bunny camp news jan 11

8/7/2019 Bunny Camp News Jan 11

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The Year Of The Rabbit

It's all ours for the taking, so seize it in all four paws.

Love

Millie Bun.

Volume 9 Number 1 January 2011


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Some of our buns looking for homesReserves can be made in advance, but a home check is done before a rabbit is adopted. Owners must

have suitable accommodation and somewhere secure to exercise their rabbit(s).The sanctuary is run

entirely from donations and re-homing fees - 65 for a doe, 55 for a buck. The re-homing fee

includes castration/spaying, VHD and Myxi jabs and a vet health check. If you ring and we are out,

please leave a brief message. We are unable to return calls to mobiles due to the high cost. Weoccasionally experience problems with email so you may wish to telephone instead.

Brown/grey lop

Age: 2 Breed: Dwarf Lop

Sex: Male

Bonded: No

Description: mink coloured lop. Very cute

General health: Good Temperament: Friendly and lively

Type of home wanted: Loving home.

Ginger and white lop

Age: 2 Breed: Dwarf Lop

Sex: Male

Bonded: No

Description: white lop with ginger markings

General health: Good

Temperament: Lively and friendly

Type of home wanted: Loving home.


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If you like the Bunny System then buy the book atwww.indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4373


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How to trim a rabbit's claws.

1) Drink Vodka.2) Drink more Vodka.3) Catch the rabbit. *hic* Maybe I should have done this BEFORE the vodka.4) Sit the rabbit down in my lap.5) Catch the rabbit.

6) Wrap the rabbit in a towel.7) Have a tasmanian towel devil in my lap.8) Drink more vodka and go catch the rabbit.9) Give the rabbit a piece of papaya (Thank you Lisa)10) Go catch the rabbit.11) Wait till the rabbit is tired out and catch the rabbit.12) Put rabbit on her back and clip her front paws while baby talking her.She'll be too busy gagging at the mushy stuff to fight.13) Grab her ticklish hind feet and collect scratches and bruises whileclipping rear claws.14) Release the rabbit to foot flick, thump, shake, grunt and possibly pee.15) Give the rabbit another piece of papaya.16) Finish the vodka.


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Cruelty Will Only Be Stopped by

Licensing Breeders, says Rabbit Welfare

CharityJanuary 17, 2011, UK. Press Dispensary

The Year of the Rabbit is the Year to End Breeding Cruelty

Despite 2011 being the Year of the Rabbit, the UK is in thewake of another horrific case of rabbit cruelty and neglect. In

response, the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) the

largest charity dedicated to improving the health and welfare of

domestic rabbits in the UK is calling it a day on unregulated

breeding and appealing for all rabbit breeders to be licensed.

PACT, an animal sanctuary in Norfolk, recently came to the rescue of 74 rabbits,

including babies, living in filthy, squalid conditions. The 74 were those that

survived; many others were not so lucky and were found dead at theheartbreaking scene.

The RWAF advises that this is not the first case of its kind and stress that the

cruelty only came to light because the breeder was admitted to hospital and his

premises visited in his absence.

How many other animals are suffering like this without anybody knowing?asked

Rae Todd of the RWAF. We know nothing is foolproof but one way of tackling

irresponsible back yard breeders like this, and preventing further cruelty on this

scale, is to insist that every rabbit breeder in the UK is licensed and regularly

inspected. Too often rabbits are seen as an easy way to make a quick buck

because the system fails them, and it has got to stop.

Realistically, the implementation of licensing schemes is a long way off, so the

charity urges that, in the meantime, everybody can play a role in pushing for

better standards, asking that:

Too often rabbits are seen as an easy way to make a quick buck

because the system fails them, and it has got to stop.


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Pet retailers visit their breeders on a regular basis, and publish this information

in-store to inform their customers. If a breeder is not maintaining their standards

appropriately then the retailer should sever ties with them.

Pet shop customers should question their pet shop about the breeders they use.

They should ask how often the store visits the breeder, and seek conformation

that they are reputable maintain good welfare standards.

Members of the public who buy directly from breeders should have a good look

around the premises and report anything suspicious to their local authority, the

RWAF or the RSPCA. But dont forget that a local rescue centre will have lots of

rabbits looking for good homes, in most cases already vaccinated and neutered.

For information about the Norfolk PACT bunnies, who all are in need of homes,

please contact PACT on 01362 820 775 or via their website

http://www.pactsanctuary.org/about-us.html

or visit the RWAF blog:

http://rabbitwelfare.blogspot.com/2011/01/urgent-help-needed-for-pact-

rescue.html

For more information on rabbit health and welfare visitFor more information on rabbit health and welfare visitFor more information on rabbit health and welfare visitFor more information on rabbit health and welfare visit

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.ukhttp://www.rabbitwelfare.co.ukhttp://www.rabbitwelfare.co.ukhttp://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk


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nimal sanctuary workers removingabbits from the shed at Horsford.;

hoto: Bill Smith

The rabbit shed at Horsford.; Photo:

Bill Smith

Rabbits rescued from rat-infested shed near orwich after owner taken ill

Jon Welch Saturday, 8 January, 201112:50 PM

Animal welfare workers have been at a shed near Norwich

today to rescue more than 40 rabbits after their elderly

owner was taken ill.

PACT Animal Sanctuary was contacted by the Norfolk

and Norwich University Hospital on behalf of a

patients in his 70s who is understood to have had a

stroke. He told nurses he had about 30 rabbits that

had not been fed for two days.

The man handed his keys over to charity last night and gave workers directions

to the dilapidated shed at Horsford.

They arrived last night and rescued about 20, before returning today for the rest.

George Rockingham, of PACT Animal Sanctuary, said: There were at least 40

rabbits kept in boxes on the floor and in filing cabinets. One was in a wet

cardboard box.

