Saturday, March 17, 2012

Winner of the Etsy Shop Naming Contest

Welcome! As you are all out there celebrating the green beer of St. Patrick's Day, we are busy here choosing a name from all those suggestions we received for the Etsy Shop Naming Contest!!

And the winner is.....



 Bunny Burrow Boutique




contributed by Iris Klimczuk!


You will be having a brand new pair of bunny earrings on their way to you shortly! 


Thanks everyone for your participation!!!


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Thank You!
Please visit the Rabbit Hop Shop at the following link (Rabbit Hop Shoppe link) for rabbit themed items and gifts!  Please also "like" the Rabbit Hop Shoppe Facebook page. Thanks!

You Be the Judge! Rabbit Adoption Story Contest~

I have been so inspired by these stories.  Some brought me to tears or inspired my thinking about bunnies in a myriad of ways. Please read the rules carefully below on how to vote. You the readers are the judges of this contest! This contest does help rabbit rescues with the prize, but also helps educate others who aren't as aware of the beauties of rabbit adoption! Please share these stories for others to read. Encourage others to vote on them to.  A voter can vote for more than one story, but only once per story.  


This is a beautiful pair of ivory colored cuddling bunnies which came from the great Etsy shop Lavender Rabbit Studios. This is a one of a kind handmade item. This item will go to the writer/contributor of the story which wins. You can find... Lavender Rabbit at this link


The owner is a rabbit lover herself and a great pleasure to do business with. I highly recommend them. They make things other than rabbits also, but the rabbit items are my favorite. Guess I am a bit prejudiced!

This is the prize for the winner of the Rabbit Adoption Story Contest. A $25.00 donation in US dollars will also be made to  the Rabbit Rescue/Shelter of the winning contributor's choice.



How contest is judged:
1) Readers of the blog will vote on the best stories by leaving a comment on the story at the bottom in the comments section stating "This is my vote for this story".

2) A reader can vote for more than one story, but can only vote once on each story.

3) Voters can vote from Saturday, March 17th, 2012 until Monday, March 27th (which is the last day to vote).

3) The story with the most legitimate votes/comments will be the winner.

4) Anyone can vote, can vote on more than one story, but can vote only once on each story. You can encourage your friends to vote on a story by commenting on it at the end of the story in the comments section.

5) If there is a tie in the amount of votes in more than one story with the winning stories, the writer of Rabbit Slippers Blog will decide the winner by a drawing of names of the tied score stories.

Links to Stories In No Certain Order:

Editor's Note:   You will find that two stories are about the same rabbit, but one was contributed by the original rescue and the other version was contributed by the adopter.  I believe that we can get great insight from reading both of these stories to see it from two points of view!  These stories need to be judged as individual stories. Neither party is aware that the other party contributed about the same rabbit. It also goes to show that rabbits do affect us human beings whether we are just part of the rabbit's journey or in their forever home.  If you have any questions or clarifications on this or any other issues, please write me rabbitslippersblog@gmail.com or write in the comments box at the end of this post.  I will respond asap. The stories below are the ones being judged.



Helena and Hemingway's Story

Mick's Story

Edison's Story

Duchess's Story

DeNiro's Story


Nico's Story

Eddie's Story

Blush's Story

Toffee, Tilly and Jinx

Earl's Story

Nibbler's Story

 Mrs. Moop, Hedwig and Alice's Story






Mrs. Moop, Hedwig and Alice

contributed by Lhanna Frost (Scotland)

Mrs Moop.

Initially, I met Moop two months after her owner had bought her, on a whim after seeing her in a petshop. She was called Molly and was a friendly, happy and inquisitive bunny, full of licks and cuddles. I met her again, about a year later, to find her cooped up in a dirty hutch, full of anger, and making this sporadic screaming sound; a sound I never wish to hear again. I got a joint tenancy with her owner, a former student buddy, and moved her in with Nismo, my bunny. After talks with her owner, I discovered he had gotten bored of her, as she had stayed away during a house move, and became timid upon return. Instead of encouraging her, he had decided she wasn't worthy of his time and had gotten an extremely lively puppy. He never cleaned her hutch, fed her when he remembered, forced her from her hutch and encouraged the puppy chase her around the laminate flooring to impress dates . . . and when he was bored.
Clearly, the flatshare went downhill, as I never felt the rabbits were safe when he was around – I found bb pellets from a bb gun in her hutch (I never new what these were at the time, I only found out upon showing my boyfriend). He then confided he was going to give her to the SPCA, as that was the only rescue option available in Scotland at that time. Upon finding out he would need to make some form of donation, he decided to 'set her free' instead, as she was just a hindrance to him.
After four months of caring for her, and making slim progress, I offered to adopt her; he was against it initially, but once I had mentioned the abuse she had suffered, and that I was willing to do something about it, he relented.  So her and my Nismo moved to my mums for safety, while my boyfriend and I bought a house, and got as far away from him as possible.
I have since reported him to the correct authorities who couldn't take action at the time as I reported him after the situation, but keep a close eye on him.

Since moving into our new home a year ago, we renamed her Moop and she has blossomed; once again loving, alternatively affectionate but still fears humans to an extent. As I'm typing this, she jumped onto my footrest for attention; I gave her a noserun, received a lick then she hopped of and binkied to Nismo; Proof that a rescue bunny is just as rewarding, if not more than buying a kit.


