Jody Springborn
The Rabbit Educator
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Jody Springborn. I have been living with bunnies since 2008, but didn’t get involved
in rabbit rescue until the Fall of 2010, first as a volunteer for BunnyLuv Rabbit Resource Center
and then later as a paid employee in the spring of 2011. I worked there until 2019, when I
decided to leave the day-to-day work of a rescue and help rabbits in other ways. I started The
Educated Rabbit as a comprehensive, online resource for all aspects of rabbit care. I noticed that
you can find information about the basics - food, housing, litter box training, etc., but other
topics such as grooming, bonding, senior care are harder to find practical information. In 2021, I
began to offer local at-home services such as grooming and bonding/senior care consultations.
I understand you have buns. How did you meet them? Can you tell us a bit about them?
Do they get along?
Currently, I have 6 rabbits: Winston (about 2-years-old), Soot (between 2-4 years-old), Joey
(about 7.5-years-old), Panda and Cupcake (both about 9-years-old) and Zoe (almost 12-years-old) At the moment, they are configured to 2 pairs and 2 singles. However, I’ve had pairs, trios and even a group of 5. I haven’t really bonded my gang into one big group as some of my bunnies have really strong personalities, and I can see that there would probably be some epic fights. Some of my bunnies have been sweet and good-natured. However the vast majority of them are really sassy. I’m glad they feel confident in their surroundings to push the humans around, and I
think they appreciate that too.
Since I worked in rescue, there were always rabbits coming in and out of the house. A few of
them stayed permanently (just over 20 during those 8 years). Some of them were originally
bottle-babies that were just too cute to give back, but later, I ended up doing hospice care, and I
would end up taking home lots of elderly, disabled or terminally ill buns. The majority of them
came from BunnyLuv (located in North Hollywood, California), but Winston and Dior came
from Lily’s Legacy, and Soot came from Save SomeBunny. Both rescues are in Orange County,
California.
How did your love for bunnies start?
I just love animals, but my favorite animal growing up was dogs. There is something about them
that is very endearing. My rabbits have never been overtly cuddly and it took a bit of time for me
to truly appreciate them. Rabbits are so subtle. They need to feel safe to open up to you, and that
requires a lot of patience and knowing how to speak ‘rabbit’. Now, I can’t imagine my life
without them.
How did you decide to become a health associate?
A position opened up at BunnyLuv Rabbit Resource Center where I was volunteering as an
evening feeder. I needed a job at the time and I was thinking about working more with animals,
so this seemed like an ideal opportunity. The rescue always had rabbits that needed some sort of
care, and I got to learn a variety of skills.
Why did you decide to make the transition from working as a health associate at a local
rabbit rescue to working at House Rabbit Society?
There wasn’t really a transition. The rescue is a Chapter of the House Rabbit Society, and one of
the Board members at BunnyLuv suggested that maybe I should apply to become an Educator,
since educating the public was a large part of my job anyway.
What is your role at House Rabbit Society? Please describe.
I’m an Educator, which means I follow the philosophy of the House Rabbit Society and educate
others about proper bunny care.
What are the most common questions you get?
It depends on the person. If the person is just starting to think about getting a rabbit or even
making conversation, they will ask about how long rabbits live or if they bite. If people already
have a bunny, they might ask a more specific question related to their rabbit, such as avoiding
soft stool, getting them to stop tearing up the carpet, making them more comfortable (if a senior),
or getting a friend for their bunny.
Please describe your book, First Aid Guide for the Domestic Rabbit.
It’s a guide on how to deal with a sick bunny. It goes over some emergency care such as saving a
choking rabbit and dealing with GI stasis, but also some things that can easily be done at home
such as syringe-feeding, taking temperature and giving your bunny a butt-bath. The book tells
you what you need in your at-home First Aid kit, and what you can handle on your own and what
is an absolute emergency, and most importantly, what an absolute emergency looks like. There
are over 100 color photos, step-by-step instructions and lots of tips to help the owner along.
What inspired you to write it?
When working in rescue, you get a lot of phone calls and messages on social media from bunny
owners asking for advice. People may reach out to a rescue for a variety of reasons, such as they
don’t have a vet or they don’t have the money for vet care or they live in an area that doesn’t
even have a rabbit vet. They may not even know if their bunny is even sick - they just know that
he or she isn’t eating. I still remember my first experiences with bunnies and understand the
helplessness and frustration that comes with feeling that something is wrong, but not even sure
what to do about it. Even in a city as big as Los Angeles, it’s hard to find a rabbit vet and even
harder to find decent middle-of-the-night emergency care. It’s better if an owner has the
confidence and skill to treat their bunny at home for situations they can manage.
Of course, you can’t solve every problem without a vet. I worked with one of my own vets to
discuss what should go in the book and make sure it was accurate. The book is meant as a lifeline to owners to help them if professional help isn’t readily available and they need some guidance.
What are the most essential things bunny parents need to know about bunny care?
I talk about this in one of my articles on my website, “Rabbit Health Basics”. There are
essentially 3 things that are important in bunny care and that is diet, housing and social
interaction with the owner. If you meet all three needs, you are going to have a healthy and happy
rabbit.
What is the best way to raise a rabbit?
I’ve raised quite a few bottle babies and they have all grown up to be very entitled rabbits, so I’m
not sure if I’m the best person to ask, lol.
I think you need to appreciate a rabbit for what they are. They are not a dog or a cat - you have to
approach them very differently than either of those more common pets. When I get a new rabbit,
I start off with the basics - a pen in a bunny-proofed area with a proper diet. I then spend a lot of
time observing. Quite often, I get a bunny with some sort of issue, so I want to know just how
badly this bunny is compromised, but I also want to know what the bunny likes to eat, are they
shy or outgoing, what sort of toys is he or she into, etc. I want make the bunny as happy as
possible, but my house is also my home. There is a balance of keeping them happy and limiting
how much time I want to spend cleaning up after them and making sure they don’t tear up the
carpet. I generally respect their boundaries - I don’t force a cuddle time, and most importantly, I
let them decide how much they want to interact with us humans. If you leave the choice up to
them, they become less fearful of your presence. Of course, sometimes you need to pick them up
for grooming, going to the vet, etc., I’m talking about non-urgent physical interactions.
I feel when you give them that sort of freedom, you see who this individual rabbit truly is and it’s
amazing.
What are some of the most important lessons you've learned in all your years of taking care of rabbits?
Patience. You need to give them time to open up to you. This is why I don’t think they are great
pets for kids. Generally speaking, I don’t think most kids have the patience to just let a rabbit do
his or her thing and let the bunny feel safe around them.
I think bunny owners are all conditioned to be paranoid with our rabbits. We always have to
make sure they are eating and pooping all the time and that the poops are the right shape and
color, etc. While all of that is true, some people become highly anxious about the health of their
bunny. They are losing sleep and are in a state of high anxiety. That is neither healthy for the
owner or good for the rabbit as they do sense your anxiety. You have to learn when you need to
step back and just let your bunny chill on their own.
I also learned to listen to my intuition, especially when I’m doing hospice care. Sometimes a
rabbit will send out really obvious signals when they are ready to move on (like stop eating), but
usually, it’s more subtle than that. It requires you to understand your bunny.
Where can we get your book?
On my website, The Educated Rabbit. (https://www.theeducatedrabbit.com/rabbit-first-aid-guide.html)
It’s available as a pdf, eBook and softcover. In the United States, people can order the softcover
through either Vervante (https://store.vervante.com/c/v/V4081906455-01) Or through Amazon.
International buyers can purchase through Vervante. The printer ships worldwide.
Is there anything else you would like us to know?
People can check out my website, The Educated Rabbit (www.theeducatedrabbit.com). It has
informative articles on a variety of topics. I plan on adding more articles (as bunnies allow). They
can always follow me on Instagram and Facebook, and I’m always happy to answer any
questions.
Additional Q & A:
What is The House Rabbit Society's philosophy?
The details can be read on the HRS website (rabbit.org), but in summary, all rabbits are valuable
and should not be exploited. Domestic rabbits are not wild and they need human protection to
live their best lives. They are companion animals and should be treated as such. They should be
provided by adequate medical care, mental stimulation and social interaction.
How long do rabbits live?
On average 10 years, but one of my clients had a rabbit that was over 16-years-old when he
finally passed. So it’s possible they can live quite a long time.
How do owners avoid soft-stools?
Owners often mistake soft stools for diarrhea. Diarrhea is extremely watery and not very
common in rabbits. Soft stools are usually excess cecals that a rabbit doesn’t consume (and
usually steps in). More often than not, it tends to be a diet issue - too much treats, pellets or rich
veggies like kale, chard or carrot tops (for instance), or a combination of all three. For more
information on a proper diet and proportions, read the series of articles on "Rabbit Diet" on my
website.
How do you get rabbits to stop tearing up carpet?
You can redirect the digging to something approved like a digging box for example. Rabbits are
just doing their thing. You have to provide a way for them to express all their natural inclinations
like digging and chewing. It’s also good to remove the temptation by covering the spot with a
piece of tile or wood or furniture - something the bunny can’t access. You can get more ideas
from my article, “Bunny-Proofing” on my website.