Most of the animals were in reasonable condition but had obviously never been

out of the place. There was plenty of food but no water

and they were very thirsty. The place was totally rat-

infested and some of the animals had rat bites.

The animals will now be taken to the sanctuary at

Woodrising, near Hingham, and cared for, before being

re-homed.

But Mr Rockingham said the cost of keeping them for six

months could reach between 3,000 and 4,000,


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including 1,000 for myxomatosis injections alone, and appealed for donations to

help look after them.


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Phyllis O'Beollain

Dayton Small Pets Examiner

Are carrots good or bad for small pets?

The good news: carrots fat free, high in anti-oxidants and veryveryveryvery nutritious.

The bad news: half of the calories in carrots are derived from sugars.

The carrot that we know today is a domesticated form of the wild carrot (known as Queen

Annes Lace in America), a plant native to Europe and south-eastern Asia. Our modern-

day orange carrot has been selectively bred for a larger, tenderer taproot. Most store-

bought carrots are orange, although purple, red, white, and yellow varieties also exist.

Carrots are actually biennial plants, meaning the plant grows its fernlike rosette of leaves

during the first year, while building its taproot, where large amounts of sugars are stored

for energy the following year, when the carrot flowers.

The characteristic orange colour results from the high beta carotene content, which

metabolizes into vitamin A in the intestines. Carrots were first grown for their leaves and

seeds, and some carrot relatives are still grown for leaves and seeds (parsley, fennel, dill

and comino).

Carrots are an excellent source of Vitamins A, B6, C, K, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Iron,

Copper and potassium, as well as a good source of dietary fiber and manganese. Carrots

are beneficial to the eyes, urinary tract, intestinal tract, and mucous membranes.

The nutritional value of carrots is such that it is a most beneficial vegetable to offer your

small pet in small quantities. A inch slice of carrot offered daily to your bunny is a finehealthy treat; guinea pigs and smaller pets would benefit from inch slices

Carrot tops can be fed more liberally as part of your small pets daily diet, and can be

grown and harvested a few leaves at a time (the taproot will continue to produce more

leaves all season as long as you leave a leaf or two on the plant). Carrots are easily grownin large pots, which can be moved to the shade in hot weather and even brought indoors

in the winter to delay the end of their growing season.

Renal failure in small pets: symptoms and diagnosis

January 10th, 2011 8:08 pm ET

There are two forms of renal (kidney) failure: acute and chronic.

Acute renal failuremay occur suddenly and be very severe, due to an accumulation of

toxins in the kidney(s), or as a result of an electrolyte imbalance in the blood. Forexample, some drugs, especially certain antibiotics, can cause renal toxicity in rabbits,who will then display the typical signs of kidney disease. Acute renal failure may also


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Early diagnosis and treatment are the keys in maintaining the remaining functionality of

your pets kidneys, regardless of whether the renal failure is acute or chronic. If your pet

is displaying any of the signs and symptoms noted above, do not delay in getting your pet

evaluated by your veterinarian. By the time your pet begins to display symptoms, much of

the filtration ability of the kidneys has been lost.

Even chronic forms of renal failure can be successfully managed by following your

veterinarian's instructions and bringing the pet in for follow-up care.

Renal failure in small pets: treatment and follow-up care

January 11th, 2011 7:09 pm ET

If you have a small pet that has been diagnosed with renal (kidney) failure, it is

vitally important to follow your veterinarians treatment instructions and take your

pet in for regular follow-up visits.

Treatment Your small pet will likely be treated as an outpatient unless s/he is in acute renal

failure (crisis); this would require hospitalization. Your veterinarian will most

likely administer immediate intravenous or subcutaneous fluid therapy to stabilize

your pet and prevent further kidney damage. The fluids administered are soon

urinated out and carry away waste products in the process. Diuretic medication

may also be administered to further increase urine flow. A special low-protein diet

is often prescribed to lessen the amount of waste products processed by the

kidneys and thereby reduce their workload. Your veterinarian may also suggest

increasing fresh greens in the diet to help with rehydration.

Steroidal or glycoprotein medications may be prescribed to encourage red blood

cell production, as anemia (low red blood cell count) is not uncommon in chronic

renal failure.

Antibiotics are often prescribed, as bacterial infections can be the cause of the

disease, or can occur as a result of the disease.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen should be

avoided in pets at risk of renal problems, as these drugs are hard on the kidneys.

Surgery may be needed to remove any uroliths (bladder stones).

Ongoing care Your pet is going to need lots of rest (with opportunities for exercise as prescribed

by your veterinarian), a stress free lifestyle, a good diet (including lots of greens)

and adequate consumption of fresh water to optimize his or her quality of life.

Your pet may require periodic fluid therapy and bloodwork for the rest of her lifeto monitor the progression of the disease and her response to treatment.

While renal disease is progressive and has no known cure, much can be done to

maintain and/or improve your pets quality of life. The sooner treatment and

ongoing care is begun, the more dramatic the response and the longer the lifespan

of the pet. Even chronic kidney failure can be successfully managed if you follow

the advice of your veterinarian and maintain regular follow-up visits.

A Rabbit's Garden (with thanks to triangle rabbits)


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Growing a garden for your rabbit (and you) can be easy and fun. Everyone loves

fresh herbs and vegetables, and when you grow your own they are always fresh! A

rabbit garden can have other benefits, including helping your budget. Those little

herb bunches seem to cost a fortune at the grocery. The good news is that herbs

can be among the easiest plants to grow yourself. This year why not give

gardening a try? You don't need a big yard, just a few pots on your deck or patiocan get you started.

Many herbs and vegetables grow well in containers. In a sunny spot, most herbs

will do well in a large pot. If you are growing vegetables in containers, look for

the dwarf or bush varieties. A container garden has unlimited possibilities.