Hedwig.

Hedwig was my first foster bunny. He was found near a known rabbit loving farmers home, and spotted hopping down his road; clearly not a wild bun as he had the most gorgeous orange and white coat ever!
Initially the farmer took him in, but couldn't keep him so passed him to our agency and to me.
From the of he was extremely docile; he had been neutered and was extremely affectionate. A lot of the time, rescue bunnies hve once been a persons much loved pet until they got bored and started neglecting them. This was clearly the case with Hedwig, as he was fabulous with children, and extremely relaxed!
Within three months, he was adopted to a family who after passing a home check and having support to prepare their home from him drove from a neighbouring county to collect him, and take him home to be their family bunny.


Alice.
Alice is a beautiful lionhead crossed with a new zealand white. The first year of her life was initially spent with caring owners who became bored of her and passed her to another owner. Once again, the cycle repeated and no one was interested in her. She was kept in her initial tiny hutch, locked outside with no chance to run, let alone stand to her full height.
They would throw her food in the bars, so she never got a chance to periscope and stretch her big legs. When Alice came to me she was happy to have space! She binkied from the night we got her, and has never stopped since. As she's part of a rescue, shes fully vaccinated and neutered.

We paired Alyce with Ollie; a much loved four year old house bun whose owner was emmigrating and wanted him to be happy.
Together they binky, flop and groom each other, they are one of the most in love pairs I have ever seen!
We are planning to bond them with my own pair, Moop and Nismo. I believe that all buns deserve a chance and not all rescue rabbits are vicious, and neglected; sometimes they've just ended up in unfortunate situations sadly. Please think rescue!
Rabbit Slippers has a new e-mail address rabbitslippersblog@gmail.com if you want to e-mail any ideas, suggestions, comments, concerns or share anything. 
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Thank You!
Please visit the Rabbit Hop Shop at the following link (Rabbit Hop Shoppe link) for rabbit themed items and gifts!  Please also "like" the Rabbit Hop Shoppe Facebook page. Thanks!


Nibbler's Story

contributed by Beth Brandt

Hi, I'm a private individual who has volunteered with bunnies at a couple of
  shelters around Sacramento, CA.  I fostered a Netherlands dwarf for the
  Placerville SPCA in Roseville, CA.  He came to me after being returned (or
 turned in) by two different families for aggressive behavior.

  So I did a little on-line research.  Netherlands dwarfs are known for being
  cage aggressive.  They should NOT be given to children.  But they are so
  adorable it's almost impossible not to buy them in the pet shop.  And they
  are small, only 3#.  So unaware parents think they are perfect for kids.

 I took in "Spike."  Set up his cage in my bunny room.  Second day I had him
 I took him out to my tv chair and let him go from my lap to the top of the
  chair.  He likes being high and able to everything going on in the room.
  However, I wasn't expecting him to pause by my face and take a bite from my
  cheek.  I made no sound and let him continue to the top. (I was unwilling to
  discipline him for misbehaving when he was in such a new place and probably
  scared.) I petted him and put him back in his cage after 10 minutes.  Took
  care of the bite.  My husband wanted to return him immediately and name him
  "Jaws."  But I knew that if I returned him he would have been euthanized
  because they could never let him out to anyone.

  I named him Nibbler, yes, after the Futurama cartoon character.  He
  continued to grunt like a little pig and try to lunge when I'd change his
  litter or feed him.  But I learned to reach for him behind his ears,
  starting with petting him there.  Three months later I was called by the
  PSPCA rabbit person and asked how it was going and would I be interested in
  keeping him. Yes!  Arrangements were made and Nibbler is mine.

 For the last year at least Nibbler has been at home with me.  He doesn't
 even grunt anymore when I work with stuff in his cage.  He loves being taken
  out and allowed to run loose in the bunny room. It's wonderful watching him
  dart this way and that and do binkies in between.  Lots of energy for a 6
  1/2 year old!  I'm told their life span is usually only six years, so I
  refer to him as my old man.  He loves sitting on my chest (he's light enough
 to not bother my breathing) and being rubbed along his jawline.  If I stop
  petting he moves his head against my hand so I'll start up again. He even
  "purrs" for me - the light grinding of teeth that indicates complete
  happiness. He lets everyone in the house pet him now - but definitely has
  bonded to me.

  I'd say that this is a rescue that's worked.

Beth Brandt, The Bunny Lady

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Earl's Story

contributed by Lynn Crory





Earl


In 2009 our rabbit Sophia Marie had passed away after only having her for 14 months do to cancer. And it was heartbreaking for me and told my husband that I did not want another rabbit or pet cause the pain hurts to much when you lose them. As always on a weekly basic I would go on my favorite shelters website were Sophia had came from and all of the sudden there was Earl.Hurricane Earl the shelter had named him. So the next day I went in with some goodies to the North Attleboro Animal Shelter for Earl..Not to take him home but to bring Karen the dog officer some needed things for him. I went in to the room where he was and asked if I could hold him and they said yes. I had read the story on how Earl had gotten to the shelter. He was found on a side road flea infested,soaking wet and left like trash on the side of a road. The lady that stopped  thought it was trash but at a closer look she had discover Earl. So the next day I went back to see him and the rest was history..Earl is a happy almost 4yrs old handsome guy that live with my 2 both rabbits that live in doors. He weighs 6.1 pounds and has allergies but His doctor says everything is all good. His doctor is the same one that the shelter uses and at his recent visit they told me that he looks amazing compared to the first visit were he was found on the side of the road. I send Karen @ the shelter pictures of Earl often. Karen and her staff are amazing with the animals and if it wasn’t for Karen we wouldn’t have Earl. Thank You for everything you guys do to help these beautiful babies.


