Volume 9 Number 2 February 2011

Another two weeks and...

The clocks will be going forward which means that spring is in the air.
Can't you just small that lush new grass already?

An important reminder though, under no circumstances should you give a

rabbit grass clippings from your lawnmower, as these begin to ferment very
quickly and can cause serious digestive problems or even death!

Millie Bun.

Don't forget our website. Please come and visit often at

http://www.bunnycamp.webs.com/

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 BUY CAMP SACTUARY
SPOSOR FORM
I would like to sponsor______________________________________________________
Is the sponsorship for yourself or a gift please tick.
Paid for by: Title:-Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms or other please state__________________________
Forename_____________________________ Surname____________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Postcode_____________________________ Tel No______________________________
E Mail Address____________________________________________________________
Do you want sponsorship posting or E Mailing please tick.
Where do you want the sponsorship sending to:
You or if a gift to another address
Details of Gift Name and Address: Name________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Postcode___________________________ Tel No________________________________
E Mail Address____________________________________________________________
If you wish to send a message give details a maximum of 8 words:___________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Sponsorship costs a minimum of £20.00 per year or £2.00 per month by standing order method of
Payment cash Cheque payable to Bunny Camp Sanctuary or Standing order
(if paying by standing order you will need to get a form from the sanctuary to give to your bank)
Please allow up to three weeks for delivery
Bunny Camp Sanctuary
4 Stoney Ridge Avenue
Heaton
Bradford
BD9 6PA
Tel No:- 01274 821665 E Mail Address:-www. bunnycampsanctuary.com

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 SPOSOR BUIES
ELLIE Born about July 2008 in a home where she was neglected and not
given the veterinary treatment that she needed so has damage to her eye.

LUCIDA an agouti continental giant born 12th January 2008. She is one of
the sanctuarys working bunnies who goes out on educational visits. She is
very friendly and loves attention especially when there’s a treat involved.

PETE came into the Sanctuary in June 2006 he was very small
although fully grown. His little boy bits were very badly damaged
and infected due to living with other male bunnies, as boys don't get
on very well. The damage was put right but he still needs a lot of TLC

BROOKLY. A dwarf lop who was brought into the sanctuary by an

RSPCA inspector he had been found wandering the streets we estimate he
was born about Oct 2006. He was a little thin and was not eating so was
taken to the vets and checked and it was found that his back teeth were in a
very severe state so they were filed down and will need doing frequently.

MICKAYLA is a fawn lionhead bunny born 13th February 2007 at the

sanctuary and was paired up with Madhulika for company as she was
missing her beloved Bailey who passed over the rainbow bridge in
November 2006. She is a cheeky little monkey but very much loved.

KISEY a white lionhead with blue eyes born approx August 2004.
He came into sanctuary with another bunny that was rehomed fairly
quickly. He is very nervous so comes across as aggressive.

BERYL is an agoutie and white cross netherland dwarf dutch bunny

approx 8yrs old in September 2010, she came into the sanctuary from
another rescue so we are not aware of her background. She is a little
grumpy at times but loves a cuddle.

MO. A cross lionhead she was an unwanted pet born approx July
2004. She is a little stroppy at times but is a gentle when picked up
and cuddled.

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 REHOMIG BUIES

ROGA & PAULA

ROGAN a neutered brown and white Dwarf lop born July 2003, he is fit and well despite
his age and has quite a strong personality. PAULA a neutered black and white English
cross born July 2006, she is also fit and well and has a much quieter personality and can
be a little nervous when you first meet her. The pair have been together since Paula was
four months old so must be homed together. They came into the sanctuary from a very
good home and despite Rogan’s age are very young at heart. They came into the
sanctuary 7th May 2010 CA YOU OFFER THIS PAIR A GOOD HOME I
ROGAS TWILIGHT YEARS.

MAGIC
MAGIC black and fawn cross born October 2005, she is a very gentle natured bunny who
loves playing out and cuddles. She was brought into the sanctuary from a home where
she was used for breading in her younger years. She was loved and cared for before
coming to the sanctuary. She is neutered and would be a great companion either to
someone at home a lot of another bunny. She came into the sanctuary 16th October 2010
CA YOU OFFER HER THE HOME SHE EEDS I HER TWILIGHT YEARS.

BRAD & BIGO

BRAD a neutered grey Dwarf lop born September 2009, he is a very friendly he doesn’t
mind being picked up and loves cuddles. BINGO a neutered ginger and white lop born
September 2009, he is more dominant than his brother but is still very friendly and also
likes a cuddle. The boys came into the sanctuary as unwanted pets on 17th January 2011
and must be homed together CAN YOU OFFER THIS FRIENDLY YOUNG BOYS A
HOME.

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Humour

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vi
If you like the Bunny System then buy the book at
www.indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4373

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ix
 VOLUTEERS WATED!
The Bunny Camp Sanctuary in Bradford is lo looking
oking for more volunteers to
help clean out our hutches on a regular basis. Over the past few years some
of our volunteers have had to give up helping in this way as their
circumstances have changed and we really need more help on a practical
basis.

If you
ou can commit to a few hours every week on an evening or a weekend and love
rabbits and want to help us, we’d love to hear from you!

It is physically demanding work and not for those who don’t like to get their hands dirty,
but it is rewarding too. Not only
nly will you be cleaning out the cages, which keep our
bunnies happy and healthy, but also you’ll get to know our residents and their individual
personalities. You’ll get to know about all the rere-homing
homing successes and occasionally the
sad news too. You will ll also help with grooming and socialising the animals and putting
them out for exercise. The rabbits really relish their play time and it’s a wonderful sight
to behold. Depending on your level of experience you could learn an awful lot about
rabbits too.

You don’t need to be rabbit

rabbit-experienced
experienced so long as you are enthusiastic and
love animals, particularly rabbits. Of course, any rabbit experience is a
bonus.

You’ll find that we are a friendly bunch of people who are all passionate about rabbit
welfare and if you wish, you could also help with fund
fund-raising.

If you’d like to know more, please ring Sonya McDonough on 01274

821665.

THANK YOU!

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 An Essay by Roslyn Cassells
Year of the Rabbit brings new threats to the rabbits at the University of Victoria
and elsewhere in British Columbia.

Finished reading your horoscope? Done with the dim sum? It's the Year of the
Rabbit and there are some real rabbits that need your attention!

Unless you've been living in a burrow, you'll have heard about the UVic rabbits
and the "battle of the bunnies". Well it ain't over yet, people. Despite a successful
relocation campaign, during which over 800 rabbits have been trapped, sterilized,
and relocated to Ministry of Environment permitted sanctuaries, the University of
Victoria plans to begin killing rabbits again. They say any rabbits left on campus
after Feb. 28, 2011 will be trapped and "humanely killed"...this from the institution
that decapitated and bludgeoned to death over 100 rabbits this past spring. (
http://communications.uvic.ca/rabbits/ )

Advocates are petitioning the university to continue placing the animals in

sanctuaries. Sanctuaries are applying to extend their permits for this purpose. In
any case, despite UVic's contention "the permits are running out" the earliest any
of the permits expires is at the end of March 2011 (Laura Leah Shaw of TRACS
for Texas Rabbits, and Sorelle Saidman of Rabbitats), with some permits ongoing
(provincially permitted wildlife rescue centers including EARS). In addition, all
costs for the rescue effort have been borne by the community. Any future
trapping and killing of rabbits will come directly out of the taxpayer's pocket
through the provincially funded integrated pest management budget.

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A coalition of groups is also petitioning the Ministry of Environment to allow
private landowners to place enclosed rabbit habitats on their land as a means of
colony management without the current requirement for permits. All rabbits in the
proposed "rabbitats" would be sterilized, and colonies are proposed to range in
size from 6-60 animals. Due to antiquated legislation, under the Wildlife Act the
MOE classifies all rabbits (including domestic European rabbits) as "wildlife" and
animal rescue groups are required to undergo an onerous and expensive
permitting procedure to help homeless rabbits. The necessity of acquiring a
permit has created a bureaucratic and economic nightmare for resource-strapped
animal rescue groups still reeling from provincial clawbacks to charity gaming
grants that caused many rescue centers to close their doors or reduce their
service levels.