How do you make senior bunnies feel more comfortable?
I go into detail on this in my article “Senior Rabbit Care” on my website. We all know people
who are older and who maybe have arthritis and other ailments due to getting older. Rabbits are
the same. Pain medication like Metacam is great for arthritis pain. Giving your bunny something
warm and soft to sleep on. Replacing the litter box with a low-entry box so they don’t have to
struggle so much to get in and out. You also want to visit your rabbit-savvy vet a couple of times
a year to make sure everything is going well.
Should a bunny get a friend? Is companionship important? How important is it for the bunny to interact with humans?
Companionship is very important for a rabbit. If you are gone 12 hours a day, your bunny
definitely needs a friend. I always recommend that a rabbit shouldn’t be alone. However, not
every rabbit feels the same way. Some rabbits make friends with everyone. Some rabbits are
extremely picky when it comes to their companions, and others just want to hang out with their
humans and hate other bunnies. If you (or someone else) happen to be home for most of the day and hanging out with the bunny, your bunny may be content.
If you are going to open your home to a bunny (or two or three), it is important for them to have
human interaction. However, it doesn’t mean that humans should pick them up and carry them
around. Humans should learn to interact with them on the bunnies’ terms. This means being
present, letting them come up to you, etc. You want to build trust with your bunnies and that
means interacting with them in ways that are comfortable for them. It takes patience, but in the end, you have a relationship that works for both of you.
Do bunnies bite?
Yes. I mean as a prey animal they have to defend themselves somehow. Biting, kicking, and
scratching are all things rabbits will do. There is a difference between bites though. There is the
“You’re in my way” bite or the “This is what I feel about the medication you just gave me” bite -
which hurts, but doesn’t typically break the skin. It will usually just bruise. Then there’s the
angry bite, which may happen if you break up a bonding fight or if you enter the space of an
unneutered/unspayed bun, or if the bunny feels threatened. They clamp down and you may need
to pry their jaws open to get them to let go. That will usually cause a lot of bleeding (on your
part). Yes, I’ve received both types of bites.
What is in the First Aid Kit?
Well, you have to get the book for the full detailed list, but essentially, everyone should have a
heating pad, a digital thermometer (and know how to use it), some feeding syringes and Critical
Care and most importantly, pain medication which you will typically need from your vet. It’s
important that you gather those things now when your bunny is still healthy. Your vet may not be
immediately available if your bunny gets sick.
What is the best diet for a bun?
Lots and lots of hay. Actually providing a variety of hay is ideal. Many people think that they
should only get timothy hay, but you can mix it up. I have had my bunnies on timothy hay,
orchard grass and an oat blend (oat, wheat and barley). Fortunately, my guys are not picky. I can
switch the hay out any time. If you are introducing a new hay, gradually introduce it over several
days. You can also give them 1⁄2 timothy 1⁄2 oat for instance. Whatever works.
Daily veggies are great too. I usually give my buns a variety of lettuces (except for iceberg) and
herbs (dill, cilantro, italian parsley, oregano, thyme, mint). Other greens like chard, kale, carrot
tops can be fed out in moderation. Baby bok choy is another favorite, but if your bunny has
problems with bladder sludge, you may want to cut that out.
Pellets are a small part of the diet. They are good for providing minerals and vitamins that the
bunnies don’t get from their diet. Think of it like a Flinstone Vitamin (vitamins for kids - tends to
be really sweet). It’s good to take daily, but you shouldn’t have a meal of it.
A small amount of treats is also good. A small piece of carrot or fresh fruit is just perfect. I like
to know what bunny likes what treats the best. It’s a good indicator to see if the bunny is feeling
well. If they turn up their nose to their favorite treat, I know something is wrong. For more
details, check out my articles on Rabbit Diet on my website.
JESTER THE GIANT BUNNY
Global Icon & Ambassador
Tell us about Jester.
Jester is a continental red-eyed white (REW) giant rabbit. Weighing in at 20 pounds, who lives in the UK
with his family. He was born on 01 April 2019 hence the name Jester. He loves to play and explore and
experience new adventures. He is so full of character with a cheeky streak. Jester is the cover photo for the
breed Continental Giant Rabbits, by the author Eva M Wells. From that book Eva has compiled, some
children’s books featuring Jester. Here we are on book 4 the books are Jesters First Christmas, Love is kind,
The Great Pumpkin Hunt. And the latest one released for his Birthday: Happy Easter Birthday Bunny. These
books are enjoyed not only by children, but bun parents that read them to their buns and send us pictures.
Jester is a house rabbit he enjoys free roaming in the house and garden his favourite thing to do in a
morning is to go check his big plant pot that he loves to sit in so much that now he his known as the pot
sitting king.
I also wanted to add that during lockdown Jester was helping a special needs School in Hawaii they reached out to ask if they could be pen friends and write to him which helped their writing skills we loved doing it and sent photos letters etc we are now waiting to see if the next year's pupils want to do the same such a good thing to do the children loved writing their letters and asking about him Jester was more than happy to oblige.
How does Jester feel about being so popular and iconic?
In 2021 during lockdown Jester went viral on the internet he went worldwide he was in the papers and
magazines even RTL The German TV company flew out to see him. The world went crazy for him. Jester is
so loved worldwide he has a large following on Instagram and his own page on Facebook
Jester the giant bunny we have found that although a lot of people follow Jester we are finding that more
are following with him being Ambassador for rabbit saviour he is also Ambassador for small pet select
UK/USA and Bunny bakery bites he also represents Guilty paws a pet portrait company all of these links
can be found in his link tree along with rabbit savoir. So, we are as you can imagine proud of what Jester is
achieving, I beam when people talk about him to me.
How did Rabbit Savior approach you to be the ambassador?
Jester gets lot of requests to follow and we check them every day we saw that rabbit savoir started
following and we hopped by and thought wow this is awesome just what the rabbit community needs we
messaged them to say hey congratulations what you are doing is just fantastic we did a story on Instagram
and got talking and well Jester is the proud Ambassador.
Why did you decide to work with Rabbit Savior?
We decided to collaborate with rabbit saviour as we 100% believe in what they and the team are doing
they have done so much in a short time and there is so much to come we wanted to help spread what
rabbit savoir is all about and be part of this team. Johnathon Silva the founder of Rabbit Savoir is an
amazing guy so passionate we talk everyday moving forward in giant leaps just like me they are taking
giant steps to bring the rabbit community together and helping rabbits to live their best lives We are
pretty excited as they are expanding now into Europe Germany and the Netherlands we want to help them
become global the membership program is one of a kind its membership program comes with lots of
benefits there’s some fantastic partners it’s all about the rabbits so your question why did we decide to
work with rabbit savoir because like me they are moving in giant leaps and we want to help share that
around the world we feel very privileged and honoured that jester is Ambassador
Has RS affected you personally?
Rabbit savoir has really opened not only our eyes but that of friends and this was very much needed in the
rabbit community to work as one with the same goal we find ourselves getting a lot of messages from bun
parents we help if we can if not we direct them to rabbit savoir and we feel we too are making a
difference it’s a good feeling knowing that you are helping rabbits and we have also ourselves learnt so
much Jester is becoming well known as their Ambassador and we want to help in any way we can.
We are especially pleased that Jester is also a spokes bun for REWs are so often overlooked in
rescues/foster homes because of their eyes they are such gently souls we get quite a few messages of
people asking for a Jester, so that is a really big thing for us, biggest REW fans here.
How has it been working with Rabbit Savior?
Its great working with rabbit savoir. They are achieving so much, and we are grateful we are a part of the
team. They have done so much with the fund, my bun fund, my rescue they have some fantastic partners
we see the end goal we see the rabbit community coming together. They continue to expand, and we are
with them every step of the way. They are working on so much stuff right now we cannot keep up LOL! But
honestly its all good the podcasts are a big hit as are the videos we are just striving to help in whatever way
we can for Jester it is the best roll ever I mean being involved with uniting rabbits helping spread what
Rabbit Savoir is all about what else can I say.
Have you heard of any stories where Rabbit Savoir has helped a bunny?
Oh yes, we have had a few bun friends that rabbit saviour has helped we didn’t know rabbit savoir at that
point but they have helped so many buns already its peace of mind that’s one of the reasons bun parent
should become a member I mean rabbits are much loved family members rabbit savoir offers every thing
needed to make life better for them.
RABBIT SAVIOR
Saving Rabbits, One Binky at a Time!
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Jonathan silva, I am the founder of Rabbit Savior I am from southern California
Have you always been a bunny person?
Actually no, it wasn't until 2021 when I was introduced to the bunny world, then once I fell in love with them, I was fully invested in helping to do what I could to make the rabbit community a better place.
I understand you have 2 buns of your own, Forrest & Yuki, (from Save SomeBunny). What are your little ones' personalities like?