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Thank You!
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Toffee, Tilly and Jinx

contributed by Sharon Butler (from the UK)
"In the spring of 2003 my eldest daughter bought a black baby female lion head rabbit & named her 'Tilly'.
Tilly had a small hutch with an attached run & lived in my daughter's back garden.
Tilly in her old run

Tilly was a lovely girl, she didn't like being picked up but she did love lots of fusses &; liked to lick bare skin (usually legs).
I thought Tilly deserved a bigger hutch, more space to run around and of course another bunny for company. So over the next few weeks we made these things a priority.
I think we must have started off by sectioning off part of the garden for her to run around. Then it was time to start on the hutch.
We used the top of an old wooden office desk for the base (approximately 6ft x 3ft), then built up the sides with old fence panels.
We then built a roof and a sliding mesh door for the main side of the hutch & a hinged door for the sectioned off bedroom area. We then covered the roof & sides with various materials for insulation etc.
Tilly looked so tiny sitting in her hutch after seeing her in her original hutch.


Next came choosing a boyfriend/bunfriend for her. So my husband, son &; myself went to an animal rescue centre.
It's so hard to choose just one rabbit when there are so many. There was a cute brown male lion head rabbit but if I remember rightly he was awaiting neuturing, that would mean we would have to wait longer for a mate for Tilly so we decided to choose another rabbit. My husband chose a cute little brown male called 'Toffee'. He was 18 months old, we were told he was handed in to them because the children of his previous family were no longer interested in him.
A reserve sign was stuck on the outside of his cage. We then filled out some paperwork & went home to wait for a homechecker to come & visit.
We didn't have to wait too long, I can't remember how long we had to wait for her visit, but it was probably within about 2 days.
Well the homechecker came & met Tilly (got her legs licked) and she seemed quite happy with the rabbit area.
I think we may have got a call from the rescue centre the next day saying that we could go; collect Toffee.
So on 6th July 2007 we went to pick up our new rabbit.
He wasn't keen on his car ride &; I think it was quite a hot day too which didn't help.
We introduced the rabbits to each other in our kitchen. Toffee stayed in his pet carrier for a long time &; Tilly stayed in one corner for a long time. Tilly finally got the courage & came over for a sniff, but ran off again. When they eventually came face to face out of the carrier they were both a little cautious &; then there was a little fighting, but nothing really to worry about.

Toffee and Tilly's First Kiss



I think I video filmed some of this, I would have to search through lots of footage to find it so it is unlikely to be added to this story, although the photos were easier to find.
Toffee was put in Tilly's old hutch with attached run right next to Tilly's new run. So the 2 rabbits could see each other without the danger of injury at the times we were unable to supervise.
Sadly though in the very early hours of the next morning one of my other daughters was in a car accident with her boyfriend & his friend. My daughter survived with just minor injuries, as did her boyfriend's friend. The boyfriend though sadly lost his life.
Obviously this took priority over trying to bond the 2 rabbits.
Both rabbits still had room to run around, were still fed & watered etc. They just weren't getting the attention from us.
Despite this, we did resume trying to bond the rabbits after a few days. There was fighting &; chasing, but gradually they became more friendly towards each other.
Then one night I thought it would be a good idea if we could put a wire mesh divider in the large hutch between the sleeping area & the main area. Tilly would have the large area & Toffee the smaller sleeping area. That way they could be close if they wanted & no risk of fighting.
The wire mesh was quite high, but there was a bit if a gap at the top, this didn't appear to be a problem though.
I know some rabbits would bite each other through the wire, but these two seemed to have no interest in biting each other through the wire.
Everything seemed fine in the morning, but I thought I would let Toffee have a run around in Tilly's run for a while before I let Tilly out too.
Toffee was enjoying his runaround (Tilly was not amused) it was her run & she seemed really agitated that he was out there.
Then I was quite shocked to see Tilly jump at the wire mesh, she clung on tightly & managed to scramble up to the top until she was high enough to get over and then land in the other side. She then ran out of the hutch & joined Toffee.
I had never seen Tilly jump so high or climb over anything before & I never did again.
This was it then, the barrier was now irrelevant so we took it down & let the rabbits stay together. I was a little worried the first night though, but it all turned out fine. The rabbits bonded, loved each others company & would spend much of their time preening each other.
Toffee was neutured, Tilly was not and she did spend quite a bit of time burrowing &; moving bedding &; her own fur (sometimes into their bedroom & sometimes down a burrow).
The hutch later had an upstairs bedroom put in with a ramp & their part of the garden was fenced off properly. During the day the door of the hutch would be opened & the 2 rabbits would be able to come & go as they please. They would be shut in the hutch just before it got dark at night & then let out again in the morning.
At a later date the hutch was moved into a small shed at the bottom of the garden (giving them a larger covered area if the weather was bad). We also fenced off a section of the garden directly outside of the shed which is just for the rabbits.