The lack of regulatory control of the sale of fertile domestic rabbits in the province
of British Columbia and in particular in the municipalities in the Greater Victoria
Regional District has resulted in the irresponsible breeding and abandonment of
rabbits and the attendant increased animal suffering. Nowhere has this been
more evident than on the campus of the University of Victoria, the dumping
ground for abandoned rabbits from surrounding communities. The lack of status
of this gentle and fascinating species is exhibited time and time again by people
who abandon their former pets without regard for the individual, their offspring, or
their community. To date not a single person has been charged under any of the
relevant laws for the abandonment of a former pet rabbit, despite provisions
under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the Wildlife Act, and the Criminal
Code.

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Absent from any significant efforts to resolve the situation of these defenceless
creatures are the two regulatory bodies who could and should defend them. The
British Columbia Society for the Protection of Animals, and the provincial Ministry
of Environment have instead sat on their hands during this entire debate, ignoring
the pleas of the citizens of this province, and the advocacy groups who, in the
absence of any official interest, have taken up the cause of the animals. The
BCSPCA is responsible for the enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act (
http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96372_
01 ), yet the unspeakable cruelties that rabbits suffer is rarely acted upon, and
certainly not applied to groups of rabbits being killed for "rabbit management".
They refer to these rabbits as "feral rabbits" even though they are without doubt
abandoned pet domestic European rabbits. To call the UVic rabbits "feral" is a
misnomer...wave a carrot and they practically knock you over (BCSPCA on feral
rabbits: http://www.spca.bc.ca/assets/documents/welfare/position-
statements/feral-rabbits.pdf ).

The BCSPCA discredited themselves again when they reaffirming their support of
the planned killing of abandoned domestic rabbits by UVic. In fact, their website
has links to the American Veterinary Medical Association killing methods they
endorse, which include such ghastly practices as beheading, strangling, beating
to death, and gassing. If the BCSPCA enforced the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act, which is their responsibility, the rabbits would have a powerful
advocate. Instead the association has turned its back on these animals, among
others. (BCSPCA approved killing methods:
http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf ). The BCSPCA
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website crows about the "hundreds" of rabbits they took into their shelters, and
ignores the thousands they turned away or killed. Supposed wildlife rescue
center Wild Ark, a subsidiary of the BCSPCA, often refuses to take baby rabbits,
or takes them and unbeknownst to the public, kills healthy young rabbits in a
back room. Such is the duplicitous face of animal welfare in BC.

Although the Wildlife Act and information sheets on the Ministry of Environment
would lead to believe otherwise, in practice, the Ministry of Environment often
refers people to exterminators if they have a "rabbit problem", a misnomer indeed
and a stance of blaming the victim...instead of dealing with the root societal
causes, or suggesting non-lethal exclusion methods. There are even ministry
numbers you can call to listen to recordings that list the hunters, trappers, and
exterminators in your neck of the woods, should you wish to kill wildlife on your
property. In this day and age, education and promotion of sustainable, humane,
non-lethal methods of rabbit control should be the central focus, not a knee-jerk
redneck attitude towards defenceless animals.

The ministry had a perfect opportunity to correct matters for rabbits and other
animals when amendments to the Wildlife Act (which it enforces) were being
proposed a few years ago. A simple change, taking the domestic European
rabbit off the list of "wildlife" was all that was asked by advocates. This would
have allowed rabbit rescue groups to capture, sterilize, and rehome abandoned
pet rabbits. The current law does not permit adoption (which incurrs significant
longterm costs), and the procedure to establish a sanctuary is onerous and
expensive. Despite the pleas of rabbit advocacy groups there were no changes
to the Wildlife Act with respect to domestic rabbits.

The domestic rabbit is currently, at least on paper, to some extent "protected"

under the Wildlife Act, but the ministry has never brought charges against anyone
for violations of the Act pertaining to rabbits. There have been many instances
when the Wildlife Act could have been applied to help the animals, yet it never
has been. Rabbits in this province have been subjected to terrible cruelties due
to the lack of political will of the responsible institutions and those who neglect
and abandon their former pets. (lWildlife Act:
http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/26_340_82
)

A microcosm of the plight of rabbits province-wide, the battle for the lives of the
rabbits living at the University of Victoria, came to a head in 2010 after decades
of the UVic administration ordering the killing of the campus rabbits on the sly
during study breaks. UVic initially used animal researcher Michelle Martin as
their advisor for the campus rabbits. She of course recommended they be killed.
Then the university commissioned a report from exterminators LGL
Environmental Consultants Ltd., who recommended a nightime shooting spree.
The BCSPCA has twice sided with the administration in advocating killing the
rabbits, and the Ministry of Environment has stood by and recommended legal
methods of killing...kind of like the BCSPCA. Considering the odds, it's amazing
that any rabbits made it off campus alive.

The periodic slaughtering of the abandoned rabbits was combined with the
ongoing use of bromadiolone poison which effects the baby rabbits who can

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access the poison boxes, as well as any other small wild animals and birds, and
any predator who eats them. Bromadiolone is an anticoagulant poison ten times
more lethal than warfarin and know to have serious lethal effects on wildlife in
both primary and secondary poisoning. In 2006 Health Canada's Pest
Management Regulatory Agency issued a new regulation banning the use of this
toxin and many others in outside areas accessible to wildlife ( http://dsp-
psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/H113-12-2006-11E.pdf ). Despite the availability of
non-lethal exclusion and management methods, UVic continues to fund its use,
and has taken no action against those who snare rabbits on campus, nor those
who abandon them either.

A constant public information campaign, protests (including one this Wednesday

organized by a coalition of animal groups), (
http://www.thevictoriavegan.com/foa/files/UVic-Rabbit-March.pdf ), establishment
of sanctuaries, a large spay/neuter grant from Furbearer Defenders (
http://furbearerdefenders.com/blog/july-2010-archives/14-fbd-saves-uvic-rabbits
), the threat of an international boycott of UVic, and ultimately a challenge in the
BC Supreme Court (
http://www.rabbitadvocacy.com/pdf_files/UVic%20Rabbit%20Injunction%20Judg
ment.pdf ) convinced the university to allow the rabbits to go to permitted
sanctuaries, at least for a time.

During this brief period over 800 rabbits were removed from UVic with around
600 rabbits relocated to EARS sanctuaries on Vancouver Island (
www.earthanimalrights.org ), and the remainder to TRACS for UVic Buns (
http://tracs-bc.ca/uvicbun.html) who went to a Gig Harbour, Washington refuge (
http://rabbithaven.org/ ) and the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch in Texas (
http://www.wildroserescueranch.com/index.htm ), and the Rabbitats group - for
eventual placement in Washington ( http://uvicrabbitrescue.com/ ).

Despite information campaigns, petitions and the public outcry against lethal
methods of population control, there were no public policy changes to deal with
the issue on Vancouver Island, where the situation for rabbits is most dire.
Responsible institutions remained inert. Municipalities in the Greater Victoria
Regional District have been notable in their lack of policy development or bylaws
to halt the influx of fertile rabbits into their communities, and by their abdication of
responsibility in this matter. The City of Victoria recently amended their animal
control bylaw but made no changes for rabbits, despite intense public pressure.
(see Jan 21 2011 entry on: http://blog.thevictoriavegan.com/ ) The reality is,
trapping and killing of the rabbits goes on quietly in many municipalities and
districts, and taxpayers' dollars are used to cruelly end the lives of these gentle
creatures out of public view.

Fortunately for rabbits elsewhere in the province, municipal politicians were

taking note of events on the island and in their own communities and progressive
bylaws for rabbits were passing in many municipalities in the lower mainland,
Kelowna and elsewhere. Provincially, Vancouver Island's South Saanich MLA
Lana Popham bandied about a private members bill to stop the sale of fertile
rabbits in pet stores in the province, but it went nowhere, due to lack of political
will. National and international animal welfare groups took an active interest in
the plight of the rabbits, contacting university officials and other community

xv
leaders. The local, national, and international media has focused attention on the
treatment of the campus rabbits by UVic. Alumni and donors withheld their
donations, students threw out their application papers or refused to register,
refusing to continue studying at such an outmoded institution. Support groups for
the rabbits sprung up everywhere. Facebook groups appeared, in many
languages, all with a similar focus.

