Bonding Bunnies

1. Desex both bunnies

Most bunnies would love a bunny friend, however, finding a perfect partner and bonding rabbits is not as simple as people think.  Rabbits are very territorial and aggressive when another bunny enters their home.  The best bondings are a desexed boy & a desexed girl and best if they pick out their own friend.  Bringing just any bunny home and introducing that bunny to yours will just end up in tears and trip to the vet when one of the bunnies gets hurt.

2. Let your bunny find their own friend

The best thing you can do (if your bun is desexed) is to take your bun along to a shelter for a "bunny date".  Your desexed bun is introduced to a number of desexed buns and they can equally agree who they find the nicest bun to live with.  The best place to do this in Melbourne (assuming you're in Melbourne) is the Australian Animal Protection Society in Keysborough where they have a fabulous bunny adoption program.

3. Bringing home a new bunny
Saying all that above, however, it doesn't mean smooth sailing even if your bunny finds a friend and all seems good at the shelter.  When you get home, it's still your bunny's territory so you need to change all towels, rugs and thoroughly clean out the litter tray (preferably get a new neutral tray that both can claim).  I find it better to re-introduce in the bathtub when you get home (with a towel on the bottom) so you can see how they go when home.  If they seem to be okay, you could put them together in a neutral zone with all neutral things and supervise.  If there's any chasing, humping or aggression, you'll need to keep them separated until they get used to each other.

4.  Introducing your buns safely

A barrier helps when you bring a new bunny into the home.  Swap each bun over into the other's territory so they can smell each other's zone and get used to each other without any close up contact.  Keep swapping them over every day & introduce in a neutral zone for a short time every day until they start to groom each other, snuggle & share food together.  By that stage, the buns are usually very happy together unsupervised.

From Boing Online - a great Melbourne based site for rescue buns. 


**In Sydney I recommend contacting Porsches Small Rescue.

Rupert and Evie need Desperate help!!!

MELB: Rupert and Evie's mum is moving to Queensland for her job- sadly there are no bunnies allowed there (they incur a huge fine and are put to sleep) so she has to leave them behind.


These very loved companions are adorable and follow each other around, Evie is very protective of Rupert and they are such a joy to watch together.


Rupert has some special needs to do with his teeth but just requires an injection each week- his mum is supplying 5 months worth for him. Besides that they are healthy and happy and come desexed and vaccinated.

They need urgent help and can be either adopted or fostered by a caring person who can make them part of the family indoors. Even if you are not in Melb, let us know if you can help.

You can contact me for more info on bunnybooksydney@hotmail.com or Suzanne who is helping rehome them on: she_suz@yahoo.com.au

Porsche's Small Animal Rescue

Belle:

Belle is a calm, cuddly possum. She is a sophisticated blue-grey Chinchilla rabbit in her first years of life. Her previous owners surrendered her to the pound much to our shock as she is the most kindly mannered, sweet hearted girl with so much love to give. Put her on the grass outside and she'll express all her joys with binkies (literal jumps, leaps and flips which express extreme happiness) and will flop out, snuggled into her own fur when she is relaxing inside. She is very clean, litter trained and enjoys playing with her toys- we think shes a smart girl! She will cuddle with you on the couch or in bed and would make a beautiful companion.

Belle would like to find a home with people who can make her part of their family and that can give her daily cuddles and playtime. Can you give this special girl a second chance?

Belle comes desexed, vaccinated and is litter trained and very clean. She enjoys oxbow pellets and fresh oaten hay and fresh vegetables from her foster's garden :)

Leia:

Leia came to the pound as a stray before she came to us. She has really come out of her shell to reveal a rascally but adorable bunny who needs lots of love and affection. Sit with Leia and she'll jump all over you, and sniff around your face, ears and if she can make it up onto your shoulders and onto your back she will! She has lots of energy for a girl whose endured some tough trials. Though curious and seemingly mischievous, she is very well behaved, litter trained and not very fussy. She is happy as long as someone is loving her. She'll give lots of attention to you in return and will amaze you with her funny quirks.

Leia would like to find a home where she is made part of the family and not confined to a small hutch or cage. She'd make a wonderful companion if someone could give her, her turn at a second chance.

Leia is desexed and vaccinated. She is litter trained and very clean too!! 

Contact bunnybooksydney@hotmail.com to enquire about fostering of adopting Leia.