Here are some plants you can try out in your bunny garden:

Basil - Ocimum basilicumBlackberry leaves and fruit -Rubus fruticosus

Borage -Borago officinalis Chamomile/Camomile -Anthemis nobilis Chervil -Anthriscus cerefolium

Cilantro - Coriandrum sativumDill -Peucedanum graveolens

Dandelion - Taraxacum officinaleLemon Balm - Melissa officinalisMarjoram - Origanum marjoranaMint - Mentha sp.

Oregano - Origanum vulgare

Parsley - Carum petroselinum

Peppermint - Mentha piperitaRaspberry leaves and fruit -Rubus idaeusRosemary -Rosmarinus officinalis

Sage - Salvia officinalisStrawberry leaves and fruit -Fragaria ananassa

Thyme - Thymus vulgaris

Beets (for the tops) -Beta vulgarisBok choy (Chinese cabbage) -Brassica rapaBroccoli - Brassica oleraceaCarrot - Daucus carota subsp.sativus

Oat grass -Avena sativaKale -Brassica oleracea Acephala groupRadish (for the tops) -Raphanus sativusRye grass - Secale cerealeWheat grass - Triticum aestivum

Additional Ideas:You can make homemade botanical blend hay:

Thyme, rosemary, lavender and chamomile may be added to timothy hay to make

your own botanical blend. Make sure they are well dried and add them by the

handful. You can use a large Rubbermaid type container to mix.

sage

lemon balm

oregano

mint

camomile

thyme


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Pet Rabbits Beneficial to Womans HealthWednesday, January 5, 2011, 11:54

The trend of having rabbits as pets has

been popular for quite a while now.

Yet, only recently have specialists

managed to prove that those animals

are not just pretty but also good for our

health. Now, the relatively newtechnique of having cells with bunnies

present during consultation sessions

with psychologists and psychotherapy

is becoming increasingly popular.

The new study was conducted by a

team of specialists from the

University of Missouri and was led

by Professor Rebecca Johnson.The results of the study show that

even mere presence of bunniesbunniesbunniesbunnies

gives womenwomenwomenwomen sense of calmness

and tranquillity. Furthermore, the

scientists observed decrease in the

level of stressstressstressstress hormone cortisol in

the womens bodies after they

petted those fluffy animals for a few minutes.

Dr. Johnson notes that presence of a bunny in a household and the process of

taking care of it facilitate social bonding, teach women and girls how to better

understand themselves and others, and how to communicate with other people

more effectively. In particular, women who had rabbits also had better control of

their emotionsemotionsemotionsemotions and behaviour. Bunnies used as part of therapytherapytherapytherapy also facilitate

healing of serious illnesses in children and adolescents, such as autism or

depressiondepressiondepressiondepression, and help them cope with lack of confidence.


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Spay or Neuter my Rabbit?

by Dana Krempels, Ph.D.

Many people are surprised to learn that it's a rabbit's best interest to have him

neutered or her spayed. But it's as true for a rabbit as it is for a dog or cat.

Depending on his/her genetic makeup, a rabbit will reach sexual maturity

somewhere between the age of 3 to 8 months. Once the sex hormones start

flowing, expect to see behavioural changes. Some may be cute: a sexy rabbit

may circling your legs, honking a little love song, be very needy and cuddly and

follow you around incessantly. Other puberty-related behaviours are not so cute:

a honking, singing bunny circling your legs who finishes the symphony with aflourish of urine spray and then sits there looking up at you for approval of this

sign of unconditional love. And some hormone-related phenomena are simply

dangerous to your bunny: un-spayed, un-bred female rabbits have a very high

risk of uterine cancer.

Although not all rabbits exhibit objectionable behaviours upon reaching sexual

maturity, many (if not most) do. One can expect to see the following behaviours

once those sex hormones kick in:

*loss of previously good litter-box habits

*spraying urine (a sign of love, but still...)

*mounting/humping of objects such as toys or your unsuspecting head

*growling and boxing

*territorial biting/nipping

*aggressive/possessive lunging and biting

*circling and honking

*destructive chewing and digging (especially in females)

When intact, both male and female rabbits usually mount one another endlessly

out of sex drive and/or to establish social dominance. Same-sex pairs who

tolerated each other as babies will often begin ferocious fighting upon reaching

sexual maturity. This can result in permanent "un-bonding," not to mention

serious physical injury


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*Opposite sex pairs will begin reproducing as soon as they mature. Left

unchecked, an un-spayed rabbit and her intact female descendants can produce

more than 1300 offspring in a year. Over the course of five years this number

balloons exponentially to more than 94 million! (If you don't believe me, check outthe calculations.)

A well-meaning, if naive, person might think it's a simple matter to find homes for

those babies born so that a female rabbit could be bred "just once" or "so the kids

can witness the miracle of birth" (For a balanced view, be sure to take the kids on

a field trip to the local animal shelter's euthanasia rooms so they can also witness

the "miracle of death".).

Finding a safe forever home for a rabbit is not simple.

Thousands of sweet, perfectly wonderful rabbits (purebred and mixed breed

alike) are abandoned at shelters every year, and perhaps an equal or larger

numbers are "set free" in parks or neighbourhoods to face an death from

predators, disease and starvation. For every rabbit produced by a casual

breeder, another is put to death at an animal shelter or dumped in a park to die,

because there are simply not enough homes for all of them.

Un-spayed female rabbits have a very high risk of uterine cancer. Our vets

commonly see uterine changes and tumours in un-spayed rabbits as young as

eighteen months. As the bunny ages, her risk increases, and our experienced

rabbit vets report that many, if not most, rabbits older than about four years who

are brought in for spaying reveal uterine changes and/or tumours. A rabbit's

reproductive system is evolved for constant reproduction over a relatively short

lifespan. When reproduction is thwarted, but the uterus is left intact, the system

can go a little haywire. It's not unexpected.

