Volume 4, Issue 1 - February 2004

News from the Sanctuaries

Report from Dave and Lynn
The preparations for another winter have been completed and the bunns have been supplied with plenty of straw bales to insulate their home and to find shelter. All of the heated water bowls have been distributed and heat lamps have been placed around the house to help keep them warm during the long winter nights. So far, we don't have much snow covering the ground and it's been another mild start to winter. Since some of the bunns like to run around in the fresh snow, I can't help but feel that at least some of them are wishing for snow.

We had a new 384 square foot Tuffshed built to replace the old trailer where we previously used to store hay. The roof of the trailer collapsed under last March's heavy snow, necessitating the new building. The Tuffshed is now packed full of hay to tide the bunns and all of the other critters over for the long winter.

On October 13th, the Rocky Mountain News published a very nice article about our sanctuary entitled, "'Bleating Hearts' to Rescue." This article, written by Rebecca Jones, can still be found on the Rocky Mountain News web site.

The past quarter has been another rough one for us. We lost four more bunns during this period, including three during an eight-day period just before the holidays. We are going to miss Blitzen, Mamie, Mace and Harvey very much. We also lost two of our turkey friends. Pilar was a very young turkey who died unexpectedly during the fall, and Theo, an older turkey, passed on just before the holidays. Both Pilar and Theo shared the bunn house and would often lie with some of the bunnies. Lynn, the bunnies and I will miss them all terribly.

On a positive note, right after Thanksgiving, we took in Fiver and Amanda, two of the Pueblo bunns, as temporary fosters. Shortly after getting them set up in our house next to our special needs bunns, they broke out of their area and broke into the area where Madison, Lola, Mace and Mamie lived. They moved in and made themselves right at home and, needless to say, are now permanent members of our family. We are especially happy this happened when it did as, as I mentioned earlier, Madison lost two of his friends and favorite pillows, Mace and Mamie, not long after this. (Madison has head tilt and likes to rest his head on other bunns.) Now Madison, Lola, Amanda and Fiver are permanent residents in our living room, where they will live out their lives. We very much enjoy their company.

Report from Leslie and Stuart
We had our first frigid blast of winter in early January. Fortunately, we had prepared areas for the rabbits in the barns so we were able to move everyone in for "bunny sleep-overs." They adjust quickly to their smaller but warmer quarters, but then they are happy to be returned to their usual living areas where they can run, dig and kick up their heels.

Sadly, Not Bunny died on December 4. She was one of the original bunnies when we started the sanctuary. Even though she had been confined to a bed for over two years, her attitude and spirit were a source of joy to both of us, and we miss her.

Having the sanctuary, gives us opportunities to work with some really wonderful people. Their assistance is greatly appreciated, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them. Thanks to Dr. Bock and everyone at Adobe Animal Hospital, who always do their best to work us into their busy schedule (and are always pleasant). Thanks to Dr. Aunt Julie Smith, who responds to our questions and calls. And finally, thank you Kathleen Wilkins, when you call and say you are coming to clean the sanctuary, it makes life easier.