nycmet rorabb itnewsoctober 2018 bunnies …...mastheads –endlessly original, humorous and...

Our masthead rabbits are recent Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group bunnies: Hope, left, was found in Cunningham Park in Queens last spring, and is friendly to all she meets. She’s looking for her forever home. Penelope was found with a previous injury toher leg that – because it had been untreated – healed so that her front leg was shaped like a hook. It didn’t slow her down one bit, though, and she was adopted by a loving family. Photo illustration: Mary Ann Maier. Photos: Katie Scarr.

Avocado and Hugo,Now Bonded,Explore TheirWorld TogetherPages 9-10

Seymour, aCountry Bun,Thrives inThe Big CityPages 16-17

Our Masthead Designer Shares Secrets for Great Bunny PhotosBeginning in December 2009, MaryAnn Maier of Long Island RabbitRescue Group has created 55 “Thump”mastheads – endlessly original, humorousand skillful combinations of type andphotography. Mary Ann is also our go-toarchivist for photographs of everythingfrom pre-natal rabbit nests to parasitesto kidney stones. (She calls her photoarchive “the macabre shop of lapinecuriosities.”) Mary Ann has provided

numerous characterful rabbit portraits.Jane O’Wyatt, creative director for“Thump,” asked Mary Ann how shedoes it.

Q. What makes a great bunny photo?

A. A great photo stops you. More thantechnical qualities like focus and lighting,the photo captures something thatmakes you pause and take a longer look.(Focus and lighting help a lot, though!)

Q. Do you photograph every bunny you meet? A. Ha! Not all, but most. And only onmy phone. I’m actually terrible with realcameras. (But I refer to my phone as acamera.)

Q. How do you get a fearful bunny tocooperate for a photo?A. Bunnies aren’t known for cooperation.Best thing to do is get the area really

Photo: Sylvie Jensen

Carmela sniffing a cardboard accordion tunnel.

GARBO’S CLOSEUP: Our beloved Garbo poses for an autumn-themed photo as she waits for a foreverhome. If you would like to adopt Garbo, [email protected].

(Continued on page 2)


NYC METRO RABBIT NEWSOCTOBER 2018

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lex McIeBunnies Draw Crowds at Adoptapalooza

By Sylvie Jensen

Rabbits and volunteers had an excitingtime at Adoptapalooza on Sept. 16 atUnion Square.

In addition to current Petco residentGarbo, Rabbit Rescue & Rehab fostersMadison, Mibo and Carmela came outfor the afternoon event inside the store.

Our dedicated group of volunteers thatday included Marcie Frishberg, LarryMarion, Austin Torres, and Lisette Pizarro,as well as Sam Maslow, Dave Traver,Andrea Jo Martin, Andrea Kutsenkow,and Krystal Gutierrez.

Outside in Union Square Park, volunteershad a table with delightful, rabbit-themed

A GardenerExpresses HerGratitude forBunny PoopPages 5-6

Adoptapalooza(Continued from page 1)

Volunteers Dave Traver and Austin Torres.

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Lisette Pizarro and Garbo.Mibo.

Garbo and Sam Maslow.

Krystal Gutierrez and Carmela.

merchandise and informational literaturefor prospective adopters. Austin Torresdonned the famous rabbit suit andencouraged visitors to stop by the lowerlevel of Petco to meet the rabbits. Theemcees on the event’s main stage did agreat job of amplifying RR&R’s presenceas well. Meanwhile, volunteers downstairsat Petco socialized with the Garbo andfriends and kept the adoring crowds at bay.

Adoptapalooza was presented by theMayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals inpartnership with the Petco Foundation.More than 500 cats, dogs and rabbitswere available for adoption.

light – wait till daylight and open all theshades. Get down on the floor with him– face level. Prop or hold the cameraagainst a stationary surface like the floor orsome books so that at least ONE of youisn’t moving! Then just take a load ofshots – you’re bound to get a decent one.

Q. Do you have tips for taking picturesof active, hormonal bunnies?

A. Shoot them when they’re sleeping.

Q. How do you get a bunny flop pic?

A. Dunno. How do you get a Bigfoot pic?

Q. How do you set up and take shots ofpeople with their bunnies?

A. Natural light! Always. A full-lengthglass door, such as a sliding-glass patiodoor or storm door, throws diffusedlight evenly over the subjects – not like,say, high hat lights that beam lightstraight down and exaggerate facialshadows. Alternately, use a secure surfacesuch as a towel atop an anti-slip rubbermat on a table or counter near a bigwindow. Get the human’s face as near to the bunny as possible. And again:Take a ton of shots and weed out thebad ones mercilessly.

Q. What do you think about props inbunny photos?

A. Meh.

Q. Have you ever used the flash in abunny pic?

A. Never. No flash. No wire hangers andno flash.

Q. Have you retouched (or replaced) awhite rabbit’s red or yellow eyes in a pic?

A. Oh yes, I’ve both retouched ANDreplaced. I’ve switched eyes from shot toshot and even switched from bunny tobunny. Photoshop is my friend.

Q. How important is it to capture asparkle in a bunny’s eye?

A. Hugely important. If there’s no sparklethe eye can look like it was cut out ofthe photo with scissors. Creepy! It’s hard

THUMPOCTOBER 2018 3


Great Bunny Photos(Continued from page 1)

A Sampling of Mary Ann’s Mastheads

February 2011

December 2013

to add a sparkle with retouching. Oftenlooks fake. Best to catch it in the original.

Q. What are your iPhone settings fortaking a pic?

A. Just regular, I guess.

Q. Do you mute the iPhone shuttersound?

A. Really good question! For candids, likesnoozing, flops, bunny butts, etc., muted

October 2014

February 2017

April 2017

Great Bunny Photos(Continued from page 3)

is best. But shutter sound can cause abunny to perk up, or stop moving for asec, or even look right into the camera.It can be very helpful.

Q. Have you taken rabbit photos thatyou would let almost no one else see?

A. Well, we volunteers joke about howweird it is that we’re always sendingrabbit genitalia photos to each other forpurposes of identifying a new rescuerabbit’s sex. I also have a ton of pics inmy phone of “poopy butt” and the like,which my young nieces invariably findand ask me about. Or rather: they usedto ask me about. They know the drillnow and it’s lost all its shock value.

Q. Do you feel obligated to photographatypical, abnormal and/or pathologicalconditions (including abuse cases) inhouse rabbits? (Your “macabre shop oflapine curiosities.”)

A. Yeah, I do. When I started doingrescue 20 years ago, there were nosmartphones, and thus far fewer rabbitphotos out in the world. The earliermedical books contained small, marginallyhelpful black-and-white shots that in noway satisfied my growing curiosityabout rabbit health and anatomy. Asdigital photography evolved, it becamepossible to capture great photos duringrabbit checkups and procedures. By thesame token, the ability to capture imagesof abuse, on the fly and in the field, isinvaluable for reporting problems toauthorities and educating the public.

