a bigger area with tons of room. After a little while, I was adopted out to a really nice guy, who named me Butters, and I lived with him in the Bronx for 3 great years. I was only Hug-a-Bunny’s 8th adoption, now 174 Hug-a-Bunnies have found homes!

Unfortunately, due to a new job, my person had to give me up. In Hug-a-Bunny’s adoption contract, it states that all adopted rabbits must be returned to the rescue if they can no longer be kept. This gave me a safe place to come where I knew I would be taken care of and loved. My foster mom (who is the original person that rescued me) says I look exactly how she remembered me 3 long years ago! Even though it was sad to leave my home, I'm happy to be in a place where people were excited to see me!

Some things for me have changed recently, but others haven’t. I am still a medium to large-sized male lop rabbit. I was neutered way back in 2006, and I'm very healthy. I'm about 3 1/2 years old now, so I have tons of time left! I'm also still a very independent guy and I love to explore. I have a crate where my litterbox is kept, but the door has never been closed. I absolutely loved being a free-roam bunny and enjoyed every minute of it in my home. My favorite place to hang out was under the bed and I was often found snoozing around the apartment! Other times, I would race through my home doing "Bunny 500's!" Occasionally, my person would let me run around his securely fenced yard (not recommended by Hug-a-Bunny for safety reasons) and I enjoyed being near the green grass. Overall, I led a laid back life over the past 3 years.

All of these changes have thrown me for a loop. It's going to take me a while to adjust to living in a foster home again, and I'm hopeful that my permanent, loving home will come along soon. I'm looking for a place where I can be myself and where I don't have too many pressures put on me. While I'm a very sweet guy, I'm not the cuddly type and really dislike being held (like most rabbits). However, I don't mind be petted, on my terms of course, and will keep you laughing for hours with my spunky personality! I'm even on the search for a foster home where I can have more room to stretch my legs! Consider opening up your home and heart to me! I promise to "rock" your world!

Sponsor a Hug-a-Bunny

2009-09-23T22:37:00.005-04:00

Would you like to make a difference in the lives of rescued rabbits, but can't commit to adopting one? We've got the perfect option for you...sponsor a Hug-a-Bunny! To sponsor a Hug-a-Bunny, all you have to do is make a $25 donation. Your donation goes directly towards the care of that rabbit, which will be used for medical needs, daily care, or even a special treat for that rabbit. Once you sponsor a rabbit, we will send you a gift from your new furry friend and we'll keep you updated on his or her progress. Here's a cute story about one of our sponsors! Beth, a sweet lady from NYC, fell in love with and sponsored our sweet Sundance. Sundance was the victim of a horrible hoarding situation (also where Echo, Forest, and Bryce came from) and had a long road of rehabilitation. After months of recieving updates from us, Beth decided that she simply couldn't live without Sundance and put in an application to adopt him! Sundance (now Pickle) is living a happy life with his best friend (pug Emma) and his new mom!

While we know not all sponsorships will end as magically as Sundance's, your donation will go directly towards making the life of the sponsored rabbit just a little sweeter while they are waiting for their permanent, loving home to arrive! Sunflower (picture below) is an example of one of our rabbits who is looking for a home and could use a sponsor. Please consider sponsoring a Hug-a-Bunny!

To sponsor a rabbit right now, check out our petfinder site to pick the rabbit you want to sponsor. Then, go to our paypal site to make a quick donation! You do not have to sign up for a Paypal account to donate. If you'd like to do it the old fashioned way, send a $25 check (made out to Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue) to P.O. Box 223, Rutherford, NJ 07070. Make sure to specify who you want to sponsor!

Thank you from all of the Hug-a-Bunnies!

Attention Past Adopters!

2009-09-22T06:44:00.004-04:00

If you would like to feature your adopted Hug-a-Bunny in our new section titled "Adoption Updates," feel free to send a picture of your furry friend in their home! Give us some new tidbits about what the rabbit has been up to since leaving the rescue and what you love most about him or her! We can't wait to show people how our Hug-a-Bunnies are "living it up" in their homes!

Even though we keep in touch with most of our adopters and know our rabbits are doing well, we hope to do an adoption update on all of our rescued rabbits since we know everyone will love reading them! Make sure to email the updates to us at hugabunny@gmail.com with a few recent pictures. We can't wait to start posting them!

On another note, we will also be starting a memorial section for Hug-a-Bunnies who have crossed over. Feel free to send us a note about their life and we would be happy to honor them. Again, please send this information (with a picture if possible) to hugabunny@gmail.com.

Thank you!

Welcome Daphne!