Un-spayed rabbits, and rabbits who are spayed late in life also face an increased

risk of mammary cancers, though these are less common than uterine cancers.

Upon reaching sexual maturity, male rabbits often begin displaying mounting


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behaviour (on your shoes, the cat, stuffed toys, your leg, your sleeping head...),

marking territory with urine and producing a musky sex odor. Male rabbits, like

females, can become very aggressive when the testosterone kicks in, and the

only truly viable solution for this problem is castration, also known as neutering.

Testicular cancer, while far less common than uterine cancer, does occur, usually

in older rabbits. Neutering eliminates this risk.

----------------------------------------------------------

How can spaying/neutering help?

Modern rabbit medicine is far more sophisticated than it was even ten years ago,

and many excellent vets are now spaying and neutering thousands of rabbits a

year without incident. Still, no surgery is 100% risk-free, and each rabbit

caregiver must make the decision to spay/neuter on an individual basis, in

consultation with an experienced rabbit veterinarian. But there are plenty of

reasons to spay/neuter your rabbit.

*Rabbits who are spayed (females) or neutered (males) are much less likely to

display objectionable sex-hormone induced behaviours such as aggression,

mounting, and urine spraying.

*Neutered/spayed rabbits generally have much more reliable litter-box habits

than intact rabbits.

*Neutered/spayed rabbits are generally calmer than their intact counterparts, and

suffer less stress from sexual frustration.

*The urine and faecal pellets of spayed/neutered rabbits have less odour than

those of intact rabbits.

*Rabbits who have been spayed/neutered can live with a rabbit companion of the

opposite sex without the risk of unwanted litters.


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Rabbits of the same sex can more easily learn to get along without fighting

(though bonding must still be done with care and patience).

*Rabbits who are spayed/neutered will never contribute to the terrible domesticrabbit overpopulation problem.

Thousands of rabbits are abandoned every year when they outgrow their Easter

Bunny cuteness. You will never have to worry if your rabbits offspring will suffer a

terrible death after being abandoned in the wilds of suburbia, being dumped at a

pet store to be sold as snake food or being euthanized at an animal shelter if you

don't contribute to this problem.

And just so you know....

*Spaying/neutering your companion will NOT make him/her "fat and lazy." Lack

of exercise, wrong foods and boredom will do that.

*Your rabbit will still love you after she's spayed/he's neutered. He might not be

as clingy, and you may notice a change in the sex-hormone induced behaviours.

But the basic personality usually does not change, especially if the rabbit is

altered at a relatively young age.

----------------------------------------------------------

Don't Abandon Your Bunny: Spay or Neuter them!

Our domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are derived from an ancient line of

the wild European rabbit. European rabbits live in warrens (a series of

underground tunnels excavated by family groups) in an established territory. A

domestic rabbit who has been abandoned in a park that looks inviting and safe to

a human has been sentenced to a cruel death

*s/he has no warren in which to hide from predators or from the elements


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*s/he has no family, and if there are already resident feral rabbits in the area, s/he

will most likely be attacked ferociously because she is not a member of the

warren.

*If s/he survives the threat of predators, cars, humans running their dogs and

other immediate dangers, s/he runs a high risk of succumbing to parasites,

disease or starvation.

Turning a rabbit loose in a wild area is not much different from turning a human

loose, naked, in the most dangerous neighbourhood in town. Don't consign your

rabbit to such a fate.

A domestic rabbit depends on human care! No matter how appealing a "natural"

environment appears to a human, the most likely outcome of a rabbit turned

loose there is suffering and death. Before you consider abandoning your

companion rabbit to "the wild" or to a shelter when he or she matures and

becomes wilful and difficult to manage, give him or her a fair chance to be a

wonderful companion: have him/her spayed or neutered. You will experience one

of the most delightful, intelligent, loyal, affectionate and entertaining friends you

could hope to know.


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A FEW MYTHS:

Myth

You can let an unwanted rabbit go in a field and it will be fine, fending for itself.

The Truth: Domesticated rabbits, once released into the wild will, in most cases,

quickly become food for the local predators, whether they be dogs or cats or, if

you live in the country, hawks, eagles, coyotes, etc. If they survive the predators,

released rabbits still have to face a gauntlet of diseases, poisoning, and

starvation. Contrary to another popular myth, rabbits do not instinctively know

which plants are safe to eat and which ones can be dangerous to them. Althoughthey do retain many of the "prey" instincts, domesticated rabbits have never had

to rely on those instincts to survive, and they honestly have no clue as to what to

do.

Myth

Rabbits can live on just carrots, lettuce, and cabbage. A million non-rabbit people

I know think this is true.

The Truth: Just like people, rabbits require a balanced diet of vitamins and

minerals as well as proteins and fibre. And just like people, they simply cannot

survive on a diet limited to just two or three items, especially if one of those items

is basically nothing but water (iceberg lettuce). The easiest way to provide for a

rabbit's nutritional needs is to find a feed dealer who sells a good quality rabbit

pellet. Then you can add the carrots as an SMALL treat.

Myth

A rabbit can be picked up by the ears. Ouch!

The Truth: A rabbit's ears are not a handle. Try having someone pick you up by

your ears if you want to see how it feels! The proper way to pick up a rabbit is to

scoop them up, supporting their body with both hands.

This myth was popularized by the outdated image of magicians pulling a rabbit

out of a hat, and many still believe that is the way to handle rabbits. Magician


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Myth

A rabbit and a hare are the same thing.