This cuterebra (the larval stage of the botfly) was foundembedded in a rabbit’s scrotal sac.

This urolith (bladder stone) was found in a rabbit’surinary tract.

A severe case of urine scald that resulted in significantfur loss.

The above labeled photo of a neutered male’s genitalia was helpful inmaking a bunny sexing information sheet for Manhattan ACC.

From Mary Ann’s “Macabre Shop of Lapine Curiosities”

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clan of hyenas. Her tail will be way up,her ears will be way back, and her fuzzwill be way on-end and styled for battle.During the early days, I tried to comforther and remind her that it was just me –her faithful, obedient human butler –the one to whom she administers suchsweet kisses every morning and withwhom she watches “Tatort,” an amazing

Dear Rabbit Droppings,

Does anyone have trouble with their bunswhen they come home from the shelter? Iwashed my arms before I left but I musthave still smelled like Lavender-Loooove.Both of my bunnies lost their minds whenI got home. Grunting and lunging at myfeet as I tried to walk down the hall to getto the bathroom to shower the scent off. Icame out to see my shoes covered in bunnypee and surrounded by a perfect circle of pooas if they were trying to do some kind ofbunny witchcraft. They also peed on the bed.The jealous hus-bun behavior lasted until

this morning when they finally let me petthem again. First time this has happened!

– Trying to Love You in Brooklyn(Colleen)

Dear Trying (Hi, Colleen),

Boy, do I ever hear you on this one!When I return from the shelter it is wellknown in my household that I must beswiftly spirited through the living room,after kicking off my shelter shoesoutside in the hallway, and my clothesquarantined, or face the full force ofButter’s wrath – which is like a 5-pound

VOLUNTEERS

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Snowball from the Brooklyn shelter.

Potato from the Brooklyn shelter.

Bugz in haunted house.

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Droppings (Continued from page 7)

German crime show, in the evenings.But when I come back from the shelter,it’s a true moment of terror, again andagain, and I now know there is simplynothing to be done but flee to thebathroom, disrobe, shower, throw myshelter clothes in the hamper, and re-present myself for her inspection, headbowed and demure, as though nothingever happened. Usually when I return itis as though the grunting, jean-bitingMr. Hyde has vanished, replaced by thereasonable, calm-demeanored, smooth-faced Dr. Jekyll. But like Stevenson’sclassic gothic tale, “[t]he less I understoodof this farrago, the less I was in a positionto judge of its importance.”And thus weforget one another’s odd transformation,which is equally confounding in bothour eyes, and settle in for “Tatort” once more – with the world restored to normalcy.

ABOUT RABBIT DROPPINGS:We are not veterinarians or veterinarytechnicians, and claim no expertise inrhetoric, political maneuvering, comedy,or math. We are, however, curious,dedicated, long-time rabbit owners,fosterers, shelter volunteers, rescueadvocates, and litter-box cleaners. Asvolunteers in a busy shelter like AnimalCare Centers of NYC, we see, hear and chat a lot about rabbits – and we are excited to share all those littledropplings. Please email us [email protected] if youhave any questions or comments.Sometimes we embellish and combinequestions we hear frequently in order topresent common themes in anentertaining way.

We look forward to hearing from you ...until then, Cheers, Buns! Tuki and haunted house.

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HAPPY TRIO: Ruby, at left, and her partner Pearl, on the right, were adopted on Sept. 15 after a speed datesupervised by volunteer Amy Odum at the Manhattan shelter. Their new buddy, Hannibal, in the center, is a tiny boylop weighing just 3 pounds.

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Forever Homes Found!Rabbits adopted since the last

newsletter include: Nova, Spots,

Peter, Coco Bean and Chanel, Ben,

Snowy, Boysenberry, Apricot, Diana,

Guinevere, Puffy, Yang, Potato,

Pickle, Bunni, Ramona, Cadbury,

Tiddles, Peanut and Ronni, Ruby

and Pearl, Battle, Piper, Wally, Lolo,

Jingles, Lilly, Kitty, Candy, Toby,

Jasper, Jatt, Governor Clarence,

Kody, Frank, Cedar, Milk Dud,

Pretzel, Erica, Richie, Missy, Cookie

Crumb, Rebel, Potato, Albert, Harry

and Prince Harry the Magnificent.

ADOPTIONS

Avocado and Hugo, Partners With Moxie,Spend Their Days Exploring Together By Harry Shuluk and Justin Franklin

When we got Avocado home, we placedher and Hugo in side-by-side pens inthe living room so they could be next toeach other in a common neutral space.Hugo missed his little area under ourkitchen table, but having a companionclose by was enough of a distraction. Wenoticed that he would just stare over ather throughout most of the day, and bythe end of the first week they were inchingcloser and closer together toward theircommon wall.

We gave Avocado a few days to settle in andenjoy her new home and surroundingsbefore beginning the bonding process,and in that time we tried to get her on abetter diet. We noticed she had somechanges in the color of her urine and waspassing some irregular stools so we gaveher a high-quality hay mix, along withvery wet, fresh, dark leafy greens andclean water. These things, coupled with

a urinary-support tablet from SherwoodPet Health, helped her get back to normal.

Avocado began showing some moreinterest in Hugo and her surroundings, butwe wanted to temper her introductionto such large spaces slowly for a fewreasons – primarily, because she had justcome out of the shelter and had beenspayed and microchipped so recently.After two weeks she showed a muchbetter uptick in energy and a livelierspirit. As of early September, she is livelyand engaged with all three of us and isvery exploratory and full of energy. Herbathroom habits have even improved.

When we began the bonding process,we had small meetings for only a coupleof minutes each night in the fronthallway. There was a lot of interactionbetween the two buns. Their briefencounters resembled our initial speeddates with Amy Odum at ACC (she isgreat!): everything from curious and

playful chasing to humping (Hugohumping Avocado), to mutual and self-grooming. We slowly began increasingthe duration of the bonding sessionsand within two weeks we decided thatshe had settled down and acclimated toher new home, and that they had hadenough positive experiences to try acommon pen for a bit.

We broke the two side-by-side pens inthe living room down and combinedthem to make one very big pen that weset up in our bedroom. This was evenmore of a neutral space because Hugohad very rarely come into our bedroompreviously, and it gave us the ability tomonitor them all day. They had nofights at the end of the week and werelying next to each other and exhibitingmutual grooming, playing, and evenbinkying, so we decided it was time togo free range.