2009-09-20T21:16:00.009-04:00

We want to welcome a beautiful rabbit into our rescue. Just yesterday, Daphne joined our Hug-a-Bunny family. We rescued her last-minute from a bad situation. After living with a family for several years, Daphne was dumped at a local shelter when they no longer wanted her. She arrived with some health concerns that needed to be taken care of. After recovering and settling in there, it seemed like no one was interested in an older rabbit! Months would pass and people would adopt other rabbits, but not Daphne. She was always shy, but polite, but people would continue to overlook her.

Finally, after 5 months of living in a small cage with no time out to explore, Daphne lunged at a volunteer who was moving things around in her cage. It's not surprising that she was upset after all she'd been through! Since she was not spayed at the time and was frustrated from being abandoned and kept in a small space, it's not surprising to hear that Daphne felt the need to protect herself. While this cage aggression was an isolated incident (it never happened before or again), we knew her time there was over. Rumors began to spread that Daphne, who had a different name at the time, was on borrowed time. We had only a few days to make something work. Scrambling, we made some emergency room in a foster home so that she could be safe. Luckily, Daphne will never be in harm's way again. While she's much happier now, Daphne is still on the lookout for a more comfy foster home where she'll have more room to stretch her legs.

Daphne is now safe and resting quietly in her foster home. She's a stunning black and white female French Lop and she's about 4 1/2- 5 years old. She was recently spayed, which is so important for both her health and behavior. She has been a perfect lady in foster care and already uses her litterbox to go to the bathroom! Not only that, but she's very affectionate! Daphne loves to lay down close to people to have her head petted and kissed. She's eating well (she's a bit on the skinny side) and is making up for lost time. After all she's been through, we want to make sure that Daphne is safe and happy forever. We've told Daphne that she never has to worry again! Take one look at this stunning face and you can't help but fall in love! Stay updated for more information about Daphne as she settles into the rescue!

Welcome Daphne! We hope your forever, loving home comes along quickly!

Rabbit Health: Diet

2009-09-18T23:16:00.002-04:00

Our new section titled "Rabbit Health" will address questions that we're commonly asked about rabbits. While we are pretty knowledgeable, neither Frannie or myself are vets. If you have a serious medical concern, please contact your vet immediately. Some of what we write is also our opinion, which we have arrived at after caring for hundreds of rabbits. We simply want to impart some of our information to bunny lovers everywhere! Each "Rabbit Health" entry will focus on a different topic...today's is diet!

In the past, rabbits lived outdoors in hutches and were not considered part of the family. Vets were not well-versed in rabbit medicine and therefore many rabbit issues went unnoticed. However, as rabbits have become more popular (they're the 3rd most common house pet!), many vets have emerged who treat rabbits. Due to this, we've learned more about rabbits in the past decade than ever known before! It's a common misconception that rabbits should eat only carrots...Bugs Bunny loved them, but there's much more to a complete diet than just that.

HAY: The most important thing for a rabbit to eat is HAY! Adult rabbits eat timothy hay (or other blends) which comprises most of their diet. All rabbits should have constant access to soft, green, timothy hay. There are other blends out there (orchard grass, meadow hay, etc.) but timothy is by far the most important and the favorite among many. It's so important for their digestive system and is great for their teeth! Alfalfa hay should not be fed to rabbits over the age of 6 months, since it's too high in protein and calcium for them. Alfalfa is good for rabbits who are growing, but not for adults.

Here's Clover Lop (who is on the lookout for a permanent home) playing in her hay. While some rabbits like hay in their litterbox, others like it in a hay hopper or stuffed in an old tissue box or toilet paper roll!

PELLETS: In addition to timothy hay, rabbits also should eat a timothy-based pellet. Pellets were invented by breeders who wanted a quicker and easier way to feed and fatten their rabbits. The pellets that are appropriate for an adult rabbit are made solely from timothy hay, and should have no alfalfa in them since they're too high in calcium for adult rabbits and can cause health issues like bladder sludge. Pellets can be free fed, but most often are measured according to the size of the rabbit and fed twice a day. Some pellets are sold with colorful pieces in them. Most of these pellets are made from alfalfa meal, and aren't appropriate for adult rabbits. Alfalfa hay is too high in protein and calcium for adult rabbits. We use (and LOVE) Oxbow Bunny Basics T pellets, which is fantastic! You can go on their website (oxbow.com) to find carriers in your area. Most pet stores carry other timothy-based pellet options as well. The House Rabbit Society (rabbit.org) came up with approximate measurements for a healthy rabbit. They suggest,

"5-7 lb of body wt. 1/4 cup daily, 8-10 lb body wt. 1/2 cup daily, 11-15 lb of body wt. 3/4 cup daily"

According to the HRS, a rabbit less that 5 pounds may have digestive troubles if their diet is restricted too much. At Hug-a-Bunny, we do limit the pellets our rabbits get, but not this strictly. If pellets are being measured, it's even more important to make sure fresh hay is accessible at all times and that the rabbit is given more greens.