The 2 rabbits lived together happily for years, but in the summer of 2011 Tilly was not as active as she always had been, she became a little wobbly & stopped going up the ramp to the bedroom.
Most nights (but not all) Toffee would spend the evening in the bottom room of the hutch fussing Tilly.
By the time winter arrived I was concerned about Tilly, worrying that she wouldn't be warm enough if Toffee decided to spend the night at the top of the hutch. So I took out the ramp & blocked off the top room, to make sure Toffee stayed with Tilly, therefore keeping her warm enough. I also bought a Snuggle Pad (I think that's what it is called), it was a special heat pad with a cover on which could be heated up in the microwave. I would put this in their bed at night & when I would open the hutch in the morning Tilly would be laying across it.
As time passed, Tilly started to lose the use of her back legs & sometimes she would literally drag herself around by her front legs, it was very sad to see. Then there were days that Tilly would not come out of the hutch. Toffee would come out for a while, eat some grass & then go back in & fuss Tilly. I think he knew she wasn't well, he was very loving towards her at this time. I would carry her outside & put her on the grass & she would happily eat lots of it.
After a couple of days though she deteriorated & it was horrible to see, so my husband & I took her to the vet.

She was 9½ years old, I had previously looked online for information about lion head rabbits & it seems that they can live upto about 9 years. As Tilly was 9½ years I thought she had done quite well and had a good life.
The vet thought it would be kinder to have her put to sleep, it was a horrible decision to make, but I hated seeing her like that & agreed to have her put to sleep.
We took her home & led her in the shed where Toffee would be able to see her before we buried her. He did go upto her & sniffed around a little.
After we took her away though he would keep going to the spot where he last saw her. He seemed confused in his hutch alone for the first night & when he came out in the morning it looked as if he was searching for her. We opened up more of the garden for him where there was lots more grass. He enjoyed the freedom & made a good job of keeping the grass short. But after a while he would just sit huddled in a corner, looking very sad  lonely. He would become more active if people went in the garden, he also became more interested if one of the cats went out there too.
It wasn't nice to see him on his own, he looked so sad. I then thought that maybe it was time to get another rabbit. I hated the idea of replacing Tilly, she was such a lovely rabbit, but it wasn't fair on Toffee being all alone. So my search began.
I looked on the website of the rescue home that Toffee came from. They had mostly young males, I think the only females were a bonded pair (sisters I believe). Sadly though it looks like they still have those sisters, their longest staying rabbits. We couldn't really take on 2 more so I searched the internet every day.
Sometimes I would spot an ideal female rabbit, but she would always be hundreds of miles away.
I really wanted another rabbit from a rescue centre, but there just didn't seem to be any.
Then one day a friend was visiting & I mentioned to her that I was on the lookout for another female rabbit. She said she had a female rabbit that she was trying to rehome. Her rabbit was approximately 2½ years old. The rabbit was a baby when she bought her & was told that she was a dwarf rabbit. Because of this she bought a guinea pig hutch thinking that it would be ideal.
I don't know where she bought the rabbit, but they were definately wrong about her being a dwarf. She is twice the size of my regular sized Toffee rabbit. Therefore her hutch was really too small.

Well a few days later I collected the lady bunny named (Jinx) &I introduced her to Toffee in our kitchen. Toffee really wanted to be with her, he would just keep going up to her looking like he wanted to fuss her. She had never been that close to another rabbit before & would just keep running away from him.
She seemed scared of him, she was also in a strange environment with people she didn't know (& 3 cats too).

Despite this, less than 24 hours after they first met they were snuggled up on the kitchen floor with Toffee cleaning Jinx.

This was great, but when they were moved to the outside run Jinx kept running away from Toffee every time he tried to approach her. I could tell Toffee was getting frustrated, all he wanted was to be friends.
They spent 3 or 4 nights in separate hutches, which were face to face so they could still see each other.
Then one afternoon I shut them in the big hutch together for a few hours. Jinx kept away from Toffee as much as she could for a while, but then every 10 minutes she would go over to him & demand a fuss (which Toffee happily obliged to). Each fuss lasting longer than the previous one.
I let them back out to run around outside for the rest of the afternoon, then I put them both in the same hutch overnight.
Jinx moved everything around in the hutch, bowls, bedding, paper, hay etc. She made a right mess, but they are both happy now.
Jinx has only been with us for a few weeks, but she has certainly made a difference to Toffee's life. He seems much happier now & is enjoying the company of another rabbit again.