THUMPOCTOBER 2018 10

ADOPTIONS

Avocado and Hugo(Continued from page 9)

The rabbits love the expanded area, andHugo is certainly happy to have his oldspace back. We have renamed Avocado“Gracie” because after living with herand interacting with her, we feel this suitsher personality better. She thoroughlyloves exploring the entire apartment and spent the first few days hoppingeverywhere, often with Hugo rightbehind her. She explored the bathroomand behind the toilet. She explored theentire living room and even tried outthe sofa. She explored the kitchen andeven the kitchen countertop one night,which we have since bunny-proofedafter discovering a plum pit on the sofathe next morning. She certainly hasmoxie, as she wakes us up some nightswith sniffs to our faces while we sleep inbed. She’s a great match for Hugo, too,because they have learned to share hisold spaces comfortably with no incidents,and have found new, mutual spaces tobe in together as well.

Gracie (fka Avocado) and Hugo during a bonding session.

Olivia stretching.

He is slowly teaching her the ways todeal with him as the dominant rabbit,and she is slowly exploring her worldand teaching him to be more outgoing.They’re a wonderful pair to have and weare so glad to have made the decision tobring Hugo in to meet her. Watchingthem both clamor for breakfast in themorning around our feet is a nicewelcome to the day, and spending

evenings watching them groom eachother and interact with us is such a greatway to come home. We both love themso much and are grateful that they arehappy together. Hugo watches her inwonderment and awe at her boldness,and she loves to take care of him andgroom his eyes and ears. We lookforward to being companions to themboth for many, many years.

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Queen Olivia: Funny, Feisty and AffectionateBy Pam and Andrew Jones

We first saw Olivia at the Union SquarePetco two years ago and we just couldn’tresist her little fluffy face peering out at us.

Pam has always loved bunnies and hadseveral of them when she was little back

in the U.K. Now in her late 30s, marriedand a full-time yoga teacher, she neverthought she would adopt a bunny untilwe saw Olivia.

The first week we kept Olivia in a largepen but not long after that we bunny-proofed the entire apartment and now

she roams free. She was so excited at firstabout all the carpeted space! She waslike a race car, zooming up and downthe hall, binkying around the bend andthrough the cardboard tunnel.

Olivia is such a character. She’ll run overto you and lie next to you. She’ll demandhead rubs and nudges you hard formore if you stop! If you pet her for along time, she’ll flop over on her side andexpose her belly. Andrew jokes that she isthe Queen and we are her bunny slaves.

She does have her naughty side, too,and we love it! One time Pam woke upand found her in the bathroom. Oliviamanaged to reach the toilet roll andripped up the entire thing. She has herlittle “projects.” One day it’ll be ripping

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ADOPTIONS


We Are Looking for Loving Homes:These Rabbits Are in Foster Care

EsmeraldaEsmeralda is a large, young and beautifulfemale New Zealand rabbit looking forher forever home. She was rescued froma lab with a #18 tag on her ear. Thisgorgeous and sweet soul is much morethan a number who never deserved tobe a part of such a terrible situation. Dueto her past, Esmeralda is nervous in newsituations and is especially fearful ofsudden movements and loud noises. Shewill need a very quiet and peaceful homewith patient and loving human attention.She is curious, energetic and an absolutejoy to watch as she explores, runs andbinkies. She is spayed, has a greatappetite and excellent litter-box skills. If

interested in adopting Esmeralda, pleaseemail [email protected].

GarboGarbo is a stunning medium-sizedagouti female. True to her name, thisbun is a classic beauty with an edge.She’s a big-city girl with smarts and wit,yet she is as mellow and easygoing asthey come. Garbo loves playing with herwillow toys and tunnels, doing super-fast binkies, and exploring new places.She is quite independent and will followher own whiskers wherever they takeher, even if it means getting “stuck” on asoft blanket that just happened to fallon the floor. Once ready to take a breakfrom her glamorous adventures, she willcome when called and settle down nextto her human for pets and/or a bodymassage. (She is Garbo, after all!) Garbohas the dreamiest eyes, whitest of bellies,and softest of necks. Her litter-box skillsare impeccable, and aside from radicchiothere is not much this divine lady doesnot enjoy. She has been spayed and is infoster care. For more information, pleasecontact [email protected].

CarmelaCarmela is a young medium-sized Rexrabbit. Her beautiful coat is mostly

Garbo.

Esmeralda.


Queen Olivia(Continued from page 10)

up the corner of a carpet, then on to acardboard box. We have to be carefulwith books and letters because she’squick, and before you know it she’schewed up the corners. She’s totallyobsessed with paper.

We love to change up the scenery forher and bring in new and different-sizedcardboard boxes and make a little palacefor the Queen! We got a wooden box forher to jump on and she absolutely lovesthe rubber tunnel that goes directly intoher carrier. She thinks that’s anunderground burrow. She has manyhiding spots. One is underneath thecoffee table; we put a towel there andshe spends hours under there.

Olivia is so much more than we couldever expect. She has a big personality.She’s funny, feisty and affectionate. It’sfascinating to watch her grooming,chomping, binkying – and the best thingof all is to lie on the carpet and pet herbecause she’ll get her huge fluffy feet flatout and her chin is on the floor. You canjust tell by her eyes and body languagethat she’s totally blissed out. It’s amazinghow much love rabbits give you. Adoptinga bunny was the best thing ever.

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Olivia.

Carmela.

Minnie.

Romeo.


white with tan and black spots. She is asweet rabbit who loves to have her softnose petted. She also likes to explore herhouse, but her favorite thing is to relaxwith a nice soft blanket. Carmela is shyand likely would do best in an adult-only home. She would also likely makea good partner for another rabbit. Shehas been spayed and is in foster care. Formore information and/or to arrange ameeting with Carmela, please [email protected].

Mandy and CruiseMandy and Cruise are a bonded mother-son pair of English Spot rabbits. Mandyis the larger bunny with lighter markings,and Cruise has the darker markings.They are curious and friendly, and enjoybeing petted. Both are full of youngbunny energy and need a home wherethey will receive lots of exercise time,enrichment and affection. Mandy andCruise are currently living in a fosterhome. Mandy has been spayed andCruise has been neutered. Both are smallto medium-sized. For more informationand/or to set up an meeting withMandy and Cruise, please [email protected].

Cruise and Mandy.

ADOPTIONS

Bunnies in Foster Care(Continued from page 11)


RomeoRomeo is a medium-sized black andwhite Dutch bunny found in the woodsin January 2015 and brought home by aGood Samaritan. He is bursting withpersonality and will totally charm theperson who adopts him. Romeo hasbeen neutered and is currently in fostercare. For more information and/or toarrange a meeting with Romeo, pleasecontact [email protected].

These Rabbits Are AvailableAt Manhattan Animal CareCenter (NYC ACC)Check Petfinder for Updated Listings;Some Rabbits Have Found Homes!)

By Kirsten Ott

ChetChet is a small- to medium-sized blackand white bunny. This little guy is stillon the young side, and he has the healthyenergy of youth: he’s mainly interestedin play and exercise, but he will let youpet him after a bit of nosing around.His big back feet suggest he still has abit of growing to do. In addition to beinga fun guy, Chet is very fun-looking – hehas semi-helicopter ears that mostly

stick straight out to the side like wings,and he sports a nice fat Grouchomustache. He would make a goodchoice for a first-time bunny home.

