NYCMETRO RABBIT NEWS DECEMBER 2015 · The morning presentation by Dr. Micah Kohles was titled, “It’s a Gut Thing: Rabbit Gastrointestinal Anatomy, Physiology and Nutrition.”

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Annual Rabbit Care Conference:A Daylong AdventureIn Learning The 21st annual Rabbit Care Conferencedrew a large crowd of rabbit owners,volunteers and veterinarians. RabbitRescue & Rehab/House Rabbit Society’sdaylong educational event took placeSunday, Nov. 22, at the Radisson Hotelin New Rochelle.

The morning presentation by Dr. MicahKohles was titled, “It’s a Gut Thing:Rabbit Gastrointestinal Anatomy,Physiology and Nutrition.” Dr. Kohles

Precious Stevie, our masthead bunny, was rescued by Long Island Rabbit Rescue from a town shelter in October. It wasn't long before this affectionate Lionhead was adopted. He and adopter Veronica Treadwell are very happy together! Photo and illustration: Mary Ann Maier.

Bunnies in This HomeLive Very Long Lives

Jane O’Wyatt Interviews Lori Yamato

In November 2012, planning to be outof town in March 2013 (this trip had tobe cancelled), Lori Yamato emailed meto inquire whether I would be interestedand available to care for Lucy, Dido,Funny Face and Plain Face, her fourelderly rabbits. Although Lori, her


NYC METRO RABBIT NEWS DECEMBER 2015

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Thaddeus and Mocha Jane.Ph

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Funny Face and Plain Face.

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Goodbye, MochaJane and TadpoleBy Erin McElhinney

Years ago, when I first began volunteeringwith rabbits, I would print out eachissue of Thump and read it cover to cover(I still do!), starting with the Memorialpieces. Breezing past the sadness pennedby people I had not yet come to know, Iwas looking for the early signs. “Whatdid these people miss that I could checkon every day so that my rabbits don’tdie?” I asked myself. I would stare at thepicture of the doomed little bunny andtry to imagine it so full of life as lovinglydescribed by its heartbroken owner, and wonder what the bun really went

UnderstandingYour Rabbit’sDiet andDigestive ProcessPage 4

Erin McElhinneyIs HonoredAs VolunteerOf the MonthPage 13

These GreatBunnies WantTo Find TheirForever HomesPage 16


Dr. Micah Kohles and Mary Cotter.

THUMP DECEMBER2015 2


discussed the high-fiber diet needed for a rabbit’s health, and offered a detaileddescription of rabbits’ unique digestivetract. Dr. Kohles, DVM, MPA, isdirector of veterinary science andoutreach at Oxbow Animal Health inMurdock, Nebraska. He has an adjunctprofessor appointment at the Universityof Nebraska, is a veterinary associate atthe Nebraska Animal Medical Center,and serves as president of the Associationof Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. Dr.Kohles used a series of PowerPoint slides to illustrate his talk, including ananimated video of the GI tract that wasparticularly useful and creative.

An afternoon Q&A session with veteri -narians featured Dr. Kohles, Dr. BeckyCampbell of Symphony VeterinaryCenter, Dr. Anthony Pilny of the Centerfor Avian and Exotic Medicine, Dr.Shachar Malka of the Humane Societyof New York, and Dr. Lauren Thielen ofthe Veterinary Center for Birds andExotics. Among the topics covered weredrooling, arthritis, kidney stones, waterintake, malocclusion, obesity, antibiotics,head tilt, cecotrophs, GI stasis, traveltips, dietary issues for rabbits who don’tlike greens, myxomatosis and care ofolder rabbits. Helping to moderate thesession was Long Island Rabbit RescueGroup volunteer Mary Ann Maier.Mary Ann also helped with temperature-taking and nail-clipping demonstrationsat the end of the afternoon.

There were 94 registrants for theconference, joined by the five veterinarians,and two on-site vendor representatives.

The three conference sponsors wereOxbow Animal Health, Small Pet Selectand Supreme Pet Foods. Additionalsupporters were Catnip & CarrotsVeterinary Hospital, Dakota VeterinaryCenter, the Herbivore Clothing Co.,Organic Hay Co. and Trader Joe’s.

Adventure in Learning(Continued from page 1)

ANNUAL RABBIT CARE CONFERENCE

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Dr. Becky Campbell, Dr. Anthony Pilny and Dr. Shachar Malka, who joined Dr. Micah Kohles and Dr. Lauren Thielenin a Q&A session.

Marcie Frishberg and Jeanine Callace.

Mary Ann Maier. Nancy Schreiber.

Austin Torres, Thea Harting and Elisha Wang.


Some fun highlights of the day were abunny boutique (goodies for bunnies), a silent auction, raffles and goody bags.An optional vegetarian/vegan lunch was available.

Adventure in Learning(Continued from page 2)


Adoptable bunny at the conference. Robert Kulka.

Sandra Lyngdorf.

Nadine Heidinger.

Teija Kajander and Andrew Garrett.

Bag at bunny boutique. Susan Lillo.

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Understanding Your Rabbit’s DietThe conference presentation by Dr.Micah Kohles, “It’s a Gut Thing: RabbitGastrointestinal Anatomy, Physiology andNutrition,” provided vital informationabout the hind gut cecal fermentationand how fiber drives the GI tract.

Transition From ProductionAnimals to PetsDr. Kohles explained that rabbits initiallywere production animals, raised for meator fur, and that many nutritional researcharticles are based on this productionmodel. As rabbits have transitioned fromcage to couch and from barn to bed, wehave had to shift the way we feed them.A “nutritional revolution” over the past25 to 40 years has put more of a focus onrabbit longevity, quality of life and propernutrition. We focus on mental enrichmentand formation of a bond between arabbit and owner, and we are concernedabout environmental enrichment.

Rabbit owners also increasingly seenutrition as a way to prevent the likelihood,or help deal with, physical ailments. Sevenof the top clinical disease categories –gastrointestinal disease (related to fiber,hydration, stress), dental problems, obesity,urinary tract issues, respiratory diseases,dermatologic problems and neoplasia –are all directly or indirectly related tonutrition. In most cases, we cannotcontrol the genetics of the animal, but ascare providers and owners we can directlyaffect and control the animal’s nutrition.

