Be my Valentine!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! It’s time for red roses and chocolates and snuggles on the sofa with your favorite sweetie. This year, why not switch it up a little? Celebrate with a bouquet of parsley, and curl up for some cuddle time beside the hay rack with February’s Bun of the Month, Joel!

A lovable lunk with a heart as big as all outdoors, Joel likes nothing better than to sprawl out beside his burrow box and soak up pets from his adoring visitors. He’s strikingly handsome, with glistening white fur and glowing ruby red eyes. And you won’t find a more affectionate rabbit! Joel thrives on love and attention.

Joel and his seven look-alike siblings came to us from Wisconsin, where they were rescued from a hoarding situation. Joel’s mother couldn’t produce enough milk for her litter, so all of the babies were hand fed. As a result, they are extremely comfortable around humans. Joel’s been known to fall asleep while being stroked!

These frigid days of February will seem a whole lot warmer with a bun like Joel beside you! Spend a little time with this appealing boy, and you might just decide you can’t live without him. Want to schedule a visit? Contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.

City slickers

There’s nothing quite like life in the big city. Especially a big city overseas. Who wouldn’t want to set up housekeeping in a cozy place in Paris, for instance? How about Madrid, or Vienna? Urban areas in Europe are experiencing a population explosion. But just who’s moving there may surprise you! 

Scientists at the University of Frankfort in Germany have made a startling discovery about Europe’s largest municipalities. Resourceful European rabbits, once nearly driven to extinction in rural areas by habitat loss and disease, are reinventing themselves as city dwellers. Attracted by a steady supply of food and few natural predators, these crafty creatures are flocking to some of Europe’s most prestigious real estate!

Just like urbanites everywhere, city rabbits have learned to downsize. Researchers found that rabbits in urban areas build smaller, less complex burrows than their rural brethren. And unlike their country cousins, who form large colonies for protection and warmth, city buns keep their families small.

Adaptability is essential for survival, and these rabbits know it. Albert Einstein himself said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” Versatile and creative, European rabbits are thriving against all odds. Those of us who love and respect these clever animals aren’t surprised.

Tail tales

Over the past two decades, GLRS has been fortunate enough to help hundreds of rabbits, and a fair amount of others-pigs, cats, chickens, even a duck! These lives deserve to be celebrated. That’s why, to help commemorate our 20th anniversary, we’re putting together a bunny book, a collection of tales of some of our most memorable residents. And we need your help to fill it.

Have you adopted a rabbit from our sanctuary? Do you know someone who has? Maybe you’ve volunteered with us, and a certain bunny (or pig, or cat) stole your heart. We want to hear your story!

Who could forget Wilbur, the traveling pig? Or Gabe, the reformed bad bun? Or Autumn, the determined girl who chose her own human? And there are so many more! We’ve seen many furry faces come and go, but they never really leave our hearts.

Would you like to talk with us about your favorite animal? Contact us in the comments section, or send an e-mail to carrie@rabbitsanctuary.org. And watch this space for updates! We plan to have the book ready by spring. Hope to hear from you soon!

Fantastic plastic

Here’s a way for you to help the sanctuary while you shop for clothes, buy gas, or get groceries! Just use your Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary Platinum Visa card. It’s free and easy to apply. GLRS receives $50 for each approved application, and a percentage of every retail purchase made with the card will be donated to the sanctuary!

The GLRS Visa offers many attractive features, including no annual fee, and a 0% interest rate for the first six months. Feel secure with 24/7 Emergency Customer Service, Fraud Protection, Auto Rental and Travel Accident Insurance, and much more. Earn bonus points for free airline tickets, merchandise, cash-back, and more at participating merchants.

Choose from five adorable card designs featuring photos of former sanctuary residents, like Junie B., Waldo, and Thumper. These cards are a guaranteed conversation starter! Every time you pull yours out, you’ll be helping to spread the word about GLRS.

The money GLRS receives from this program will give abandoned, abused, and neglected domestic rabbits a second chance at happiness. Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. Apply for your bunny card today!

Snap to it!

Honors for our new year’s first Bun of the Month go to Snap! Snap was born right here at the sanctuary, along with his sister Crackle and his brother Pop. Their mom, Violet, was one of the Cereal City Survivors, a group of rabbits rescued from horrible conditions in Battle Creek.

Right from the start, Snap stood out. For one thing, he’s snowy white, in contrast to his chestnut-colored mom and siblings! And he’s brave. Snap was the first to leave his mom’s side and explore the common area. He hasn’t stopped investigating, preferring to know his surroundings inside and out.

When it comes to humans, Snap is a little on the shy side, but his curiosity will always get the better of him. With a little patience, you’ll see his true personality emerge. Snap will need a fully bunny-proofed home with lots of space to examine and boxes to hide beneath.