Yes, my kids/roommates. Well let me tell you, they are special, to say the least, very well-loved, VERY spoiled, and free roam. They are hams. They own the house, I just live here. They both work together to plot things against me. I am with them 24/7 and we share our day together. They follow me to my bedroom and spend the rest of the night with me.
How did you know Forrest & Yuki were going to be your furever buns?
I just knew once I saw them. I went to SaveSomeBunny to adopt them by myself and once I saw them it was a huge commitment but glad I went forward with giving them an amazing life.
What is their relationship like with each other? And with you?
They are teammates, they do everything together, and they are super cool bunnies, I talk to them like humans so that they can understand me and my commands. They understand “no” and “come here”. They are my kids. We hang out and watch tv together at night.
What is Rabbit Savior (RS)? And how did it get its name?
Rabbit Savior is a service that provides support for rabbit owners and rescues through donations, crowdfunding, and memberships. We’re working to fund the rabbit community, advocate for rabbits, and provide benefits for our members. As we evolve, our member benefits will grow. The name came from a girl in India. I helped with her rabbit’s medical bills, and she called me the “Rabbit Savior”.
Why did you create RS?
During a difficult time, I came across some funny rabbit pictures on Instagram. They caught my attention and made me stop and think, “Wow, this little guy seems so happy”. One image, in particular, made me smile. All the depression and anxiety went away completely for a brief moment. I began to follow all the rabbit pages that I could find. I had a ton of cute rabbit pictures on my phone that I would look at whenever I felt overwhelmed. It would completely change my mood and thoughts. This was a breath of fresh air for me. Then I thought, “Wow, I’ll bet the owners of these awesome animals feel the same way that I am feeling”. Mind you, I’d never owned a rabbit. After a few weeks of following all these Instagram rabbit pages, I started seeing cries for help – GoFundMe page after GoFundMe from rabbit owners who couldn’t afford treatments and surgeries. This left me hurting inside because these same rabbits that brought me out of the dark were now in their own dark place. So, I decided to help by donating my own money to help save these little guys. I donated to as many as I could, and that's when I became known as "Rabbit Savior".
I developed Rabbit Savior to help rabbits and rabbit owners. I developed the membership program to reduce the cost of medical procedures, prescriptions, and rabbit care products. The program is an affordable cross between insurance, a wellness program, and a buying club with the singular goal of reducing the cost of caring for rabbits. As my team and I started building a website to offer the Bun Bill Assistance program, we added rabbit care information and links to help rescues all over the country with funding and supplies so the rescues can do what they do best: save these little guys like they saved me!
Why is rabbit care so expensive?
Rabbits are considered "exotic" animals, and they are incredibly delicate, so require very specialized care. In order to properly diagnose and treat rabbits, veterinarians need extra schooling to obtain another layer of expertise geared towards exotic animals. And for many exotic veterinarians, the learning doesn't stop there because they will continue to expand their knowledge by attending conferences to stay up to date on the latest developments in rabbit medical treatment. Exotic veterinarians spend a lot of money and devote immense amounts of time to be able to do what they do. Vet bills can also be hefty because of the high demand for appointments. The vets need to be able to pay for their staff, materials, equipment, and other office needs.
You need to buy the right products. A cage may be cheaper than an x-pen, but in the long run, it’s healthier for the rabbit to live in, and they will be happier. You can buy the less expensive pellets, treats, hay, etc. but the low-quality products will put your rabbit’s health at risk. Maybe talk about how buying good quality stuff is an investment in your bunny? What I want people to understand is that when you invest in the right products, you’re investing in your rabbit’s health, happiness, and future. They are family members and deserve to be treated as such.
How does RS work?
One aspect of Rabbit Savior works as a membership-based program intended to help relieve the burden of expensive vet bills for rabbit owners. If your rabbit needs to see a vet, we help cover some of the medical bills. Another program we offer, Fund My Bun, allows rabbit owners to start their own crowdfunding campaign, just like GoFundMe but without the fees. You fill out an application, and once we approve it, we set up the campaign and you are free to share it on your social media. We also have a helpline called Bunny Chat where rabbit owners can ask our bunny experts questions through text, phone or video chat.
Please describe the 3 tiers of membership.
We offer a Free Membership, which is limited and includes discounts and special offers from our partners through our mailing list. It is currently available to bunny parents in Australia, Canada, India, UK, and USA. The free membership also includes a one-time use of our FUND MY BUN™ donation service. The Basic Care membership includes access to our partner discounts which offer specialty items, and access to the Bunny Chat and Fund My Bun programs. The Complete Care membership comes with everything in the Basic Care package but is split into 3 tiers. The higher the tier, the more coverage you receive on things like wellness exams, spays/neuters, emergency services, and much more.
RS is so well put together and so well-connected, how were you able to get the necessary people on board? (i.e. vets, rabbit professionals, ppl who can vet legit claims of need, medical discounts, etc.?)
I was lucky enough to be connected to the right people, and those right people connected me with everyone else.
Can you talk about "Fund My Bun?" And how ppl can apply or help?
Fund my bun is an improved version of the crowdfunding platforms currently available. All of the Fund My Bun™ campaigns are submitted and approved before they become live. Once live, they include 3 photos of the rabbit, a summary of the rabbit’s story, and a ‘clickable’ list of all medical bills and estimates in PDF format that visitors can review. The goal is always equal to the posted bills/estimates. The bottom of each campaign has donation options in various amounts. Clicking on one amount will put it into the shopping cart, then to complete the donation, donors simply check out like any other online purchase. If a campaign becomes ‘over-funded’ the last donors will be offered a refund that can be put back on their credit card, put into the Fund My Bun™ general donations account, or funded to another campaign of their choice.
What is the hardest part of running RS? What is your favorite?
The hardest part is getting everything in order, making sure we cover all the bases for each missing link in the rabbit world. We work to identify problems on large and small scales - for example, from helping rescues to raising money to talking to individuals about what they're feeding their rabbits. Another challenge is making sure people can use our products successfully so they are happy. We pride ourselves on customer service and want to make sure everyone gets the attention that they need. Anyone with a vet estimate or vet invoice can qualify for the Fund My Bun program. They must submit an application, we review the application to make sure the vet bills are legit (sometimes we will reach out to the treating veterinarian to confirm), and they are up to date.
It's an awesome feeling to wake up each day and know that my team and I are developing a platform so the rabbits' voices can FINALLY BE HEARD!!! We work non-stop and we love every minute of building this legacy for rabbits.
Is there a special story you want to share of a bun that RS has helped?
I helped out a girl and her bunny in India. India isn't much advanced in exotic animals and that’s what led to a whole lot of issues with her bunny Golu. She was having trouble finding good-quality hay to feed Golu. Rabbits need to eat huge amounts of hay in order to keep their digestive tracts moving and their teeth nice and trimmed (rabbits' teeth are constantly growing). But because of the lack of hay, Golu developed overgrown molars. He needed dental work, and I helped her out with the medical bills. She was so appreciative and called me the "Rabbit Savior." That's when the name was born.
How did RS and Jester come together? What has this partnership been like?
I came across Jester while scrolling through Instagram one day. I loved how giant and adorable he was. The partnership between Rabbit Savior and Jester signifies GIANT movements. Just like how Jester moves, we move: in giant leaps. We want to create the image of togetherness. We can do giant things together as one. Our goal is to sear in the minds of the rabbit community, as well as possible future rabbit owners, that we are giant, strong, and will work together to make the rabbit become known as a family member, not “just” a rabbit or livestock.
What's your greatest hope for RS?
My greatest hope for Rabbit Savior is to be the largest rabbit hub for bunny parents and a vehicle to make changes in the rabbit community. The Rabbit Savior is a mix of rabbit owners, advocates, and professionals who have come together with a single purpose, to make rabbit care more affordable by providing information, services, and tools that empower rabbit owners to improve the lives of their furry babies – assuring healthy, happy bunnies, one binky at a time!
How can we help your program?
You can spread the word on social media, sign up as a free member, or any of our other programs. We’re on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Is there anything else you would like us to know?
We have a lot of new things we will be rolling out throughout the year - follow on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for updates.
LUX'S STORY
Melissa's Life with Lux
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Melissa Yellowega. I live in a small town in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, and I am a huge animal lover!
Please describe Lux.
Lux was the cutest kitty ever. He had a little goatee and big paws and eyes. He had a rare disease called mucopolysaccharidosis VII. This progressive disease, unfortunately, caused him to lose the ability to walk and do most things on his own.
What was your relationship like with Lux?
My relationship with Lux was like no other. Some say "oh it's just a cat" but that's not how I feel about him or any of my pets. Having to provide a lot more care and attention to Lux made our bond strong. We spent every day together, he'd go pretty much everywhere I went, except to work. I only spent three nights away from him, and that was hard as it's just not the same as the comfort of knowing he'd be next to me.
How did you come to adopt Lux?
Lux was one of many stray cats near my dad's business. The stray cats frequent between a few businesses just outside of town. While they are being fed and some spayed and neutered, many unfortunately are not, that's how Lux came about. My dad saw him and we knew we had to take him to the vet for medical care as his eyes were infected and he had an upper respiratory infection among other things. I wasn't too keen on taking in another cat as I had two already. After spending so much time with him, while nursing him back to good health, I quickly realized I couldn't let him go.
