Let it snow

She’s fluffy and white and soft, but this Snowball won’t melt! Unless you pet her, that is. Then she’ll hunker down and soak in the love. She’s our November Bun of the Month, and she’s a real beauty.

Snowball’s come a long way since she was abandoned at just six weeks old, along with her sister, Marshmellow. It took her a while to figure out that people could be trusted, and sometimes she’s still not sure. But Snowball loves attention, and if you’re patient and persistent, she’ll start to relax and enjoy being petted.

She also loves her cardboard burrow box. She’ll spend happy hours climbing on top of it, tunneling beneath it, and remodeling it with her teeth. Snowball is a fairly quiet bun, who won’t run you ragged! She’s good natured and curious, and gets along well with the other buns in her area.

A calm, peaceful home would be best for Snowball. She is growing braver by the day, and is likely to form a strong bond with whoever adopts her. Could that person be you? Contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.

Hoppy ending!

Remember Gordon, the little Dutch dynamo with the indefatigable spirit? He was January’s Bun of the Month, a real charmer who stole the hearts of everyone who walked through our barn doors. Gordon, a special needs bun with head tilt, never let his disability slow him down. His energy was legendary, his enthusiasm immense. Gordon never met anyone or any bun he didn’t love.

We thought Gordon would spend the rest of his life with us, and we were happy to give him all the TLC we could. But there’s nothing like a real home, and we are thrilled to let you know that Gordon was recently adopted into a wonderful family! He’s living the grand life with his new mom Marissa and two new bunny brothers Chuckles and Oliver.

Gordon radiates happiness, his mom tells us. He loves to race the Bunny 500 up and down the halls, dashing around and around until he collapses with exhaustion. It only takes a few minutes until he’s revved up again! Gordon is also a snuggler, cuddling into Marissa’s arms and giving her kisses. “He’s awesome!” she says. “I love him to death!”

(For more about Gordon’s story, see our upcoming newsletter!)

Click or treat

Are you looking for something new and fun to do with your rabbit? Would you like your bunny to come when you call? How about go in her carrier with no fuss? Maybe you’d like him to jump up onto the sofa for easier petting. Consider clicker training!

Clicker training uses sound cues combined with food rewards to guide your rabbit into the behavior you choose. And it’s not just for learning tricks. The clicker method can be used to tame aggressive buns, socialize shy ones, and ease the stresses of nail clipping and vet visits.

The book “Getting Started: Clicking with your Rabbit” by award-winning writers Joan Orr and Teresa Lewin is a good resource. It takes you step by step through the process, explains the science behind clicking, and introduces some basic applications.

Rabbits are highly curious and extremely intelligent. Learning a new skill can alleviate depression and boredom, and give your bun a chance to show off! Bring out the best in your bunny friend! For more information, go to clickerbunny.com.

Noah’s Ark

He’s got style of Biblical proportions! October’s Bun of the Month is Noah, and he’s the complete package. Looks? He’s got ‘em. Intelligence? He’s got that too. And personality? He’ll dazzle you with his charm. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more appealing rabbit than Noah.

Noah loves people, and it shows. He’ll run up to you for some petting, nudge your legs, nibble on your shoelaces, then hurl himself into a “dead bunny flop”, a sign of blissful contentment. But he doesn’t stay still long! Noah’s loaded with energy and curiosity, and doesn’t want to miss a single thing that’s going on around him.

Phone books don’t stand a chance around Noah! He’ll shred them to bits, then hop on top of his cardboard burrow box to survey his handiwork. Noah is a master at begging for treats, preferring parsley and green grapes. He can sense a soft touch a mile away!

Could you use a new friend this fall? If you’ve got plenty of bunny-proofed run space, and the energy to keep up with an active boy like Noah, contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.

Wish upon a star

Keeping up with a barn full of bunnies is no small feat! But it’s little things that make a big difference. Having a decent broom to sweep up massive piles of bunny poop, for example. Or finding the one working marker in the drawer when it comes to drawing up bunny run schedules. Or squeezing out one more load from the nearly empty bottle of laundry detergent to wash mountains of bunny bedding.

These day-to-day items are vitally important, yet we don’t really think about them until we don’t have them. This is why we’ve drawn up a Wish List on Amazon, showcasing 17 of our most necessary supplies. Like disposable gloves, to wear when providing medical treatments to our hospital buns. Or cleaning products, to keep our buns’ living environment sanitary. Or staples we always seem to be running out of, like trash bags and toilet paper.

None of these items costs a lot individually, but we use so many that it really adds up. And that’s why we can use your help. If you’d like to consider helping us restock our shelves, go to our Wish List, choose an item or two, and click “Add to Cart”. You can then check out through Amazon using your credit card or checking account information. Have it shipped right to us using our address, given at the top of the Wish List home page.

How often do find yourself reaching for a tissue only to find an empty box? Or drying your hands on your pants because you’re out of paper towels? Just imagine what that’s like in a busy sanctuary full of buns and people! Things can get out of control in a hurry. Please help us keep our little farm running smoothly, and make life a bit easier for our hardworking staff. Thank you!