In the meantime other unnecessary and scientifically outmoded practices result in

cruelties being done to rabbits at UVic, behind closed doors, and under the guise
of "education" and "research." Tens of thousands of rabbits suffer and die every
year in animal research in BC. Among other cruelties, the University of Victoria
uses rabbits and other animals in biowarfare experiments on tularemia. UVic's
professor Francis Nano started this research around 20 years ago after receiving
a $500,000 grant from the US military. He then infected 500 rabbits with the
disease and watching them die slow painful deaths. UVic and other animal
abusers like the University of British Columbia (where over 100,000 animals die
in labs each year) refuse to share research details with the public, despite the
fact they are publicly funded institutions. A vocal group called Stop UBC Animal
Research is making inroads on this issue ( http://stopubcanimalresearch.org/ ).
At UVic, inquiries about animal research are ignored and the interested parties
are referred to the UVic Communications Department.

Rabbit Advocacy of BC reports that the rabbit meat and fur industry in BC and
elsewhere perpetuates tremendous suffering of rabbits and other animals, all
behind closed doors and without regulation (
http://www.rabbitadvocacy.com/no_laws_to_protect_canadian_live.htm ). This
results in horrific fear and pain during slaughter, and inhumane conditions (
http://www.rabbitadvocacy.com/breeding_facility.htm ) in many rabbit meat and
fur farms. Similarly unregulated, the pet rabbit industry (
http://www.rabbitadvocacy.com/rabbit_advocacy_group_of_bc.htm ), often one
and the same as the meat and fur industry, views rabbits as a saleable
commodity not as individuals. As with breeders of other animals, babies with the
"wrong colour" or "wrong features" are often left to die, starved to death, gassed,
or strangled. Life is cheap if you're born a rabbit, in Canada about $4 a pound
($10 a kilo). Slaughter often occurs without loss of consciousness and in horrific
conditions (
http://www.rabbitadvocacy.com/meat_rabbits_and_some_statistics.htm). There
are no plans at any level of government for change in legislation in the near
future.

When sustainable non-lethal humane solutions to rabbit management and animal

experimentation are available, the suffering and killing of these animals is not
only unnecessary, it is morally and ethically unacceptable. With respect to rabbit
management, the Greater Victoria Regional District's municipalities can take
positive progressive action instead of hiring trappers to kill the rabbits. And If
UVic starts to kill rabbits again at the end of February as they have stated, they
will simply be revictimizing the victims, not working towards a solution to what is
clearly a human caused societal issue, not a "rabbit problem". The BCSPCA
and the Ministry of Environment owe a duty of care towards the rabbits and the
community. They must follow their mandate, do everything in their power,
including enforcing their respective Acts, to provide a positive solution to what is

xvi
ultimately a human problem.

If the BCSPCA and the Ministry of Environment do not do their duty to the
animals, this will undoubtably become an issue in the next provincial election.
Provincial politicians have received letters, reports, and press releases on this
matter for many years and yet few have taken an interest in the plight of the
rabbits or other animals impacted by the lack of action of the two provincial
bodies responsible for their welfare (the BCSPCA and the MOE). Both
institutions receive provincial tax dollars, and the BCSPCA receives money from
some municipalites for "animal control" contracts in cities that have not yet
adopted the "no-kill" best-practises model. While animals cannot yet vote, people
who care about them certainly can...and concern for animals is increasingly
becoming a pivotal point in the election of politicians worldwide. Ignore them at
your peril, political and spiritual.

by Roslyn Cassells
founder Action for UVic Rabbits
petitioner for the rabbits in BC Supreme Court

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For the most updated information on the UVic rabbits visit the Action for UVic
Rabbits
facebook:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114989635192281&ref=ts
or join the email update list by sending a request to [email protected]

Roslyn Cassells is a social justice activist and Canada's first elected Green. She
is an ardent animal and human rights activist, and writes, teaches and campaigns
for positive social, economic and ecological change everywhere. @roslyncassells
on Twitter, Action for UVic Rabbits facebook and Roslyn Cassells facebook
Photographs are by Susan Vickery

xviii
 Warborough couple given ban on
keeping rabbits after RSPCA
prosecution

2:34pm Thursday 17th February 2011

A COUPLE who left their rabbit so

hungry it started eating its own hutch
have been sentenced for animal
cruelty.

Gemma and Jason Huntley have been

banned from keeping all breeds of
rabbit for three years by Oxford
magistrates.

The pair were sentenced at the city’s

magistrates’ court after earlier admitting
two counts of causing unnecessary
suffering to an animal.

One of the charges related to failing to

ensure their rabbit, Snowy, received an Admitted charges . . . Gemma and Jason
appropriate diet and the other was for Huntley

failing to provide a suitable environment.

The prosecution was brought by the RSPCA after it received an anonymous tip-
off claiming the rabbit was dying.

An inspector visited the couple’s home in Thame Road, Warborough, on March

31 last year, but found that Snowy had already died.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “An initial post- mortem was carried out and found
that Snowy was in a lean body condition and had no subcutaneous fat.

“Although there was a small amount of paper in her mouth, her stomach and
small intestine, no food was found.

xix
“The couple said that they had been feeding and watering Snowy daily, and that
she had always been thin.”

Speaking after the case, RSPCA inspector Will Rippon said: “It was clear that this
rabbit had not been fed or looked after properly for weeks.

“She was left in a hutch where she had gnawed away at the middle section, and it
was in a filthy condition.

“This couple had walked past the hutch every day, but failed to help Snowy even
though it was clear she was losing weight.

“Sadly we are finding more and more rabbits being neglected, because they are
just left in their hutches in gardens and forgotten.

“No matter what type of animal you own, pet owners have a responsibility to
ensure that all their animals’ welfare needs are met.”

In addition to their ban on keeping rabbits, Gemma, 30, and Jason, 40, were
each given a two-year conditional discharge and told to pay £500 costs between
them.

xx
 Phyllis O'Beollain

• Dayton Small Pets Examiner

Bunny poop earrings by Alora Designs

February 27th, 2011

Looking for that one-of-a kind gift item? Got one of those hard-to-buy-for
friends? Don’t worry - Alora Designs has you covered. Well, they have
something covered. In silver.

Bunny poop earrings

Bunny poop! Yes! As any rabbit fancier can tell you, bunny poops are hard,
odorless balls of well-processed hay, and arguably the ultimate indicator of a
bunny’s digestive health status. As GI stasis is a not-uncommon life-
threatening situation for houserabbits, bunny owners are always happy to see
bunny poops, the markers of our pets’ health.

Now we can wear them

These earrings not only look like little pooh balls, they were made with little
pooh balls. Laura Corbier dries the choicest of ‘recycled hay balls’ and then
applies many coats of Silver Metal Clay (.999 fine silver). After drying and
sanding, the Silver Poops are fired in a kiln at almost 1700 degrees for two
hours. The firing process burns away the pooh, leaving very fine ash inside
the ball. The earrings may then be finished with various patinas, monograms
and other details so that no two pair are alike (see the slideshow).

Sterling silver bunny poop earrings are available on sterling silver wires or
hoops ("Poop Hoops"), with or without crystals, and with various surface
designs and patinas starting at $29.00 a pair. Earrings can be ordered directly
from the artist at her Etsy site, and soon the Colorado HRS will be selling the
earrings in their gift shop.

xxi
Says artist Laura Corbier, “These quirky little gems are the perfect gift for any
bunny slave or a hilarious gift to give that "not so bunny supportive" friend or
family member.” (Now that’s funny!).

Bunny poop earrings (along with many other beautiful bunny and non-bunny-
related items) can be found on Laura’s Etsy site, and photos of works-in-
progress can be found on Alora Designs Facebook page.

xxii
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xxiv
Rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs and other rodents
benefit from dental care.

Rabbits are lagamorphs and they have teeth too!

Cats and dogs can live without teeth. Rabbits cannot live without teeth!

Any rabbit that is ill needs to have the teeth evaluated because many health
issues are secondary to dental problems. In the great majority of rabbits with
dental problems, the "cheek (premolars and molars) teeth" are the primary
problem and the incisors typically grow too long as a secondary problem. It is
critically important to understand that trimming the incisors without addressing
the cheek teeth often results in serious problems for rabbits.

Incisor and cheek tooth malocclusion are common in domestic pet rabbits.
Malocclusions may cause coronal and root (reserve crown) elongation, reserve
crown disease, enamel spurs, spikes or ramps. Oral trauma and periodontal
disease can also occur secondary to malocclusion. Veterinarians often
perform periodic "clipping of the incisors" to address incisor malocclusion. Dr.
Kressin discourages "clipping teeth" because it is an inaccurate, painful and
stressful procedure for the rabbit. Clipping teeth is difficult to control and may
result in tooth fracture which often worsens the malocclusion and may lead
to tooth infection. A more effective approach is to use a dental burr to trim the
teeth. The cheek teeth as well as the incisors must be evaluated and addressed
in each case.