Snap’s mom found a new home shortly after her kits became independent, and Crackle and Pop followed soon after. Only Snap remains at our farm, waiting for a loving family to call his own. Let’s make 2015 the best year of this adventuresome boy’s life! Spread the word about Snap. Contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.

Hoppy Holidays!

 

 

 

 

 

 

’Twas the night before Christmas

and all through our farm

Not a creature was stirring

all snug, safe and warm

 

The piggies were nestled

curled up in the straw

While out of the roosters

came nary a caw

 

Asleep in the farmhouse

the kitties did dream

Of liver and chicken

and tuna with cream

 

And tucked in the barn

in their beds made of hay

One hundred buns snoozed

and awaited the day

 

When Santa Paws comes!

oh, the joy, the delight!

With his sleigh full of packages

shiny and bright

 

Fresh carrots and orchard grass

timothy, too

new phone books for shredding

and boxes to chew

 

Fat balls made of willow

Soft stuffies to hug

A Cottontail Cottage

Thick blankets and rugs

 

From our barns to your home

we wish you great light

Hoppy Christmas to all

and to all a good night!

Christmas candy

Who wouldn’t love a chocolate Truffle? Now you can have your own, just in time for Christmas! She’s December’s Bun of the Month, and she’s as sweet as she sounds.

Truffle is one of those rare buns that requires little to no adjustment period. She’s fully socialized, extremely affectionate, active, curious, fearless…It’s obvious that she was well-loved in her former home. But when her owners lost their house to foreclosure, they mistakenly believed the best course of action was to let Truffle loose in the yard to fend for herself. Fortunately for her, and for us, a kind neighbor stepped in and brought Truffle safely to our sanctuary.

A social butterfly, Truffle will follow visitors around the barn, eager to be a part of whatever might be going on. She is happiest when she’s being petted, and isn’t shy about asking! This beautiful, resilient girl is more than ready to blend into your family and bring you untold joy. Make your holidays hoppy this year! Contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.

 

“Great” news!

Have you heard about Frederic the Great? He’s the scrawny rescue rabbit who’s setting the publishing world on fire with his new memoir,  “Confessions of a Bunny Blogger”! In this juicy tell-all, Fred, a former GLRS resident, chronicles his adjustment to life in his forever home.

Experience the excitement as Fred explores his new surroundings. Follow along as he forms a bond with his eager, yet somewhat inept, human mom. Enjoy his thrilling exploits as he navigates the sometimes rocky dating scene in search of true love.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll help Fred’s friends! Two dollars from the sale of each book goes directly to the sanctuary. “Confessions” is a House Rabbit Society recommended read, and is the perfect Christmas or Hanukkah gift for the bunny lover on your list. Order your copy today!

 

Seeds of love

Dave retired from General Motors six years ago, but he hasn’t stopped working. When he sees a need, he strives to fill it. With five rabbits of his own, Dave knows how fast produce costs can add up. When he found out how much we were paying to feed our 80+ buns, he knew he had to do something about it.

A  life-long gardener, Dave came up with the brilliant idea of converting the land behind the adoption barn into a vegetable patch, growing everything from kale to beets to cabbage. He donated the seeds and his time, working four to five days a week in the hot sun, plowing and weeding and finally, harvesting. All told, Dave’s garden produced 128 bushels of produce for our buns!

But that’s not all Dave did. Often accompanied by his beloved granddaughter Kayla, he worked tirelessly to beautify our property, planting sunflowers around the silo, decorating with gourds and cornstalks, cleaning and taking care of needed repairs. There’s no way to put a price tag on what Dave did for us, and he’s not asking us to. The only reward he needs, he says, is knowing the rabbits are happy and well fed.

As you can well imagine, there’s a lot involved in caring for a five-acre property and garden area. Dave can always use an extra hand. The next time you find yourself with a free hour or two, stop by the sanctuary and introduce yourself. He’ll put you to work, and you won’t find a more rewarding job!

A life of love

On Saturday, volunteers and supporters of our sanctuary gathered to honor the life and legacy of a very special woman, Sara Jean Cole. Sara was a beautiful, gifted person who loved her family, loved art, and loved animals. Three years ago this winter, Sara was killed in a horrific car accident. Her newborn daughter Miranda died three days later.

But even in death, Sara’s spirit shines. Her family wanted to honor Sara’s love for all animals, especially rabbits, and did so by making an incredibly generous donation to our sanctuary. Thanks to their gift, we will be able to pay off our mortgage by 2020. We’ll own the property outright, which ensures that our valuable work can continue, and that hundreds more abused, neglected, and abandoned rabbits will be saved.

How can we repay such generosity? We can do our part to make sure that Sara’s memory lives on. To that end, we have designated our farmhouse as the “Sara Jean and Miranda Cole Bunny House”, and placed a commemorative sign in our yard. Everyone who passes by our little farm will be reminded of the love that makes our work possible, the love that has touched so many lives, both now and in the years to come.