GREENS/VEGGIES: Rabbits need to eat dark, leafy, greens every day. While everyone gives a different amount, we have fed our foster and adopted rabbits approximately 2 cups of greens per day. Of course, this depends on the size of the rabbit, but we make sure to have plenty of dark, leafy greens on hand! We also try to give 2-3 different types of greens per day (or per week at the least) to make sure that the rabbits have a varied and healthy diet. Some of the many greens that our rabbits love are romaine, escarole, parsley, kale (careful, high in calcium!), cilantro, and basil. For a complete list of greens, check out the House Rabbit Society website's approved veggies list!

HRS List of Approved Veggies

FRUITS/TREATS: While many people love to give their rabbits treats, we feel that many of the marketed treats aren't good for rabbits. They may be tasty, but often have no nutritional value and may be harmful to your rabbit's health. Instead of giving our rabbits the factory-made treats (with the exception of Oxbow's papaya tablets, which we love), we use fruit as an occasional treat! Whether fresh or dried, rabbits love the sweet taste of some yummy fruit. Check out the House Rabbit Society's list of approved fruits to share with your furry friend! Remember, rabbits have sensitive systems and can't handle too much sweet stuff at once. If you're eating an apple or banana, share a bite with your furry friend- but don't go overboard! Too much of a good thing will cause your companion to have excess cecotrophes or diarhea!

HRS List of Approved Fruits

WATER: Make sure your rabbit has constant access to fresh, clean water. We put a water bottle in each cage, but we also put in a ceramic crock to give our rabbits the option of how they prefer to drink their water. We find that most of our rabbits love to drink water out of a bowl. Water is so important to keep a rabbit's gut active and their bladder flushed. Due to the natural vitamins in your rabbit's food, you do NOT need to add vitamins into your rabbit's water.

We hope to have shared some useful information with the rabbit lovers out there! Now, go hug your bunny!

Dress to Impress

2009-09-17T20:20:00.006-04:00

Do you want to look fashionable while supporting a great cause? If so, visit our CafePress store where you can purchase custom designed apparel and goods! Stock up on Hug-a-Bunny t-shirts and tank tops...our favorite is the Jr. Ringer Tee! We also carry mugs, stickers, magnets, greeting cards, and many more items that show off our cause. Check out the ceramic crocks so your own Hug-a-Bunny can drink from a Hug-a-Bunny bowl!

Our Cafe Press Store

Make sure to check out the 2010 calendar that we have, featuring adoptable or already adopted Hug-a-Bunnies! No one will be able to resist these faces...they will bring a smile to anyone! Think about your holiday shopping early and stock up on 2010 calendars!

Remember, each purchase you make donates a little bit to our cause. So, not only will you be walking around looking fashionable or owning really cool personalized items, but you'll be supporting a great cause and joining in our mission to save lives! Happy shopping!

Hug-a-Bunny's Logo

2009-09-16T20:20:00.003-04:00

Whether you've seen our logo before or are seeing it for the first time, here's a little history behind it!

If you've read our post called "The Birth of Hug-a-Bunny," you read about how when we met, Frannie and I both had rabbits whose names began with the letter "B." Our friendship was sparked by talking about our rabbits, and they were one of the main inspirations behind Hug-a-Bunny. We felt that it was only fitting to have a logo that paid a tribute to our most important ladies, so I drew a logo that centered our amazing rabbits, Bella and Bumbalina!

Bella is the rabbit on the left. She's a stunning brown French Lop. When I met Bella in 2002, she was in horrible condition and was going to be fed to a snake. I took her out of the situation immediately and took her home. From that day on, she has been a constant companion to me and is without a doubt one of the most amazing things to ever happen in my life. Bella has moved with me to many different places and has seen Hug-a-Bunny from a vision to a reality. Bella was diagnosed with uterine and ovarian cancer when she first came to me, which was a result of over-breeding and not being spayed. Miraculously, Bella survived them both. Bella bonded with another lop (Bumper) who she is still in love with. Years after her first battle with cancer, Bella had another health scare with suspected cancer. Luckily, it turned out to be nother serious. Right after that health scare, Bella developed a heart-shaped marking in her fur, as seen in both the logo and the picture below.

Now 7 years after being rescued, Bella is still doing well. She has the sweetest personality and despite her blindness and arthritis, she's always happy to see me and greets me by licking my hand! Although Bella has definitely slowed down, she never fails to spread joy wherever she goes!

