There’s no place like Homer

Meet Homer! Homer, or Homie, as he’s affectionately known, is the newest addition to our potbelly pig family. A sweet, lovable little boy, Homie found himself in need of a new home when his human dad became ill and could no longer care for him.

Homie is a year old, and weighs close to 200 pounds. There’s no easy way to travel with a pig that size, but our intrepid volunteer Shelly was up for the challenge. She loaded Homie up into the back of her Ford Escape, distracted him with frozen grapes and strawberries, and drove him all the way down I-94 to the sanctuary.

Getting Homie out of the vehicle was another challenge! After a lot of pushing and pulling and squealing, he emerged and settled into his new cozy digs in Hoppy Hollow. We tucked him in with a blanket and teddy bear and let him sleep off some of the stress of his relocation.

As Homie adjusted to his new environment, we introduced him to the rest of the pigs. They’re getting along famously.  Would you like to meet him, or any of our potbellied pals? Contact us to arrange for a tour.

Love is in the air

Did you know that February is Adopt-A-Rescued Rabbit month? What better way to add some warm fuzzies to your life?

We’ve got over 70 deserving bunnies just waiting for their forever homes. Take a look at our gallery in Petfinder, and see who catches your eye. Or make an appointment with Elizabeth, our Adoption Coordinator, to take a walk through our sanctuary and get to know our residents.

You already knew rabbits are cute, but did you realize they can be litter trained, and taught to come when you call? Rabbits are quiet (no barking at 2AM!) and clean (no need for messy baths!). They can share their environment with cats, guinea pigs, and well-trained dogs. Rabbits are loyal, affectionate, playful, and extremely intelligent.

So consider adding to your family this year. Take the lagomorphic leap at GLRS!

Home for the holidays?

“I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams”…or so the holiday favorite goes. Shyanne and Mariah are two beautiful cats who are dreaming of their furever home. Can you help these lovable sisters?

Up until last month, Shyanne and Mariah were part of a happy menagerie of ten cats and a potbellied pig named Homer. (More on Homer in an upcoming blog!) Then tragedy struck their family. The husband became sick, and was so sensitive to infection that the doctors insisted that all the animals be removed from his home.

The family found loving homes for five of the cats, but after exhausting all of their resources, they still needed to find someone to care for the remaining cats and Homer. They turned to us for help. We were able to place two of the cats, and Homer and his three remaining feline siblings came to stay at our sanctuary.

Brandon, the third cat, is extremely shy and will need a bit more socialization before he’s ready for a new home. Shyanne and Mariah, however, are ready to be adopted right now. They are 1 1/2 years old, spayed, in excellent health, affectionate and social. We would like them to stay together.

If you’d like to meet Shyanne and Mariah, or have further questions, please contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org. Tell your friends and family! Together we can help these beautiful sisters find the permanent home they deserve.

Crafts & Critters

Mark your calendars! Join us on Saturday, December 3^rd, for our very first Crafts & Critters Fair!

This event brings local artists, crafters, and animal rescue groups together to promote their love of animals. Come browse through a wide selection of handmade specialty creations and unique gifts. Get a head start on your Christmas shopping, and learn how to help needy animals in our community.

Participating rescues are  Horses Haven, Rabbit and Small Animal Rescue, Michigan Rabbit Rescue, and Resource for Iguana Care and Adoption (RICA).

Our crafters include Henderhart Baskets, Tiny Treasures, Eric’s T-shirts, A Moment in Paradise, Oh Sew Denim, and Luna’s Apawthecary.

We’ll be offering tours of the sanctuary so you can meet our resident rabbits and pot-bellied pigs. Kids will enjoy their very own craft area, where they can make a toy for a sanctuary bunny. The sanctuary store will offer our popular rescued rabbit holiday cards and other bunny merchandise.

Admission is just $3 for adults, $1 for children. Parking is free.

Are you an artist, crafter, or rescue group? Space is still available if you’d like to participate. Contact Karen at karen@rabbitsanctuary.org.

Going green

Every week, rain or shine, in summer’s searing heat or winter’s bone-chilling cold, sanctuary volunteer Linda makes the trip to Randazzo’s Market in Westland. She packs her trusty Volvo with all the produce it will hold–case after case of lettuces, herbs, cucumbers, and celery. Then she brings the whole load over to the sanctuary, where our resident rabbits and pigs eagerly wait to devour it.

Linda’s been delivering our bunny greens since last November, and it’s an important task. The animals need regular servings of fresh veggies to keep them healthy. As you might imagine, Linda is popular with our residents and our staff alike! The bunnies and pigs love anyone who brings them something to eat, and we appreciate the convenience of having vegetables delivered right to our door.

Linda looks forward to her weekly sanctuary visits. “It really is quite beautiful and peaceful out there,” she says. She enjoys visiting with the bunnies and the pigs, and learning all sorts of things about the animals from Nick and the rest of the sanctuary staff. “I’ve never had a rabbit (or a pig!),” she says, “but I’m an animal lover and long-time environmental activist who is glad to be able to help out!” We’re glad too!