Fiber IntakeRabbits, Guinea pigs and chinchillas,Dr. Kohles said, are herbivores with alarge cecum that is part of the hind gut.The hind gut is made up of the cecumand entire colon/large intestine. In thewild, rabbits are “concentrate selectors,”with their intake driven by nutrient-dense, high-calorie foods with the besttaste. This is a survival mechanism thatallows them to ingest as many calories as

possible, recognizing that predators andother environmental factors affect theamount and quality of nutrients they caningest. Yet, in captivity, these externalstressors do not typically occur, so theseanimals don’t need to rely on selectivefeeding to survive.

Dr. Kohles said rabbits are designed toingest and digest large amounts of plantmaterials, with a gastrointestinal systemthat combines a simple stomach withhindgut cecal fermentation. They have aunique GI physiology that allows themto digest large quantities of fibrous andlow nutritional density materials. A keycomponent of this process is their ability to produce two different types of stools through a process in the largeintestine referred to as a colonicseparation mechanism.

Rabbits’ gut bacterial flora are instrumentalin their ability to ferment complex plantcarbohydrates. The indigestible dietaryfiber stimulates gut motility and is keyto proper GI function.

How Food is Digested:Starting with the oral cavity, Dr. Kohlestalked of rabbits’ rapid lateral chewingmovements – up to 100-120 perminute – to break up and tear apartfiber. They swallow their mucous-covered cecotrophs whole.

The thin-walled stomach makes upabout ~15% of the GI tract. It is a veryacidic environment, yet still containsdiverse microbial flora. However thereis no breakdown of fiber in the stomach,whose role is focused on the digestion of fats, protein and simple carbohydrates.Rabbits cannot vomit and their stomachshould never be empty of ingesta.

The small intestine is only about ~12%of the rabbit’s GI tract. It is importantin digestion and absorption, and it is the location for effective digestion ofcecotrophs. Excessive ingestion ofsimple carbohydrates negatively affectsthe movement of food particles in thesmall intestine, which is a potential issue.

The hind gut is the cecum/colon.Within the large intestine (specificallythe ascending colon) is a unique system(the colonic separation mechanism) thatallows separation of cecotroph and fecal production, and which is uniqueto hind-gut fermenters. The cecotrophsproduced in the cecum contain keynutrients (such as volatile fatty acids,key vitamins, etc.) that the rabbitreingests. Dr. Kohles pointed out thatthe cecum represents ~ 40%-50% of theoverall GI tract and is the largest organin the GI tract. This is where bacterialfermentation takes place, with thebacteria being “the workers” doing this important task. Dr. Kohles alsostressed the key role played by thecolonic separation mechanism that iscontrolled by the fusus coli. The fususcoli is located between the ascending

Dr. Micah Kohles.


and descending colon and it controlsrabbits’ ability to produce two distinctlydifferent types of stool.

In an animated video, Dr. Kohles showedhow the colonic separation mechanismdrives the important separation process.Large particles are separated out asindigestible fiber that is eliminated fromthe system as feces. The small particles,bacteria and mucus are separated andmoved back up into the cecum forfurther fermentation. At a later stage the

Your Rabbit’s Diet(Continued from page 4)

fusus coli stimulates the entire contentsof the cecum to empty rapidly in theform of shiny, small moist clusters ofcecotrophs – containing volatile fattyacids, smaller fiber particles, gut florabacteria, minerals and vitamins – whicha rabbit reingests.

Diet is an important factor in making surethat the digestive process runs properly,Dr. Kohles repeatedly emphasized.Rabbits require a premium high-fiberdiet that includes a diverse selection of

grass hays, a limited amount of high-fiber pellets, controlled amounts of freshleafy greens and multiple sources ofwater. High-fiber uniform pellets providemicronutrients. Treats (small quantity)are useful for the human-animal bond,and a selection of leafy greens is alsoimportant. Dr. Kohles said, however,that each rabbit owner must makeindividual decisions about diet afterconsidering his recommendations.


Small Intestine

Fusus Coli

Colon

Cecum

Large and small particles of ingestamove through small intestine.

Rabbit gastrointestinal tract. © Dr. Micah Kohles/Oxbow Animal Health, 2015. Reproduced with permission.


through at the end. Even as a newvolunteer, I knew enough to understandthat some reading between the lines wasneeded. There are certain things thatcannot be put into words, and a rabbit’sdeath is one of them.

This summer, on June 8, I lost mybeloved Thaddeus Joseph (aka Tadpole),and just a few months later, on Oct. 15,he was joined by his loving bun wife,Mocha Jane. They were both 12-13years old.

I could go on and talk about how muchthe two of them lit up my life and bitup my arms (well, that was all Mocha –Thaddeus was way too sweet to bite!)but I have written about them numeroustimes in Thump over the years and Ihave told anyone who would listen howmuch I loved these two and how muchthese two loved each other. Their bodieswere touching at all times; they wouldeven hop over to me together for treats,bunny shoulder to bunny shoulder.They slept on top of each other in pilesso that you could not tell where onebody ended and another began. WhenThaddeus passed away unexpectedlyfrom lung cancer, Mocha Jane slept inthe spot where he died for the nextseveral nights. And for anyone skimmingthrough this article as I used to, to find out what the signs were, what youshould look for in your own rabbit, the signs were all there for me.

On the morning of June 8, I hoppedinto the puppy pen that Thaddeus andMJ were living in and I rubbed MJ’scheeks. I gave Thaddeus his Metacamand bopped him on the head. He barelymoved. He’d barely moved in weeks. Hehad severe arthritis, and I had an X-rayto prove it. I thought his lethargy was acombination of my crappy A/C, themedicine for his pain and inflammation,and his arthritic condition. I bopped himon the head and went into my office.My dog walker called me around 2:30when he peeked in at the buns and sawmy sweet harlequin caterpillar, flat on

Goodbye (Continued from page 1)

his side and stiff as a board. The necropsyrevealed that he had lung cancer andthat his lethargy was probably becausebreathing had become difficult due tothe cancer. In my worst moments, Iblame myself completely for not catchingthis, but I realize that I did everything Icould and the only thing I’d change wasthe bop on his head. It should have beena hug and a kiss.

