Bunnyzine was very kind to include our DIY Hay Box tutorial in this month’s issue! Bunnyzine is a monthly magazine that focuses on all things bunny!
Click on the photo to be taken to their website where you can download the issue for free or choose to make a donation.
Thank you so much to Dustin at Bunnyzine for including Bb in this month’s issue!
Submitted By: Nyima
Sweet and beautiful Dori was surrendered because her first home bought her as a gift for their four year old and quickly realized a rabbit is not a children’s pet! Dori now has a wonderful forever home with Nyima and enjoys cuddles and giving kisses!
Thanks Nyima!
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Want your rabbit to be Bunday Sunday’s featured Bun? E-mail your pics to info@budgetbunny.ca!
Please read our disclaimer under Submissions before sending us your photos!
Did you know that February is Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month?
Unfortunately rabbits are the third most abandoned animal at shelters. Unlike what you may have heard, these animals are not ‘starter’ pets. Rabbits need the attention and commitment of a cat or dog, require several hours of daily free range exercise and do best with a companion of their own kind.
So Why Adopt A Rabbit?
1) Rabbits can be easily litter trained.
2) Rabbits are extremely social and love to interact with you.
3) Rabbits have a life span of approximately 8-10 years.
4) Rabbits are fairly quiet, do not require outside bathroom trips or frequent walks.
5) With some rabbit proofing, rabbits make great and clean house pets!
There Are Many Reasons To Adopt Your Next Pet:
By choosing to adopt you are giving a displaced pet the loving, forever home that it deserves! And not only are you saving the life of that animal but you are freeing up a space so the rescue can take in another.
Prior to being adopted out, most shelters and rescues will have surrendered animals examined by a vet, get them up to date on any necessary vaccines, spay and neuter the animal (when applicable) and treat any health issues. You can be assured that when that furbaby joins your home it is in the best of health. Any animals with chronic health conditions requiring ongoing treatment or medications will have these medical conditions listed in their description so there are no surprises.
The staff and volunteers at your local shelter are there to make sure that you end up with the right pet to suit your needs and lifestyle. They want these animals to be happy in their forever home as much as you do and that means helping you identify what you are looking for in an animal as well as how much space, time and money you have to dedicate to a pet. Most rescues have a screening process to ensure the right animal goes home with the right owner.
Adoption fees typically include a full health check by a qualified veterinarian, spay/neuter, necessary vaccines and any medical treatments required to get that pet back to full health. This fee is minimal when you consider what it would cost for you to have these done yourself at your local vet’s office.
An adoption takes time to process. There are applications to complete and a screening process to undergo before you get to bring home that pet. Unlike buying a pet on a whim this gives you time to really consider if you are serious about sharing your life with a furry friend.
There is nothing like the feeling of knowing that because of you an animal has been given a second chance. And trust me, they will thank you for it every day.
A rabbit is not for everyone. Please make sure to check out our videos including Is A Rabbit The Right Pet For You?
And if you’re not ready to make the commitment but are still passionate about these wonderful animals, please consider making a donation to your local rabbit rescue or shelter. Your contribution could help neuter or spay a rabbit in need, provide food and temporary housing or pay for any required medical treatment.
Submitted By: Doug & Sherry
This beautiful boy was found on the roadside in a small wire cage in the middle of summer with no food and water. A friend found him and Doug and Sherry decided to take him in. They built him a two level rabbit condo with an attached x-pen so that even when Fluffy is caged he has plenty of space to run around! It didn’t take Fluffy long to warm up to his new and safe home! He now loves to play with his toys and run around, is great with his litter box and will hop up to you for a head rub!
Thanks Doug & Sherry!
For more sweet rabbit photos check us out on Facebook!
Want your rabbit to be Bunday Sunday’s featured Bun? E-mail your pics to info@budgetbunny.ca!
Please read our disclaimer under Submissions before sending us your photos!
Submitted By: Victoria
Meet Socks! An adorable bunny who got her name because of her one white paw! Socks can be shy around people she doesn’t know but loves to binky and is incredibly spoiled! She can also be a bit of a trouble maker and loves getting her way! This is Socks favourite way to lounge – completely spread out and super relaxed!
Thanks Victoria!
For more sweet rabbit photos check us out on Facebook!
Want your rabbit to be Bunday Sunday’s featured Bun? E-mail your pics to info@budgetbunny.ca!
Please read our disclaimer under Submissions before sending us your photos!
Question:
Hi Bb!
We were thinking about purchasing a large ball to put our bunny in so that he can run around safely without us having to bunny-proof our home. Are there any dangers with doing this?
Thanks,
M.
Answer:
Hi M,
Thank you for your question! Exercise balls should not be used for rabbits. There are none that are large enough for a rabbit, would not provide adequate ventilation and would force your rabbit to curve it’s spine at an awkward angle. Rabbits also don’t walk or run like small rodents do, they hop, which would make it extremely difficult for them to move around comfortably in a ball. I would suggest bunny proofing an area of your home so your rabbit can move around and stretch it’s legs naturally.
A few weeks ago, Mom and Dad braved a snowstorm to pick up 6 bales of farm fresh timothy hay from Bales4Bunnies! Hay is the most important part of our diet you know and should always be available in unlimited amounts!
When Mom and Dad got home they set to work dividing the hay in to storage containers and sacks. Now it’s taking over our house! There’s hay here…
…and here….
…and lots under here! There are even five more bins tucked under there full of the good stuff! I think we’ll be set for a while!