MinnieMinnie is a large white bunny with lightbrown markings. This lovely bunny was

Chet.

Lara Croft.

Miso.

ADOPTIONS

Bunnies at NYC ACC(Continued from page 12)

not properly cared for by her formerpeople, because she’s quite overweight(nothing a proper diet and exercise can’tfix). Minnie will dance around her cageto get your attention, and when shedoes she’ll hunker right down for lots ofpetting. In fact, you could characterizeher as rather needy and demanding; shewill definitely need to be the center ofattention at all times in her new home.Minnie may have a bit of Lionheadblood, because she has cute longer tuftsof fur between her ears. She also has acute dewlap.

MisoMiso is a medium-large brownish-grayboy with a fabulous disposition. Thisguy is super sweet and friendly, and if hewere a person you would also say he’spolite. He lets you pet and kiss himright away and he eats up all the affection;he especially likes cheek rubs. Miso is a



LONG ISLAND NEWS

Petra Was a Bunny I Barely Knew,Yet She Managed to Steal My HeartBy Jean Mellano

Long Island was in the middle of a mid-July heat wave several years ago, withtemperatures over 90 degrees for threedays. It was a Tuesday morning andduring an early morning bike ride atCedar Creek Park in Seaford, I saw a

beautiful spotted white bunny relaxingin the grass. I was able to get very close toher. It seemed she thought I had somefood. When she realized I had nothingtasty, she took off into the bushes.

Later that day, I went back to the parkwith Josie, a good friend of mine, and

saw the bunny contentedly lying insome shade under a small tree. She took a treat right out of Josie’s hand and thenoffered her head to be scratched. I laterfound out that some kind souls – Patrice,her husband Dennis, her daughter Dawn

gorgeous hunk of a bunny, too – he hasa brawny body, a big head, nice big backfeet, and a super thick plush coat. Thisnice boy would probably make a goodpartner for another rabbit, and wouldalso be a good choice for a first-timerabbit home.

Lara CroftLara Croft is a small, very pretty SilverMarten. This little lady is sweetly shy –she loves it when you pet her, but prefersthat it take place in a safe, snug spot.She’s still on the younger side (as shownby her lean face and small stature) andshe’ll probably get a bit bigger, but shewon’t ever be a large rabbit. Lara Croft isa gorgeous example of her breed, andhas an especially nice light brown patchon the nape of her neck – it’s as thoughthat spot is calling out for extra rubs.

Petra in the park.

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Petra (Continued from page 13)

Petra outside.

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LONG ISLAND NEWS

and Patrice’s brother Jimmy – had beengoing to the park every day since Dawnfirst discovered the rabbit in early May.They would leave fresh greens from theirgarden for her. They intuitively knewthat this was a domestic rabbit, sinceunlike the wild brown rabbits found inthe park, she would run up to themwhen they brought food and treats. Itwas amazing that the rabbit had survivedup until that point. Patrice said the rabbitwas forced to adapt to living in the parkwhen the “home” she made for herselfunder low tree branches by the skatingrink had been demolished a monthearlier as a result of park maintenance.She relocated across the road to a moreopen area, and that is when she becameknown to a lot of the people visitingCedar Creek Park.

We could not rescue this bunny as LongIsland Rabbit Rescue Group (LIRRG)had no space and there were no availablefoster homes for her. Unfortunately,there are always many more rabbitsbeing dumped than there are foster andadoptive homes that can take theserabbits in. However, I felt connected tothe rabbit and wanted to keep an eye onher and provide some food and water.Later in the week, I returned to the parkto drop off some hay, water, pellets andbananas and saw her resting under abush. She took a piece of banana andwhen she was done, she started to leave,and I saw she was holding up her hindright leg close to her belly as she hobbleddown the hill. A short time afterward, Iwent back to the park and met someother LIRRG volunteers, Barbara andMichael, and we saw the bunny for abrief moment. She seemed to be betterbecause she was scratching her ear withher hind leg and wasn’t hobbling as much.

I finally decided that I would foster therabbit (even though my small housealready has two adopted rescued rabbits),since I knew she would have little chanceof survival and would suffer greatly with

her injury and the heat wave. However,my husband, Steve, went through all thebushes in the area where she was lastseen, and there was no sign of therabbit. We thought she was a he so wenamed her Petey.

The following morning, I put out ahumane trap at 6 a.m. and then bikedto the beach. When I came back, thetrap was empty. I took a two-mile walkaround the park and there was still nosign of Petey. At this point, I was tryingto accept the fact that maybe Petey haddied from the extreme heat or the injury.With a heaviness in my heart, I wentback to collect the trap and saw Peteylounging in the shade, almost as if to say“I am still here.” She saw me and hobbledoff into the bushes while dragging herhind legs. Now I knew there was no wayPetey could survive much longer, andshe was probably suffering a lot. Twoother LIRRG volunteers; Kathie andRenee, returned to the park at dusk tojoin Josie and me to see if we could spotPetey. For about an hour, we searchedthe area for Petey. Then, just as we wereabout to give up, assuming Petey haddied of her injuries, lo and behold, wesaw her lying on the lawn just ahead ofus. We were elated! There was hope thatwe could save this sweet bunny.

Whenever Petey tried to move, she had topull up on her front paws and drag herhind legs. It was sad to see her struggle,but her condition made it easier for usto trap her. Four of us were able to corralher with pens and coax her into a carrier.We rushed her to Catnip & CarrotsVeterinary Hospital, where Dr. LauraGeorge kindly agreed to assess her, eventhough they were closed for the day. Dr.George told us Petey was a female, andshe then became known as Petra. PoorPetra was infested with ticks and fleas;Dr. George must have removed at least50 ticks.

Dr. George felt that Petra was anywherefrom three to five years old and probablylived in bad conditions prior to being

dumped in the park, based on theappearance of the fur on her hind legs.We were told the paralysis injury wasprobably very recent since there was nourine scald on her legs. Even thoughPetra was unable to move withoutdragging her hind legs, she was veryalert and bright-eyed. The vet’s initialassessment was that she could have afractured spine or possibly E. cuniculi, atype of parasite.

Petra stayed at the vet for a few days.Then we took her home and set her upin a small cage in our air-conditionedbedroom. There was a window by hercage and she would spend hours lying

At the vet.

In foster care.



LONG ISLAND NEWS

there, just looking out the window. Shecouldn’t drag herself to her water andfood bowls, so I hand-fed her and gaveher water with a syringe. Petra loved herbanana treat and also loved fresh blue -berries and her straw chew toys. Shecontinued to eat when we hand-fed herand would purr when we petted her.Petra had a strong spirit and was reallytrying to rally.

