Volume 4, Issue 2 - May 2004

Special Needs Rabbits

All of the following are “special needs” bunnies, which means that they have little chance of being adopted. This usually is because--due to age or health history--medical expenses are likely to be incurred. We are looking for “permanent foster parents” for these rabbits.

A permanent foster parent is someone who makes a commitment to a pair of rabbits for life, to give them a home with good care and lots of affection. However, because of their special needs, the chapter will cover any vet bills, as long as the rabbits are taken to one of the veterinarians we specify.

Because these rabbits are taking space in our shelter, they are preventing us from accepting more adoptable rabbits, who are threatened with being killed in shelters that have no space for more stray and relinquished rabbits. (Some of you have rabbits who were once in this situation! Had we not been able to make room, your bunny may have been one of those euthanized before we could take him or her.)

Dasher and Chance - Born in 1999 and 2000, respectively, this pair of mixed-breed rabbits are not likely to ever be adopted. Both are perfectly healthy, but in spite of being here all their lives, they have not been adopted. (Dasher was born here, and Chance arrived as an infant.) We expect that this is mainly because they are neither as cute as, nor as friendly as, many other pairs.

Owen Earl and Gazelle - Born in 1999 and 2000, respectively, these rabbits are also passed by for younger and cuter rabbits. Owen Earl, a big white bunny, is especially friendly. Gazelle, a white and pumpkin-colored rabbit is a little shy, but makes up for it by her entertaining antics.

Wendy and Julian - Both of these rabbits were born in 1998. Both are very shy. Wendy is a golden-colored, New Zealand-sized rabbit, and Julian is a smaller, mixed-breed bun.

Meredith, Nestle, Miranda, and Chestnut - These chocolate rexes were born around 2000 and 2001. They are all very healthy, and only slightly shy. Everyone wants to adopt them, but because there are four of them, and they need to stay together, no one does.

Jack, Pippin, and Becker - These three mini-lop boys, born in 2000 and 2001, are devoted to each other. They are three of the group we call the “Pueblo lops.” All are healthy, and although mildly shy, like their brothers and cousins who were adopted before them, will probably become friendly with their people, given time, and patience. Jack is missing incisors and needs “Angel’s Mush” (recipe given on request) in addition to the food all three eat.

Pierre and Francis - Born in 1998, these two were adopted, and lived as house-rabbits, until their young mistress left home for college. Then her parents decided to treat them as “rentals” and returned them because it was inconvenient for them to keep the bunnies. This was incredibly unfair to them, because who is going to adopt older rabbits, when there are plenty of younger ones. Pierre is a friendly, grey mini-rex, and Francis is a shier, black dwarf mix.

Holly and Omar (aka Ogakor) - White and gray, and born in 1999 and 2001 respectively, these are two of the “Pueblo lops.” They are healthy rabbits, and very much like all the other “Pueblo lops” in personality.

Marnie and Hannah - Born in 1999, these two “Pueblo lops” are golden-brown and white, respectively. Marnie gives wonderful kisses, and nibbles on fingers, which is pleasant because she has no incisors. She also gets “Angel’s Mush” to help her hold her weight.

Huckleberry and Lelani - These two angoras, born in 2001, are golden-brown and black, respectively. Huckleberry has a tendency to have bouts of snuffles. Both are somewhat shy, but easy to hold. The reason they haven’t been adopted is that they are angoras, whose coats must be kept clipped, or it grows long and must be combed thoroughly every day. Generally, people don’t want to commit to that much maintenance.

Phoebe and Foster - These pure-white bunnies are two of the “Pueblo lops." Foster was born here just after the rescue of the group in 2001. Phoebe was born in 2000. The greatest crime these two have committed is to be white with pink eyes. Why people don’t like pink eyes is a mystery I’ll never understand. I think that white bunnies are simply beautiful!

Buster and Baby Doe - These two little lops are absolutely wonderful! Small, old, crooked, eager for attention. Buster (DOB: 1996) once had an abscess, which when removed, left his mouth pulled into a crooked little smile. Baby Doe (DOB: 1998) has a permanently crooked head (head tilt). Is there a crooked little man (or woman or couple) who would take these precious little bunnies into their crooked little house? (Being crooked or having a crooked house is not a prerequisite.)

Lucy and Charlie - See Lucy and Charlie’s story in the New Additions section.