What was Lux's illness?
Lux had mucolpolysaccharidosis VII which is a rare progressive lysosomal storage disorder caused by a mutation in his genes.
What was the most difficult part of taking care of Lux? Did you have strong support surrounding you?
The most difficult part of taking care of Lux wasn't anything I had to do physically, it was knowing that he was considered palliative. Knowing the condition, he had was progressive and that his life expectancy was shortened because of it. I had strong support from family and friends, especially my Mom. She did everything for Lux when I couldn't. If it weren't for her support, I may not have had the time I did with Lux.
What was the most rewarding thing about being Lux's mom?
The most rewarding thing about being Lux's mom was seeing how strong he was and knowing I could be there to help him when he needed it because he deserved the world and more.
How did Lux's illness affect you and your family?
Lux's illness affected me and my family because we created such special bonds with him and knowing one day that would be taken away was hard. Seeing him have bad days, and medical issues as a result of the disease was never easy. Seeing him struggle while losing the ability to walk and slowly depend on us more and more for everyday needs was difficult.
How have you been coping since his death?
The first little while was quite hard. Every time I heard a certain song, watched videos, or looked at pictures, there'd be instant tears. I've been much stronger these days but some days are still harder than others. I'll never have a bond like the one I had with him, he was my special baby boy and I will miss him every single day for the rest of my life.
How has he influenced you?
Lux has influenced me to be a better person. To not take life for granted as we aren't all blessed with healthy, long lives. He has also influenced me to fight for other animals, with and without special needs.
How did you learn about Sasha?
I learned about Sasha through Instagram. His current family contacted me to see if I could help him find a suitable home for him. His owner has medical issues of her own and they want Sasha to be given the love and care he deserves.
What kind of illness does Sasha have?
Sasha has the same illness as Lux had, mucopolysaccharidosis. Although Sasha never had the testing done, his x-rays and other medical records point towards it.
Why do you want to adopt Sasha?
The reason I want to adopt Sasha is that I want to provide him with all of the love and care. Lux has changed my world for the better, and I know I can provide a wonderful home for Sasha given the experience I had with Lux.
Congratulations on surpassing your GoFundMe goal. Is it safe to say Sasha is on his way?
Thank you! Yes, we are in the process of completing all necessary forms for travel. Making sure the correct vaccinations and paperwork is complete so he can fly from Italy to Canada. Hopefully, in just over one month, I will be meeting him in Toronto to travel home with him.
What is the best way we can help you?
The best form of help is support! Having a special needs animal isn't always easy. Support through words of encouragement, and love and just hearing that you are doing a great job warms my heart and keeps me going on the hardest of days.
Is there anything else you want to tell us to know?
I want to let everyone know that adopting an animal with special needs (and those without) will change their life forever in the best way. Often times special needs animals are overlooked, but if you have the time and means, please consider it. My life has changed in so many ways and I am a better person today than I was before because of a special kitty named Lux.
BETH CHRISTMAN
The Fight for Justice
My name is Beth Christman, and I am a recent alum of Mount Holyoke College.
My Saint Bernard Gertrude was born on July 4th, 2005. She was bred by Kathy Jo Bauck in New York Mills, Minnesota, and sold to my family by Laughlin Kennel in Oxford, Massachusetts, in November of 2005. She had a sweet temperament and was eager to please. She excelled at obedience and loved our neighbor’s fancy chickens. On October 14, 2014, she passed away at the ripe old age of 9 years and three months.
My family had never lived in a place where we could have a dog. We bought our house in September of 2005, and I asked my parents for a dog—a big dog. No one in my family knew anything about how to get a dog. My stepfather looked in the paper and found what he thought was a kennel. He called and asked what kind of dogs they had. They told him they had a 3.5-month-old Saint Bernard. We went to Laughlin Kennel in Oxford two days later to see the puppy. When we got there, I was surprised because I expected to see Saint Bernard puppies instead; it looked like a house’s downstairs. We explained that we were here to see the Saint Bernard puppies. She told me that they were downstairs and that she would bring the puppy up.
I asked if I could go downstairs to see them, and she said no, that was against Laughlin Kennel’s policy. That seemed strange to me, but before I knew it, a large Saint Bernard puppy was hurtling toward us and stopped at me, sliding belly up as if to say, rub my belly. I like to think it was love at first sight for both of us. I waited my whole life for her and from the moment I saw her I knew her name would be Gertrude. She just looked like a Gertrude. We decided we would take her, and I asked if they could bathe her before we left because she had a strong smell of urine and a dirty coat which I found strange. While they were bathing her, we signed their “adoption agreement,” and I asked the staff person where they got their Saint Bernards. I was told that a nice old lady named Kathy Bauck bred them and brought them to Laughlin Kennel to find homes. I had no reason to disbelieve her because I had no experience getting a dog before.
I thought this must be normal. When we brought Gertrude out of Laughlin Kennel onto the grass, she stopped and laid down. She would not walk on the grass. We attributed it to her being nervous. From Laughlin Kennel, we took her to our vet, whom we showed Laughlin’s health records on Gertrude. We noticed she had tracheobronchitis five times, a hernia, and other illnesses, but the vet assured us she did not have these diseases now and had a clean bill of health. I had no idea that it was not normal for a dog to have tracheobronchitis five times. Soon I would learn that nothing about our experience getting a dog was normal and that we had been deceived. I had no idea that the word kennel might not mean a reputable person that breeds one kind of dog but instead can be pets stores that act as a brokerage facility for puppy mills.
As new pet owners, we did everything right. We had the time, commitment, and resources to give our new puppy the life she deserved. Right away, we entered Gertrude and ourselves into obedience classes. We noticed after the second class that Gert limped afterward. The next day we took her to the vet. She was no longer limping, and the vet thought she might have exerted herself and needed a rest after obedience. Less than a month later, on New Years’ eve night, she sat down and would not get up. Terrified, I slept on the floor with her head in my lap the entire night until we could get her an emergency vet visit in the morning. The vet thought she had hip dysplasia at that visit, and she was started on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. We took her to an orthopedist who took x rays and diagnosed her with stage four hip dysplasia and no angulation of the hocks. This diagnosis meant that Gertrude could not have a total hip replacement because the lack of angulation in the hocks meant that the hip replacement would not take and she would have hip dysplasia again. The vet explained that Gertrude’s hip and hock problems were genetic in nature and due to “poor breeding.” Throughout Gertrude’s life, she had a host of genetic problems an over and underbite, entropic eye disease, celiac disease, yeast infections of the ears and skin, and urinary infections due to her deformity hindquarters. These problems were genetic and were due to the inhumane breeding practices of a puppy mill and cost over 20,000 dollars to treat in the course of her nine years of life.
When Gertrude was first diagnosed with hip dysplasia, I contacted Laughlin Kennel to let them know and pursue the six hundred and fifty dollar health refund in the contract—the cost of the dog. I figured we could at least put the money toward Gertrude’s medicine which cost over a hundred dollars a month. They refused but offered to take Gertrude back- which I refused. Because they would not honor their contract, I contacted Channel 22 News, the team investigates, and Laughlin Kennel sent me a refund within two weeks.
I decided to research Gertrude’s breeder Kathy Jo Bauck and her “Pick of the Litter Pets” in New York Mills, Minnesota. What I found was shocking. She had over a thousand dogs of all different kinds. I called Laughlin Kennel to ask about Kathy Bauck, but they maintained that she was a reputable breeder. I called the USDA branch in Minnesota to tell them about Gertrude’s genetic abnormalities and her health problems and how Gertrude was bred by Kathy Bauck. They told me her facility was up to standards and that Kathy Bauck could not have bred Gertrude because Kathy Bauck did not breed Saint Bernards, and they had never seen one on-premises. I explained that Kathy Bauck was listed as the breeder on Gertrude’s paperwork, and she could not be the first self-born Saint Bernard, but the agent was not helpful, and the case was closed.
Several years later a news station out of Boston contacted me. They were doing a story on Kathy Bauck and must have found me through a complaint I lodged against her with the USDA. They came to my house and showed me terrible videos of Kathy Bauck’s kennel. Over a thousand dogs in small wire cages, unkempt, huddled together. They showed me dead dogs, dogs that were dipped in flea treatment used on horses, dogs with seizures, with horrible wounds, and clips of Kathy Bauck doing surgical treatments on dogs without a license. I shivered thinking about my dog Gertrude’s hernia treatment. The wire cages made me realize why Gertrude was afraid to walk on grass when we first got her. She had never been on grass. She had lived her life up until that point in a cage. They told me an animal protection group was infiltrated in Kathy Bauck’s Pick of the Litter right now and was carrying out an investigation. They interviewed me on my feelings and Gertrude’s connection between Kathy Bauck and Laughlin Kennel in Oxford Massachusetts. Of course, I was shocked and horrified. I was sick and angry. I knew that something was going on because of the state of Gertrude’s health but I could not have imagined the greed and depravity. I realized that people like Kathy Bauck and Laughlin Kennel are dependent on people like me. People who were ignorant. People who had never had a dog did not know how to get a dog or wanted to bring a dog home with them that day.