However, the next morning she wasbleeding, so we brought her back to thevet. We were told that Petra probablyhad a uterine growth (this is quitecommon in female rabbits that are notspayed) that might have metastasized tothe lungs as her breathing was labored.We had to make the ultimate decisionin the best interest of Petra. She had twostrikes against her, the paralysis andprobably uterine/lung cancer. Josie, Steveand I spent some time with Petra at thevet’s office, giving her loving pets andsoft words, before saying goodbye.

We agreed to a necropsy so that theveterinarians could learn from Petra’s

Petra (Continued from page 14)

death and hopefully help other rabbits.The necropsy did not show cancer, but

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an there was a lot of internal bleeding andhemorrhaging, probably from trauma.The conclusion was that Petra wouldnever have hopped again and she wouldeventually have succumbed to herinternal injuries.

My hope is that maybe Petra’s story willhelp save other rabbits from experiencingsuch horrible fates. Contrary to whatmany people think, domestic rabbits donot survive well outdoors. They willsuffer from the heat, fleas, ticks, maggots,parasites and predators.

As anyone who has ever had to euthanizea pet, I tried to console myself bybelieving that we did the best thing forher. Petra spent the last few days of herlife surrounded by loving hands, freshfood and water, proper medical treatmentand people who cared, maybe for thevery first time in her life. I hope thatPetra’s story will give people pause tothink before they choose to “free” adomestic rabbit into the outdoors wherethere is a good chance he or she willsuffer a slow, painful death.

Logan, the Lionhead Zoomie KingRescued From a Long Island YardBy Lauren Zeidner-Rodriguez

Logan is the Long Island LionheadZoomie King! He was rescued from abackyard in Bay Shore with his brothersand one sister. When the Long IslandRabbit Rescue Group took on this rescue,we knew it would be difficult but wewere unaware of how severe the situationwas. The finder informed us she believedthat there were about 10 of these littlerabbits running around her yard.

The woman had received a bunny as apet. The family had an outdoor setup,and they wanted the rabbit to have acompanion. They mistakenly thought

their rabbit was a girl, and broughthome a female companion.

One day the two rabbits escaped fromtheir hutch and began living in the yard. Alittle more time passed and suddenly thewoman began to see many baby rabbits.

Enter the LIRRG. After receiving arequest for assistance in catching thebunnies, the volunteers headed out toBay Shore with pens, crates and carriers.The homeowner intended to find homesfor all the rabbits.

On our first visit to the home, we wereable to catch four boys. There was one

rabbit that eluded the team by runninginto a neighbor’s yard. We called thatone Koala. We returned after a week, andcaught two more boys.

The following week, the team reassembled.The third attempt was definitely themost difficult. After a few minutes, asmall, dark gray bunny appeared, with amane that looked like mutton chops.Wewere able to catch Logan relatively quickly.

As we were getting ready to leave, wechecked a sandbox and found Koala.Weput her in a carrier, and soon afterward


Logan (Continued from page 15)

LONG ISLAND NEWS

noticed that she was lying on her back,unable to move.

We waited for the homeowner to return,but there was a storm on the way.Eventually another volunteer and I optedto bring the two rabbits home so thatthey could be safe.

Thanks to our volunteers, Logan andKoala are being fostered in lovinghomes. Due to the severity of Koala’shealth concerns, she went to Catnip &Carrots Veterinary Hospital. The vetsaid Koala had seven botfly larvae onher back, making it difficult for her towalk. We often hear people challenge usas to why rabbits should not be kept in

outdoor habitats. Koala is a perfectexample of that.

Once settled in his new foster homewith me, Logan (aptly named afterWolverine for his mutton chops) beganto show his true personality. At first, hewas scared. He was in a strange placeand his siblings were missing. On about

this second or third day, Logan suddenlybegan to binky like I have never seenbefore. This tiny rabbit was constantlydoing zoomies! Over the past fewmonths, Logan has developed an amazinglevel of trust. When I enter his livingspace to clean, he is ecstatic. He wantsnothing but pets. And he wants to showoff all of his moves. He has even becomeso comfortable that he will stretch outon the floor and let me pet him.

Your helpful donations and volunteeredtime to the LIRRG will help rescuebuns on catches like this and then havethem evaluated by knowledgeable vets.We will continue to educate the publicabout the dangers of keeping pet rabbitsin outdoor hutches.

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Seymour in his box of shredded paper.

A Country Bun in the Big CityBy Talia Sechley

We adopted our little gray bunny onJune 3, 2016 from the SPCA in Raleigh,N.C. Seymour was 8 or 9 months old atthe time, and looked like a plush toy.Although he was (and still is) adorable, itwas his personality that won us over atthe adoption center. When he was broughtout into a small X-pen, he immediatelystarted exploring and quickly approachedus for head rubs. To this day, being theenthusiastic recipient of head rubsremains his favorite activity!

When we first placed him in his pen atour home in Durham, Seymour binkiedimmediately and started exploringeverything. I hand-fed him some greens,which he devoured, and then he floppedover for a nap. He seemed so happy tobe in a calm space that was all his own.

Seymour quickly taught us that hisfavorite greens are dandelion, fennel andkale. He let us know us that he prefersdigging to chewing, and could we pleaseget him a box of shredded paper or aphone book to destroy (so fun!). He

made it clear that he did not need to beconfined to his X-pen, and was soonroaming our entire apartment. We eveninstalled temporary carpeting on ourstaircase so he could zoom upstairs. Inno time, Seymour had taken over ourwhole house.

About six months after we adoptedSeymour, he had his first encounterwith gastrointestinal stasis. We hadalways been careful with his diet, givinghim fresh greens, unlimited Timothyhay, and a small amount of pellets. Inthe evenings before bed, he gets a smalltreat – his favorite part of the day! Onthis evening, he refused his treat andwouldn’t come out of his cardboardcastle. We knew immediately thatsomething was wrong. It was after 11p.m. and there was no way to get him tohis regular vet. We didn’t want to waituntil the morning so we rushed him tothe emergency clinic.

At 2 a.m., after determining that noblockage was present and giving himfluids, the vet sent us home with painmedication and Critical Care. Seymourstarted eating and pooping again laterthe next day, and we knew we were outof the woods. However, we weren’t ableto determine what the underlying causeof his gas was. Out of an abundance of


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Getting into the fall spirit.


Binkies on the couch.

Country Bun(Continued from page 16)

caution, we reduced his pellets to oneteaspoon per day – just a tiny sprinkle –and made sure that he had the highestfiber hay available.

A few months later, he suddenly stoppedeating again and needed to go back tothe vet for more emergency treatment.And again, a few months after that. Eachtime, fluids and pain medication wereenough to pull him through. Althoughhis GI issues weren’t constant, they werefrequent enough that we suspected anunderlying issue. However, his teeth weregood and nothing about his behavior,diet or lifestyle gave the vet any clues.