The Truth: Hares differ from rabbits in that they don't dig burrows and their youngare born more mature. Rabbit young, or kits, have a gestation of approximately

28-31 days. They are born naked and blind and require a period of time to grow

in a safe nest before they can run. The hare, on the other hand, is born after a

gestation of approximately 42 days. The young, called leverings, are born fully

furred, eyes open, and they are ready to run immediately after birth. You can't

necessarily tell a hare from a rabbit just by its common name. The jackrabbit is

actually a hare and the Belgian Hare is actually a rabbit. Talk about confusion!

Myth

Domestic rabbits can interbreed with wild rabbits.

The Truth: Hares (Lepus) have 24 pairs of chromosomes while the domestic

rabbit (Oryctolagus) has 22 and the cottontail (Sylvilagus) has 21 pair. While

mating is possible between the different species, the resulting embryos will die

after a few cell divisions because of the differences in the number of

chromosome pairs.

Myth

Rabbits are soundless animals.

The Truth: So many non-rabbit people are amazed when they come into our

home and hear some of our bunnies make that excited, happy-to-see-you sound.

It goes from sort of a buzzing noise to real chatter. Rabbits make a wide variety

of sounds from the contented "purr" of a happy rabbit to the shrill scream of a

rabbit in fear for his life and that is a sound you will never forget nor would like to

hear again!

Myth

The size a rabbit will become as an adult depends upon the size of the cage.


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The Truth: Now if that were true, many people with house bunnies would have

mammoth rabbits!

The size of a rabbit entirely depends on the breed(s) of his parents and his

genetics.

Myth Rabbits are "dirty" creatures.

The Truth: No, it is the people who do not clean the cages often enough. Rabbits

will normally go in one corner of their cage and can be litter-box trained.

Due to the fact that the rabbit is a "prey" animal, he instinctively keeps his home

clean to prevent a build-up of odour that would reveal his location. When confinedto a cage, rabbits usually will pick one spot in the cage and will continuously use

it as their "potty" spot. Observant owners can watch this potty spot to help keep

track of their animals' health.

This myth might have its origins in the Bible, where rabbits are considered to be

"unclean," like pigs. Deuteronomy, chapter 14, verses 7-8 says, "However, of

those that chew the cud or that have a split hoof completely divided, you may not

eat the camel, the rabbit or the coney. Although they chew the cud, they do not

have a split hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you." (Different versions of

the Bible will have it worded slightly differently.) Of course, we all know now that

a rabbit doesn't chew cud but, back in Biblical times, they didn't have the

extensive knowledge of animal biology that we do now.

Myth

Netherland Dwarfs are nasty-tempered and unsuitable for children.

The Truth: There are a few evil-tempered ones, but then again that is true for any

breed!

Just like any other pet, a rabbit lives as he is treated. A rabbit that is handled

gently and carefully will be a happy rabbit and a joy to handle. A rabbit that is

treated roughly will be a frightened rabbit and will respond in kind. The breed of

the rabbit bears little influence on how it develops.


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Myth

Every rabbit with long hair is an Angora.

The Truth: There are other long-haired breeds, such as the Jersey Woolly andthe American Lop , Cashmere lop.

Myth

They breed like rabbits.

The Truth: This is a common line that people use, which seems to make them

think that rabbits are easy to breed and raise to adulthood.

Myth

A doe will kill her babies if you touch them.

The Truth: A doe rabbit that is used to being handled won't object to her owner

handling her kits in most cases. But on occasion, you do find the over-protective

mother who doesn't want anyone touching her kits. Each rabbit has to be

considered individually.

Myth

The mother will curl up with her babies in the nest-box and keep them warm all

night.

The Truth: As part of a prey species, a doe rabbit actually spends very little time

with her young. This is to help prevent detection of the kits by various predators.

She builds a nest of grass, hay, or straw, pulls fur off her chest and belly to line it,

then leaves her kits in the warm, cosy nest, except for feeding them once or twice

in a 24-hour period. A doe's milk is among the richest in the animal kingdom,

which allows the infrequent feedings.

Myth A doe can be successfully bred only during the first two years of her life.

The Truth: A lot of does are still capable of having litters up until they are six


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years old.

Myth All albino rabbits are deaf.

The Truth: There is nothing to substantiate the belief that white rabbits are deaf.

A rabbit's colour is set by a specific set of genes that has nothing to do with his

hearing.

Myth

All people who buy rabbits know what they're getting themselves into!

The Truth:

Adopting a rabbit is a very BIG commitment. Rabbits have a life span of over ten

years. Many shelters have older rabbits that would love a caring forever home.

Remember that rabbits are family pets, not children's pets. It takes a family level

of commitment to care for and provide a good life for a rabbit. This is why

ADOPTING a Rabbit from a shelter is the best way to go as the shelter provides

education and lots of helpful information.


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Residents plea to get rabbits at Canford Bottom

relocated

7:00am Wednesday 5th January 2011By Harriet Marsh

OUR rabbits deserve better than to be chased out by ferrets.

Thats the message from residents near Canford Bottom roundabout,

earmarked for a 5.9million re-build that would see the A31 cut through the

bunnies home.

On Monday, January 10, Councillor Janet Dover, who represents Colehill

East, will hand over a 52-signature petition to East Dorset District Councilasking that the rabbits are found a new home rather than being forced from

their warrens and killed.

Another petition with 56 signatures has already been posted to the Highways

Agency, which wants to complete the work to ease congestion ahead of the2012 Olympics.

Cllr Dover said: Children and families love the rabbits.

Although the district council arent responsible for the work, its in their

area and Im asking for them to urgently forward it to the Highways Agency

with a message that the residents want them to actively seek alternatives tothis plan to kill them.

Relocation is the humane option and the right thing to do.