Rabbits have continuously growing (erupting) teeth. It has been estimated that
these teeth grow between 1-5 mm per week. The rate of teeth growth varies
between the different teeth and between individual animals. The caudal cheek
teeth erupt 1 to 2 cm (10 to 20 mm) per month. The upper incisors grow
approximately 2 mm per week which is slower than the lower incisors, which
erupt at rates of 2.4 mm per week. Dental growth can be influenced by age,
health, gender (pregnancy) and nutrition. The balance between tooth eruption

xxv
and tooth attrition (ware) from normal occlusion is thought to be heavily
influenced by correct nutrition.

This creates unique problems for rabbits. Any rabbit that is not eating, is eating
less than normal or is eating the wrong feeds, will develop over-grown teeth.
Rabbits need long stem hay as their primary diet. They like hay and it is very
important to their dental and overall health. Be careful about feeding pellets
and various treats. Commercial pellets are hard and cylinderically shaped.
Crushing pellets is accomplished from a vertical (up and down) chopping
motion. Little additional grinding motion is required to swollow pellets. This
limited grinding activity can result in less tooth attrition and relative tooth
elongation. Hay as the primary diet promotes side to side grinding motion
required to controll dental overgrowth.

Recent research (Comparative Observation of Skeletal-Dental Abnormalities in

Wild, Domestic, and Laboratory Rabbits, Journal of Veterinary Dentistry,
Vol.24, #4, Dec 2007) has shown that domestic pet rabbits tended to have
relatively higher crowns, severe root elongation and advanced periodontitis
(periodontal disease). Periodontal disease was demonstrated radiographically
as reduction of crestal bone height adjacent to the lower third premolar teeth.

Teeth are used to differentiate between rabbits and

rodents.

Front view of rabbit dentition.

Side view; see the lower incisors rest

on the upper "peg teeth" directly
behind
larger upper incisor teeth!

xxvi
Rabbits teeth differ from rodents because of their upper incisor number
and arrangement.
Rabbits have two upper incisors on each side. The smaller two incisors behind
the larger front upper incisors have been called "peg teeth". Rabbits have one
lower incisor on each side.
Rabbits have three upper premolars immediately in front of three upper molar
teeth. The lower jaw is a little different. There are two lower premolars
immediately in front of three lower molar teeth. Normally rabbits have 28
teeth.

Rabbit dental formula for those really interested; 2(I2/1 C0/0 PM3/2 M3/3) =
28

The 2 in the front of the formula indicates the left and right side of the mouth.
The I stands for incisor teeth. Rabbits have 2 on top and one on the bottom jaw.
The C stands for canine teeth which rabbits normally do not have.
The PM are the premolar cheek teeth and 3 are on top and 2 on the lower jaw.
The M are the molar cheek teeth and there are 3 on the top and the bottom jaws.

Diagnosis of dental and occlusal problems

Survey skull radiographs are essential to the evaluation of rabbits for oral and
dental diseases. See below for the use of diagnosis to establish prognosis.

Computed tomography (CT) can be particularly useful to further evaluate teeth

and bony changes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with or without
ultrasound can help assess soft tissue structures of the head.

The rabbit owner's role in dental health of rabbits.

Owners are the first to recognize problems (see below list of signs of dental
disease). It would be very helpful to weigh pet rabbits at least on a weekly
basis. Weight loss should prompt the rabbit owner to seek help from their
family veterinarian. If the rabbit is not eating hay, dropping feed or salivating
excessively seek help from your primary care veterinarian immediately. The
following questions need to be discussed with your veterinarian with regard to
the rabbits diet;

• List all foods your rabbit eats; determine what is eaten most to least.
• What are the brand names of foods (if commercial foods are used)?
• What treats or other supplements are provided to your rabbit?
• How long has your rabbit been on this diet? What was its previous diet?

xxvii
If dental care is needed your veterinarian may either provide occlusal
adjustments or refer you to a specialist. After occlusal adjustments, you will
need to promote early return to eating. Hay must be in the rabbit's diet
to provide normal dental ware. For feeding information go to the House Rabbit
Society website.

Signs of dental disease in rabbits

• Eating poorly or not eating (anorexic)
• Selevtive eating (prefer softer foods)
• Weight loss
• Tooth elongation
• Excess salivation
• Wet chin (slobbers)
• Matted fur
• Nasal discharge
• Eyes bulging
• Eye discharge
• Facial discharge
• Discharge under jaw

What can the veterinarian do for rabbits with dental

disease?
The veterinarian always needs to make a diagnosis, establish treatment plans
and to perform treatments efficiently. This however is not always easy or
inexpensive.

Rabbits have a loose TMJ or "hinge joint. This allows the jaw to move side to
side and front to back, however there is little up and downward motion.
This limits how wide the jaw opens and how well we can see the rabbit's
teeth. The size of the oral cavity is deceptively small because of the extensive
development of the large muscles used for chewing (masseter muscles). The
tongue is relatively flat and short.

Rabbits have a very "long diastema" or space between the incisors and the
cheek teeth. The lower jaw is narrower than the upper jaw (anisognathism).
These anatomic characteristics make it very difficult to view the occlusal
relationships. This forces us to rely on dental radiology, general radiology or
computed tomography (CT scans) to evaluate the occlusion. These imaging
techniques are also used to evaluate for crown elongation, apical elongation,
bone loss and for periapical pathology (dental abscesses).

xxviii
Ongoing care for rabbits with dental disease
As in all aspects of veterinary dentistry, the diagnosis is the first step to
understanding the prognosis. Treatment plans must be established based on the
needs of the rabbit and the owner. We must address pain and the nutritional
needs of these animals. Many of these animals need help with eating initially
however it is very important to get tham back to eating a diet composed of long
stem hay with fresh vegetables. Balanced nutrition with normal chewing can
promote tooth wear needed to offset the continual dental growth. For rabbits
unwilling or unable to eat hay, Herbivore Critical Care Formula (Oxbow Pet
Products, 29012 Mill Rd., Murdock, NE 68407, Tel 1-800-249-0366) can be
very helpful during the transition back to an optimal diet.

Rabbits with dental disease should be periodically evaluated by the family

veterinarian. The frequency required for professional care is based on the
rabbit's oral and dental health. Some rabbits will require very frequent occlusal
adjustments when they are unwilling or unable to eat an optimal diet.

Occlusal adjustments (teeth trimming) and dental care

for rabbits

Rabbits develop periodontal disease, cavities (carious lesions), malocclusions

(abnormal tooth alignmant), oral infections, lacerations as well as tooth and
jaw fractures. Visualization of the cheek teeth and the oral cavity is
challenging in rabbits and essential to provide optimal care. Oral and dental
care for rabbits requires specialized equipment, instrumentation, training, time
and patience.

xxix
This slow speed drill allows for maximal visualization
or the rabbit's oral cavity during occlusal adjustments.

This rabbit has upper incisor teeth curling into the mouth and the left upper
cheek teeth project toward the cheek. This rabbit was unable to eat until
after the incisor teeth were surgically extracted and the cheek teeth were
adjusted for a "functional" grinding occlusion.

xxx
The upper curled incisors are on top and
the "peg teeth" adjacent to the upper
incisor teeth. The lower incisors are on
the bottom and are approximately 3 cm long.

Dental radiograph confirms incisor

extraction.

Lower jaw is on top. Second view of

incisor areas after extraction.

xxxi
Third dental radiograph to demonstrate
incisor extraction (top view).

This is his right side view 1 month after

the incisors were removed.

Front view without incisors.

xxxii
Left side view without incisors.

"Slobbers" or "wet dewlap" and anorexia are common clinical problems in rabbits.

The family veterinarian trimmed this rabbit's

incisors five days prior to this photo without
sedation or anesthesia. The lower jaw was
shifted to the left and the lower incisors occluded
facially (outside of) the upper incisor teeth. The
upper lip was injured and the chin was wet,
inflammed and uncomfortable due to chronic
irritation.

Skull radiographs using mamography film revealed Grade 3 of 4 dental disease (see
grades above). Cheek tooth elongation was evident as demonstrated on dental
radiographs below.

xxxiii
Cheek teeth elongation of all four dental arcades (both sides; upper and lower).