As devastated as I was to lose him, I wasalso worried about what it would do to my Mocha Jane, whose E. cuniculiwas getting worse. She was practicallyparalyzed and could not use her haunches.I bought medical-grade faux sheepskinblankets and throws, and made sure shehad nothing less soft than a fluffy cloudunderneath her at all times. Despite myconcerns that she might die withoutThaddeus there to groom her and loveher at all times, for a brief period shethrived. I thought we just might beatthis thing, as she began hopping with herhind legs again. MJ was rather famousfor getting to the brink of death withstasis and various ailments throughoutthe years (she also suffered from chronicPasteurella), and then bouncing backtwice as strong. This time it was notmeant to be, however.

Mocha Jane still had some fight left inher – she had it in her until the momentshe died – but her body was falling apart and all the medicine in the worldcouldn’t heal her anymore. While I wasrobbed of the opportunity to say goodbyeto Tadpole, my goodbye to Mocha Janehung over us both like a gloomy cloud.I had a week to say goodbye to her beforeshe was euthanized. It was worse thanlosing her suddenly. I tried to fill eachmoment with as much love and affectionand kale and bananas as possible, andshe continued to bite me in irritation ifI held on to her too long or a little tootight. On the last night, I bathed her –praying for a miracle, a sign of some sortso that I could cancel her appointmentand we could go back to normal – and Igot one. She was too tired and weak toeven bite me as I blow-dried her afterher bath. This was not the Mocha Jane I knew and loved. Her fighting spiritwas still in there – I could see from herangry eyes that she wanted to bite me –but she was simply too tired to followthrough on it.

The grief still hits in waves and almostknocks me down sometimes. And it’s alonely grief, as most of us know. When Itried to tell various non-rabbit friendsand family about Thaddeus’ passing, Iwas met with reactions such as “whichone was he again?” and pleas to “notreplace him with another one.” I told noone about Mocha Jane’s passing for acouple of days. I was in a daze, and eventhough it was over a month ago, I stilllook to where her puppy pen was andexpect to see her.

The other day I took a green apple homefrom work and thought that I wouldgive it to MJ and Tads – green appleswere their favorite – and I even got asfar as getting the knife out to slice itbefore I remembered that they were bothgone. I sliced it up and divided its piecesamong my fosters and my remainingbonded trio. I gave them all a kiss forgood measure, too, because no matterhow many warning signs are there oraren’t there, you can really never know.

Mocha Jane.

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Mocha Jane and Thaddeus.



husband, David, and her warren lived inDitmas Park, Brooklyn (I live inManhattan), I was won over immediatelyby Lori’s devotion to her rabbits and hercommitment to giving them the bestpossible care. Lori rarely left town becauseof her bunnies’ advanced ages, so shewas hardly a steady bunny-sitting client.Instead, Lori became an epistolary friendfor over two years before I finally tookthe Q train to Brooklyn to meet her andher beloved rabbits: solitary, misanthropicDido, 14, and Funny Face and PlainFace, a somnolent 13-year-old sister-and-brother pair. (Lucy, mother of FunnyFace and Plain Face, had died in February2013 at the age of 13). Dido and theFaces were all thriving (if the term canbe used for geriatric bunnies) in Lori’speaceful, rabbit-focused apartment whenI took care of them during the firstweekend of May 2015.

Scheduled to take care of the threebunnies Oct. 16 and 17, I visited onOct. 12 for an update. Plain Face, as in May, seemed sturdy, if sleepy, but Funny Face could no longer walk, soLori demonstrated how she assisted her (see the interview below for a detaileddescription). Dido, who had just turned15, was very frail but still responsive,

Very Long Lives(Continued from page 1)

eating and drinking – with Lori’s help.Dido tooth-purred when I scritched herforehead, and afterward I couldn’t stopthinking of ways to care for her. On themorning of the 16th, however, I got anemail from David: “I wanted to let youknow before you got here that Didopassed away at about 2 a.m. It was verysad, but I was with her and she wentrelatively peacefully.”

Lori, who at one time lived with 10rabbits, now has just two long-livedbunnies in her care, Funny Face andPlain Face. In the following interview,Lori tells the story of the Faces and their family.

Jane: Since rabbits are not known forlongevity, I am very impressed that somany of your bunnies have lived to oldage. How do you account for this?

Lori: I think pure, lucky genetics cannotbe overestimated. I’ve certainly had myshare of rabbits who died far too young,and they had the exact same care andhome environment that my geriatricbunnies have had. When I look back ontheir medical records, Lucy, Dido, PlainFace and Funny Face have had theirshare of the usual bunny problems (boutsof stasis, arthritis, cataracts, small abscesses,ear infections in lop-eared Lucy) – andsome peculiar ones (an odontogenictumor in Plain Face’s cheek, mysterious

neurological episodes in Funny Face) –but so far, we’ve been fortunate not tohave any of the intractable cancers orother disease processes that often strikein senior rabbits. In the case of Lucy and Dido, this is almost unbelievablyfortunate – as babies, they were fed an“all-purpose” antibiotic at a pet store(for a lesion on Lucy’s eyebrow and aneye infection in Lucy’s partner Tristan). I suspect that this early (mis)treatmentcontributed heartily to Tristan’s persistentstomach problems – he lived to 7½, butwas on daily cisapride and very limitedpellets and greens for most of his littlelife...and still had practically bi-monthlyepisodes of stasis – but Dido and Lucy somehow managed to emergelargely unscathed.

