BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Exotic Pets Rabbits

Hi there. (Hi Tbunny)
I am a new convert to rabbits as pets. I am finding mine to be an adorable little chap with a big personality.
I would love to hear from other rabbit owners. Please tell me about your rabbit/s.
Love annika

Hello Annika!

What type of rabbit do you have?

I currently have two buns -- NZ white and brown (prob. NZ mix). Both are rescues and are about 7-8 yrs old. I also foster for the House Rabbit Society. My bunnies are wonderful companions and I can't imagine life without them. We got our first rabbit (Peter) in 1993 and our second (Benjamin) in 1995 to be his friend. Peter died in 98 and we got Flopsy to be Benja's friend as he was very lonely without his buddy. We lost both Flopsy (june) and Benj (nov) last year. They were 10 yrs old. It was a horrible year.

I have fostered about 15 rabbits since 1997. It is so interesting to see their different personalities. Some have such strong opinions about everything! Who knew?

So sorry to hear about Flopsy and Benj last year, that must have a been a shock.
Have all the rabbits you have fostered found homes?
I think that is such a great idea. I wonder if there is such a service in South Australia...a good place to buy me another!
I have a 1 1/2 yr old mini-lop, Preston. Since purchasing him, I have read breed info that has said they are one of the 'fiestiest' pet rabbit breeds and I would agree. He hates being picked up and has energy to burn.
His favourite past times included sprinting up and down the hallway, running round and round my legs (bunny speak for a loving dance!) and being made a fuss off on the floor; cuddles, pats, nuzzles.

Annika,
There is a companion rabbit society in Australia at
http://companionrabbit.cjb.net/
And the House Rabbit Society is a great resource for information at www.rabbit.org

Flopsy was also a mini lop and she certainly was fiesty! She was bounced around from home to home before she came to us, so we said she was street smart and scrappy! Benj was the lover -- he wasn't crazy about being picked up, but he sure loved to snuggle and get kisses. He was my handsome boy - he was calico with beautiful spots. Our current pair, Lucy & Quincy, don't really care if we even live here as long as they get their food! They are funny together, though. And she's definitely the boss! And everybun is fixed, so no surprise litters.

BTW, my picture is my most recent foster bunny, Kirby. He is the most adorable, lovable little bunny. I took him to his new home a week ago where he is very loved and spoiled rotten - at least as much as he was at our house. Though it broke my heart to part with him, I didn't even cry because his new home is so wonderful. And that's the point of fostering - to give every bunny that perfect home.

Tbunny - if the organization you work with could use more volunteers for fostering please feel free to post a link in my volunteering "stickie" at the top of the forum.

I think many people would love to help out with animals, but don't have a clue where to get started.

I am the parent of two bunnies at present:

Anna - She is a rescue from the Humane Society...she's an agouti color, and I suspect she is a Holland lop or lop mix...her ears don't lop, but if you pat her on the head they relax and fall, and stay that way for a while. She is a sweetheart, very gentle and loving, scared of cats, likes dogs, hates being held.

Raph (short for Raphael, named after the archangel) - He is my baby. He's a blue English lop with personality plus. I purchased him online from a breeder last year, and unfortunately he came from very bad bloodlines. He has serious joint problems (luxating patellas in both hind legs, which means his legs are quite weak at the joints and can fall out of joint very easily). He also has skeletal issues...his front legs are a bit crooked and his backbone is pretty fragile. So he is a special-needs bunny...but he is still an angel. When I first got him he was much more like a puppy than a rabbit...he would come flying over to the refridgerator as soon as the door was opened, knowing that the big white box in that room held all sorts of greens...and I'd be constantly pushing his head out of there. He loves to snuggle, and will lie for hours beside me if I am scratching behind his ears. He still hasn't learned - despite now being almost 2 years old - that his ears drag on the ground, so he is constantly tripping over them. And he walks (hops) on a leash, sometimes better than my dog does on hers.

Oh, and I used to own rabbits when I was younger...had many as pets growing up (not all at once). Then when I was in my late teens/early 20's I raised show rabbits for a while - Blue-eyed Polish. At the time I was the only one in the province to have them, and they managed to draw quite a crowd at the shows. I still miss those little guys...Polish are wonderful little bunnies.

I'm glad to see there are other rabbit lovers here too! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

PS...Here's a couple of pics of my two...

Raph:



Anna in the garden:

Wondering, your bunnies sound adorable. There is nothing cuter than a bunny who follows you around like a puppy. Having a special needs bunny has unique challenges. Your bunny is lucky you are willing to make the extra effort to give him a good life. With our elderbuns, we didn't realize how much work we put into their care until we didn't need to do it any more. Of course I always loved them, but with that level of daily care, you do develop a much deeper bond. I hated that they had health issues, but I wouldn't trade that time together for anything.

Thanks Tbunny...I know exactly what you mean about not trading it for anything. Animals of any kind are just so rewarding - I couldn't live without them in my life. And I find that there is something extra-special about rabbits. Your foster bunny is a very handsome fellow! I love his color. I can imagine it must have been hard to say good-bye to him, but as you said, knowing that he was getting a wonderful home must be so rewarding in itself. And I find that I tend to love the lops; lops of any type and the large breeds (love Flemmies!) I guess are my favorites.