Sweet September

September’s Bun of the Month is soft, white, and fluffy, just like a cotton ball. Hence his name! Cotton is an exceptionally sweet-natured boy, which is amazing given all he’s been through. Cotton was found wandering alone in the woods near Midland. He was in bad shape, malnourished and covered with ticks and fleas. By the time he arrived at our sanctuary, we didn’t know if he’d have the will to pull through.

Our caring volunteers spent hours with Cotton, cleaning him up and doing their best to make him feel safe and secure. Each tick had to be removed by hand and the fleas combed out, a painstaking and time consuming process. Cotton was an angel, sitting quietly for all of his treatments. He proved to be quite a fighter! Once the parasites were removed, his condition improved rapidly.

Today Cotton is the picture of good health, eating like a horse, and ready for the next chapter in his life—a home of his own! Cotton loves dandelions, blackberries, and cilantro, and thrives on attention from visitors. His enthusiasm for life and his curiosity know no bounds. He’d be the perfect addition to any family…maybe yours? If you’d like to meet Cotton, contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.

Double the pleasure

It’s always a joyous occasion when one of our rabbits finds his or her forever home. But sometimes the prospects seem pretty dim. For two elderly buns with mobility issues, it looked like our farm would be their last stop. Farah and Tiki seemed destined to be sanctuary “lifers”.

Farah came to us in 2006, after being abandoned on the mean streets of Toledo, Ohio. Tiki arrived later that year. He was also a dump, left to fend for himself in Plymouth. The two buns met, and sparks flew! It was love at first sight, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

The “dynamic duo”, as they were known, became a sanctuary fixture, greeting visitors from the comfort of their corner pen, and soaking up the fresh air on their enclosed sun porch. Life was good for Tiki and Farah, as good as we could make it, but one thing was missing. Tiki and Farah still needed a permanent family.

The years went by. Farah and Tiki waited patiently while the buns around them were chosen, one by one. Farah’s health took a turn for the worse and the pair moved into the hospital. Their profiles were removed from our adoption page. After eight years, it seemed all hope had run out that this vibrant couple would ever have a home of their own.

And then a little miracle happened. One of our volunteers, who worked with Farah administering her medical treatments, decided enough was enough. She took Tiki and Farah home with her to stay! Now they are living their golden years in ease, surrounded by love and luxury. And we couldn’t be happier!

Name Game

We’ve got a barn full of babies, and we can’t keep them straight! These little cuties don’t have names yet, you see. We’re counting on YOU for some creative ideas. We could also use a little help to spay and neuter them. So we’re holding a “Name that Baby!” auction on Facebook!

Choose the baby that most appeals to you, and place your bid. If you are the highest bidder at the end of the auction, you will win the right to name your bun! You’ll also receive a beautiful 8X10 color photo of your sponsored bunny.

These are Maddie’s babies, which means they are absolutely adorable, with fuzzy white fur with caramel and grey markings. They’re almost eight weeks old and already loaded with personality.

Maybe one of these buns reminds you of one of your own children. Maybe you’d like to honor a favorite aunt or a beloved grandfather. Or maybe a certain name just “fits”! Now’s your chance to memorialize your choice and help us keep our little family organized!

The fundraiser will run from Monday August 25 until Sunday August 31st at 8pm. Thumps of thanks for your support!      

 

F as in Fabulous

He’s suave, dapper, and eager for adventure. She’s a sleek brown beauty who prefers curling up at home. They’re the delightful duo of Frankie and Francesca, and they’re August’s Buns of the Month!

Frankie is a lovable lug with a plus-sized personality. He’s got a few battle scars from his life on the mean streets, but they only add to his appeal. He’ll charm the socks off any visitor who draws near! Frankie loves attention and is a master at begging for treats.

His steadfast sweetie is Francesca. She’s a gorgeous brunette who prefers to stay out of the limelight. Francesca is most at home nestled inside her burrow box, or cuddled up close to her Frankie. She can also be found sunning herself on their special indoor/outdoor patio.

These two have called the sanctuary home for several years now. Don’t you think it’s time they had a forever family to call their own? If you’d like to get to know Frankie and Francesca, contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.

Long distance love

Bessie

Our sanctuary is fairly well known here in the Ann Arbor area, but did you know that we make love connections all across Michigan and beyond? Thanks to our friends at Petfinder.com, anyone can “meet” our adoptable rabbits, anywhere, anytime, from the convenience of their own computer.

Former resident Bessie can attest to that. She found her new home all the way across the state in Kalamazoo. Bessie’s new mom fell in love with her the minute she saw Bessie’s picture on Petfinder. She drove two hours to the sanctuary to get acquainted. Our handsome boy Patrick also made the trip to Kalamazoo with his new parents.

Elliot

We’ve placed our fair share of bunnies in Ohio too. Mr. Hopsome, Olivia and Elliot each moved to the Toledo area, and Leo traveled all the way to Columbus. Biscotti’s new mom made the three hour trip from Cleveland to pick up her little girl.

Olivia

But that’s not all. A few of our bunnies have relocated halfway across the country! Ava now lives the good life in Illinois, while little Sassy ventured to Virginia with her new family. The award for best traveler, however, goes to Jules. Her new parents came up from Georgia, and took Jules back home with them on a private plane!

Thinking about adding a furry bundle of joy to your family? Curious about our residents? Browse through our selection on Petfinder and see who catches your eye. It could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.