Campaigners say theres been one colony on the roundabout and another on

the verge for more than 20 years. We think they took up residence almost assoon as the road was re-developed, Cllr Dover added. Its a relatively safe

environment for them, fairly safe from predators. Not many foxes would

travel across that traffic. The rabbits enjoy a quiet life there and its nice to

see the babies in the spring. Rabbits are happy little things and it makes you

feel cheerful to watch them nibble away at the grass.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: If the scheme goes ahead, to prevent

rabbits being killed by construction machinery, prior to any work we would

trap and humanely kill them. However we are looking at the possibility of

relocating them, provided that we can find a site where they would not

present a nuisance.


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VOL

The Bunny Camp Sanctu

help clean out our hutche

of our volunteers have hacircumstances have chan

basis.

If you can commit to a few ho

rabbits and want to help us, w

It is physically demanding wo

but it is rewarding too. Not o

bunnies happy and healthy, b

personalities. Youll get to ksad news too. You will also

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THANK YOU!

TEERS WATED!

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on a regular basis. Over the past few

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urs every week on an evening or a weekend

ed love to hear from you!

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ly will you be cleaning out the cages, which

t also youll get to know our residents and t

ow about all the re-homing successes and ocelp with grooming and socialising the anima

bits really relish their play time and its a w

level of experience you could learn an awf

it-experienced so long as you are enth

rabbits. Of course, any rabbit experie

dly bunch of people who are all passionate aould also help with fund-raising.

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xxxi

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1274


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xxxii

Hello Everybun.

Welcome to the ninth year of Bunny Camp ews. It is

both a pleasure and a privilidge to be able to assist in

producing this newsletter for your enjoyment. As you

know, we don't charge anyone anything to receive it,but any time you are feeling generous, the residents of

Bunny Camp would appreciate any help you could

give them.

Still to come is some bunny art for you, but before

that a vintage article from September 2006 and it is

the story of Bailey's sponsored pram ride.

Lots of Love

Cedric.


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BAILEYS SPONSORED PRAM RIDE WITH TWO FOOTS(Written by Bailey)

Today was the day I had been preparing for, the sponsored walk, lots of trips

round the shops in Knaresborough and walks along the river had got me readyfor this challenge. I loved being in my pram but a lot of people were sceptical

about me enjoying trips out in the pram but I love it. This was a chance for me toraise lots of money for the bunnies at the sanctuary with the help of my friends.

Most of us met at Hirst lock Saltaire, there was me (Bailey) of course, Mum(Sonya), Bobby, Chris, Paul, Gregory, Alistair, Julie, Martin, Lauren and my veryspecial bunny friends Quincey and Angelica. Also Jayne and Fransis were doing

the walk but they were taking two R.S.P.C.A. dogs with them (as Jayne dogwalks for them) and couldn't collect them until 9am so they started at the opposite

end from us, this was Booth Swing Bridge.

Bobby getting me settled in my pram, and the gang all ready to set offfrom Hirst Lock

It was raining very slightly when we set off but it soon dried up and the sun cameout which was fab as I love the sun. Everyone took turns to carry the bucket

which we took in case anyone wanted to give us the change out of their pockets.We met lots of nice two foots along the canal some even pulling their boats up at

the side to meet me, can you imagine I am famous now.

....People greeting us from their boats..... .Meeting Jayne and Francis and the

dogs


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We met Francis, Jayne, Brian and Moss about half a mile past theFive Rise locks where we stood and chatted for five minutes.

Group picture at the crossover point

We then set of in different directions to meet again later. We arrived at Bootheswing bridge about 12.30 were we stopped and had lunch and a short rest before

Jane at Hirst Lock

.

...

We travelled back to Stockbridge Swing Bridge were a Photographer from theLocal newspaper met us and took some photos to go in the paper that was fun asI am now a celebrity. Jayne Francis and the dogs joined us at the pub atStockbridge where all the two foots had fluids. We all then said our goodbyes andwent our separate ways. We were now on the last leg of the journey all the twofoots were slowing down they have no stamina.

Lunch time at Boothe swingbridge..

Me having a sneaky

cuddle


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xxxv

We finally arrived back at Hirst lock about 4 o'clock having had a great day with

great company. The two foots;Walked 17.16kmDid 33,002 steps

Burned off 972kcals

We collected 47.28 in the bucket which was fantastic. As soon as we know thetotal raised we will let you know. If you wish to contribute and haven't donealready it is not to late you can either send a cheque or pay by paypal using thelink at the bottom of the page.

THE END

THAK YOU TO EVERYOE WHO TOOK PART AD ALSO EVERYOE

WHO HAS GIVE MOEY AS WITHOUT YOUR HELP IT WOULD OT BE

POSSIBLE TO DO THE WORK WE DO.LOVE BAILEY

Please note the two dogs with Jayne and Francis were being walked for the

R.S.P.C.A but are looking for a home, they were both very sociable with other dogs

and exceptionally well behaved. If you are interested in offering either of them ahome then contact Sonya at the sanctuary and she will put you in touch with

someone who can give you more information.

Chris pushing me, and Alistair

carrying the bucketAt Five Rise Locks


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xxxvi

Prince El-ahrairah Casper Fiver- Mom's art

Isis September 2008


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xxxvii

Buns of the month

Bella & Greta


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xxxviii

Millie Buns Column

Hello everybun.

I really don't have much to add to what Cedric has

already said in his column except maybe to say a big

thank you to everyone that helps us to find things

to put into Bunny Camp News so that we can always

make sure that it is an entertaining read.

As I keep saying, if you would like your very own

copy of EITHERof our serials, then why not buy the

book?