We’ve also had phenomenal vet care. Dr.Rebecca Campbell (as well as the rest ofher team) has been great with the rabbits,of course, but she has gone above andbeyond in her generous sharing ofknowledge about these guys. I have nobackground in science or medicine tospeak of, and yet she has consistentlybeen willing to teach me more “advanced”bunny-care techniques and has trustedme to make judgments about medicatingrabbits before taking them in to see her.Given that we live a considerable distancefrom Symphony Vet (about an hour bycar service), I think being given the toolsand confidence to act quickly has made atremendous difference in their longevity.In general, she has been very understandingabout how traumatic the car ride is foreveryone (Lucy used to get so car sick!)and has bent over backwards to consultby phone and email.

The third factor is that my husband andI are academics and can be home a lotmore (and at odder hours) than mostpeople. That has made it possible tocatch issues that crop up very early –and as we all know, catching thingsbefore they snowball makes a tremendousdifference in health outcomes in ourrabbits. Three of the rabbits that havemade it into very old age have had real

Dido, May 2015. Funny Face, top, and Plain Face, Nov. 2015.

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mobility problems late in life, and Isuspect that the fact that we could behome so much to stand them up, keepthem relatively clean and dry, massagelimbs, adjust feeding and medicationschedules as needed, and generally relieveboredom has made a huge difference.Lucy began having mobility issues inlate 2010 and was pretty much fully“down” by early 2011...and she liveduntil February 2013 (at approximately12.5 years old), pretty happily, as best Ican tell. But I don’t think that wouldhave been possible without the flexibilityof our work schedules. (I’m a littleambivalent about this, by the way. I’mconvinced that Dido, who died at age15, only allowed herself to let go onceher (over?)attentive mom had been forcedto leave on a trip. I know she was contentenough toward the end – aware of andinterested in the world around her,always eager for affection and treats –and I’m grateful that she died on herown terms, but I also think she hung on as long as she did for me.)

On top of that, I’d say that my rabbitsare some of the most obstinate creaturesthat have ever lived, which seems tohave a clearly observable correlationwith longevity!

Jane: I agree with you about Dr.Campbell’s excellence and your survivingbunnies’ obstinacy. Yet I also believethat your unusually refined attunementto rabbits, accompanied by scrupulouscompliance with Dr. Campbell’sinstructions over the years, is largelyresponsible for the fact that Funny Faceand Plain Face, your bonded 14-year-old sibling pair, are still living. Can youtell Thump readers the Faces’ story?Why did you name them Funny Faceand Plain Face?

Lori: The Faces were two babies from anaccidental litter. Like many of us, Ididn’t know how to pick a vet early inmy life with rabbits. The vet I was seeingat the time (not at Symphony) insisted


that Tristan was a female – he was sosure, in fact, that he called in a mass ofveterinary students to show them “model”female anatomy. (I had done my ownclumsy sexing of Tristan when I broughthim home and thought I saw malegenitalia – and had given him a malename accordingly – but I was certainlyready to believe a vet’s opinion over myown tentative perusal of Tristan’s under -carriage.) Fast forward three months,about a week before I figured the “three”girls were old enough to be spayed, andI came home to find a terrifying pile offur and streaks of blood by the refrigerator.I quickly examined Lucy and was puzzledto find no obvious injuries. I started tosweep up the hair...and noticed that itwas moving.

Despite tremendous help from MaryCotter, whom I called in a panic, andinformation that I acquired the first timeI attended the annual bunny conference,that first litter of six sweet babies diedabout a week later, sadly. But it turnedout that Lucy had become pregnantagain – and it must have happened the night she gave birth, since I hadimmediately separated Tristan fromDido and Lucy! Lucy had her secondlitter of three boys and three girls –originally named Dot, Mark, Moustache,Half-Moustache, Funny Face, and Plain Face – about a month later.

I fully intended to find homes for thebabies, since I couldn’t really imagineliving with 10 rabbits (in addition toDido, Lucy, Tristan and the babies, Ialso had Anna, who fought valiantly butdied tragically young from E. cuniculi-related seizures), so I deliberately

designated them according to their facialmarkings, on the theory I wouldn’t get asattached. (Plain Face and Funny Facearen’t terribly accurate or descriptive, butthey did distinguish them from theirsiblings.) One of them, Dot (renamedTarzanello), was claimed immediately bya wonderful woman, and he lived to beat least 11 (he may even still be outthere); Dr. Campbell helped find homesfor the other three when they were abouttwo and a half. (They died considerablyyounger, but had wonderful lives withtheir people.)

Tristan and Lucy, parents of Funny Face and Plain Face.

Funny Face and Plain Face with their siblings.

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The last little pair stayed with me – andby the time it became clear that theywere permanently mine, their originallymakeshift names were thoroughly theirown. Recently, I noticed that picking up meds for “Funny Face Yamato” atmy local pharmacy was causing someconsternation among the staff: Only

My rabbits are some of the most obstinate creaturesthat have ever lived, whichseems to have a clearlyobservable correlation with longevity!’

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after further consideration did I realizethat the pharmacists must have thoughtthat I had named my (human) childFunny Face.

Jane: Did the fact that the six babies in the accidental litter had roughlydescriptive working titles make it easier for you to give four of them upfor adoption?

Lori: I don’t know if the “descriptiveworking titles” (I like your term!) helpedall that much; description shades intoterm of endearment, into a name likeany other so easily and quickly. I wasfortunate enough to be the only child ofindulgent parents with a soft spot foranimals, so they helped me out with vetbills and incidental expenses, and I wasable to take all the time we needed to bevery, very picky about where the babieswere placed. (I’m sure my horror storiesabout grossly inappropriate potentialadopters are very much in line withthose RRR/HRS deals with all time!)

Jane: Where did your bunny Annacome from? Was she in residence beforethe arrival of Lucy, Dido and Tristan?