We also put the ramp back inside the hutch & opened up the top section too to give them more space.
Jinx has started burrowing now, but she is a much larger rabbit than Tilly was so I am dreading the size of holes (burrows) she is going to make.
We took on my daughter's rabbit Tilly so she did not need to be rehomed by a rescue centre.
We then adopted Toffee from a rescue centre because he was no longer wanted.
Then lastly we took on my friend's rabbit Jinx.
Although only one of our rabbits came from a rescue centre I do feel that we rescued all 3. We gave them a larger home/hutch, large run/section of the garden & of course the company of another rabbit.
I am sad that Tilly is no longer with us, but I'm happy that Jinx is a happier rabbit with much more space & of course she has her very first bunfriend in Toffee.
Rabbit Slippers has a new e-mail address rabbitslippersblog@gmail.com if you want to e-mail any ideas, suggestions, comments, concerns or share anything. 
Please follow Rabbit Slippers Blog on Twitter, too, @RabbitSlipprs . 
Please "like" Rabbit Slippers Blog on Face Book to keep up with the latest postings & events.

You can also sign up by e-mail notices at the top right of the page. (Your privacy is important to Rabbit Slippers).


You can also follow through Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs, both located in the right side bar.
Thank You!
Please visit the Rabbit Hop Shop at the following link (Rabbit Hop Shoppe link) for rabbit themed items and gifts!  Please also "like" the Rabbit Hop Shoppe Facebook page. Thanks!

Blush's Story

contributed by Dana Donnelly

Blush's story really started in California. I had heard about Blush before I had ever seen her; a plea for yet another neglected bunny came across my Facebook wall: 
"Blush is our latest addition. She is a bunny in need suffering from a painful crushed pelvis.  We are doing everything we can to keep her comfortable while she heals from this devastating injury. Please keep this sweet bunny in your prayers."
I thought, this rabbit is 3000 miles away, the elusive "someone else" will help her; there is nothing *I* can do. But I couldn't get Blush out of my mind. 
I wanted to know more about her, what had happened to her. I couldn't help thinking maybe there WAS something I could do. 
I started talking to Linda Baley, who, with an army of dedicated volunteers, runs Too Many Bunnies, a rabbit rescue in Redondo Beach. Linda explained to me that Blush's former life was all too typical - sold by her breeder to an unscrupulous pet store, where she was again sold (probably as an Easter "gift" for a child) with one of her "sisters"- 
Blush and her "sister" ended up having three litters before Blush was even 2 years old. Then Blush was abandoned (along with her babies that lived) to the uncertainty of  an overcrowded Animal Control. Thankfully, Blush was one of the lucky ones taken in by Linda and Too Many Bunnies to be fostered until she found a forever home. 
 Blush was entrusted to a busy foster family, and for awhile, all was well. Until one day Linda got a phone call. "Something" was wrong with Blush. "The taxi is waiting. " the family said. "Come and put this rabbit to sleep," they said. "We are going on vacation." And that would have been the end of it. 


But it wasn't. 
 Linda took poor broken Blushie back to her house and looked at her. She saw through the pain the family ignored, she saw through the convenience of putting Blush out of her "misery"; she saw that Blush was NOT ready to die.
Using her own funds along with some emergency donations from an online fundraiser, Linda took Blush to be evaluated by a team of rabbit-savvy vetrinarians. 
The vets confirmed what had been suspected, this injury had NOT "just happened", Blush had been paralysed for awhile, and had been severely neglected. She also had scoliosis and degenerative bone disease. Linda did not give up on Blush. Working with the vets, they came up with a plan to help Blush heal. This had to include a real forever family for her. 
After much soul-searching and a lot of detail arranging, on October 7th, Blush came 3000 miles here to Ohio with her bonded "husbun" Smore to become a part of our family.  
(Smore is a neutered boy that is utterly and hopelessly devoted to Blush- he was inconsolable when it seemed she wouldn't make it; Now he rarely leaves her side.) 
Blush is paralysed and does not hop like a "normal" rabbit, she has to wear a diaper for hip support; she needs hydrotherapy and antibiotic shots every other day along with pain meds and a special diet. I see the vets more than I see some of my own family members; she will never be 100% and will need ongoing treatments for however long her brave soul chooses to stay with us but she is loved beyond measure. The rabbit that wouldn't give up on herself is in training to become a certified therapy rabbit, so she might help those that have given up on themselves.   
 Blush finally has her forever home.

Rabbit Slippers has a new e-mail address rabbitslippersblog@gmail.com if you want to e-mail any ideas, suggestions, comments, concerns or share anything. 
Please follow Rabbit Slippers Blog on Twitter, too, @RabbitSlipprs . 
Please "like" Rabbit Slippers Blog on Face Book to keep up with the latest postings & events.

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You can also follow through Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs, both located in the right side bar.
Thank You!
Please visit the Rabbit Hop Shop at the following link (Rabbit Hop Shoppe link) for rabbit themed items and gifts!  Please also "like" the Rabbit Hop Shoppe Facebook page. Thanks!

Eddie's Story

contributed by Sarah-Elizabeth Labelle
My Boy Eddie

I can still close my eyes and picture him, his skinny dishevelled shape. Half a rabbit, half something so depressing it hurt to look at him. His eyes were a dim blue against his yellow stained, matted coat – it was then the only thing that was truly beautiful about him. His sneeze left a patch of moisture under his nose, making him seem sickly, and sad. This rabbit wasn’t cute; no one was going to stare at him through a pet store window, begging, “Please mommy, may I have him”. He didn’t resemble an Easter bunny, but I’m sure at one point, he was meant too.