Bumbalina was found outdoors after someone had released her in a park. She was being chased by many predators and wouldn't have survived long if she hadn't been caught and brought inside. Like Bella, Bumbalina was Frannie's constant companion. She followed Frannie around the house and got along with all of Frannie's animals. Bumbalina was a black and white mini-rex with the softest fur of any rabbit. Her markings down her back and tail were amazing, which is what can be seen in our logo or in a picture of her. Bumbalina was a very special girl. Sadly, Bumbalina passed away in 2006 after living a long and amazing life with Frannie.

Even 3 years after we've been saving lives, Bella and Bumbalina continue to inspire us. They will always be the driving force behind Hug-a-Bunny!

The Birth of Hug-a-Bunny

2009-09-15T22:14:00.022-04:00

Way back in 2005, Frannie and I (Jamie) met while we were becoming certified therapeutic riding instructors. We quickly bonded over how similar we were, including the fact that we both had companion rabbits! Hers was Bumbalina, mine was Bella. Both of our ladies were rescued under extreme circumstances (Bumbalina after being released in a dangerous park, Bella from being fed to a snake) and we couldn't believe that they both started with the letter "B!"

We were both (and still are) long-time vegetarians and extreme animal lovers and we've always helped out other rescues and shelters on a small scale. We've always wanted to help out where we were needed since every animal is precious to us. After we became good friends, Frannie and I always talked about starting up our own rescue. We knew there were so many advocates out there for dogs and cats and we saw how many rabbits in our area were ending up in shelters and on the streets, and there was no one to do anything about it. It wasn't until one hot day in the summer of 2006 that we found our calling.

Frannie's boyfriend overheard someone he worked with asking another man if he would take his family's companion rabbit since his kids were sick of it and he no longer wanted it. He told the man that the rabbit was big enough to eat and he wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible. There was a comment made about "Sunday night dinner!" Alarmed, Frannie's boyfriend called her and we convinced the man to give up the rabbit. It was obvious what the fate of this rabbit was if we didn't jump in. To our disgust, when we got her she was in a tiny cage with no room to move, but she trusted us immediately. Even with her hard past, she was stunning and the sweetest rabbit in the world. We named her Lily and took her to a vet to have her spayed. At the time, since we weren't a formal rescue, we paid $400 out of our pockets to have her spayed. Amazingly, we found her a foster home, and just a few months later in November we found her a permanent home! Lily was our first rescued rabbit, and our first rabbit to find a loving, forever home. Hug-a-Bunny was born!

Seeing how much we were needed, Frannie and I immediately started our rescue! We began on a small scale by making connections with new foster homes (some of them are still fostering for us!) and we started saving lives. Even though in the past we were able to lend a helping hand to dog and cat rescues in our area, no one was an advocate for the rabbits. One of our first rescue cases involved Apple, who was found in a taped shoebox with three other rabbits and put in the middle of a parking lot. In the past, a rabbit like Apple would have been immediately put to sleep, but now she had a fighting chance. She was taken to a vet and had intense medical work done. She was horribly skinny with a severe upper respiratory infection. While the first few weeks were rocky, Apple pulled through and made a full recovery. Luckily, Apple is now healthy, happy, and in a loving home...which happens to be my home! Here's a picture of her now! You can also see Apple featured in our profile picture, kissing her bonded mate Basil.

Lily taught us a very important lesson. She showed us the resilient spirit of animals, rabbits specifically, who forgive and move on from their past. Lily is now living a happy life in her new home, as seen in the picture of her snuggling with her Beagle friend.

Lily also showed us that two people can make a difference, no matter how small it may start out to be. Three years ago, we were just two best friends with a dream to start a rescue that could save lives and never imagined that Hug-a-Bunny would make such a difference. Looking back, we can't believe how far we have come and we find it amazing how it all came together. We've been connected with amazing people and we are happy that we can make such a difference. Each adoption still feels like yesterday! Since we find most of our rabbits in such horrible condition and rehabilitate them, it's natural that we get very attached to them all. We look at Hug-a-Bunny as an extended family for us, and we keep in touch with most of our adopters! We cannot believe that we've had over 170 adoptions in just 3 years! We're happy you can follow and support our journey!

Our First Post!

2009-09-13T14:21:00.004-04:00

Hey, Jamie here! Frannie and I are the founders and co-directors of Hug-a-Bunny Rabbit Rescue. We are always trying to find new ways to reach people and to help spread our message. We recently were introduced (thanks Shira!) to the concept of blogging, and we think it's a great idea! We can't wait to share information about rabbits in general and about our rescue with our followers! We're hoping to use this as a place to share news about our rescued Hug-a-Bunnies, adoptions, and fundraising opportunities. We also hope to use this blog as a vessel to spread more information about rabbits as companions, including general care and medical issues. Our vision is that this blog will help people realize what amazing animals rabbits are and that it will help raise awareness for our rescue. Thanks for visiting!