Lori: Anna was my second rabbit, after avery sweet little dwarf bunny namedIsolde who probably died from E. cuniculicomplications before she was a year old.(Tristan reminded me of Isolde, and hisname was a tribute to her – plus a punon the fact that his eyes were drippy andit seemed like he was crying, sad, tristis.)Anna came to me from the BrooklynAnimal Resource Coalition, where she wasthe lone rabbit in the cat room. She hadbeen found as a baby in an abandonedlot in Flushing, apparently, and hadeluded her rescuers for months. The manin charge of the cat room had reallytried to work with her whenever hefound a spare moment, but she was stillpretty feral when I met her. That, plusthe fact that she had heterochromaticeyes (one brown, one a pale, milky blue),made her seem pretty unadoptable, Iunderstand. But she was easily the


smartest rabbit I’ve ever encountered,and she decided that I was okay once itbecame clear to her that she could callmost of the shots in our relationship.She was the bunny most responsible forteaching me how to be a responsiblerabbit person.

At the time, I was single and workinglong hours, so I was starting to thinkabout finding Anna a companion whenI met Dido, Lucy and Tristan. (I hadfully intended to adopt from a shelteragain...but was in a susceptible statewhen I saw how miserable those threepet-store bunnies were. On each of thethree successive days I visited themwhile trying to talk myself out of buyingthem, they also had the funniest habit oflining up in an extremely orderly row atthe very front of their tiny cage, sittingvery still, and staring at me for as long asI stood there. Lucy was a big, black lop;Tristan was a tiny Hotot dwarf, andDido was a very traditional – thoughstunningly lovely! – rabbit. I knew I was rewarding the pet store for badbehavior, but these three rabbits werepretty irresistible.)

After a period of quarantine for the newbunnies, they were a pretty happy quartetfor months – until the babies were born,actually, and Lucy started attacking Dido.After everyone was spayed/neutered, I (stupidly) corralled eight bunnies(everyone but Dido, who lived in mybedroom) together in half of my livingroom – the period we now call the PaxLeporum. It held for a surprisingly longtime – until it exploded spectacularly onemorning, leading to the balkanization of

Anna was was easily thesmartest rabbit I’ve everencountered. She was thebunny most responsible forteaching me how to be aresponsible rabbit person.’

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Dido, 2003.

an already quite small apartment. It was amply clear that this was not a goodsituation, so I was forced to be practicalabout needing to find homes for Lucy’s litter.

Jane: Had Funny Face and Plain Facepaired up during the time their othersiblings were still living with you? Orwere the babies bonded en massebefore the big explosion?

Lori: They lounged around in variouscombinations when they were all in oneplace. I think I probably thought thatthe groupings of the babies I made(Plain Face and Funny Face, Moustacheand Half-Moustache, Mark on her own;Dot had long since been with his newfamily) were the product of rigorousobservation of who hung out withwhom most frequently. But I suspect itwas as much a product of parallel namesand markings as anything else. Luckilythe two pairs really did work out.

Jane: You once said that when PlainFace and Funny Face were young, theywere “escape artists,” and you also saidthat they were not particularly friendlyto humans. How else would youcharacterize their personalities andbehavior? Have you seen any age-related changes in their personalities?

Lori: They’ve certainly become moreand more tolerant of me as the yearshave gone by. (It has always been a littlestrange to me that they’ve been fairlyaloof toward humans – I’ve been at theirsides all of their lives and I may even

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have “restarted” Plain Face as a newborn!He was the biggest baby of the litter andwas terrifyingly still when he was born. I picked him up, figured I had nothingto lose, and tried blowing the tiniestbreath into his nose and mouth, which– amazingly – worked.) Funny Face ismy thoughtful, skeptical rabbit. I thinkyou’d agree, Jane, that there is still clearlya lot of bunny brain activity behindthose eyes. Although she has never beenterribly affectionate toward me (and canbe very stubborn), I feel as if I understandFunny Face’s bunny logic. Plain Face isthe sweeter and gentler of the two (he’dnever dream of pretending a retaliatorynip while taking treats from my fingerswas an accident; she regularly does). Butas you so beautifully put it: it seems thatwe don’t quite speak the same dialect.It’s clearly relevant that he doesn’t havethe same level of incentive to makehimself intelligible to me since he has noneed for me to intervene in his dailybunny tasks. I guess I’d say that they’vealways been fairly cool-tempered, neverbig cuddlers – even with each other, nevermind me. I think they’re tremendouslycharming and get more interesting andcomplex by the day, but they’re notnecessarily easy to know.

Jane: When did the Faces developcataracts?

Lori: Plain Face started developingcataracts at about eight or nine, maybeeven a little earlier. They matured quitequickly, and about a year ago, the leftone fragmented. You can still see thesediment in the bottom of the eye, whichshifts with his position. It doesn’t seemto bother him at all. Funny Face remainedfully sighted the longest of my rabbits –her eyes started failing noticeably onlyabout a couple of years ago. And hercataracts have never been as opaque ashis; I suspect she still has some sight.She certainly acts like it.


Jane: When did arthritis become aproblem for Funny Face?

Lori: Funny Face was noticeably splayedin her front legs by the time she was 11or so. Her back legs started decliningabout a year and a half ago. They declinedslowly for a long time, and then suddenlyquickly. Last winter she was still venturingout of the pen on her own; by thespring she could only hop across theliving room with my hand under herchest and my forearm steadying herright hip; by May she was largely unableto get up on her own.

Jane: Are the Faces both hard of hearing?

Lori: Selectively! We think so, but it’shard to know whether they’re simply toounimpressed to respond.

Jane: When did Plain Face and FunnyFace begin to sleep most of the time?

Lori: Plain Face has always let FunnyFace do the lioness’ share of guarding.He has been pretty sleepy for at least fiveyears. She, I think, has only been sleepingmore out of boredom, since she hasn’tbeen able to hop around on her own.And she’s a far lighter sleeper than he is.

We have a (disorganized) photo seriesgoing, featuring strange places/positionsPlain Face falls asleep. I’ve seen him fallasleep with his head on the edge of thewater bowl; I’ve seen him fall asleep onall fours and tumble onto his sidewithout waking up.