Occlusal adjustments were provided.

xxxiv
The owner reported that Taz was eating
well after occlusal adjustments were
performed.

"Taz" like most rabbits have feed "Taz" must eat hay for long-term health.
preferences. The continual challenge
is to feed a nutritious diet that will
allow normal dental ware!

"Taz" is a rescued wild rabbit that is

loved dearly.

xxxv
"Taz" is playful.

"Taz" is peaceful.

"Taz" is reported to be comfortable!

Caring for rabbits with dental trauma

Dental fractures in rabbits can be incidental or very serious. If tooth fracture

involves pulp exposure, the tooth may become infected and die. The dead tooth
fails to occlude with the corresponding tooth in the opposite arch resulting in

xxxvi
malocclusion.
The treatment for fractured teeth with pulp exposure is vital pulpotomy. The
treatment for dead teeth is extraction. The dead tooth and the occlusal
counterpart tooth are ideally extracted to avoid the development of
malocclusion.

Rabbit incisors surgically extracted.

Upper incisors on top, lower incisors
on bottom.

Rodents include the Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig,

Hamster and Rats

As stated above, teeth evaluation is the basis for the differentiation between
rabbits and rodents. Rodents only have one set of incisor teeth and rabbits have
the "peg teeth" as the second set.

Guinea pigs and chinchillas have continually growing and eruption incisors and
cheek teeth as also occurs in the rabbit. This dentition has been called elodont.

Hamsters, girbils, mice, rats and other small rodents have continually growing
and erupting incisors; however, their cheek teeth are brachyodont. They have a
short crown and a well defined root. These brachyodont teeth do not grow
continually.

xxxvii
Chinchillas: Kirby and his brother eating.

Dental formula for guinea pigs and chinchillas; 2(I2/1 C0/0 PM1/1 M3/3) = 20
The guinea pig and chinchillas have incisors and cheek teeth that continually
grow.

Dental formula for the girbel, hamster, mice and rats is; 2(I2/1 C0/0 PM0/0
M3/3) = 16
The girbel, hamster, mice and rats have continually growing incisors however
the cheek teeth are not continuously growing and are classified as short
(hypsodont) teeth.

Additionally, some hamsters only have 12 teeth as they may have 2 molars (as
opposed to 3) on the top and the bottom dental arches.

Dr. Kressin performing a brief facial evaluation.

xxxviii
As the incisors elongate, they tend to twist.

A speculum is used to get an initial overview.

Rodents have continuously growing teeth. The number of teeth vary between
species of rodents. The diet is fundamental to dental and overall health for
these animals. Continuous growing teeth remain functional as a result of the
normal wear from chewing feeds. Every time a rodent stops eating, reduces
feed intake or becomes anorexic, the teeth may overgrow. The result is a
painful mouth and in some cases the inability to eat. This becomes a life
threatening problem very rapidly. Early presentation of rodents for a dental
evaluation may be life saving.

xxxix
Sammy, a beautiful 9 month Guinea Pig

A routine radiograph to evaluate the occlusion.

xl
A routine radiograph to evaluate for tooth root elongation. Tooth roots appear
normal in the radiograph above.

Chinchilla dropping feed and eating less than normal.

xli
Dental radiograph shows uneven upper Dental radiograph from opposite side
dental arcades due to coronal elongation. consistently demonstrates coronal
Mandibular cheek teeth have unequal length disparity between left and right
coronal height creating a "wave" upper dental arcades. Kirby right view.
appearance. Kirby left lateral view
prior to operative dentistry!

Kirby after operative dentistry.

This was the initial occlusal adjustment
to reduce the "wave" occlusion. One large
spike was removed from lower right second
molar tooth. The teeth require periodic
occlusal adjustment.

Computed tomography (CT scan or Cat scan) was suggestive of mandibular

brachygnathism to the veterinary radiologist. These chinchillas must be fed a
diet that will maximize dental wear and periodic professional occlusal
adjustments will be required.

The owner reported rapid return to normal eating of a diet with long stem hay.
The large spur on the lingual aspect (tongue side) of the lower right second
molar was causing a deep laceration into the palate. This resulted in pain and
discomfort as well as an innefective dental occlusion and abnormal tooth ware.

xlii
Kirby is back to eating hay! Kirby is eating and quite playful.

A comprehensive oral health assessment for rabbits therefore must be

performed under anesthesia. Assessments are made for periodontal disease
(radiographs and probing), tooth irregularities (tooth spikes or waves of the
dental arcades), tooth infection (dental abscesses) soft tissue injuries or for oral
tumors.

The veterinarian may need to provide occlusal adjustments (grinding teeth

down) to imporve the occlusal relationships between the upper and lower dental
arcades (arches). Endodontic (vital pulpotomy) therapy can be used to save
tooth that are fractured and have pulp exposure. Oral surgery may be required
to extract teeth, to treat dental abscesses or to excise oral tumors.

Sedation and general anesthesia for rabbits

Performing dental procedures, such as "teeth trimming" without anesthesia is
often ineffective and can be dangerous for the rabbit and for the operator. Dr.
Kressin discourages this practice. It is stressful at a minimum and can easily
result in injury!

Rabbits can be safely sedated and anesthetized. We prefer not to withold feed
from rabbits in an attempt to avoid bloat. We also do not withold water to
avoid dehydration. It is very important to provide great care with patient
xliii
warming during the anesthesia and during the recovery period.

Balanced anesthesia incorporates analgesia (pain prevention) and allows

minimization of all drugs for smooth anesthesia and patient recovery. We
prefer to premedicate rabbits with ketamine, buprenorphine and midazalam.
Meloxicam, a medication the provides anti-inflammatory effects and pain relief
is also frequently utilized. Regional anesthesia is also preferred when oral
surgery is performed.

Anesthesia induction is by inhalent (Isoflurane or Sevoflurane). We prefer

intubation to protect the airway unless a very short anesthesia period is
anticipated. It is always preferred to minimize the overall anesthesia time
period. For additional information on anesthesia safety see anesthesia
concerns. If you have additional concerns regarding pain management, go to
pain related concerns.

Regional anesthesia for rabbits

Regional anesthesia or nerve blocks are beneficial when performing oral
surgery in rabbits. By blocking the nerve input from the periphery (the teeth
and the oral cavity), the general anesthesia levels can be lowered to increase
anesthesia saftey.
Nerve blocks effectively allow early return to eating and reduces bloating
problems after anesthesia.

Veterinarians are encouraged to study "regional anesthesia" provided by Dr.

Kressin.
Every opportunity to reduce pain in our patients should be implemented when
dental or oral surgery is anticipated.

Diagnosis helps determine the prognosis

Radiographs are fundamental and essential to helping rabbits with dental

problems. Non-screened radiographs provide higher detail and help with the

xliv
diagnosis of the problem(s). I prefer non-screened mamography x-rays taken
from various positions to evaluate rabbits. These radiographs are taken with the
general anesthesia. Using radiographs and by performing a detailed intraoral
exam, the best approach to treatment is established. The stage of disease is
determined which offers a long term prognosis.

Grade 1 stage of disease may involve minor malocclusion of incisors. The

ventral border of the mandible is smooth and of normal bone density. The roots
are of optimal length and appear parallel to adjacent teeth. The occlusal surface
of teeth are smooth and linear on radiographs. The prognosis is good after
occlusal adjustments are made (if needed) and the rabbit is eating an optimal
diet.

Grade 2 stage of disease has early radiographic changes. The ventral border of
the mandible is thin. There may be root elongation and root divergence from
parallel orientation of adjacent teeth. Enlargements of the face or lower jaw
may be palpable and there may also be radiographic evidence of bony growth
(enlargement). Occlusal adjustments may be needed and with the appropriate
diet, the prognosis is good.

Grade 3 stage of disease may be significant enough to be resulting in eating

habits and weight loss. These rabbits may have substantial infectious disease.
Radiographs demonstrate further thinning of the ventral border of the mandible
and less overall bone density. Root elongation may be significant causing pain
and discomfort. There is further deviation from the parrallel arrangement of the
teeth. The bony protrusions (face and mandibles) may be very significant with
marked densities on radiographs. The prognosis is guarded. Bacterial cultures
are indicated in many cases.