In June of 2018, we moved from NorthCarolina to New York City. We plannedto drive up with Seymour, and I worriedthat the stress of the move would upsethis gut again. On the road trip, westopped frequently to make sure Seymourwas eating and drinking, and he actuallyseemed pretty comfortable on the nine-hour drive! Once we got to our newapartment and set up a pen for himamongst the moving boxes, he settledright in.

Seymour has been adapting to life as acity bun very well. He loves to run thelength of our apartment, and constantlykeeps an eye on us from his perch onthe couch or the bed. When we workfrom home, he sleeps under the desk atour feet.

We are also becoming acquainted withthe amazing community of engagedbunny enthusiasts and experts in the city,and are glad that we have the Center forAvian and Exotic Medicine nearby onthe Upper West Side. Recently, Seymourhad another bout of gas and was treatedat CAEM. Our vet suggested we testhim for E. cuniculi, which had neverbeen presented to us as an optionbefore. Sure enough, his titer came backpositive and he is now on a monthlongcourse of Panacur. We’re hopeful thatcontrolling the E. cuniculi will improvehis gut health.

Once we have Seymour’s healthmanaged, we hope to adopt a secondbunny and build our little bun-centricfamily a bit bigger. Seymour has beensuch a great addition to our householdand we are grateful for his joy, curiosityand his fuzzy little nose in our facesevery morning.

I recently started volunteering in therabbit room at the Manhattan ACC as away to spend time with bunnies in need

of love and to contribute to furtheringpublic understanding of the mysterious,adorable and loyal companion that isthe house rabbit. Living with Seymourhas taught us that although caring for arabbit can be expensive and stressful attimes, the love you receive in return ispriceless.

You can keep up with Seymour onInstagram at @seymourthebunny!

Keep the hay coming!

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At the vet.


Can Bunny Family Members Help Build Character?By Jillian Jacobs

One day, on a walk home from the vet,my husband and I could detect wildrestlessness generating from the bunnycarrier. Although we were only eightmonths into rabbit parenting Marblesand Blackberry, we knew exactly whatthey were communicating: they werehungry! We stopped at a nearby parkbench to feed them and it didn’t takelong to draw attention to ourselves whenwe unlocked the sides of the carryingcase, which fanned out into a little see-through mesh tent. Based on theenthusiastic reception we got from everypasserby, it was obvious that rabbits area rare sighting in our neighborhood.

Men, women and children flocked tothe mesh tent, eyeing the rabbits’ everymove. I was surprised by their excitement.I had thought rabbits were regarded ascute, innocent creatures, often depictedwith small girls. But on this day, most ofthe joy and excitement was comingfrom young athletic men! They lovedour rabbits. The appeal of our bunniesseemed to be general neutral, with menand woman of all ages expressing theircuriosity and wonder.

One man, in particular, opened my eyes to how attentive we start to becomeas rabbit parents when he shared his

story with us during his walk with hiswife and son:

“I had a big lop-eared bunny,” he said.“She was beautiful, but she was anindependent and loved her space. Wewould play together in the evenings, butshe only wanted to play with me. Sheespecially did not like to play withanyone who was a stranger and provedhow much she disliked them when mythen-girlfriend stuck her hand in frontof my bunny’s mouth. My bunny let outa loud thump (a common response sheused as a warning sign). I told mygirlfriend that what she was doing wasnot a good idea, but she dismissed meand claimed that she was beloved by allanimals. As predicted, my bunny leftquite a mark on her finger seconds later.”

All I could think of was, wow! What agreat relationship he must have hadwith his rabbit to understand her likesand dislikes. Plus this was someone who was an athletic young man, who Ithought would parent a large dog thatwould play fetch or accompany him formorning runs. Never in a million yearswould I suspect that this guy parented arabbit. I didn’t know much else aboutthis guy, but his relationship with hisrabbit revealed that he was intuitive,respectful and valued connection.

I have to wonder, do rabbits saysomething about our character? Canthey measure how strong we are withintuition and valuing relationships?

All I know is that my husband was arabbit parent long before we met. Andwhen we went to his family’s house,where it was arranged that I would meethis parents for the first time, they hadhis college senior picture displayed on ashelf, and he is grinning from ear to earwith his first rabbit, Thumper. It’s oneof my favorite photos of all time. Hewould tell me stories of Thumper andhis other rabbit, Sonic, and I would justmelt. His relationship with his rabbitsshowed that he was loving and acceptingof the things that made them special.Thumper and Sonic had two completelydifferent personalities. Their relationshipsdiffered with my husband, but he stillloved them just the way they were.

As our family grows, we have definitelyseen the bunnies’ personalities flourish.Marbles likes to “groom” the ground bysliding and Blackberry won’t stopdigging. Marbles likes to nibble on mewhen he is curious, and Blackberry willrun around me as fast as he can as if Iam his own personal track.

Even just thinking about Marbles andBlackberry has me believing that myrabbit parenting journey has made me abetter person. I find myself trying tolisten more often, be more aware of myenvironment and appreciate this new roleof loving unconditionally. It feels good.

Marbles and Blackberry in the tent.

Andrew with Thumper.

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Vinny and Pauly Learn to Watch Their Intake,After a Bout of Stasis Interrupts a Big Night OutBy Shane York

It was a big night for the Bun-a-Bing!Club. Originally started as a cardboardbunny condo in my living room, Vinnyand Pauly-Boy, the Dutch brothers ofBronxville, began their entrepreneurialcareer with just a bar, a poker table anda pole. Before long they expanded to alittle place on Arthur Avenue and createda true Saturday night destination withhome-style Italian food, a floorshow anddancing. It was a dark, “old-timey”place,filled with smoke from Cuban haycigars. And most nights it smelled likecheap perfume and wet fur. There was alarge mahogany bar and big bowls ofcrudités and dried fruit around the room.The bar was usually packed with patronsdoing house shots, (apple, grape orcarrot juice poured into sugar shot glasses),and bunny crews from all over the tri-state area came to play poker, roulette,and to discuss territories that still neededto be marked. Vinny and Pauly-Boymanaged to book big-name acts likeElvis the Cockatoo or the Provolones, ashelter band from Jersey. Tonight, JessicaRabbit was performing as part of herNorth American Tour so the club wasfilled with a well-heeled clientele fromneighborhoods all over the area.

Vinny was happily working the VIPs inan exclusive back area which was filledwith red velvet couches and a bar in themiddle so important guests could enjoyartesian catnip, alfalfa-infused vodka,and small carrot cakes with cherry icing.Vinny was deep in conversation withbunnies Dennis Hopper and Pete thePup about laundering money from someRussian Wolfhounds, when I noticedPauly-Boy was nowhere to be found. Imanaged to get Vinny’s attention and asked,“Where’s Pauly?” He responded withonly a shrug and a bewildered expression.

