Ask Button #5

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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?

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!

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.

Maxwell

"The Mayor"

Flopsy

"Mr. Handsome"

Petunia

"Miss Personality"

Sophia

"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!

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

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!