A Hutch is Not Enough

Grant of $1.3 Million to Support the Development of Rabbit Virus for Cancer Treatment

The Health Research Council of New Zealand had provided a $1.3 million grant to support the treatment, being developed by the Southern District Health Board Oncology Research Unit and the University of Otago Medical School.
The research is believed to refine the figures that have marked the Southland with maximum number of bowel cancers and aimed to draft policies to enhance the treatments along with a modified virus that had destroyed the rabbit population.
Chris Jackson, SDHB consultant Medical Oncologist while addressed a meeting of Freemasons and the public at the Southland Masonic Centre, on Tuesday, and notified that during the 1990s, the virus for rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) had decimated the rabbit population in New Zealand, particularly in the regions of Central Otago.
However, the latest treatment involves the mechanism of bioengineering in which the drained shell of the virus called virus-like particles (VLPs) is used to stimulate the body immune system against the cancer.
The involved attaching tumor-associated proteins to the VLP shell like "a tail" to stimulate the cancer immune response in order to target the terrible disease, cancer. "There's room for hope and a lot of room for optimism, but there's a need for a new direction”, he added further.

Sourced from here.

Terence Blacker: Standing up for rabbits' rights

Concern for animals has a slightly unfortunate political pedigree. Hitler was tender-hearted towards pets. Alan Clark, famously sensitive to the plight of animals, was once asked if his concern extended to humans; "Curiously not," was the answer. The BNP likes to boast about its firm line on animal rights. Nick Griffin's party-political fireside chats see him with a cat – strangely of mixed race – curled up on his lap.

Yet I am almost certain that it was not a sudden lurch towards fascism that convinced me that the RSPCA's current campaign was not an entirely ridiculous idea....

Read more, from the Independent. 

Companion Animal Welfare Inquiry – Notice of Motion

(Parliament House)
MS CLOVER MOORE to move—
That this House:
(1) Appoints a select committee to inquire on companion animal welfare with the view to improving their welfare.
(2) That the committee consider the following:

(a) The number and cause of companion animals arriving in NSW shelters and pounds each year and their outcome, such as whether they get re-homed, re-united or euthanized;

(b) Breeding of companion animals;

(c) The practices associated with the sale of companion animals including from pet shops, markets, pounds, shelters, on-line, classifieds, or to the overseas market;

(d) Mandatory desexing including prior to sale;

(e) The effectiveness and enforcement of Department of Primary Industries’ companion animal policies, standards and guidelines;

(f) The effectiveness of the Companion Animals Act and its application by local government;

(g) The effectiveness of micro-chipping;

(h) Treatment of companion animals travelling by airplane;

(i) The impact of pet bans in accommodation including apartments, strata, retirement villages, and rental properties;

(j) The impact of pet bans on public transport;

(k) The existence and effectiveness of education programs on responsible pet ownership, including the importance of desexing;

(l) Data collection by government and non-government agencies to inform and monitor companion animal welfare; and,

(m) Any other matter relevant to improving companion animal welfare.

(3) That the Committee consist of six members as follows:

(a) Ms Clover Moore, who shall be Chair of the committee;

(b) Three shall be from the Government; and,

(c) Two non-government members.

(4) That the members be nominated in writing to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly by the relevant party leaders within seven calendar days of the passing of this resolution.
(5) That at any meeting of the committee four members shall constitute a quorum.

from here.

 

Steve Maxwell has got both rabbits and Pittwater mayor in a stew
RESIDENTS say hunting rabbits with a bow and arrow is an acceptable way to control the “feral pests” on the peninsula.
The community has come out in support of the “bunny slayer”, Steve Maxwell, with at least one resident calling on the experienced hunter to kill rabbits on their property.
Mr Maxwell took the rabbit plague into his own hands, shooting rabbits on private properties in Warriewood with a bow and arrow.
He made a video, titled Bunny Slayer, and posted it on YouTube. The footage included slow-motion replays on rabbits being hit and his children holding weapons and rabbit carcasses.
RELATED NEWS: Rabbit Rambo leads one-man war against bunny plague

read the rest here.

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Adoptable Bunny: Winifred

Small female rabbit, rescued from the pound by Sydney Pet Rescue and Adoption.

Winifred is a stunning angora bunny with soft fluffy fur that will need to be brushed regularly. She is calm, good with people and enjoys being petted. She is looking for a nice new family who can give her daily grooming, pats and love and preferably keep her indoors.

She is currently staying with Clare and Alex in Dulwich Hill.

To enquire about this beauty contact: bunnybooksydney@hotmail.com