Ultimately, I did not bring Kathy Bauck down—Caps did. Caps is an animal protection agency that went undercover to investigate her and provided their findings to the Otter Tail County Sherrif in New York Mills Minnesota. They were the ones who brought her up on charges that resulted in large fines, her dogs removed, and the permanent loss of her breeder and kennel license. I did not bring Laughlin Kennel in Oxford Massachusettes down either. I was one of many voices. A combination of Laughlin Kennel employees who took video of the kennel and animal rights protesters did in 2018.
The only pushback I received in 2005-2011 was constant roadblocks. It didn’t matter if the town of Oxford had received complaints about Laughlin because they had passed inspection. It didn’t matter that Kathy Bauck was listed as my Saint Bernard’s breeder because the USDA in Minnesota refused to acknowledge that Kathy Bauck bred Saint Bernards at all. The whole situation was frustrating because I could not get anyone to acknowledge the injustice that happened to my dog and my family.
My family provided and our friends provided us with emotional support but it is complicated. On one hand, Kathy Bauck and Laughlin Kennel deceived my family and on the other was Gertrude—the most beautiful soul I had ever met. I would not take the experience back.
I think Kathy Bauck's animals were taken from her by the animal protection society. *See articles about Kathy Bauck and Laughlin Kennel.
I was happy that Kathy Bauck was shut down and her license terminated. I was thrilled Laughlin Kennel was finally gone.
The incident with Laughlin Kennel and Kathy Bauck has affected me because it has caused me to think deeply and reflect on what brought me to Laughlin Kennel in the first place, how dogs are bred, who breeds them, and who sells them. I think about how fortunate my family is that we had the means to provide Gertrude with veterinary care, medicines, water therapy, acupuncture, massage, monthly grooming, special food, and everything else she needed to live a long, happy life for a dog with her health problems. I also think about what it could have meant for both Gertrude and my family had we not had the ability to pay for those treatments. My experience with Gertrude also has led me to adopt from our local shelter.
Gertrude’s favorite things were toenail polish, peanut butter cookies, chickens, and her family. My favorite memory of Gertrude was her running with the fancy chickens. She was in the middle and the hens were around her. She was walking with them. They would let her put her big nose into the tufts of feathers on their head.
I couldn’t tell you all the ways Gertrude affected my life. Gertrude’s love for me changed me. I saw the best version of myself in her eyes. I spent her time on earth dedicated to her and her care—to honor the love she had for me. Gertrude passed away in 2014 at a little over 9 years old—a ripe old age for a Saint Bernard. Especially considering her vets didn’t think she would live past two.
Although, my efforts were not enough to bring down a puppy mill or broker. My voice added to others. When we see injustice we must do something about it—even if we are afraid. The reward is with time real change can happen.
I want people to know that despite what happened I was honored to have Gertrude in my life. She was a gift and she continues to be.
JAIME SUE
Her Life as a Bunny Fosterer
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Jaime Sue. I've been a foster for Save SomeBunny Rabbit Rescue for about 7 1/2 years. I've been working in software development for about 20 years, most recently as a tech artist. I'm more creative than technical but I'm a compulsive problem solver so I stubbornly find a way, whether it's figuring out how to make something work on the computer or trying to fix homeless rabbit problems.
Why did you become a foster?
Chris and I had just gotten into our first home shortly after Save SomeBunny was formed. I had met the folks that formed SSB when adopting rabbits at Irvine Animal Care Center and I had once fostered babies for that shelter. It was an easy problem to solve - the rabbits needed a temporary space with someone who could care for them and I could provide that.
What's the most difficult part of fostering?
Usually the difficult part is sending them off to their new home and trusting that someone else is going to care for them as much as you do. But it's also easy to get in over your head with having more rabbits than you have time for, for example when you take in 8 orphaned baby bunnies. Fostering is supposed to be temporary but it's hard to do a good job promoting them when all your time is spent cleaning and caring for them. Then it's a relief to find someone who can give each bunny the time and attention they deserve.
Please tell us your most memorable case.
I've had a lot of memorable cases. Anytime you help an animal heal from injury, you develop a special bond. I had 6 baby bunnies that had been dumped at a park. One of them had a broken leg. We were able to pin the leg and save it. But then his brother squirmed in my lap when I was giving oral meds and his bone density was so poor that his back broke. I spent 6 stressful weeks doing cage rest and medication while gently doing range of motion exercises and other forms of physical therapy before he healed enough to hop again. He eventually made a full recovery and the pair were adopted. I cried for about three days straight. Hardest adoption I've ever done. That was Wolverine and Magneto.
I actually learned about you through Choppa. Please tell us a little bit about Choppa's case.
Choppa came into the shelter with a broken leg in which the bone was protruding out of the skin. The shelter emailed at the end of the day and I was hoping to get him before they closed. I didn't get hold of them quick enough and couldn't get him till the next morning. I hated going to sleep knowing he was broken and sitting in a kennel waiting! We took Choppa to see the vet and get xrays. He was so tiny. Best guess, about a month old. Between his size and his very pronounced heart murmur, the vet felt surgery was not an option so she splinted his leg. The splint had to be changed and the wound cleaned regularly while we treated with antibiotics and got infection under control.
What is Choppa's personality like?
As a baby, Choppa was very sweet and patient and tolerant of all the handling and splint changing. He had an awfully hard time moving around when he had a popsicle splint bigger than he was, and it caused his hip to dislocate. As he healed and got stronger and bigger, he was super excited to be able to move better and better. I would give him exercise time and work with him on his leg positioning to try to correct the hip and make sure his foot was bending fully. Soon, I had to keep him from leaping off things before his bone was fully healed! A few months later, his hormones kicked in and woo, boy is he a handful! He's very playful and fun but so hard to hang onto! I try to listen to his heart with a stethoscope so I can monitor for changes and compare to what the other rabbit's hearts sound like but it's nearly impossible to hold him still long enough to have a listen. He does enjoy being pet, especially if you rub his ears just right. He gets worked up and runs circles around your ankles. He gets bored if someone isn't hanging out with him while he plays. Choppa definitely likes human attention.
How did you come to foster him?
Kim and I get the emails from the shelter when they have a rabbit that needs to go to rescue so I was the one that answered and picked him up. It's really just Kim and I taking in the special needs rabbits so whichever of us is most able to take on another bunny will do so. Sometimes it's neither of us and we have to hope another group has space.
When you first met him, what was your reaction?
I was just in a hurry to get him to the vet and see what we could do to fix him! He was so tiny and precious. I couldn't be gentle enough when handling him knowing that tiny little leg was so badly injured.
How is Choppa now?
He's got a checkup scheduled in a few days to see if his heart sounds any better. The hope is that the holes in his heart would get smaller as he grew and his heart got stronger. He gets heart healthy supplements and moderate exercise. I try to let him run but not so much that he overdoes it. We are hoping to do a sedated neuter so he can calm down a bit and eventually have a bunny friend.
How did you get involved w/ Save SomeBunny?
When we moved into our house I started fostering a bunny named TicTac that had malformed eyelids and required a surgery that wasn't in the shelter's budget. I decided that no one could ever love him as much as I did and I foster failed immediately. The only adoption event he went to was the one I brought him to so I could find him a girlbun (Juno.)
What's your favorite part of fostering?
I love when I get a new foster bunny in and they have that moment when they realize they are safe and they are going to be cared for and bundad is going to spoil them with a slice of apple every night. You let them out to play and figure out what personality this new little furry friend is going to have. They're all so different and special.
What is the most rewarding part about it?
When I match a bunny to the perfect human for them and, if I'm lucky, I get updates from their human. In the best scenarios, the bunny and the human each make the other's life better. I've also made some wonderful friends by facilitating those sorts of bonds. Then it's also rewarding on a humanitarian level.
Have you had any hard moments? If so, how do you cope with the hard moments?
Oh goodness yes. There's been some really tough losses. I have to learn not to feel guilty for not always being able to save them. I have to find consolation in the ones I have saved. I talk to other people who know and understand. I don't let bad people diminish the 99.9% of good people out there. I remember that just because some people caused these animals to be in bad situations does not mean that people suck because people are also the solution. We couldn't keep saving lives if there weren't people adopting, people supporting us, people trying to do the right thing and get these bunnies into safe and loving homes.
Do you have any furries of your own? If so, what is their relationship like with the fosters?