Jane: In your most recent Faces careinstructions you wrote: “Plain Face isdoing really well…Funny Face nolonger walks, but she does stand up toeat and drink – with assistance. Herfront and back feet tend to slide outfrom under her, so I play Bunny Twisterwith all my limbs to help keep herupright. Once upright, she’s actuallypretty good and seems to enjoy beingupright…She also needs to be stood upto urinate. Her pee schedule is abit...capricious, so it may or may notwork.” When I was taking care of yourbunnies, I noticed that Funny Face,standing up with help in order to eat,drink and pee, does put weight on herfeet – I saw her walk into the pelletbowl – so she is getting a mild form ofexercise. And peeing in a standingposition, outside the litter box, decreasesthe likelihood of urine scald so oftenseen in rabbits with mobility problems.How did you arrive at this method ofstanding Funny Face up to pee?

Lori: Pure necessity – and maybe a littleaerial silks/Pilates training! I keep thinkingthat there’s probably a more effectiveand efficient (and certainly more elegant)way to prop her up, but I’ve now gottenin the habit of bracing her back legswith my heels and giving her front feettraction on top of my toes, while sheleans her left hip lightly on my left calf,and I support her chest with my righthand. This still leaves my left hand freeto apply topical skin treatments, syringemedication into her mouth, or massageher. You’re right, though. She does putweight into her limbs, and she reallyenjoys being upright.

Once she’s done with whatever bunnybusiness she was attending to, she’ll juststand there and purr while I support her

‘I’ve seen [Plain Face] fallasleep with his head on theedge of the water bowl; I’veseen him fall asleep on allfours and tumble onto hisside without waking up.’

‘

Plain Face asleep next to his water bowl.

Photo: Lori Y

amato



and rub her back. She can even sit backon her hind feet and do a modified faceand ear wash, provided her back feet areproperly aligned and I’m supporting herbutt. (Like so many special-needs bunnies,too, she’s a real paralympian when shewants to be.) She used to like assistedwalking (though she never liked using asling – even the very beautiful oneAbigail Aldridge made for Lucy), butshe’s too unsteady now to manage morethan a lurching step or two. Again, we’relucky that we can be home so much. Wecan do extended standing sessions atleast four or five times a day on most days.


I am perhaps hubristicenough to imagine that Iknow my rabbits and candivine the presence andstrength of a will to live, butI also know that I only seewhat they want during thewindows of time that I’mphysically there, touchingthe bunny, looking into hereyes, observing the way sheresponds to me. Even with a lot of work flexibility, I can’tbe around all of the time.’

‘

Jane: It has been said that the primaryjustification for advanced comfort/palliative care, as opposed to euthanasia,is a rabbit’s continuing ability to giveand receive love. (Sounds simple,doesn’t it?) Also, the bunny’s acceptanceof care. Your thoughts?

Lori: I think that palliative care, evenextensive palliative care, is the way to goas long as the bunny is still responsive andaffectionate. But the “continuing ability

to give and receive love” is simultaneouslya simple and an incredibly elusive target.I’ve been thinking about this for years,but haven’t quite gotten the formulationright: I think my small misgivings haveto do with my inability to get my mindaround the whole shape of a bunny’sexistence. I am perhaps hubristic enoughto imagine that I know my rabbits andcan divine the presence and strength ofa will to live, but I also know that I onlysee what they want during the windowsof time that I’m physically there, touchingthe bunny, looking into her eyes,observing the way she responds to me.Even with a lot of work flexibility, I can’tbe around all of the time.

Dido and Lucy (I’m thinking of mysingle bunnies now – I’m less, or at leastdifferently, concerned about Funny Facesince she has a partner bunny) werecertainly cheerful partners in their care

Funny Face and Plain Face, May 2015.

Photo: Ja

ne O

’Wya

tt

and demonstratively happy to spendtime with me, but my biggest anxietywith my old, single rabbits was whetherthe bunny was comfortable enoughduring the hours spent alone (and, let’sface it, bereft of goodly portion ofsensory input to mitigate boredom andstave off discomfort). It was always astruggle to imagine – and yet not tocatastrophize through overthinking it –what that time alone meant.

Here’s what I think I know and don’tknow: Lucy was such an ornery littlewarrior that she welcomed a fight to theend; I’m not so sure about Dido. I’m leftwith the mild uneasiness that she stuckaround as long as she did for my sakerather than her own (to the extent thatone can make a real distinction). I don'tregret my choices in either case, anymore than I regret the decision to have


Anna euthanized when a series ofseizures left only a frightened, barelyaware shell of my brave girl. For whatit’s worth, I think all we can do is try tobe as unselfish as we can and to try togive each bunny the best opportunitypossible to die on her own terms.


I want to be clear that every minutespent cuddling with my hospice bunniesand hearing them purr has been preciousto me; I’m deeply grateful and profoundlychanged for having had the experienceof caring for my two very elderly girlstowards and in extremis. But I’ll admitthat every day, especially with Dido,required a more and more complicatedand equivocal reckoning. I’ll also behonest that what kept tipping the balancein favor of keeping Dido at home was apurely practical consideration (ratherthan anything remotely philosophical):the stress and pain the long final car rideto the vet would have entailed for her,despite all of the preparations that Dr.

Rabbits are so small, stoicand subtle (and even moredifficult to read in their oldage, with their cloudy eyesand more sedentary habits)that it’s difficult to articulate tomost people how courageouslyrabbits endure discomfort,or with what fortitude ofspirit and bunny humor theysuffer the indignities ofaging, or – generally – howmuch they continue to learnabout and respond to theworld around them.’

‘

Campbell helped me make in the eventthat such a trip became necessary. I can’tsay for certain that the calculus wouldhave been the same if we lived closer to Symphony.

Jane: I can’t thank you enough fortaking time to answer my questions sothoughtfully, eloquently and amusingly!Is there anything else that you wouldlike to say?