Remember, Dandys book (our first serial) or the

last one Where Bunnies Dare can be purchased by

sending a cheque for 10 to :-

Bunny Books42 Nidd Approach

Deighton Bar

Wetherby

LS22 7UJ

Lots of love

Millie Bun


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xxxix

Problems WithProblems WithProblems WithProblems WithBoogeyBoogeyBoogeyBoogey

Dear Boogey,We like having mum here at our service 24/7 but are not happy re the

lack of gold coins and treats. What should we do? - MaddieDear Maddie,Whilst youre are snoozing, you need to make your mama get a job so thatwhen she's not with you, she'll be out working hard for the gold coins to bringhome to you! Even better, on her way home from work, she can stop somewhere

and pick up some nommy treats for you too!-Boogey Enrique Gallagher

Dear Boogey,I keep getting this urge to hump my 2foot. I don't know why but Ifind her irresistible.What should I do about it? - Alfie (aged 5 months)Dear Alfie,*snicker* I think your problem has been nipped... or snipped! BAHAHAHA! Don't

worry, if you're as awesome as your Uncle Boogey you'll still hump everything in sight!

-Boogey Enrique Gallagher


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xl

Dear Boogey,

There seem to be very few gold coins around now. The plastic cards

have been hidden away and I've forgotten those magic numbers - I'ma middle-aged bun now and my short-term memory isn't what it oncewas.

As a result, my shopping is suffering and this is making me depressed.

What can I do to get more gold coins for my shopping? (Don't suggest sending mumout to werk - she's too fick. How do other buns cope with the recession? - Maddie

Dear Maddie,Check your E-Mail. You should have at least one or two E-Mails from a Prince So-And-So fromAfrica wanting to give you a TON of gold coins!!-Boogey Enrique Gallagher

Dear Boogey,Why do we have a fight every morning when mum comes in to the

kitchen? We don't do it when dad comes in or later in the day. - TheScuttlesDear Scuttles,Your mama clearly is not giving yous guys your breakfasts quicklyenough! You should continue fighting until she's up to speed.-Boogey Enrique Gallagher


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xli

Now turn to the next page for

our new short story...


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xlii

andy on the top of the story telling hill and surveyed the

expectant audience. "As you all seemed to enjoy it last time

when I told you a couple of short traditional stories I'm going to

do the same thing again. The first one is about a rabbit who wasa little too clever for his own good. The second one though

paints us in rather a better light"

Dandy shuffled coughed, stamped his foot for silence and then

began the story of

The Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting

The Rabbit was so boastful that he would claim to do whatever he saw anyone

else do, and so tricky that he could usually make the other animals believe it all.

Once he pretended that he could swim in the water and eat fish just as the Otter

did, and when the others told him to prove it he fixed up a plan so that the Otter

himself was deceived.

Soon afterward they met again and the Otter said, "I eat ducks sometimes." Said

the Rabbit, "Well, I eat ducks too." The Otter challenged him to try it; so they went

up along the river until they saw several ducks in the water and managed to get

near without being seen. The Rabbit told the Otter to go first. The Otter never

hesitated, but dived from the bank and swam under water until he reached the

ducks, when he pulled one down without being noticed by the others, and came

back in the same way.

While the Otter had been under the water the Rabbit had peeled some bark from

a sapling and made himself a noose. "Now," he said, "Just watch me;" and he

dived in and swam a little way under the water until he was nearly choking and

had to come up to the top to breathe. He went under again and came up again a

little nearer to the ducks. He took another breath and dived under, and this time

he came up among the ducks and threw the noose over the head of one and

caught it. The duck struggled hard and finally spread its wings and flew up from

the water with the Rabbit hanging on to the noose.It flew on and on until at last the Rabbit could not hold on any longer, but had to


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xliii

let go and drop. As it happened, he fell into a tall, hollow sycamore stump without

any hole at the bottom to get out from, and there he stayed until he was so

hungry that he had to eat his own fur, as the rabbit does ever since when he is

starving. After several days, when he was very weak with hunger, he heardchildren playing outside around the trees. He began to sing:

Cut a door and look at me;

I'm the prettiest thing you ever did see.

The children ran home and told their father, who came and began to cut a hole in

the tree. As he chopped away the Rabbit inside kept singing, "Cut it larger, so

you can see me better; I'm so pretty." They made the hole larger, and then the

Rabbit told them to stand back so that they could take a good look as he cameout. They stood away back, and the Rabbit watched his chance and jumped out

and got away.

Dandy shuffled on his haunches took a deep breath and then began the second

story

How Rabbit Fooled WolfHow Rabbit Fooled WolfHow Rabbit Fooled WolfHow Rabbit Fooled Wolf

Two pretty girls lived not far from Rabbit and Wolf. One day Rabbit called upon

Wolf and said, "Let's go and visit those pretty girls up the road."

"All right," Wolf said, and they started off.

When they got to the girls' house, they were invited in, but both girls took a great

liking to Wolf and paid all their attention to him while Rabbit had to sit by and look

on. Rabbit of course was not pleased by this, and he soon said, "We had better

be going back."

"Let's wait a while longer," Wolf replied, and they remained until late in the day.Before they left, Rabbit found a chance to speak to one of the girls so that Wolf


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could not overhear and he said, "The one you've been having so much fun with is

my old horse."

"I think you are lying," the girl replied.

"No, I am not. You shall see me ride him up here tomorrow.""If we see you ride him up here," the girl said with a laugh, "we'll believe he's only

your old horse."

When the two left the house, the girls said, "Well, call again."

Next morning Wolf was up early, knocking on Rabbit's door. "It's time to visit

those girls again," he announced.

Rabbit groaned. "Oh, I was sick all night," he answered, "and I hardly feel able to

go."Wolf kept urging him, and finally Rabbit said, "If you will let me ride you, I might

go along to keep you company."

Wolf agreed to carry him astride of his back. But then Rabbit said, "I would like to

put a saddle on you so as to brace myself" When Wolf agreed to this, Rabbit

added: "I believe it would be better if I should also bridle you."