Oh, yes, I have several keeper bunnies. My Instagram was named after one of my personal bunnies, Trillium. She was never pleased with me for bringing all these other rabbits into her house! She did like one of them - Cooper, who came in with a ruptured eye and a broken leg and stayed as Trilly's third husbun. She passed and I bonded him to Cheyenne, another one eyed foster. Most of my furries started out as fosters. Ginny is a lop with tear duct issues, terrible hearing and zero fear of anything. She used to chase the cat when we had one. She and Oscar, a tripawd foster, fell in love and I kept them both. Tempe and her daughter Quill stayed because of eye issues and Tempe's sleep disorder. Jinx had two bad adopters and now has permanent bladder issues. I promised him I'd never send him away again and he's now bonded to Ivory, who had an eye issue. Truman I kept just because I couldn't part with him. He's a very adorable tripawd lionhead. Between mine and the fosters, it’s difficult to give any of them the attention they truly deserve, so newcomers like Choppa are available as a sanctuary foster where Save SomeBunny continues to sponsor his care but he's in a homeless crowded than mine.
What else would you like to tell us?
We need to find more special needs/sanctuary fosters. We have so many bunnies living with a couple of overwhelmed foster parents. I'm trying to free up some of my time to solve the problems that cause there to be so many homeless rabbits. Taking in the homeless bunnies after everything has gone wrong isn't sustainable and it's not solving the systemic problems. I want to identify and prevent issues and that's why I've been working on a spay/neuter project with Save SomeBunny. Every single accidental litter prevented is an average of 6 homes we don't have to find. When we neuter bunnies, we fix the hormone induced behavior that leads people to take them to the shelter or dump them in parks. I always want to be able to make room for the emergency foster bunnies like Choppa but I think I can do even more to help rabbits by making change in the community. If we inform people about rabbit care and create more good rabbit homes, we can place more homeless rabbits. We could further expand the program to provide rabbit veterinary bill assistance because, if we can help existing rabbit owners keep their rabbits, we prevent more homeless rabbits!
IDA OVEDIE
Photographer & Animal Communicator
My name is Ida Ovedie.
I am from the woods of Norway, and I am 23 years old. My big passions in life are animals, photography and music. And I love to combine those together! The last year I have worked as a photographer in a portrait studio, in Trondheim.
How did your interest in photography start?
It has actually always been there. The fascination of capturing something forever. I used to borrow my mom's camera to document things I wanted to remember forever, when I was little. Then we got a webcam and I was fascinated to no end. When I got my own, I started having photoshoots and made videos of me and my friends with my web camera. When I was 10 years old, I had gathered money to buy my first digital camera. And it just became a part of me, that I brought everywhere, until people were pretty fed up with me, haha. Since then, I have been taking an unbelievable amount of pictures. And upgraded step by step both camera gear and experience.
How did you get into animal photography?
I grew up basically in the woods, above a very small Village. I didn't have many kids around me, and animals became my closest friends. I have always been very close to animals, more than most people. Especially my first dog, Tassen, which came to us when I was 5 years old, and he stayed with me for a whole 14 years!! He was my best friend and close brother. Nothing can ever replace him, and what he did for me. I have actually also tattooed his pawprints on my arm. But that’s a digression. When I started taking pictures, I naturally took loads of pictures of both my own animals, my friends' animals and just animals anywhere. Many do comment that this must be the hardest type of photography, compared to humans. For me it's rather the opposite. This is the natural choice where I feel at home, and where I know what to do. And I love it!
What is it like working with animals in a photoshoot?
Well, referring to what I said above, to me it's the most natural way to work. And it can somehow relate a lot to small kids. You can't just tell them exactly what to do, where to look, how to smile. But they are self going, and naturally move around and act like themselves. The task is to capture the moments, more than to instruct someone.
I am often very dependent on help from an owner or someone who can help me keep them in place, stop them from doing things they should not, try to put them where I want to, and that can try to get their attention where I want it. But in general. Animal photography is a lot about being ready, and capture the moment when it is there. Half a second and you miss it. You gotta be "on," and you have to be able to read what will be their next move. It is a lot of fun, but if you are used to telling people exactly how to stand and act, I bet it might be very frustrating.
Do you have any crazy set stories?
I don’t know about crazy, but last year I had my exam in photography, and I took my car and equipment and drove 9 hours away, and stayed there for a month to photograph 20 beautiful girls with horses, that dress up in beautiful gowns and clothes inspired by the middle ages. This was just amazing.
One horse I photographed on this trip was an Arabian. He and his owner had a very close bond and have been together for very many years. They could do a lot of tricks together as well. We went down to the Beach. And there, in a field with a lot of Flowers right by the Beach, he decided to lay down on the ground, which was the first time he had ever done this on a place that wasn't home. He had never had the trust to lay down on a trip before. And this he did, right when I was with them to document it. I am so grateful for that moment!
The last person I photographed while being there was a girl doing a horsesport called dzhigitovka. This includes a lot of gymnastics and also weapon use on the horseback. I don't think I've had a more crazy shoot than when she came cantering past me, hanging upside down with her head and arms all loose down towards the ground, hanging after one leg. Yes, in canter! At least I never held my breath more! That was so awesome, and also became some amazing pictures that shock people!
I don't think I can come up with any very fun stories. But what has been strong to me is when I several times have photographed pets that are very old or sick, so they don't know how much longer they will live. That feels very special, and I know how much those pictures mean to the owners afterwards! One time, I photographed a rat that had to be put down later that same day. And also pets that at the time were healthy, but short time after they have become ill and died. Then the pictures are so important ️
You have three buns, Emeritus, Elvis, Peavy, and up until recently Audrey. Can you please describe their personalities.
Oh, they are so different from each other! Emeritus is the first bunny I’ve ever had. And even though I think every animal have personalities, I had no clue bunnies would have this much. I mean, their personalities are stronger than a dog even! Emeritus is the little border collie of the house. He is super smart, he loves when something is happening, and he needs to use his brain. He has learned a lot of tricks, very eagerly, he loves going outside on a leash. And if nothing happens for days he will get frustrated and start tearing things apart. That despite being free roaming in our apartment 24/7. His brain needs to get used! And he loves cuddles and love.
Elvis is the grumpy, sleepy teenager. He would rather sleep the whole day if allowed to. He can also love cuddles, but mostly from bunnies. He is not a fan of getting touched by people. But at times he wants to, and then he enjoys it a lot. But to him a life of sleeping and eating is just perfect. And this is one of the main reasons we got a third bunny. Because his little brother Emeritus was a bit annoyingly cuddly for him, and Emeritus got told off a lot of the time. But Elvis is very charming in his own way!
Then came Audrey, a Flemish Giant. She was huge, but the sweetest soul I have met. She was a bit clumsy, she loooved cuddles, and she followed us every step we took. If you stood still on the middle of the floor for a little while, she would just lay down by your feet. And she several times chose to get cuddles beside me on the sofa for hours. She did lots of weird things, laying very awkwardly, eating weirdly, grunting, crawling into stuff. You couldn't make it up. She is by far the weirdest bunny I ever met, but she also had a lot of Expression and love. I know that if she could decide she would be by my side every moment she is awake.
Sadly she got sick, and we used a lot of time at the vets taking tests. They thought they figured the problem, which she got treatment for. But right after she was declared healthy, all symptoms came back, and we knew this couldn't go on. And as if she understood that I let go, she ended up laying in my lap for hours, about to let go. The most trustful soul I ever met. So that day she was allowed to go to the stars again in November.
"Some stars shine so bright they burn out before their time". No quote will ever fit her better. She shone like nothing I have ever met. She was intensely present, loving and fun. So even if we didn't get to have her for more than 9 months, she filled our hearts and home a lot. And I am sure she now follows me just like she would have wished for
Recently a new flemish giant boy came into our lives. He has been here only a short time yet, and we gave him the name Peavy. He is only 5 months old yet, so we look forward to see him grow up, and get to know both who he is and who he will become.
So far he is a very calm guy, and seems to like pets and takes life easy. But he is also very curious. The first thing he did was run all over the house, climb the top of the sofa, look all over the flat, and climb what could be climbed. So it will be interesting to see who he turns out as 🥰
They are all super cute but in different ways!
How did Em and El feel when Audrey came into the picture?
Mixed feelings, for sure. Bonding bunnies is SUPERHARD. I can't emphasize enough on that. And everything needs to be done the right way. And we had trouble with both a neutral space and time to do it right. So it took us forever to make things work. This is because they need time to find out who is boss, and how to act. They need to establish the tribe, and trust each other. And we didn't have the possibility to let them do this the right way. So it actually took us half a year from she moved in until we could leave them alone without being afraid they could fight hard.
But when they first figured it out they became immediate best friends. Elvis, who was most skeptical, is now following and washing her all the time. It is so lovely to see his love for her. And all three of them enjoy their time together, they did everything together and became a wonderful family.
Now it will be both exciting and nerve wrecking to start the process all over with Peavy.
What's it like having 3 buns now?
It is the best part of my life. In general having bunnies is so giving. After years we still die inside from their cuteness, commenting on everything they do. They have such strong personalities in those small bodies, they are bound to take you over! And having three has in the end become a great harmony. It was not easy, but now I feel it was the right decision. They always can keep close to each other if they want to, and they can go to have some alone time if they wish for that.
Also when we lost Audrey, we saw even better how good it was that they were still two left who had company with each other. But the room Audrey took in our homes got very, very empty without her. So I felt there was no other way to go, than to bring a new one into out lives. Three seems to be a very good number, when they first figure out everything.