Lori: I’m sure I could dredge up numerousstories about the Faces or talk abouthow having such a long time with themhas taught me to be more patient andcalmer in the face of minor calamities.But would it be appropriate to thanksome people who have been especiallysupportive of the aging Yamato bunnypopulation that I haven’t mentionedelsewhere in the course of this conversation?To my surprise, I’ve discovered that it’stremendously meaningful to me to havepeople who are “witnesses” to thesebunnies in their old age. Rabbits are sosmall, stoic and subtle (and even moredifficult to read in their old age, withtheir cloudy eyes and more sedentaryhabits) that it’s difficult to articulate tomost people how courageously rabbitsendure discomfort, or with what fortitudeof spirit and bunny humor they sufferthe indignities of aging, or – generally –how much they continue to learn aboutand respond to the world around them.A few people have been unfailinglygenerous in diving into the often very,very messy (and not infrequently smelly)business of helping out with my creatures.Marcie Frishberg has been a font ofpractical advice and was so gentle withFunny Face while giving her the firsttwo of her butt baths. She also took thetime to teach us how to give a butt bathon our own and – more importantly –to reassure me that I probably wouldn’taccidentally break Funny Face’s backwhile dangling her mostly one-handedover a basin of water.

Abigail Aldridge has kept me sane onmultiple occasions by checking up onthe little elders during rough patches:

coming down to Symphony Vet to wishPlain Face a good surgery for his tumorremoval at age 11, devising a beautifuland ergonomic sling to help Lucymaintain some muscle tone whilepreserving my back and knees, visitingDido often near the end of her life, andproviding a great home for the funnylittle rabbit I found in Prospect Park butcouldn’t keep (even David has his limitsfor bunny-amusement-park living!).And thank you, Jane, for helping somuch and in so many ways of late.Funny Face in particular has a muchbetter quality of life because youbrought your arsenal of bunny tools andworked through tenacious masses ofmatted fur. You also listened to endlessstories – in this interview and in person– about the “little people with the longears” (as my mother charmingly callsthem) that would be impossibly tediousto most people.

Dido on her approximate 15th birthday.

Photo: Lori Y

amato


VOLUNTEERS

Norma Chen Rhee volunteered at the shelter on Thanksgiving.

Photo: Erin

McElhinne

y

Rabbit Volunteer of the Month: Erin

This month’s Manhattan volunteer of the month isabout eight years overdue for this recognition. Erinhas spent a countless number of hours volunteeringwith the rabbits in our care, sometimes spending

more than six hours in a single shift. She distributes greens,cleans and socializes the rabbits, and makes sure everyone iscared for to the T.

Erin McElhinney was honored as Manhattan Volunteer of the Month by Animal Care Centers of NYC.


Crime-Fighting Rabbit Librarian Featured in Children’s Musical

“Superbunny’s Pirate Vacation,” performedrecently in Brooklyn, is the third originalchildren’s musical based on book three ofAmber L. Spradlin’s multi-award-winningSuperbunny book series for youngreaders. In both the book and the musical,the hero’s sidekick, Veronica, works as alibrarian at the New York Public Libraryby day and helps Thumperino Superbunnyinvestigate crime and facilitate hissuperhero training by night.

Together, these two rabbits do researchand study to prepare Superbunny for anypitfalls that may befall a superhero rabbit

LOCAL NEWSMAKERS

‘Superbunny’s Pirate Vacation’ with Calum Fleming, Erik Shuler, Peter Hargarten, Karlene Grinberg.

Photo by

Stuart M

acKe

nzie

who fights crime. In the song-filledmusical tale, Veronica and Thumperino rapabout their love of the Dewey DecimalSystem as the two comb the library for information about Thumperino’scoming vacation to the Caribbean islandof St. Kitts.

Veronica is a character fashioned after areal Rabbit Rescue & Rehab bunnywhose adoptive family have registered heras a therapy rabbit and take her alongon local book-reading tours. Veronica isa special-needs rabbit but one wouldnever guess it upon first meeting her.

That’s what makes her a hero.

“Superbunny’s Pirate Vacation,” withbook and lyrics by Michael MacKenzieWills (creator/writer/director of theMAC Award-winning “Operation Opera”)and music by Alastair William King(“Outlaws: The Ballad of Billy the Kid”)was staged this fall at the Actors FundArts Center in Brooklyn. It wasproduced by theater company RabbitHole Theatricks and was offered free to children and families.

NYC Metro Rabbit Grad To Star in PETA CampaignBy Jennifer A. Carlson

In October, my retired 4-H show rabbitCloud Carlson started his career as ananimal activist and model when he wasfeatured with New Zealand singer Kimbra

in an anti-angora ad for PETA (Peoplefor the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

Kimbra’s two-part campaign will featurestill photos of her holding Cloud, along with a video discussing her love

of animals, and why everyone shouldboycott the angora industry (and choosecruelty-free!) PETA expects to releasethe campaign early next year.



LOCAL NEWSMAKERS

I adopted Cloud in January 2015. Herewas his profile on Petfinder: “Cloud is abig beautiful 4½-year-old white andbrown French Angora male. He’s beenliving in an outdoor garage inside awire-floored cage his entire life and hasreceived very little attention. He also hasan old, healed fracture in his left leg. Hegets around fine, but must have carpetedfloors. Cloud was a young girl’s 4-Hshow rabbit, and the girl is now a teenwho has moved on to other interests.Cloud is incredibly sweet and affectionate.He enjoys being petted and really likesbeing with people. He needs a lovingforever home where he will get the love,time and attention he so craves. Cloudwill need to be brushed every day; hedoesn’t enjoy it all that much, so it’s bestdone while petting his head with yourother hand.”

For more information about the angora-fur industry, please go to House RabbitSociety’s website, which includes anarticle by Margo DeMello and Leighton Woodhouse. (link:http://rabbit.org/angora-fur/. The articledescribes the conditions under whichrabbits are raised for their angora fur:“Ninety percent of all angora productsavailable in the U.S. are made in China,

Star in PETA Campaign(Continued from page 14)

Just hours before his PETA photo shoot, “Cloudy” practices his poses.

Photo: Je

n Carlso

n

where 50 million long-haired angorarabbits produce the fur for this large andprofitable industry. Rabbits in China areraised in factory-like conditions, andsubjected to the kind of cruelty we tendto associate with the pelting of minksand foxes.”