Eddison’s story begins in a place not too far from Ottawa, called Manitoulin Island. He was found amongst 400 other rabbits starving to death in the basement of someone’s home. This person was a horder, and what he collected was rabbits. He let them live in abysmal conditions, breeding, living and dying in their own filth. Someone came forward and brought the situation to the local human society. They became over run with ill, anti social rabbits who were suffering from inbreeding, pneumonia, snuffles and respiratory diseases.  Adoption agencies stepped forward all over Ottawa, taking the surviving 200 or so and divided them up. Eddison was chosen by New Moon Rabbit Rescue to come out to the small town of North Gower.

I found myself searching on the computer, trying to find a match for my lionhead, Simba. I didn’t want a baby bun again so I decided to start searching local human societies. By chance I came across New Moon’s page. I filled out their application, making note that I wanted a spayed female companion for my Simba. I loved the idea of a lop, because of their doe like eyes and lovely nature. I left it to fate and New Moon to make a good choice. It was a matter of days before I heard back,  they had a lop, but he was a boy. He just arrived, so they were unsure of his temperament, but he seemed to light up when people came around. I received a single picture when they emailed me, one skinny, yellow rabbit with dim blue eyes.


I decided to go and visit him, even though he was a boy. I walked up the stairs at New Moon and looked down into the pen where Eddison was optimistically poking about. He was cautious, careful, as if he had an entire new world to explore, and didn’t quite know what to do first. I picked him up, and he quickly got comfortable in my arms. The skinny, yellow bunny kissed my arm, and something told me I wouldn’t be leaving without him.
 

It took a month, 30 days to see Eddison completely transform. He was something entirely the same, but altogether different then what he was before. His coat had become glossy, white, and thick. He developed a pattern along his ears. His beautiful eyes grew bright, and eager to look at the world anew. He circles anyone willing to meet him, he loves to be pet and loved, and food – I’ve never seen a rabbit enjoy food as much as Eddie. It took only a week for Simba and Eddison to be fast friends. The two are more then inseparable. They have become brothers.

Eddie’s life changed for the better, and he completed my life. He shows how thankful he is each and every day. He’s always pleased to see me, and better, please to be alive. He isn’t a listless, depressed bun. His life has meaning. Because Eddison was such a success, I later decided to share my home with two other foster care rabbits. They are currently being rehabilitated in my home, and I see a very bright future for them as well.
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Nico's Story

contributed by Kerry Stevens

Growing up in South Dakota, I was used to seeing deer in neighborhood yards, along with the usual standard issue brown squirrel.  However, when my husband and I moved to Texas, I was amazed and delighted to see cute, furry cottontails skittering about.  I became so entranced by them. Much to my neighbors’ amusement and husband’s amazement, I was able to hand feed about three wild squirrels every night.  Falling in love with these creatures, and like so many uninformed people out there, we went to go buy a rabbit from the local pet store.
Finding that the pet store was out of rabbits, we went to the nearest PetCo.  After a clerk informed us that they do not sell rabbits, he unknowingly ignited our desire for rabbit rescue after referring us to the North Texas Rabbit Sanctuary (NTRS).  I scoured through the Petfinder listings, determined to find our bunny, and had my heart set on a rabbit named Cinnabun.  With the adoption application completed and the appointment confirmed with NTRS, I could hardly wait until Saturday to take Cinnabun home!
Saturday arrived and boy, Cinnabun was as cute as ever!  The moment she sat on my lap was…nice.  She was a lovely rabbit but I didn’t feel a connection with her.  So, as Cinnabun was returned to her pen, I spotted another similar looking, sweet boy named Nico.  Nico had been given up twice.  The first time was due to his family’s apartment complex not allowing rabbits, and the second time, his family changing their mind that a rabbit wasn’t right for them, so he was relinquished back to NTRS. 
Nico quietly sat in my lap like a good boy while I petted and stroked his soft fur.  Torn between the two rabbits, my husband and I left the sanctuary.
I felt conflicted.  Like so many pre-conceived notions with rabbits, I hadn’t thought about choosing one based upon the person’s connection and the bunny’s personality.  Originally, I had my heart set on Cinnabun, so Cinnabun should be the one to come home with us, right?  And yet, I could not stop thinking of Nico…the way his adorable little head rested on his paws while he quietly sat on my lap.  His calm and gentle manner as I stroked his soft fur.
Nico

Fast forward over one year to today, we are happy to report that Cinnabun was adopted by another wonderful family, and Nico was truly the right one for us.  He is considered “Momma’s bunny.” Nico will spend long periods of time being loved on by Mom.  We have a unique tunnel game where I drape a blanket over my body and get on all fours on the floor.  Nico loves to dart in and out of the blanket looking for the pockets of light out of the blanket tunnel.  He has sensed when I am sick before I know it.  When he curls up by my stomach a certain way, I know it is time to see a doctor.  He is still our gentle and sweet soul.
It is because of Nico, that our love for rabbits has blossomed.  In fact, it grew so much that now my husband and I have three other rescue rabbits Piper, Tokki, and Yoshi, all adopted from NTRS.  It is because of Nico that we are now vegetarians, and avid volunteers with NTRS.  We encourage the public through our rescue work and blog (www.twobunnyblog) that adoption is the best option.  Remembering that it is something we once did, we educate people that pet shops and breeders often do not have the best interests in mind. 
It was truly God’s divine intervention that He brought NTRS and Nico into our lives.  We couldn’t imagine our life without any of our precious fur kids!
Kerry Stevens

DeNiro's Story

Rabbit Name: DeNiro

Rabbit Rescue Name: New Moon Rabbit Rescue

What type of bunny/description: Flemish Giant, Sandy colour, Neutered Male

Age: 3 years



History: DeNiro was one of nine baby rabbits who arrived at the rescue,
orphaned by their mother and unwanted by their owners. They were estimated to
be 4 days old.