Grade 4 is an advanced disease process with obvious clinical signs of poor

health. The ventral mandible has perforation of very thin bone. There is
significant deviation of adjacent cheek teeth from the normal parallel
orientation. The occlusal surfaces appear blurry due to variable cheek teeth
length. Soft tissue abscesses are common. Surgical intervention along with
occlusal adjustments are indicated. Antibiotic coated beads are chosen based
on culture and sensitivity testing to treat the soft tissue infections. Dental
extraction is often indicated. Rabbits do well with one or two cheek teeth
extraxcted however with multiple extractions, occlusal problems are common
requiring periodic 6-12 week occlusal adjustments. The prognosis is guarded to
poor based on the individual case.

Grade 5 is the most severe stage of dental disease. These animals have
moderate to severe weight loss, excessive salivation, eye and or nasal
discharge with chronic pain. Infection of bone (osteomyelitis) and soft tissue is
present. Radiographic evidence of bone destruction is severe. The dental
xlv
arcades align poorly. Fractured and missing teeth are common. Prognosis is
poor to grave.

Radiographs help diagnose jaw (mandibular) and tooth

fractures

This patient suffered from a traumatic injury. The mandibular symphysis was "separated"
or "fractured". The left and right mandibles were mobile and would float independently.
The radiograph below demonstrates the rotated mandible and torn symphyseal tissue.

Paddington was injured and his symphysis was separated.

The symphysis is joint-like and holds the two lower jaws
together. The two lower jaws would move independently.

The symphysis was stabalized and Paddington

was immediately eating.

The radiograph below demonstrates abnormal occlusal alignment.

Occlusal adjustments were indicated and performed. Notice that the ventral aspect of the
mandible (lower) jaw appears smooth and is normal.

xlvi
xlvii
 UK’s first Rabbit Grand ational held in
Harrogate, orth Yorkshire
Monday 31st January 2011

THE Grand National came to North Yorkshire on

Saturday – but there were no jockeys or horses in sight.

Instead, Harrogate played host to altogether smaller

contestants, as crowds gathered for the UK’s first
Rabbit Grand National.

There were thirteen prize bunnies, some flown in

especially from Sweden, which took part in a timed
race based on horse jumping and designed to be rabbit-
friendly.

First away was Jasper, a Blue Dutch, aiming to beat a

world record jump set 13 years ago by Danish cotton-
tail Tosen, who hopped over an amazing one-metre
hurdle.

Jasper cleared the first two jumps, but had four faults at
the third. Owner Emma Lassey said: “I love him
anyway. It’s all about him having fun.”

The event, ultimately won by a rabbit called Cheri, was a new feature of the Burgess
Premier small animal show, which has been held since 1921.

Naomi Chatterley of Burgess said: “Rabbits are natural hoppers of course and because of
their agility, they love it.”

She said the rabbits were trained, and such events should not be tried at home.

xlviii
xlix
 Watership Down author denied special edition request
By Linda Serck
BBC Berkshire reporter

Artist Aldo Galli has spent three years creating paintings for a new illustrated edition

Watership Down author Richard Adams says he is "very disappointed" that his
request for a new illustrated edition has been denied by his UK publisher.

The world-famous children's book set in the Berkshire Downs, on the Hampshire-
Berkshire border, is celebrating its 40th anniversary next year.

US publisher Scribner has commissioned an illustrated edition with new paintings by

artist Aldo Galli.

However UK publisher Penguin has said such an

edition is too expensive.

Watership Down, first published in 1972, is still one

of Penguin's best-selling books of all time with sales
of more than 50 million copies.

Adams, 90, co-operated with Galli on a new set of

paintings for the US anniversary illustrated edition,
due for publication in 2012.

However, Penguin will not be publishing the same Watership Down was published in
edition. 1972

Adams said: "Penguin told us that an illustrated edition for the anniversary would be too
expensive.

"They say a standard 40th anniversary edition will come out in due course, but that it will
not be illustrated."

l
He added: "They are very good illustrations, they ought to be available to the public."

"Devastated"

Italian-born Galli said he has spent the last three years working on this project.

"I will be devastated if we don't succeed in bringing an illustrated edition of Watership

Down to the UK for the 40th anniversary," he said.

"Richard's work deserves to be celebrated and it will

be most disappointing if it is not recognised in his
own country, where the story belongs and was set.

He added: "The place itself has become famous

worldwide thanks to Richard's novel, and yet the UK
seems happy to wait for the Americans to do the job
of producing a special illustrated edition for the 40th
anniversary."
Aldo Galli was born in Italy and is
High print costs part of the Whitchurch Arts forum

Elv Moody, editorial director at Classic Puffin, the children's literature subsidiary of
Penguin, said that new editions of Watership Down will be published next year, but not
an illustrated version.

She said: "We're looking forward to the 40th anniversary of Watership Down and will be
flagging the anniversary with new editions from both Puffin and Penguin in 2012.

"We didn't feel able to publish the colour edition, due to the high print costs of colour
titles, but we're very conscious the project is close to Richard's heart and we're helping to
ensure the Scribner edition will be available here too".

Fans of the book have been able to view Galli's paintings at golf course Sandford Springs,
which is situated at the foot of the Berkshire Downs.

Adams penned Watership Down after telling his children a series of short stories on a
long car journey.

He was born and raised in Wash Common, Berkshire, close to the Berkshire Downs. He
now lives in Whitchurch, Hampshire.

li
 PETA Wins Protection For Rabbits From
Cruel Lab Tests

From PETA:

We are thrilled to announce that after more than 40,000 supporters of PETA and its
affiliates around the world sent e-mails to Unilever (the world’s largest tea maker and the
makers of Lipton Tea and PG tips), urging the company to stop testing tea on animals
and after we met with Unilever representatives, the company agreed to halt all such tests
worldwide. In a message just posted on its website, Unilever states, ”Unilever is
committing to no animal testing for our tea and tea-based beverages, with immediate
effect.”

Thanks to everyone who responded to our online action alert, no more piglets will be
infected with E. coli toxin and have their intestines cut apart while they are still alive, no
more rats will have holes cut into their intestines and be fed tea ingredients through a
tube in their throats, mice won’t be suffocated or have their necks broken, rabbits’ heads
won’t be cut off, and other cruel tests that involved tormenting and killing animals simply
to study the health effects of tea products and ingredients will no longer take place.

,ot one of the experiments that the company conducted was legally required for beverage
makers, and regulators have stated that animal tests are not required to prove a health
claim about a product.

lii
With this victory, the suffering of animals for Lipton and PG tips teas ends. Lipton joins
many other tea and beverage companies—including Stash Tea, Luzianne Tea, Twinings,
Honest Tea, Ocean Spray, Welch’s, POM Wonderful, and Japan-based tea giant ITO
E,—in being cruelty-free.

liii
 Phyllis O'Beollain - Dayton Small Pets Examiner

February is Adopt-A-Rescued-Rabbit Month

• February 10th, 2011 10:24 pm ET

You can help a homeless bunny and open your life to a snuggly bundle of love
during Adopt-A-Rescued-Rabbit Month. Dayton Area Rabbit Network and the
Humane Society of Greater Dayton are celebrating Adopt-A-Rabbit Month in
February by raising awareness about the number of rabbits in need of adoption.
Currently DARN and the Humane Society of Greater Dayton have 17 rabbits in
need of homes.

If you already have a rabbit, consider adopting a friend for him. Two bunnies are
no more work than one, if they are bonded. (Note - bonding two bunnies must be
done properly to avoid territorialism, injury or even death). Bonded bunnies the
same living space, the same food and water dishes and litter box, and will
entertain each other, groom each other, and be reassuring company for each
other when you are not at home.

Please do your research and consider the following before adopting a rabbit,
however:

• Rabbits are intelligent, social creatures that need affection to thrive. They are
wonderful companions if given the chance to interact with their humans. They
belong INDOORS in a family area. Bunnies are prey animals and should not be
kept outdoors. They suffer from extremes of heat and cold, get ticks, fleas and
other parasites, can literally be frightened to death by stray dogs, and be attacked
by raccoons, stray cats and other creatures. Why on earth would you want a pet
and then keep it outside? What is the point of that?
• Rabbits are not actually children’s pets. They have delicate bone structures and
are easily injured (or worse) if handled improperly or dropped. Rabbits do NOT
like to be picked up and most do not really like being held.
• You must have them spayed or neutered. This is critical for their health, for litter
box training, reducing aggression and eliminating territorial spraying of urine.
• Most will chew up everything you own – baseboards, electrical cords, furniture,
shoes, you name it. Bunny-proofing your home is part of living with a house
rabbit, and they HAVE to have plenty of time outside a cage in a safe area every
single day.

liv
8 February, 2011 11:39AM AEDT
Vet wants rabbit vaccine legalised
By Samantha Turnbull

Grafton vet wants Australian Government to

protect pet rabbits

A Clarence Valley veterinarian has called for the

legalisation of a vaccine to protect pet rabbits
against the myxomatosis virus.