After searching everywhere, we finallyfound Pauly at home curled up in acorner. I immediately knew somethingwas wrong since he would never miss a

big night at the Bun-a-Bing! Earlier inthe evening after putting down hispellets, I noticed he didn’t eat themimmediately. Now I could see he hadn’teaten any of them. Red flags and alarmswent off in my head and I think, “Okay,here we go...”

Bunnies are joyous eaters. They lovetheir food, but when they stop eating,trouble can start quickly. Although bothVinny and Pauly hate being handled orpicked up (here comes that stink-eyeagain), I knew this might be gas pain, andthe best first step is often a gentle tummyrub. As I enter Pauly’s pen, he immediatelybacks up and says, “Fuhgeddaboudit!Back it up, Sista!” I told him, “We canmake this easy or we can make it hard,”so he relented and let me massage hisbelly. Tummy rubs are actually somethingthat many bunnies really enjoy, butPauly feels he has to protest, just in casesomeone is watching. As we have foundout in our house, gas pain can resultfrom too many veggies, too many carbs– or possibly the red sauce from theBun-a-Bing! (For information about aproper bunny diet, see “What Should I Feed My Bunny?” in the August 2016Thump, page 11http://www.rabbitcare.org/Thump_August_2016.pdf)

I sat on the floor with Pauly on my lapand leaned his back into my stomach sohis back legs were suspended and he feltfully supported. Then with one hand Igently massaged his tummy to helpbreak up the air bubbles – for about fiveminutes every hour. Soon after the firstmassage he got a small dose of baby gasmedicine (simethicone) to help reducethe gas. (For tips about warning signsthat something can be wrong with yourrabbit, see “Detecting Illness Before It’s an Emergency” in the June 2016Thump, page 11 http://www.rabbitcare.org/Thump%20June%2022%202016.pdf)

Still things did not improve, and I wasafraid that Pauly was in real danger ofdeveloping gut stasis. Syringe-feedingCritical Care can be the next logicalstep, but only after a visit to the vet. Theimportant thing is for a rabbit-savvy vetto examine a bunny to determinepossible reasons why the rabbit isn’teating. (See “Gastrointestinal Stasis, the Silent Killer” in the April 2018Thump, page 15 http://www.rabbitcare.org/THUMPApril2018.pdf)

Vinny had arrived home with 10concerned friends who came to see howPauly was feeling. Everyone crowded

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Vinny.Pauly.


Vinny and Pauly(Continued from page 19)

quietly around his pen, and they couldtell Pauly was still very uncomfortable.“That’s it,” I said. “We’re going to thevet’s.” For these guys, going to the vet’soffice was like taking a stroll throughFBI headquarters – to be avoided at allcosts – but when one of our own is sick,we band together. I drove to the doctor’soffice with a caravan of four black cars.Everyone wanted to be sure Pauly was okay.

By the time we arrived at front door,Vinny and Pete the Pup were already inside.Vinny had hopped over the receptiondesk, backed off all the receptionists intoa corner and was trying to break intothe computer scheduling system as theassistants looked on in horror anddisbelief. Meanwhile, Pete was going

room to room kicking in the doorslooking for the doctor. And then thewaiting room was overrun by 10 loud,boisterous, bunnies talking loudly andmaking fun of the other “clients.” Soonthey began to noisily drag all of theempty chairs around to the back tomake a private circle, and after a bunnynamed Angelo went for take-out it wasquiet again.

Soon everyone from the clinic calmeddown, and Pauly got medication for painand motility, and some sub-q fluids tohelp keep everything moving. It workedvery quickly and Vinny snuggled Pauly,happy to see he was feeling better andknowing we could all go home. Afterthe boys apologized to the kind-heartedstaff at the Rye vet clinic, they told usthey’d forget that “banned for life” decree.

Pauly was near 100% the next day and Iwas careful with the amount of greens I gave him for a few days afterward. Gas can really strike any bun at anytime, so it’s good to be ready with babysimethicone for gas, metacam for pain,and tummy rubs as a first line of defense.All of the locals were relieved to seePauly is back to his old self, and the nextnight they gave him a nice toast at theclub. The boys are back to working withthe local talent and scheming withassociates in the back of the Bun-a-Bing!Club, but they are watching their intake.The brothers know that a healthy dietwith pellets, water, limited greens andlots of hay is important. They’re hopingto avoid more emergency vet visits, sowhen it comes to eating too manygreens and treats, now they’ll say,“Fuhgeddaboudit!”


Letters From AdoptersPaulCiara Schirripa adopted Paul in July. Shereports that he is having a great time.

Since I was 12 years old, I had alwayswanted a rabbit. I even made a PowerPointpresentation that I presented to myparents when I was 16, on why I wanteda rabbit and why I should get one. Theywould never budge, mostly because wehave always had dachshunds in the houseand let me tell you, the dogs wouldNOT be happy with a new roommate.

I would later thank my parents for notgetting me a rabbit because I mostdefinitely would not have been able togive the animal adequate attention andcare, considering I was moving out ofthe house into college.

I truly thought my childhood wish of arabbit was off the table. However, after Igraduated from college this past May, myparents sat me down, telling me theywould love to get a rabbit and, mostimportantly, to rescue one! For weeksafter, we did a lot of research and learned

more about rabbits than I ever thoughtwas possible.

When I came across Paul through RabbitRescue & Rehab in June, I instantlyknew he was the one. He was worthevery car and ferry ride we took toStaten Island to see him. The first time Imet Paul I was petting his head and assoon as I stopped, he bent his head backdown, waiting for more. I was soecstatic and knew I wanted to give himall the love he deserved forever! Finally, a

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couple of weeks later, my amazing momand I got a call that Paul was ready to bepicked up and we immediately were onour way.

When we bought him home it took him awhile to come out of his carrier, but oncehe was out he jumped into his litter boxof hay and loved his cheetah print rug.A couple days after, I opened his pendoor for the first time, and he ran outfaster than you would believe. He wascurious and eager to explore, which mustbe why we are the perfect match becauseI am curious and love to travel, too.Watching him learn about a new andcompletely foreign place, after spendingthree years elsewhere, was absolutelyhumbling and made me so happy.

Paul has adapted to his new home overthe past two months, better than I couldever have hoped. He has blossomed intoa fun, loving, outgoing and sassy boy. Ifhe is hungry, he will let you know byflipping his bowl over, no matter whattime of day (or night) it may be. If he


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Letters (Continued from page 20)

Paul usually stays in his hidey housemuch of the day, only coming out formeals. However, when 8 o’clock rollsaround you can find him in his hay,chomping away, or stretched out relaxingbetween his food bowl and water bowl.He also loves to run in and out of histunnel and binky up and down the longhallway toward the living room. Whenmy friends gather in my room, he lovescoming out if his pen to be a part of theconversation, too.