Story: DeNiro and his siblings were bottle fed and lovingly cared for by rescue
volunteers for months. Unfortunately, because of complications involved in handrearing
baby rabbits and rare genetic disorder (osteogenesis imperfecta), all but
two of his siblings passed away before they were 3 months old. Fortunately, little
DeNiro made it through with flying colours.
He was adopted by one of his caregivers early in 2009 and has been a free
roaming bunny with cat and dog friends ever since. Today, he is the happiest
rabbit you will ever meet, constantly flopping and showing off with spectacular binkies!



Once he was adopted, DeNiro was introduced to his new girlfriend – a then 2-
year-old Mini Rex/Dwarf named Gypsy. She is blind and was still grieving the
loss of her bonded friend who passed away in July 2008. She quickly took to the
young, handsome DeNiro and they have been a beautiful couple ever since!
They love to play and cuddle together and Gypsy adores grooming him for long
periods.

DeNiro is a spoiled bunny and wouldnʼt have it any other way!
Other details: DeNiro loves when his humans sing his name to him, answering
with some binkies or even just a few head shakes. He is a toy connoisseur and
likes to cause trouble in the kitchen at night when his humans have gone to bed
and canʼt call him a naughty bunny! Because he was adopted by his former
caregiver and VP of New Moon, he has the privilege of having the occasional
houseguest in the form of other bunnies just like him, who he never misses the
opportunity to show off to.

Tell a bit about your rescue/shelter:
New Moon Rabbit Rescue was formed in September 2006 with one main goal: to
provide unwanted, abandoned, neglected, or abused domestic rabbits with a
second chance at human love and appropriate care.
We are a "no-kill" organization dedicated to providing care for rescued domestic
rabbits. All rabbits remain in foster homes until such time as they are adopted to
loving, caring homes. As such, we are ALWAYS seeking new foster homes.
We work with high-volume shelters in order to give these rabbits a second
chance at adoption, as well as accepting stray rabbits and VERY
OCCASIONALLY, rabbits from owners surrendering their pet.

Links:
www.newmoonrabbitrescue.ca
www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelterid=ON255
www.facebook.com/pages/new-moon-rabbit-rescue/70149324700
www.twitter.com/NewMoonRabbit

Contact:
Email: adopt@newmoonrabbitrescue.ca
Mail: PO Box 24 North Gower, ON K0A 2T0
Adoptable Rabbits Links/List:
http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelterid=ON255

Rabbit Slippers has a new e-mail address rabbitslippersblog@gmail.com if you want to e-mail any ideas, suggestions, comments, concerns or share anything. 
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Duchess's Story


Dear Rabbit Slippers,
       My name is Duchess, AKA Chocolate Bunny, AKA DuchessBunny. I was adopted from Magic Happens Rabbit Rescue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana....But I was actually rescued from another state!
   It all started in Florida when a breeder had more rabbits than she could afford, 77 to be exact. Because she couldn't pay to feed us anymore, she was going to put us all to sleep with a homemade gas chamber. The story then hit the local news where a zoo heard about it, and offered to pay $8 a rabbit and take us all and feed us to snakes!! Well she didn't want to do that either, so she was going to go ahead with her plan, until Gainesville Rabbit Rescue stepped in and offered to take in ALL of us, (with the help of other rescues) but this breeder lady wanted some $$, thankfully rabbit fans helped out and they were able to pay for all of us to get out of there! Since Gainesville couldn't house all 77 for us, let alone pay for all our spays and neuters, we were transported to various rescues, and I was fortunate enough to head over to Magic Happens Rescue! Although I was only supposed to stay there till I was spayed, and then head over to a different rescue.
 The Slave's Favorite Picture of me (She took that one a few days after I arrived)
   As soon as Magic Happens Rescue fans heard that there were going to be mini-rexes heading that way, a lot of foster-to-adopt homes opened up, and lucky for me, there were more "requests" for mini-rexes than there were mini-rexes that were going to be staying at MHRR, so I got to stay!!
My first time in the run outside
  