What has the bonding process been like? What is their relationship like?
It took forever. But that is mostly because my work made it impossible to have them together in neutral space for more than some hours in the evenings. (At least after the first week I had off, and thought that might be enough) And they need to stay together in an area you can guard them for as long as they need to become friends. But they fought a lot, out of insecurity. And many times I felt like it was hopeless, and asked myself if I pushed through this for me or for them. We took them on many trips in the car, which was very helpful, but when they came inside it was gone again.Elvis has earlier been harassed by other bunnies, and was the boss of the two boys and finally on top. This made him very afraid to lose the grip when this Giant girl came around. It seemed like he thought letting her be the boss would mean she would attack him. So if she came to close or he felt trapped, he attacked to defend himself, and then she defended herself again. But she was super patient with him, it was absolutely amazing to watch. And when I had 3 weeks off work in the summer and could watch them 24/7, they finally figured it out, and Elvis put his guards down. Now he loves her more than anything.
She was the boss in the end, but she was very calm. And just bumped around doing whatever she felt like. Elvis adored her. While Emeritus tried to make her adore him, haha. They were a sweet trio! And I still se them as a back, and she as a part of our family. ️
How are you able to get such beautiful shots of your buns? Their poses feel so purposeful and not happenstance like mine are. Please tell us your secret.
Ooh, wow. Thank you so much, first of all! I honestly truly wish I had a great secret I could share with you But this thing with animals is just so natural to me. It just.. I take an animal, put it in front of the camera (good equipment for sure helps), and then... What happens do happen. And with the bunnies there is no chance to tell them to do anything, beside a few tricks they learned, like lifting stuff.
My first tip to any animal though, is to put them where they can't leave, if you are gonna take portraits. On a table or something where they are "stuck". Then they are kept there, and you can be ready. Treats can be helpful. But often it is a matter of "waiting" for it. Be on alert, I take very many pictures during a shoot. And then you get those moments that are special in between. And to learn to read the animal helps a lot. To see that "this tiny little movement shows he will soon turn around that way." And be ready.
When I photograph them outside I have no way of choosing what they will do. So I just run around, laying on the ground (tip 2 ALWAYS be as low as the animal. If you look down on them the pictures will not be as nice and they don’t look as awesome), and try a lot. And it helps to have great gear. I have a Nikon D750 that is good (but far from good enough sometimes) at following them with the focus, and making beautiful pictures. And outside I always use a 70-200mm f2.8 lens. Which also gives the sharpest pictures with a beautiful unsharp background.
11) All your buns are naturals in front of the camera, so it's no surprise that Emeritus and Elvis are models for Arthemis. How do you feel about this achievement?
It is so great. It was actually them who contacted us, that they searched for new ones. That was a big moment and so amazing! And their products are also so good in quality!
The bunnies' instagram is sadly very little active now. The last year I started a job(in a pretty big portrait studio) , and I just don't have the time, energy and health left for everything. So I don't get to photograph them as much as I would love to, and even less time to keep editing and publishing. I miss that a lot, to be honest. But you can't do everything in this world, at once, which is a lesson I have used too many years and energy to learn. I hope to get their account more active again soon though!
What's the greatest part about being their mom?
The endless love and joy. To see them happy makes me more happy than anything. And the love they share to each other and to me. I never get tired of it, ever! Every single day just seeing them lifts my heart! When we got Emeritus I was not in a good place mentally, and I needed a furbaby in my life. Which ended on him. And there is no doubt he helped me get up. ️
What are your handles, so we can find you and your buns? :)
On instagram the bunnies have their own profile @papa.and.the.king. They also have one on Facebook called Emeritus, Elvis and Peavy.
If you wanna see other animals, musicians and portraits you can also check out me as @idaovedie on IG. And "Foto-Ida Ovedie" on Facebook.
Is there anything else you want to tell us?
Whatever you do, and dream of doing - Dare to dream it! The only way to get there, is to dare to dream. And to put dreams into goals. You can do it! The road might not be easy, but you will get there, with time. Keep patient and determined! And thank you to everyone that wanted to read through this!
Remember to check out Ida's other interview on VSF's podcast! It's about her skills as an animal communicator! It's a really cool listen. Just click on the podcast tab, and there "Ida Ovedie: Animal Communicator" will be! Or listen on any podcast platform :)
Plus, Emeritus, Elvis, Audrey, & Peavy are Eye Candies. Check them out here on Friday!
AFSOON SHAHRIARI
Exceptional Artistry
Afsoon Shahriari is a magnificently gifted visual artist based in Shiraz, Iran. Since day one, she has designed much of VSF's graphics. When she approached me to assist in raising funds for the dog rescue, Plush Bears Shelter, I couldn't refuse. Not only because the aforementioned group saves dogs from the dog meat trade in northern China but because of my deep gratitude and admiration towards Afsoon. So, the "VSF x Afsoon Charity Collection" was conceived with all profits going to Plush Bears Shelter to assist in their incredible endeavor.
Without further ado, here's a little bit about Afsoon and her achievements: "She began her career with weaving, having earned her BA in textiles from Alzahra University in Tehran. Her weavings can be seen in many places throughout Iran in the form of curtains, table coverings, cushions and other fine wovens. Her work has been shown in national exhibitions in Tehran. She earned her MA in animation at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Her work includes an animated TV series for children about the poems of Molavi (Rumi) and music videos for rock bands. Now Afsoon is primarily known for her highly-detailed digital painting. Her subjects range from the gorgeous variety of the natural world, to scenes from classical Persian myth and legend, to more modern subjects."
BEST FRIENDS FELINES
Cat Rescue in Australia
What inspired the creation of Best Friends Felines?
I grew up in a small country town on a farm with many different
animals and for over a decade did WIRES ( native wildlife) , upon
moving to Brisbane I started fostering dogs for a local group and
realised that dog rescues outnumbered cat rescues substantially and
cats were in need of another advocate so I founded BFF .
What's a day in the life like at BFF?
I do not think you can put into words what exactly goes on behind the
scenes of any rescue, you are on call 24/7 and as we average 250-300
in care at any given time usually there is always something happening
from endless paperwork, 100s of emails per day, fundraising, vet
visits and calls, juggling carers, managing social media and of
course cats cats cats.
In what condition do cats usually come to you?
It can greatly vary but as we are known for taking in the high
surgical cases , special needs and rehab cats we never know what to
expect till they actually arrive !
Some come in good health , usually not vetted and others can come in
deplorable condition and break your heart.
Have there ever been moments where you just say to yourself, "I can't do
this anymore?" If so, how do you overcome those feelings?
Absolutely – rescue is a tough world to walk in , We see so much abuse
and neglect and have had some horrific cases come in over the years .
The good always outweighs the negatives and to remind myself of that I
look through all my old files of 1000s and 1000s of cats and kittens
and special needs puppies that we have saved and fills me with renewal
of why I have to keep soldiering on and be their voice and advocate .
I look at pics of some of the most broken ones that have come in and
how we saved them and the difference we made to them and know there
are more of those out there needing me to put on my big girl panties
and carry on.
What's the most rewarding part of your work?
The rewards are endless and always outweigh the heart ache. Seeing
these felines often so broken and full of distrust , so neglected the
terrified of human contact slowly blossom into confidence and health
until they are ready to find their special someone where they will
continue to blossom and grow in their forever home. Its always a
bittersweet moment when you say goodbye as they leave with their new
family but we get to pick that right family and decline those not suitable. We
are not here to re-home for rehoming sake and carefully screen for the right home
as the goal is to find the best match so they never end up in the system again.
You also rescue from kill shelters, what do you think of kill shelters?
Yes we rescue from various pounds across QLD and sometimes interstate.
I am not a fan of any animal being put to sleep unless for medical
reasons therefore in the animals best interest.
They do not deserve that fate cause they had crappy owners who failed them.
I also understand pounds exist for a reason and we have the only job
in the world you want to be made redundant from as no longer needed.
I might not like the fact they exist but they are a necessity sadly.
Do you think it's ever possible
for kill shelters to become a thing of the past?
I know I will never see it in my life time but I hope one day it becomes true.
Until we allow things to change regarding animal ownership, laws tying
our hands to do something and other laws in regards to what is
considered animal cruelty and the slap on the wrist punishments they
entail in this country nothing will change .
In QLD TNR is illegal as is a rescue ability to feed , care for or take into care
and rehab “ feral cats” so many of our street population are domestic pets abandoned
by their owners but now fending for themselves on the streets trying to survive and deemed
feral or wild. TNR has been proven to work in endless countries around the world
but nope here its illegal, you can also be fined for feeding a “wild cat” or rehoming it to rehab.
Legally you must chip an animal, its not being enforced and animals are given away
on gumtree each day with no vet work done including
microchip.
Animals are neglected, suffering and abused daily yet the red tape
about what is “cruelty” is poor and poorer still is what is deemed the
punishment for this crime if found guilty , where is the deterrent and
so many cases fall through the pathetic loopholes and the animals
continue to suffer.