Chris Gough, from Riverbank Animal

Hospital, recently euthanased 60 rabbits from the South Grafton Rabbit
Sanctuary infected by myxomatosis.

The sanctuary is a haven for unwanted pet rabbits.

"It was a dreadful time, particularly for the sanctuary owner," said Mr Gough.

"A lot of the rabbits there are from families who had relocated to Queensland and
in Queensland it's illegal to keep rabbits as pets.

"The sad thing is that it's affecting people's much loved family pets too."

Mr Gough, who is originally from the United Kingdom, said a vaccine was
available for pet rabbits in the UK.

"There is actually a really good vaccine we could protect pet rabbits with but it's
not allowed in Australia," he said.

"In the UK it's a routinely done thing for pet rabbits to be vaccinated against it and
it is very effective.

"As far as I'm aware in the UK the use of the vaccine in pet rabbits hasn't then
spread immunity to wild rabbits."

lv
Hello Everybun.

How do you like this for a bumper edition of Bunny

Camp ews then? I don't ever remember us having
so many pages!

Still to come is some bunny art for you, but before

that a vintage article from October 2006 and it is the
story of Joanne Rosenberg's Rabbit Family.

Lots of Love

Cedric.

lvi
Our Rabbit Family
by Joanne Rosenberg
Editor: Laura L. Barnes (HRS)

Three years ago, I knew nothing about rabbits. Over the years we had a
lot of animals including cats, turtles and leopard geckos, and a
tank of angel fish. But after our last cat died at the age of 19, we
decided that there would be "no more pets." My husband had suffered
for years with terrible allergies and we had just bought a winter
home in Scottsdale, AZ. to enjoy riding his motorcycle (we live
north of Boston). We thought that pets would never fit into that
lifestyle.

But after our precious "Tabitha" died and our two sons grew up and
moved out, I started to notice that things were really odd in my
house. It was not only empty but also so clean! No fur on the sofa or
floor, no litter boxes to change, no scratching on the furniture. It
was really depressing!

I got an idea -- what about a rabbit? They were small and cute and
how much trouble could it be? I also could fly him back and forth to
Arizona. Everyone thought I was crazy!

Two weeks later, I dragged my dear husband to the Topsfield Fair. We

located the rabbit barn. With hundreds of rabbits under one roof, I
figured that he would either have the worst asthma attack ever or we
would know that he wasn't allergic. Up and down between the bunnies
we walked and not one wheeze, sneeze or sniffle!

As soon as I got home, I started researching on my computer and

discovered the HRS. It was wonderful. I bought 6 books including the
House Rabbit Handbook. I also discovered the Brambly Hedge Rabbit
Rescue (BHRR) in Scottsdale. They had so many cute bunnies up for
adoption that I knew that was the way to go as far as getting our new
family member. I checked out the time and place for their adoptions
and the first week in Arizona that December we got to hold a bunny
for the first time. The people from BHRR were wonderful and before
you could say "hip-hop," we had "Harley." He is an orange and white
Holland Lop with an attitude. They told us that he was "feisty" but
his personality would be good for adjusting to flying to Boston and
back once a year. And so the learning began!

I would pick him up and he would squirm and leap and kick and when I
put him down he would have an actual temper tantrum right at my feet,
complete with growling and lunging. He was never going to be a cuddly
guy but he loved for us to sit on the floor and pet him. He soon came
when called, was never destructive and litter box trained so easily
that within a few weeks he had the run of the house in Arizona. We
were hopelessly in love. The little guy just worked his way right
into our hearts!

lvii
Soon it was May and time to fly home to Boston. Harley hated to ride
in the car. He would shiver and shake and act like I do on a roller
coaster. I was worried sick but again my friends at BHRR came
through. Erica sent me a lot of info on flying with rabbits. We
bought a special carrier, packed him with a lot of hay and a frozen
water bottle. His carrier fit right under the seat. He munched on
hay and slept and when we got home he came out, did a big binkie and
immediately started checking out his new digs. That's Harley!

The following winter, we adopted Nova. We thought Harley needed a

friend and she was the only female out of about 10 who didn't bite or
growl at him. That bonding thing is sure tough on us Moms. Nova is a
beautiful beige and gray lop mix. She grew fast and we learned the
real meaning to "bunny proofing." She has never suffered any ill
from her misadventures but our house and furniture certainly have.
We have seen her chew right through baby gates (never buy the cheap
ones) and discovered that she had chewed not only the wire protector
but the wire too! I have to make sure she has appropriate chew
things and we use puppy pens and good baby gates to keep her out of
certain areas. My life is back to normal. There are litter boxes and
lots of fur and animal issues to solve.

You would think with all this, I would be happy but we needed one
more bunny to really make it a family so we adopted Naia. She is the
lover of the group. She runs to us like a puppy, sits at my
husband's feet at breakfast and loves to get on the sofa and give
kisses.

These three rabbits fly to Scottsdale every winter and back to Boston
in the summer. Some life! I have the hay they eat in Arizona flown to
Boston because they like it better. We are total bunny slaves. I've
developed great skills with furniture scratch cover-wood filler,
safely gluing carpet fibres back and placing vases. Life is good. We
wouldn't trade our bunnies for anything. With their three totally
different personalities, they have made both of our houses "homes."

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Jackalope Dream watercolour on paper 15" x 11" 2007
by akisha www.nakisha.com
May be available as a print on Etsy.

lix
 Bun of the month
Flippity Flop Lapin

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Millie Bun’s Column

Hello everybun.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this bumper
edition of Bunny Camp News and that if you have any
suggestions for future articles, or if there is
anything that you would like to send us for the next
issue then please don't hesitate.
As I keep saying, if you would like your very own
copy of EITHER of our serials, then why not buy the
book?
Remember, Dandy’s book (our first serial) or the
last one “Where Bunnies Dare” can be purchased by
sending a cheque for £10 to :-
Bunny Books
42 Nidd Approach
Deighton Bar
Wetherby
LS22 7UJ
Lots of love
Millie Bun

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 Problems With
Boogey

Dear Boogey,
Why do all our bunn friends have to leave us?
Love, Hans

P.S. Miss Bea is very frail. I am worried about her

Dear Hans,

I wish I had the answer to this one... I guess we all get old and have to hop over the bridge one
day, but from what I hear, the bridge is amazing!! I know it's sad, but just imagine how awesome it
will be when we're all reunited one day!

-Boogey Enrique Gallagher

Dear Boogie ...

a while back my beloved Seahawks won only ONE football game in the
American Football Championships. Some teams won way more. How can I
cope?

Zoey

Dear Zoey,

After watching our beloved Saints and LSU Tigers... I know how you feel!! There's always next
season!!

-Boogey Enrique Gallagher

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 Dear Boogie,

Every night I have to hop all the way upstairs because that is where the
bedroom is. How can I make the 2-foots move it downstairs to save me
having to take so much unnecessary exercise?
Cedric

Dear Cedric,

Instead of moving the bedroom downstairs, why not have your apes
CARRY you upstairs? Doesn't that just sound divine? I suggest making
your super cayootest face when it's bedtime, and they won't be able to resist!

-Boogey Enrique Gallagher

Dear Boogie,
How can I teach the 2-foots to take proper pictures of me and not
cut the top of my head out of the photo?

Millie

Dear Millie,

You're just going to have to be patient on this one. Apes are really
hard to train while picture taking... Have you SEEN some of my horrific Facebook pictures? Anyway,
I've trained my apes to be better picture takers by posing all nice and pretty, and right when they
press the button, I move... After a while they figure it out. I like them to be ready for anything.

