Fireworks & Pets

"Remember Remember your pets this November..."

That time of year is fast approaching! I used to love watching the firework display as a child. The POPS, BANGS and CRACKLES as the fireworks flew into the air and lit up the night sky with flashes of bright colours. My brother and I used to go together, with our pockets full of bonfire toffee. We would watch with sheer delight as the flames of the bonfire devoured the Guy Fawkes dummy in the middle. It was such good fun!

This isnt the case for our furry friends though, as you probably know. Rover retreats to a corner where he whimpers and cours for most the evening while Felix dissapears under your bed and isnt seen again until the following morning. What about your rabbits, or your guinea pigs? Did you spare a thought for them on bonfire night?

No? Neither did many other people, sadly.
Outdoor animals are often forgotten about. Unlike your dog or cat, they cant bark, whimper or meow to remind you they're there. Which is why it is so important that you dont forget about them, and that you get prepared in advance. Here are just a few ways you can help keep your furry friend safe and sound on bonfire night:

• Put them to bed early - If your rabbit or guinea pig spends a lot of time out in their run, make sure you put them to bed a little earlier than usual, so that they are all tucked up before the fireworks start.
• Give them lots of bedding and cosy places to hide - Putting lots of bedding and hay into their hutch will give your rabbit or guinea pig somewhere to burrow and hide, helping them to feel safe and secure. If your pet has free range of a shed or outbuilding, make sure he has lots of places to hide. A couple of cardboard boxes, turned upside down and filled with hay will do the trick.
• Cover the front of their hutch - Or if your rabbit or guinea pig have free range of a shed or outbuilding, cover the windows. Use an old blanket or a piece of tarpaulin. Darkness helps rabbits and guinea pigs to feel safe, so anything thick enough to block the flashes of the fireworks should be fine. Thick blankets will also help muffle the sounds, but make sure there is a gap for air to circulate!
• Move their accomodation - If appropriate, your furry friend will apreciate you moving their hutch to a quiet area such as a garage or shed. If this isnt practical, try not to worry too much.
• Give them plenty of food - Rabbits and guinea pigs love their food! Its important that they are encouraged to eat, if a rabbit or guinea pig stops eating for long periods, they can become seriously ill. Scatter their favourite foods around their home, they may apreciate a treat or two aswell.
• Dont set off fireworks in your garden! - Yes, I hate to be a fun sucker, but please dont set fireworks off in your own garden, its not a good idea. Small animals dont habituate to fire works, they find them very frightening. It doesnt mean you cant enjoy bonfire night though. Check with your local council to see if there are any organised displays. You can go with family and friends, and theyre much safer!

Meet Skye

"Baby Blue Eyes"

Born on the 23rd March 2011, Skye is a relatively new addition to my little fur family. She is a BEW (blue eyed white) Netherland Dwarf and so apropriately named. Like most Nethies, what she lacks in size, she more than makes up for in personality!

Skye was from a breeder of Netherland Dwarfs and Mini Lops. While getting a rabbit from a breeder may be frowned upon, it is far better than going to a pet shop providing they they are "good breeders" and you do your research.

The first time I saw Skye, she was so small that i was able to cup her in one hand and keep her tiny little body warm with the other. She enjoyed having some nose and cheek rubs and fell asleep almost instantly. Her brothers and sisters were just as small and they all clambered over eachother to investigate what was going on.

****, her breeder was lovely, she introduced us to all of her rabbits, who all seemed happy and healthy, including Riddick; a gorgeous Frenchie who had gone blind at an early age. It was clear to us all that **** knew each individual rabbit and their little quirks and were not just breeding stock to her, they were family pets and she thought the world of them.

When the time came to collect Skye, i couldnt believe how much she had grown! She was all wriggly and fidgety, but soon settled down for a snuggle. I gave her a final health check before popping her into a carrier and and going on our way.

In the car on the way home - Skye looked lost in the carrier!

I got her home and put her into a 6ft pen - that would be her home until she was ready to be bonded with Marley and Dolly. She settled in so quickly, you'd never have known she'd just left the litter! I try and devote a little extra time to Skye each day because shes a single bunny, but as shes gotten older, shes no longer interested in having snuggles! Shes very independant and seems to prefer doing her own thing, though she will accept some nose rubs when it suits her!

Shes now 21 weeks old and will be spayed next week. Im anxious to start bonding, though i cant wait to see what happens. Fingers crossed all goes well.

Rubbish Day

I better make this quick, because my laptop sounds like its about to conk out AGAIN!!
I know I was supposed to finish introducing the buns before I started posting, but most of you will probably know who they are already.

Today has been a really bad day, for all sorts of reasons. Its been physically and emotionally draining and I just wanted to say how much I love my bunnies. They cheer me up when noone else can.