Although Wolf objected at first to being bridled, he gave in when Rabbit said he

did not think he could hold on and manage to get as far as the girls' house

without a bridle. Finally Rabbit wanted to put on spurs.

"I am too ticklish," Wolf protested.

"I will not spur you with them," Rabbit promised. "I will hold them away from you,

but it would be nicer to have them on."

At last Wolf agreed to this, but he repeated: "I am very ticklish. You must not spur

me."

"When we get near the girls' house," Rabbit said, "we will take everything off you

and walk the rest of the way."

And so they started up the road, Rabbit proudly riding upon Wolf's back. When

they were nearly in sight of the house, Rabbit raked his spurs into Wolf's sides

and Wolf galloped full speed right by the house.

"Those girls have seen you now," Rabbit said. "I will tie you here and go up to

see them and try to explain everything. I'll come back after a while and get you."

And so Rabbit went back to the house and said to the girls: "You both saw me

riding my old horse, did you not?"

"Yes," they answered, and he sat down and had a good time with them.


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After a while Rabbit thought he ought to untie Wolf, and he started back to the

place where he was fastened. He knew that Wolf must be very angry with him by

this time, and he thought up a way to untie him and get rid of him without any

danger to himself. He found a thin hollow log and began beating upon it as if itwere a drum. Then he ran up to Wolf as fast as he could go, crying out: "The

soldiers are hunting for you! You heard their drum. The soldiers are after you."

Wolf was very much frightened of soldiers. "Let me go, let me go!" he shouted.

Rabbit was purposely slow in untying him and had barely freed him when Wolf

broke away and ran as fast as he could into the woods. Then Rabbit returned

home, laughing to himself over how he had fooled Wolf, and feeling satisfied that

he could have the girls to himself for a while.Near the girls' house was a large peach orchard, and one day they asked Rabbit

to shake the peaches off the tree for them. They went to the orchard together and

he climbed up into a tree to shake the peaches off. While he was there Wolf

suddenly appeared and called out: "Rabbit, old fellow, I'm going to even the score

with you. I'm not going to leave you alone until I do."

Rabbit raised his head and pretended to be looking at some people off in the

distance. Then he shouted from the treetop: "Here is that fellow, Wolf, you've

been hunting for!" At this, Wolf took fright and ran away again.

Some time after this, Rabbit was resting against a tree-trunk that leaned toward

the ground. When he saw Wolf coming along toward him, he stood up so that the

bent tree-trunk pressed against his shoulder.

"I have you now," said Wolf, but Rabbit quickly replied: "Some people told me

that if I would hold this tree up with the great power I have they would bring me

four hogs in payment. Now, I don't like hog meat as well as you do, so if you take

my place they'll give the hogs to you."

Wolf's greed was excited by this, and he said he was willing to hold up the tree.

He squeezed in beside Rabbit, who said, "You must hold it tight or it will fall

down." Rabbit then ran off, and Wolf stood with his back pressed hard against the

bent tree- trunk until he finally decided he could stand it no longer. He jumped

away quickly so the tree would not fall upon him. Then he saw that it was only a

leaning tree rooted in the earth. "That Rabbit is the biggest liar," he cried. "If I can

catch him I'll certainly fix him."

After that, Wolf hunted for Rabbit every day until he found him lying in a nice


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grassy place. He was about to spring upon him when Rabbit said, "My friend, I've

been waiting to see you again. I have something good for you to eat. Somebody

killed a pony out there in the road. If you wish I'll help you drag it out of the road

to a place where you can make a feast off it.""All right," Wolf said, and he followed Rabbit out to the road where a pony was

lying asleep.

"I'm not strong enough to move the pony by myself," said Rabbit, "so I'll tie its tail

to yours and help you by pushing."

Rabbit tied their tails together carefully so as not to awaken the pony. Then he

grabbed the pony by the ears as if he were going to lift it up. The pony woke up,

jumped to its feet, and ran away, dragging Wolf behind. Wolf struggled franticallyto free his tail, but all he could do was scratch on the ground with his claws.

"Pull with all your might," Rabbit shouted after him.

"How can I pull with all my might," Wolf cried, "when I'm not standing on the

ground?"

By and by, however, Wolf got loose, and then Rabbit had to go into hiding for a

long, long time.

Dandy smiled at his audience "I hope you enjoyed those tales" he said.

"We don't have wolves here I'm happy to say, but I bet that some of you

will try those tricks out on each other!"


47/47

Bunny CampBunny CampBunny CampBunny Camp is not a largeis not a largeis not a largeis not a large

undertaking. It is all run from aundertaking. It is all run from aundertaking. It is all run from aundertaking. It is all run from a

normal house in a normal street.normal house in a normal street.normal house in a normal street.normal house in a normal street.However, we doHowever, we doHowever, we doHowever, we do our best to help asour best to help asour best to help asour best to help as

many bunnies as possible given ourmany bunnies as possible given ourmany bunnies as possible given ourmany bunnies as possible given our

very limited resources. Bunny Campvery limited resources. Bunny Campvery limited resources. Bunny Campvery limited resources. Bunny Camp

is situated at:is situated at:is situated at:is situated at:----

4 Stoney Ridge Avenue,4 Stoney Ridge Avenue,4 Stoney Ridge Avenue,4 Stoney Ridge Avenue,Heaton,Heaton,Heaton,Heaton,

BradfordBradfordBradfordBradford

West YorkshireWest YorkshireWest YorkshireWest Yorkshire

BD9 6PABD9 6PABD9 6PABD9 6PA

EnglandEnglandEnglandEngland

Tel: (0044) 01274 821665Tel: (0044) 01274 821665Tel: (0044) 01274 821665Tel: (0044) 01274 821665

Email:Email:Email:Email:

[email protected]

Website http://www.bunnycamp.webs.com/

bunny camp news jan 11

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