He no longer is frightened when I comeinto his pen or reach my hand out topet him, and I am excited to see how hewill proceed to grow as time goes on.Among my family, friends and coworkers,Paul is very well known and people askabout him every day. If only he couldknow how popular he is! I’m not surehow I have gone my life of 23 yearswithout Paul, but I am thankful to finallyhave him in my life.

Ciara

wants to come out of his pen in themiddle of the night, he scratches hispadding as though he is going to be ableto dig through the layers of sheets, rug,and the hardwood floor. His favoritefood is parsley and he really dislikesstrawberries and ironically, carrots. PaulLOVES attention. I attempted to givehim a stuffed animal seal to keep himcompany in his pen, and he wouldn’tcome out of his hidey house. I finallytook Paul’s new “friend” out of his pen,and Paul immediately was his old selfagain! I guess he really disliked his newroommate.

ScruffyWendy adopted Scruffy over a year ago.She also has a girl bunny named LC.

It has been over a year since I adoptedmy baby Scruffy from NYC ACCManhattan shelter. He has been doingso great. He is happy and healthy.

LC is doing great, too. This little dwarfbunny has a big personality, as bold,

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Scruffy. LC.

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fearless, and bossy as she has alwaysbeen. LC and Scruffy’s bond broke after I had tried for over two months.Their houses are next to each other andthey love to have each other around, but they just can’t be friends withoutsome distance between them.

Sincerely,

Wendy Yu

AliceAlice, formerly known as Mulberry, wasadopted by Ingrid Mota in August. Shesent us this nice update.

Mulberry is now called Alice. She hasbegun trusting us more.

She is happy and free from her cage. She jumps around and kind of dances.

She is so beautiful and very sweet.Welove her very much.

Ingrid Mota

Licensed HRS Educators

Manhattan:Deborah Levison, DVMSymphony Veterinary Center170 West 96th Street, New York, NY 10025(212) 866-8000

Katherine Quesenberry, DVMThe Animal Medical Center510 East 62nd St., New York, NY 10065(212) 838-7053, (212) 329-8622

Alexandra Wilson, DVMThe Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine568 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10024(212) 501-8750

Westchester County:Gil Stanzione, DVMDakota Veterinary Center381Dobbs Ferry Road,White Plains,NY 10607 (914) 421-0020

Laurie Hess, DVMVeterinary Center for Birds and Exotics709 Bedford Road, Bedford Hills, NY 10507(914) 864-1414

Rabbit-Savvy VeterinariansHere’s our recommended vet list for the NewYork metropolitan area.Please note that manyclinics have multiple veterinarians, and our recommendations are for specific veterinariansin those clinics. If you can’t get an appointment with a recommended vet at one clinic, don’tassume (no matter what you are told by the clinic) that other vets in the same clinic can helpyour rabbit. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the vets on this list,please contact Mary Cotter at (914) 337-6146. When you make an appointment with any of these vets, please tell them you were referred by us.

Long Island:Jennifer Saver, DVMLaura George, DVMCatnip & Carrots Veterinary Hospital2056 Jericho TurnpikeNew Hyde Park, NY 11040(516) 877-7080

Heidi Hoefer, DVMIsland Exotic Vet Care591 East Jericho Turnpike Huntington Station, NY 11746(631) 424-0300

Jeff Rose, DVMJefferson Animal Hospital606 Patchogue Rd.(Route 112)Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776(631) 473-0415

Shachar Malka, DVMLong Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic333 Great Neck RoadGreat Neck, NY11021 (516) 482-1101

Adoptable RabbitsThere are lots of adoptable rabbits availablein Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester andLong Island.

To adopt a rabbit in New York City or West -chester, contact [email protected] Long Island, contact Nancy Schreiber [email protected] or at 516-510-3637(www.longislandrabbitrescue.org).

If interested in volunteering or fostering for Rabbit Rescue & Rehab, please [email protected].

Adoptable Rabbit Rescue & Rehab rabbitsare at Petco’s Union Square location. Rabbitvolunteers are present at these stores onSaturday and Sunday afternoons to answerquestions.

You can also visit Manhattan Animal CareCenter at 326 East 110th St., between Firstand Second avenues, and the Brooklyn AnimalCare Center at 2336 Linden Boulevard.

Rabbits for adoption in Manhattan andBrooklyn can be found by going to:

All donations go directly to caring for ourfoster rabbits and are tax-deductible. Pleasehelp us help them by sending contributions to:Rabbit Rescue & Rehab/NYC Metro Rabbit,333 Mamaroneck Ave, #363, White Plains, NY10605 or http://rabbitcare.org/donations.htm. To contribute to Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group, please go towww.longislandrabbitrescue.org.

NYC/Westchester: M.C. Basile, Chapter Manager,NYC HouseRabbit Society, [email protected]

MaryCotter, Founder,Rabbit Rescue & Rehab,Adviser to Thump, [email protected], (914) 337-6146

Jeanine Callace, [email protected]

Alex McIe, [email protected]

Marcie Frishberg

Gabrielle LaManna, New Fairfield, CT,[email protected], (203)746-7548

Cindy Stutts, [email protected], (646) 319-4766

Monica Shepherd, DVM

Long Island:Nancy Schreiber, President, Long IslandRabbit Rescue Group,[email protected], (516) 510-3637,LongIslandRabbitRescue.org

Mary Ann Maier, Long Island RabbitRescue Group Volunteer,[email protected],LongIslandRabbitRescue.org

Donna Sheridan, Long Island Rabbit RescueGroup Volunteer, [email protected],LongIslandRabbitRescue.org

Jennifer Saver, DVM

Laura George, DVM

Newsletter of RRR/NYC HRSwww.rabbitcare.org

Editor: Susan LilloCreative Director: Jane O’WyattMasthead Logo Designer: Mary Ann Maier

Rabbit Rescue & Rehab is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation in New York State. Ourpurpose is to rescue, rehabilitate and findpermanent homes for abandoned, abused andneglected rabbits, and to educate the public on rabbit care through publications, phoneconsultations, home visits and presentations.This newsletter is published by RRR/NYC HRS,which is solely responsible for its content. Weretain the right to edit all submissions, whichbecome the property of the NYC Chapter and cannot be returned.

http://www.nycacc.org/ and doing anadoption search (for ACC inquiries aboutadoption/bunny dates, email [email protected]).Volunteers are there every weekday eveningand on Saturday and Sunday afternoons,but it is best to arrange an appointment first.

Bunny speed dates can be arranged byappointment only on weekend afternoons at Union Square. Please [email protected] to makearrangements.

Many of our rabbits are living in fosterhomes and you can meet them as well. Youalso can arrange to foster a rabbit until he or she finds a permanent home. [email protected]

For basic information about rabbits as pets, go to www.rabbitcare.org,www.longislandrabbitrescue.org and theHouse Rabbit Society main site,www.rabbit.org.

THUMPOCTOBER 2018


nycmet rorabb itnewsoctober 2018 bunnies …...mastheads –endlessly original, humorous and...

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