Until the cruelty acts change and we start to encourage responsible
pet ownership pounds will always be needed sadly , they will never
have enough space to cope with the sheer volume of numbers they see
through the doors each year nor can us rescues . Some pounds work well
with rescues and care about getting the animals to safety , while
others do not . Personally I would loved to see each large shelter or
pounds statistic tracked separately for their “ rehomed “ to include “
sent to rescue “ as we take so many each year through rescues .
There are too many animals and not enough homes which is why some
pounds have high kill rates which is why we make sure every animal in
our care is desexed before they leave.
Can you tell us about The Last Litter Program? Why is it so important?
Our last litter program is where we take ALL the babies to rehome through BFF and we
desex Mum free of charge to the owner and return her.
We do this to end the cycle - too many litters of unwanted kittens are
dumped , given away or end up in the pounds each kitten season so by
desexing Mum we assure there will be no more litters from her.
During 2020 so far we have had 37 mums through our LLP with peak
breeding season just starting its about to increase tenfold, those 37 mums
brought 155 babies to BFF. That’s 192 cats that will not be adding to the problem
but those numbers show just how quickly it can get out of control each and every year.
How can ppl become sponsors of the LLP?
We have information about our LLP via our website, we seek sponsors
for mum to help towards desex costs .
Since covid hit and this program went into overdrive and we lost all
our fundraising events we now have sponsors for the babies as well to
help towards the costs of the little ones as we do a course of vaccinations,
desex and chip plus treat for fleas and worms.
The sponsoring allows us to take more though our program.
We keep an album of LLP mums on our FB page and pop their photo in
there stating they need a sponsor and edit when they have one . We now
do the same for kittens. We also post on our fb page when needing
sponsors.
What's your advice to those who are new foster parents or who are thinking
of becoming foster parents?
I always hear the saying “ I could never do what you do as couldn’t part with them,"
where that one leaves there is 1000 others waiting for that space to get them
to safety and only a portion of those will make it to safety.
Fostering is one of the most rewarding things you will every do, it can also be heartbreaking
to see the things we do but the positive is always outweighing the negative…it's also
super addictive to most! Some come in and foster one cat and realize its not for them and they
do not foster again, others find how much it soothes their souls and foster again and again and again.
I don’t foster because its easy to let them go, I foster as I care enough to make the
emotional sacrifice of watching them leave for their forever home than the
alternative of what would happen if I
didn’t open my heart and home for a temporary while.
What is the greatest benefit of fostering/adopting?
Its all about saving lives , making a difference and educating the
public. Each part of what you do in the rescue whether big or small
makes a huge difference to the lives of that animal.
If you are looking to add to your own family fostering is also the perfect way to find that
match and the little one you just cannot part with.
Has COVID affected your work? If so, how?
When the pandemic started and we headed towards lockdown we thought
BFF would be closing the doors unable to continue with losing so many
of our fundraising events. But we were not prepared for the onslaught
of those needing help especially once the pounds and rspca closed their
doors to intakes and that left these animals with no options so we had to
remain open and do what we could. Our LLP went into
overdrive, the surrenders went to beyond comprehension and the sheer
volume of those wanting to adopt sent the rescue into overdrive with
overwhelming the inbox with 100s of emails daily. We have never been
so relentlessly busy.
How can ppl help?
People can help in many ways , they can donate funds or food , they
can refer our LLP, they can share our posts . We often need transport
drivers and we share those posts on our page.
What do you need most right now?
Always food and funds, plus sponsors as we have a few LLPs on our wait
list that will all need sponsors.
We are holding a small community event , COVID permitting, on Saturday 31st of October
we are finding it difficult to get businesses to support us as all are struggling and are in need
of donations of items for our silent auction and prizes.
Sometimes you have raffles, will another one be coming up soon? Why is
it so important that people participate in these raffles?
We normally only do perhaps one raffle a year but with covid we have
had to move our fundraising online as much as possible hence another
raffle will be held in November which is full on peak kitten season.
Where can we find you?
You can find Best Friends Felines on Facebook, Instagram and we also
have a website. We do not have a shelter as believe in the family environment
rather than cages so are foster carer based with a team of well over 100 carers all over
Brisbane and the coastal areas.
Is there anything else you want to tell us?
2020 has been beyond our comprehension.
We have rehomed almost 600 fur babies this year and taken in over 500,
we have spent 200k in vet work this far and with peak season now
upon us those numbers will exponentially climb .
As a small independent rescue we will do what we can to keep the doors
open in these incredibly difficult times but rely heavily on support
to get sponsors , donations and support our fundraising events.
MOANA
The Therapy Rabbit
Please introduce yourself.
I am Jen McCormick and I have been a Pet Partners therapy animal
handler since 2017. I am also a volunteer with Save SomeBunny Rabbit
Rescue.
How did you decide to adopt a bunny?
My partner and I decided to adopt a pair of rabbits back in 2010 and
we have had rabbits ever since. We originally wanted them for the
wonderful free fertilizer they would provide for our organic home garden
but they quickly became a big part of the family with their love and
antics.
What about Moana attracted you to her?
Moana was at a high-kill shelter with a badly mangled back leg. She
was within hours of being euthanized when the shelter contacted Save
SomeBunny and told us about her situation and the minute I saw her I
asked to have her pulled so we could help her. There was something in
her eyes that told me that she had the will to live and survive. So the
rescue pulled her, had her spayed and her bad leg amputated and my
family was to foster her until she was healed enough to be adopted out.
In the 2 short months that we were fostering her we fell in love with
her and she with us so we adopted her.
What is your relationship like with Moana?
My relationship with Moana is very tight. She is bonded to myself,
my wife and our daughter but since her and I spend the most time
together "working" ours is a special relationship. I know her body
language very well and know when she has had enough of something or when
she wants more attention. She is very people oriented and craves
attention from humans but is not fond of other rabbits.
What was the moment that you knew she would become a good therapy animal?
I can't recall the exact moment that I knew she would make a good
therapy animal but she is unlike most other rabbits - she craves
attention from people, loves kids and dogs, loud noises don't scare her
and when describing all this to someone they suggested I look into
making her a therapy animal. Of course at the time I had no clue what a
therapy animal was, I thought it was like a service animal or emotional
support animal but those are 3 different things. So I looked into it
and that is when I found Pet Partners, they register 9 different species
of animals as therapy animals and rabbits were one of them. So I signed
up, took their handler course and then Moana at I tested as a team and
passed with flying colors. In our 3 years of being a therapy animal
team we have logged 177 hours and touched over 5,000 lives.
How has she affected the lives of those she visits?
We do de-stress events at college campuses, we visit a children's
hospital, nursing homes and do various other Pet Partner events but our
favorite place to visit is the Orange County Ronald McDonald House. Pre
COVID we were there every Friday night visiting with the ill children
and their families. They love Moana there! She can put a smile on any
face. I remember one time in particular - a little girl who had not
spoken in months walked up to Moana, touched her and said "bunny" and
her mom broke out in tears. I really can't measure how she has affected
the lives of those she visits but I can tell you that nobody walks away
from Moana without a smile on their face.
How have you, personally, been affected by seeing her as a therapy animal?
I have probably been most affect by Moana and working with her as I
see how people's faces light up when they see her and feel her soft fur
for the first time, that never gets old. I also know that however bad a
day or week I have had I see how Moana has persevered being a 3-legged
rabbit and how the sick kids we visit with are so resilient, my bad day
or week just seem so insignificant.
What advice would you give to someone who wants their pet to become a therapy animal?
If someone is thinking about registering their pet as a therapy
animal I highly suggest contacting Pet Partners. They are the most
reputable source for training and registering of the animals. You and
your animal need to have a strong bond to be a therapy animal team and
some situations you might be in will be hard to deal with at times but
you can be sad or upset later. You are the voice for your animal and
sometimes at the Ronald McDonald House, the parents who have a sick
child in the hospital might just want to sit there and pet your animal
but have a conversation with you to take their mind of of what is going
on in their world.
Where can people find you and Moana?
Moana (and Mr. Pickles, my other therapy rabbit) are on Instagram
@moana_the_therapy_bun
Are there nonprofits, orgs, charities, that you want to give a shoutout to?
Shout outs to Orange County Ronald McDonald House for their work
with sick children and their families, Pet Partners, and Save SomeBunny
Rabbit Rescue - without Save SomeBunny Moana would not have survived and
flourished as she has.
Is there anything else you want to tell our readers?
Rabbits make great pets - they are clean, quiet, can use a litter
box and can be very affectionate but they NEED to live indoors in an
exercise pen or free roam. Rabbits are very susceptible to heat and
predators and no matter how secure you think your backyard or patio are,
if a predator wants your rabbit they will get it. For more information
on keeping rabbits please visit rabbit.org and if interested in adopting
check savesomebunny.org or your local shelter. Please adopt, don't
shop!
Also, if you have not seen it already here is a video that was done
about Moana and I - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XDtrxhv884&t=6s