I sat with them for an hour in the shed today, something I havent done for a while apart from when making a video. I usually go in there for some peace and quiet and to get away from everything. I just sat in the corner and watched them while I sat and sobbed. Pathetic really, but its been one of those days!

They seem to know when im feeling down. They do things they wouldnt normally do, and are willing to just come and sit on you and give you kisses. Marley's always the first one to notice I need cheering up. He hopped on my knee before leaping up onto my shoulder for a snuggle, bless him. Then he always makes me giggle, because he panics when he wants to get down! He always does it, never learns! <3

Dolly sat on the top shelf and licked my head, and Skye just sat and watched like she usually does, until the treats come out! Then she mistook my finger for an Apple Bake!

Sorry its a boring post, I fing typing helps vent all my frustrations.
x

Meet Dolly

"Dolly Monster"

It was April 2010, I had been thinking about getting Marley a friend, but wasnt actually looking at the time when i found Dolly. She was on her own in the back of the local pet shop, partially hidden by large sacks of food. I shoved them out of the way to get a closer look and found a scrawnier version of Marley peeking at me through a pile of hay. She was tiny, and made her 2ft prison cell look huge in comparison. I asked the elderly woman behind the counter if i could get her out. She grabbed the poor little mite and handed her to me. I remember snuggling her against my chest and stroking her head as my heart melted. She was tiny, so petite and fragile looking, just like a little Dolly!

I left her at the petshop, but she was playing on my mind and a few days later i brought her home, after taking her to the vets for a health check. She was very confident! She loved to play and chase things around. I remember how she would run up and down her hutch, following me as i swept up! She has always been a feisty little bun too, and was protective of her things from day one!

Once Marley was neutered and his seemingly non existent hormones had died down, they were bonded. Thankfully though it went smoothly and they bonded themselves, as i had no idea about the correct way to bond rabbits!

"Dirty Dolly"...

At the time, i was blissfully unaware of the fact that Dolly had Syphilis, until she was 8 months old and i discovered scabs on her genitals. After bathing the area and keeping a close eye on things for a few days, i discovered that Marley was looking a little sore too, so i booked them in to see the vet. Treatment entailed a 3 week course of Depocillin, which i had to inject both rabbits with every other day. It wasnt pleasent, but i had no choice, "Dirty Dolly" as we called her for the duration of their treatment had infected my Marley boy with an STI!

It was no laughing matter though, Syphilis for those who dont know causes scabs and sores around the genitals, but also causes irreversible damage internally. Thankfully I caught it, as many rabbits dont show symptoms at all, and those who do, often arent symptomatic for a long time. Left untreated, and both bunnies could have ended up with the scabs and sores all over their heads, faces, ears and even in their mouths.

It was after this that i pieced together the sort of place Dolly likely came from and the conditions she was likely raised in. She was from a back yard breeder - a person who over breeds rabbits, sometimes in disgraceful and sickening conditions with little regard for their health or welbeing. They are in it for the money and not for the love of rabbits. Sadly, this is where most pet shop animals come from (including those from large, well known chain stores), and Dolly is the last rabbit i will buy from a pet shop.

By buying pets from pet shops, you are indirectly feeding the back yard breeding trade. The rabbits are simply stock, no more significant than the bags of food and toys that are on the shelves and will be replaced by another. That said, all rabbits need a home and where you get your rabbit comes down to personal choice, but its important that whatever choice you make is a well informed one.

Meet Marley

"The bunny who stole my heart"

Marley was my first rabbit, he came into my life in February 2009.

I was in the farm shop when i saw him; hunched up in a corner of the pen away from the other rabbits. With little stubby ears and wide eyes, he watched impervious customers and their boistrous offpring loom over the cage and poke their fingers in at him.

I wasnt a fan of rabbits, but there was something about this little fella. I took him home with me, completely unaware of how much he would change my life.

Hes been with me two and a half years, and i now know it was fate that brought us together. Hes such a sensitive, perceptive little spirit, he senses when im down and has got me through the darkest hours of my life. For this reason, I owe him everything,

Hello from me

Hi guys.
Not sure what to put for my first post. This isnt my first blog, I had another one; "For the love of Marley", but it wasnt going the way I had hoped. It was a little too focused on rabbits, and I want this one to be a little more personal, a place for me to let off some steam from time to time, but somewhere for me to also post about the ups and downs of sharing my life with rabbits and various bits of information on rabbit health, care and welfare.

Anyway, you can call me Soph. I have 3 Netherland Dwarf Rabbits; Marley, Dolly and Skye. They are my pride and joy and deserve to be introduced in their very own post, so look out for that. I also have 2 family dogs; Jess and Poppy, who will also meet in another post. You can expect posts about these guys and any other critters from time to time.

At present im studying Animal Management and plan to study Veterinary Nursing at university. Thats the plan, anyway, though theres every chance i may change my mind! Either way, I will be working with animals in future.

Ill leave it there for now, look out for future posts.
~Soph. x