If you’re in the Peterborough area, you should check out their website:
http://bales4bunnies.webs.com/bales4bunnies-products
My bunnies love their hay and you can’t beat the price!
– The Bb Buns
Submitted By: Laura
This adorable duo is Honey & Ted! Honey is the Harlequin coloured rabbit and Ted is the dark brown bunny! Both are just shy of their second birthdays! Honey was in search of a friend and when Laura brought home Ted from a local rescue he and Honey immediately hit it off! These two love to binky around the living room together and snuggle during their down time!
You can also find Honey and Ted on Instagram at http://instagram.com/honeyandted
Thanks Laura!
For more sweet rabbit photos check us out on Facebook!
Want your rabbit to be Bunday Sunday’s featured Bun? E-mail your pics to info@budgetbunny.ca!
Please read our disclaimer under Submissions before sending us your photos!
Question:
Are rabbits rodents?
R.
Answer:
Hi R!
Rabbits are actually lagomorphs and not rodents. Interestingly enough rabbits were classified as rodents until the early 1900’s and the main difference between the two orders is the shape of their teeth!
The holidays are behind us and life is returning to normal. Many of us find ourselves re-evaluating our goals and priorities at this time of year and making resolutions to better ourselves! But what about our pets?
Here are some great resolutions to implement in to your rabbit’s life!
Diet & Exercise
The holiday season can be an incredibly chaotic time of year and it can be easy to forget some of the most basic essentials our rabbit’s need to maintain a healthy and happy life. Hay and water should always be available in unlimited amounts while pellets should only make up about 5% of your rabbit’s daily diet. The general rule of thumb is approximately 1/4 cup of pellets per every 5lbs of rabbit. You can find more information on a rabbit’s diet here.
Your rabbit should also be getting a minimum of 3 hours of daily free range floor time to stretch their legs, explore and have some fun! Regular
exercise will keep them happy, prevent physical problems like poor muscle tone and weight gain as well as prevent behavioural problems.
Play With Your Pet
Winter is the perfect time to teach a new trick, try clicker training and make some fun and exciting toys for your rabbit. You can get some great ideas from our DIY Toy section here. Spending more quality time with your rabbit will help improve your bond and beat those January blahs!
Weekly Health Checks
When it’s busy this can be an easy one to forget, but a weekly health check is an essential preventative measure to catch health problems early! It’s also a great way to spend some quality time with your rabbit. During lap time give a gentle bunny massage and feel your rabbit’s body head to toe to make sure there aren’t any lumps and bumps you may have missed. This is also a great time to examine eyes, ears, nose and genital area to ensure everything looks fresh and clean. Don’t forget to check those nails and clip as needed.
Weekly weigh-ins are also a key indicator of early health issues. Being prey animals, rabbits can hide their illnesses well and sometimes we don’t catch on until it’s too late. Weight loss is often one of the first signs of illness so weighing your rabbit weekly will give you a base weight to then judge each additional weight off of in the future.
Schedule A Vet Trip
Annual checks aren’t mandatory in North America so this one often gets overlooked. Even if your rabbit appears to be in good health it is always a good idea to schedule an annual wellness check at your rabbit savvy vet. For more on finding the right vet for you click here. Your vet will check things that you may not be able to at home and may notice underlying health problems you have missed. This also keeps your rabbit’s chart updated, making it easier for them to diagnose any health problems or concerns that may pop up in the future. This is especially important if you have senior rabbits (5+ years old) because health problems and age tend to coincide. And if anything it will give you peace of mind that your pet is in perfect condition for it’s age.
Upgrade Your Rabbit’s Housing
The snow is whipping around outside, it’s freezing cold and most of us are hibernating in our homes until Spring arrives! It’s the perfect time for a great indoor project like building your rabbit a new home! Remember your rabbit should be housed in nothing smaller than a pen measuring 12 square feet. They need to be able to comfortably hop at least three times from one end to the other, sit up on their hind legs and periscope around. Additional levels to the enclosure will help keep those back legs nice and strong. If your rabbit’s cage does not meet these requirements then consider building them a new home this winter! To learn more about building your own rabbit condo click here.
Bunny Proofing
This is also a great time to get down on your hands and knees and double check your rabbit’s play area. Make sure any loose cords are tucked away or covered in cord protectors, unused outlets have baby locks on them and that household cleaners or any leftover holiday decorations are up and out of the way. You may be surprised to find that your rabbit went to town on the baseboards behind your couch and that you will need to block that off for future play time or that your bun has been digging a hole in your carpet. Before these cause damage to your rabbit, block them off. You can find more on bunny proofing here.
This 
may also be a good time to inspect your rabbit’s cage for any wear and tear and fix or patch up areas of concern.
Adopt Your Next Rabbit
February is just around the corner which means it’s almost Adopt A Rescued Rabbit month! If you have been considering welcoming a bunny in to your home why not make the resolution to adopt?! Rabbits are the third most abandoned animals in shelters and one of the most neglected and misunderstood pets out there! I promise your rescued rabbit will thank you for it!
Take More Photos!
This is a personal resolution for me! We all want our rabbits to live a long and healthy life and I certainly hope that they do! But the fact is we don’t know how long we will have with our beloved furbabies. Cherish every moment you have with them and capture as many memories as you can. With digital technology it costs us nothing to snap away and some times those candid shots will end up being the ones you treasure most.
Hopefully this gave you some fun and beneficial ideas to better your rabbit’s life and strengthen your bond!
Wishing You All A Healthy And Hoppy 2015!
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