     My Slave had been one of those foster to adopt homes; you see, one of her first bunnies, Daisy had had a buddy, Maisy, but she had passed away earlier that year. Daisy didn't really need a buddy, and the Slave had tried to get her a buddy about a month after Maisy had passed, but that bunny was NOT very nice to Daisy!! So the Slave told herself that she wasn't going to try to bond her again....Until she saw the pictures of the mini-rexes coming in!! So the Slave ended up sending in an email, and was then asked which bunnies she was interested in. Her first choice had actually been a tri-colored mini rex, and I was her second choice!! (I still can't believe that!!) Lucky for me, the other bunny already had a home lined up for them, so after I was spayed, the Slave took me home. Sadly, Daisy became sick less than a month after I had been there, so we didn't really get to try to bond (Didn't want to stress Daisy anymore than she had too.), and about 3 months later Daisy passed away, they still don't know why. The Slave was heartbroken after losing her two bunny girls only 7 months apart, she still misses them a lot. She had them both for around 5 years, she was very used to their habits, likes, and dislikes, so having a "new" bunny was very hard for her. It was a struggle that first month, but pretty soon I started growing on her. You see, I looooove head rubs, I close my eyes, put my head down, and sometimes even flop, which just melts any Slave heart, as I just enjoy them so much! I also love to show off by doing binkies, and, of course, my diggy dance, which I do on the bed. (I kick my back feet twice making this funny sound.) I also get into silly moods where if a Slave tickles me, I'll binky. From what we can figure, I"m between 2-3 years old, but we can't exactly go on behavior since while I was with the breeder I lived in an all wire cage and only had pellets. No toys, no hay, and only the bunny next door for company. (Have I mentioned how much fun toys are? And how delicious hay is? And I can't forget the greens!!)
Another picture from my first time outside (Also experiencing grass for the first time!!)
  
   I've taught the Slave a lot over these past 8 months...Like how you need to hide wires, make sure anything plastic is put up, books are out of reach, and, most importantly chairs aren't out to where a certain bunny can jump on the table and get into chocolate. I've gotten the Slave to create my own blog (theworldofduchess.blogspot.com) and also my fun blog, bunnyfunnies,blogspot.com. I've been quite the ray of sunshine in the Slave's life, I am always finding some way to make her smile, no matter what's going on in her life. The Slave is so thankful to Gainesville for rescuing all of us, but she is VERY thankful to Magic Happens for taking me and 8 other bunnies in.  She doesn't quite know what she would do with herself without her little Chocolate Bunny around to put a smile on her face.
My first Valentine Card 2012
   I'm not sure if all the facts are completely right, you can read about it here. My name was previously Brownie, you can actually find my picture on there.
Check out my photos. The Slave says I'm a very good poser!!
                          
                                                                                   Nose bonks,
 
                                                                                          Duchess

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Edison's Story

Rabbit Name: Edison

Rabbit Rescue Name: New Moon Rabbit Rescue

What type of bunny/description: Holland Lop, White, Neutered Male

Age: About 1 year

History: Edison is one of ten rabbits who came to New Moon from a massive
seizure in Northern Ontario.

Story: Edison, along with the other arrivals from the seizure, was immediately
treated for many issues relating to the horrible conditions he came from, including
an upper respiratory infection and rabbit syphilis. He luckily recovered very
quickly.
While still in treatment, his gorgeous blue eyes and cute as a button face caught
the attention of a potential adopter on New Moonʼs Facebook page. It was love
at first sight when they met and he was adopted as soon as he completed his
treatment and was given a clean bill of health.
He lives in a wonderful home with a Lionhead brother named Simba, a puppy
and pet rats too! He loves to eat all the time and especially loves strawberries
and bananas.
Edison has brought nothing but happiness into the lives of his family members
and has even helped bring Simba out of his shell and make his life more
meaningful.
 
Other details: Edison loves to watch TV with Simba and his human mom! His
favourites include Toy Story, Ratatouille and Princess Mononoke. He is a mother
hen to the other animals in his family and loves them all. The rats love to sit
under his ears and bum and Edison never minds!
 
Tell a bit about your rescue/shelter:
New Moon Rabbit Rescue was formed in September 2006 with one main goal: to
provide unwanted, abandoned, neglected, or abused domestic rabbits with a
second chance at human love and appropriate care.
We are a "no-kill" organization dedicated to providing care for rescued domestic
rabbits. All rabbits remain in foster homes until such time as they are adopted to
loving, caring homes. As such, we are ALWAYS seeking new foster homes.
We work with high-volume shelters in order to give these rabbits a second
chance at adoption, as well as accepting stray rabbits and VERY
OCCASIONALLY, rabbits from owners surrendering their pet.

 
Links:
www.newmoonrabbitrescue.ca
www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelterid=ON255
www.facebook.com/pages/new-moon-rabbit-rescue/70149324700
www.twitter.com/NewMoonRabbit
 
Contact:
Email: adopt@newmoonrabbitrescue.ca
Mail: PO Box 24 North Gower, ON K0A 2T0

Adoptable Rabbits Links/List:
http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelterid=ON255

Rabbit Slippers has a new e-mail address rabbitslippersblog@gmail.com if you want to e-mail any ideas, suggestions, comments, concerns or share anything. 
Please follow Rabbit Slippers Blog on Twitter, too, @RabbitSlipprs . 
Please "like" Rabbit Slippers Blog on Face Book to keep up with the latest postings & events.

You can also sign up by e-mail notices at the top right of the page. (Your privacy is important to Rabbit Slippers).


You can also follow through Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs, both located in the right side bar.
Thank You!
Please visit the Rabbit Hop Shop at the following link (Rabbit Hop Shoppe link) for rabbit themed items and gifts!  Please also "like" the Rabbit Hop Shoppe Facebook page. Thanks!