-Boogey Enrique Gallagher

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Now turn to the next page for
our new short story...

lxiv
 andy sat on the top of the story telling hill. His audience looked
at him expectantly. Dandy held up a paw and began to speak.
"My friends" he said "I have another traditional story for you
about how the rabbit met the fox". The audience held their
breath as Dandy began the story of

Rabbit and Fox

One winter Rabbit was going along through the snow when he saw Fox. It was
too late to hide, for Fox had caught Rabbit's scent. "I am Ongwe Ias, the one who
eats you!" barked Fox. "You cannot escape me!"

Rabbit began to run for his life. He ran as fast as he could around trees and
between rocks, making a great circle in the hope that he would lose Fox. But
when he looked back he saw that Fox was gaining on him. "I am Ongwe Ias," Fox
barked again. "You cannot escape."

Rabbit knew that he had to use his wits. He slipped off his moccasins and said,
"Run on ahead of me." The moccasins began to run, leaving tracks in the snow.
Then, using his magic power, Rabbit made himself look like a dead, half-rotten
rabbit and lay down by the trail. When Fox came to the dead rabbit, he did not
even stop to sniff at it. "This meat has gone bad," he said. Then, seeing the
tracks that led on through the snow he took up the chase again and finally caught
up with Rabbit's old moccasins. "Hah," Fox snarled, "this time he has fooled me.
Next time I will eat the meat no matter how rotten it looks." He began to
backtrack. Just as he expected when he came to the place where the dead rabbit
had been, it was gone. There were tracks leading away through the bushes, and
Fox began to follow them.

He hadn't gone far when he came upon an old woman sitting by the trail. In front
of her was a pot, and she was making a stew. "Sit down, grandson," she said.
"Have some of this good stew."
Fox sat down. "Have you seen a rabbit go by?" "Yes," said the old woman,
handing him a beautifully carved wooden bowl filled with hot stew. "I saw a very

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skinny rabbit go by. There was no flesh on his bones, and he looked old and
tough." "I am going to eat that rabbit," said Fox. "Indeed?" said the old woman.
"You will surely do so, for the rabbit looked tired and frightened. He must have
known you were close behind him. Now eat the good stew I have given you." Fox
began to eat and, as he did so, he looked at the old woman. "Why do you wear
those two tall feathers on your head, old woman?" he asked. "These feathers?"
said the old woman. "I wear them to remind me of my son who is a hunter. Look
behind you--here he comes now."
Fox turned to look and, as he did so, the old woman threw off her blankets and
leaped high in the air. She went right over Fox's head and hit him hard with a big
stick that had been hidden under the blankets.

When Fox woke up his head was sore. He looked for the stew pot, but all he
could see was a hollow stump. He looked for the wooden soup bowl, but all he
could find was a folded piece of bark with mud and dirty water in it. All around him
were rabbit tracks. "So, he has fooled me again," Fox said. "It will be the last
time." He jumped up and began to follow the tracks once more. Before he had
gone far he came to a man sitting by the trail. The man held a turtle-shell rattle in
his hand and was dressed as a medicine man. "Have you seen a rabbit go by?"
asked Fox. "Indeed," said the medicine man, "and he looked sick and weak." "I
am going to eat that rabbit," Fox said. "Ah," said the medicine man, "that is why
he looked so afraid. When a great warrior like you decides to catch someone,
surely he cannot escape." Fox was very pleased. "Yes," he said, "I am Ongwe
Ias. No rabbit alive can escape me." "But, Grandson," said the medicine man,
shaking his turtle-shell rattle, "what has happened to your head? You are hurt."
"It is nothing," said the Fox. "A branch fell and struck me." "Grandson," said the
medicine man, "you must let me treat that wound, so that it heals quickly. Rabbit
cannot go far. Come here and sit down." Fox sat down, and the medicine man
came close to him. He opened up his pouch and began to sprinkle something into
the wound. Fox looked closely at the medicine man. "Why are you wearing two
feathers?" he asked. "These two feathers," the medicine man answered, "show
that I have great power. I just have to shake them like this, and an eagle will fly
down. Look, over there! An eagle is flying down now." Fox looked and, as he did

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so, the medicine man leaped high in the air over Fox's head and struck him hard
with his turtle-shell rattle.

When Fox woke up, he was alone in a small clearing. The wound on his head
was full of burrs and thorns, the medicine man was gone, and all around him
were rabbit tracks.
"I will not be fooled again!" Fox snarled. He gave a loud and terrible war cry. "I
am Ongwe Ias," he shouted. "I am Fox!" Ahead of him on the trail, Rabbit heard
Fox's war cry. He was still too tired to run and so he turned himself into an old
dead tree. When Fox came to the tree he stopped. "This tree must be Rabbit," he
said, and he struck at one of the small dead limbs. It broke off and fell to the
ground. "No," said Fox, "I am wrong. This is indeed a tree." He ran on again, until
he realized the tracks he was following were old ones. He had been going in a
circle. "That tree!" he said.

He hurried back to the place where the tree had been. It was gone, but there
were a few drops of blood on the ground where the small limb had fallen. Though
Fox didn't know it, the branch he had struck had been the end of Rabbit's nose,
and ever since then rabbits' noses have been quite short. Leading away into the
bushes were fresh rabbit tracks. "Now I shall catch you!" Fox shouted.

Rabbit was worn out. He had used all his tricks, and still Fox was after him. He
came to a dead tree by the side of the trail. He ran around it four times and then,
with one last great leap, lumped into the middle of some blackberry bushes close
by. Then, holding his breath, he waited.
Fox came to the dead tree and looked at the rabbit tracks all around it. "Hah,"
Fox laughed, "you are trying to trick me again." He bit at the dead tree, and a
piece of rotten wood came away in his mouth. "Hah," Fox said, "you have even
made yourself taste like a dead tree. But I am Ongwe Ias, I am Fox. You cannot
fool me again." Then, coughing and choking, Fox ate the whole tree. From his
hiding place in the blackberry bushes, Rabbit watched and tried not to laugh.
When Fox had finished his meal he went away, still coughing and choking and
not feeling well at all.
After a time, Rabbit came out of his hiding place and went on his way.

lxvii
Dandy fell silent as he surveyed the crowd that had hung on each and
every word of his story. "So you see" he said "We may be small. We
may not be the strongest, but we have always been the cleverest. In
fact, I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but I am in fact the
most handsome talented and modest bun at the rainbow bridge..."

Dandy hopped down the storytelling hill thinking that his storytelling was
done for the day, but as he reached the bottom he found a young bun,
white like himself with red eyes too. The youngster was obviously in
great distress, so Dandy hopped up to him to see what was the matter.
"Oh Dandy" the young bun said I feel so embarrassed as I have red
eyes, "But I've got red eyes!" Dandy exclaimed, and I'm going to tell you
why that is such a bunderful thing".

Why Some Rabbits Have Pink Eyes

A long, long time ago when the world was very new and all the animals were learning why they
were created, the Maker of Animals spoke to the rabbits.

"You must ensure our world continues by helping to feed the eagles and the foxes, for without
them and others of their kind, all life on our world will soon die out. In gratitude, I grant you the
ability to run very fast so many of you will escape. I also grant you many other gifts which will
allow your family to increase. Rabbits will always be!"

One odd-looking little white rabbit with pink eyes spoke up, saying "But Maker, what about me? I
look really different than my brothers and sisters and my eyes are so sensitive I can't bear to go
outside during the daylight. I'm afraid my family will disappoint you and fail in your plans for us."

The Maker gently took up the white rabbit and spoke thus, "Oh, sweet bunny, you have a very
special gift! You are all white to show the rabbits' pure love, kindness, and gentleness to all the
humans in this new world. You and many others of your kind, white or not, will be chosen to live
with fortunate humans who need and appreciate the very special connection between humans
and many of my animals."

"Maker", said the white bunny, "my family will gladly give love to those who
seek it. But still I wonder why my eyes are pink - so different than all these
other rabbits."

The Maker stroked the fur of this oh-so-curious, smart little rabbit, now called
Bunny. "Well, My Own, your kind in particular will be those most blessed of
rabbits who will be able to see their beloved humans through rose-colored
eyes!"

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Bunny Camp is not a large
undertaking. It is all run from a
normal house in a normal street.
However, we do our best to help as
many bunnies as possible given our
very limited resources. Bunny Camp
is situated at:-
at:-
4 Stoney Ridge
Ridge Avenue,
Heaton,
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD9 6PA
England
Tel: (0044) 01274 821665
Email:
[email protected]
Website http://www.bunnycamp.webs.com/

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