Speaking frankly

There’s a new pig in town! Franklin came to us from Livingston County, where he was discovered sunbathing in someone’s front yard. Animal Control gave us a choice—either take him in, or he’d be sent off to become somebody’s ham sandwich.

We couldn’t let THAT happen, so helpful Animal Control officer Mike loaded Franklin up in his van and drove him out to our sanctuary. Franklin was understandably a little unsettled by the trip, but recovered enough to enjoy a hearty snack of fresh grapes, pumpkin, and cucumbers.

Dr. Jim from the Saline Vet Clinic examined Franklin and gave him the all clear. Now it’s just a matter of seeing how Franklin will fit in with the other piggies. He’s been a hit with the little ones. The big boys are a tougher crowd, but so far, it looks promising.

CeleBUNration!

Don’t miss out! Join us at the sanctuary on Wednesday, October 19th, for a celeBUNration dinner and bonfire! The fun starts at 5:30, rain or shine.

Enjoy a delicious vegetarian pasta buffet dinner, including salads, soft drinks, and dessert. Sign up to win some really cool raffle items. Sing along with entertainer Frankie D’Angelo. Be among the first to see our new bunny boarding room, and witness the unveiling of our new Bunny Town sign!

Admission is just $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12. Kids 5 and under are free. All proceeds go directly to our rabbit residents. For your convenience, you can order your tickets securely through Paypal. See you at the sanctuary!

Our little trooper

Little Gizmo arrived at our sanctuary with a suspiciously mangled leg. Her owners didn’t care enough to take her to the vet, and instead dumped the injured bunny off with us. It’s hard to believe that anyone could be so callous, but unfortunately, we see it all too often.

We took Gizmo to see Dr. Lewis at All Creatures Animal Clinic. Gizmo’s leg was severely damaged and required extensive surgery. Dr. Lewis wired the pieces of leg together in the hopes that they would heal normally. Then she put on a cast to keep the leg immobile.

Gizmo came through surgery with flying colors. She even earned a certificate of bravery signed by Dr. Lewis! She’s eating, drinking, and pooping—all very important signs of recovery for a rabbit.

Gizmo’s been given pain medication and an antibiotic to ward off infection.  She’ll receive plenty of TLC from foster mom Carol while she recuperates. It will be six to eight weeks before we know if she’ll regain full use of her leg.

Surgery is expensive, and Gizmo will require several follow-up visits. Your generous donations make it possible for our little girl to get all the care she needs. A huge thank you from all of us at GLRS, and from our little trooper Gizmo!

Please help us help Gizmo. To donate, click here.

New arrival

Meet our newest resident, Otto! Otto came to our sanctuary in rough shape. One of his teeth was so overgrown that it actually curled up and out. This made it impossible for him to eat, so he is severely underweight. At about a year old, this precious bun only weighs two and a half pounds!

We took Otto straight to the vet’s office, where Dr. Frye filed down his teeth, gave him a full physical exam, and neutered him. Then we brought him home to the sanctuary to recover. We’ve set him up with a cozy pen in the hospital, where he can rest in air-conditioned comfort.

Naturally, the first order of business is to get some weight on this scrawny boy. He’s enjoying all the hay he can eat, and getting extra servings of pellets.  We’d like to see Otto gain at least two pounds. We’ll keep an eye on his teeth too. Only time will tell if his dental issues will turn out to be chronic.

Otto was starving in more ways than one. This little boy is desperate for attention. He will literally climb into your arms to snuggle. Holding this gorgeous, baby-soft caramel colored bunny, it’s hard to believe that anyone could have neglected him so badly. Now, at least, Otto is surrounded by love. We’ll all make sure he has a happy future.

UPDATE:  Since this post was written, Otto has found his forever home! His new mom, Cara, is prepared to accommodate his special needs, like getting him regular dental checkups. She’ll also make sure he has plenty of food and treats, and lots of love.  Another hoppy ending!

Scaling new heights

When you stop by our Adoption Barn, you may notice that the walls of one bunny’s pen are twice as high as those of his neighbors. That’s because Thompson is part mountain goat! He loves to jump and climb. He can escape from just about any enclosure.

Thompson is a sanctuary favorite. He’s a friendly cinnamon-colored bunny who loves attention. He even likes to snuggle. Approach his pen and watch him rear up on his hind legs, striving to catch your eye! Bring him some parsley or an applewood stick and you’ll have a friend for life.

Thompson’s a curious boy, bursting with energy. He needs plenty of toys to keep him occupied, and lots of room to stretch his long legs and run. His future home should be thoroughly bunny-proofed to keep him safe. In his ideal home, he’d be allowed to jump up on the furniture!

Thompson is one of our Spotlight Bunnies. He’s been at the sanctuary a lot longer than some. Who knows why this handsome boy keeps being overlooked? Maybe you could be the special someone to give this loving bunny what he needs the most—a forever home. Contact Carol at adoptions@rabbitsanctuary.org.