The HRS article continues: “Unfortunately,because rabbits usually are so silent, it iseasy for most people to fail to recognizetheir suffering. For this reason, people

of conscience must be their voice,especially during the holiday season,when store shelves are stocked with theproducts of their pain.”

Cloud Carlson is proud to help raisepublic awareness about this industry. It is an honor that my 8.5 poundsweetheart (and fellow vegan) could join PETA in its anti-angora effort.

It’s a Season for GivingRabbit Rescue & Rehab/NYC Metro Rabbit this month launched its first YouCaring campaign.The fundraising effort was announced on “Giving Tuesday,” Dec. 1, to benefit sick, neglected and special-needs rabbits with high veterinary bills. Even the smallest contributions will make adifference for these rabbits, and all donations are tax-deductible. Please share this link with yourfriends and encourage them to consider our rabbits in their giving this season: https://www.youcaring.com/rabbit-rescue-and-rehab-478792. Rabbit Rescue & Rehab/NYC Metro Rabbit is an all-volunteer organization; your donations godirectly to helping rabbits. Our bunnies thank you!


Fantasia.

Emmie.

Asuna.

Unix.

We Are Looking for Loving HomesWritten and compiled by Kirsten Ott

MartinaMartina is a brown and white Dutchfull of spunk and determination. Thisgirl is on the young side, and she has theenergy of youth – she’s very active andeager for play. And she’s feisty – she’llmake sure you know what she wants!She’ll need lots of opportunities forexercise in her forever home. Martinahas darker brown fur around her face,giving it a somewhat marbleized look.She also has a funny splotch of brownon her white Dutch bib.

WildeWilde is a large, very handsome NewZealand White. This guy is on the youngside, and may get even bigger. Wilde isvery curious and eager for explorationand play. He’s not shy, but he’d rather be out and about than snuggling at thispoint in his young life. Wilde has apristine coat, an aristocratic profile, and beautiful, intelligent eyes.

FantasiaFantasia is a small- to medium-sizedbrown Jersey Wooly or Lionhead female.This girl is rather shy but very sweet.She’ll let you pet her, but preferably in asecluded spot where she feels safe. Shewould probably do best in a quiet homewith no small children or dogs. Fantasialooks like a super cute version of anEwok (just in time for Star Wars!).

EmmieEmmie is a gorgeous small- to medium-sized black and white Dutch mix. Thisgirl is truly stunning. Her pristine coat isa mix of jet black and bright white, shehas lovely brown eyes, and her face showsvestiges of Dutch blood – a wisp of aline on her forehead and a cute whitesmudge on the left side of her nose andmouth. Emmie is a real sweetie, too; sheloves affection and has a clingy side to her.

AsunaAsuna is a small grayish-brown femalebunny. This sweet girl has a vulnerable

ADOPT US!

quality. However, she will let you pether, and likes to have her head and neckrubbed. Once she decides you’re okay,

Martina.

Wilde.

she’ll gladly approach you for moreaffection, suggesting she will probably getvery attached to a nice new family. Asuna’scoat has some pretty golden highlights,and she has beautiful large dark eyes.

UnixUnix is a medium-sized brown andwhite Dutch with a gentle, sensitivenature. He loves to be petted, and givenhis sweetness, is likely to get attachedquickly. Unix is very handsome, with asturdy body and nice round cheeks. Hispretty eyes match the chocolate-y brownof his coat, and his right front leg iscutely half brown and half white.

PikaPika is a beautiful medium-sized female.This gorgeous girl would do best in an

Pika.



Faith.

experienced bunny home. Pika’s coat ismultiple shades of brown, and the lightrings around her eyes and her lightunderbelly suggest she may have someSilver Marten blood.

CocoCoco is a very large hunk of a malebunny. This dark brown guy is verybeefy – if he were a person, he might bean NFL linebacker. Having Coco inyour home will be like have a livingteddy bear. He’s very cozy and mellow,and loves to be petted on his nice thickhead, smushing down contentedly.

FaithFaith is a medium-sized white bunnywith dark eyes. This girl is clearly on theyoung side. She has disproportionatelylarge ears, suggesting she may yet have abit of growing to do. Faith is a gentlegirl and a real love. She’s very friendlyand adores affection – and her coat issoft and feathery, so you’ll enjoy pettingher. Faith’s coat has tinges of gray on herface and pink ears, suggesting she has abit of Himalayan blood.

ChloeChloe is a medium-sized black andwhite half-Dutch, half-helicopter lopwho was found in Brooklyn. In additionto being gorgeous, this girl is curious –in a nice, mellow way. Her prior fosterhome had a big dog that she got alongwith, so she would probably make agood partner for another rabbit or agood fit in a home with another type ofanimal (depending on the individualanimal, of course). Chloe loves hergreens, and was recently examined by arabbit-savvy vet who found her to be ingood health.

AndazAndaz is a medium-sized male rabbitwith perfect black and white Dutchmarkings. He’s so handsome that he wasfilmed and photographed for Vogue.com

ADOPT US!

Looking for Loving Homes(Continued from page 16)


Coco.

Andaz.

Chloe.

Angelina.

– yep, he’s a supermodel rabbit! He is afew years old, full of curiosity and needsa home where he will get a lot ofexercise and affection. Andaz loves to be

Duke and Dutchess.

petted on the top of his head and is awonderful companion for adults.

AngelinaAngelina is a strikingly beautiful medium-sized Hotot who has been waiting for aforever home for over two years now.She was abandoned outside in a cardboardbox but despite her prior mistreatment,she loves nothing more than to be pettedby gentle humans. When you startpetting her she presses her head down,starts tooth purring and closes her eyesin complete contentment. Angelinaneeds a peaceful and rabbit-experiencedhome with no young children where shecan feel completely safe. She is a typicalyoung, healthy rabbit with lots of energyfor running, binkying and shreddingcardboard

Duke and DutchessDuke and Dutchess are a spunky bondedpair of young rabbits looking for theirforever home! Duke is a brown maleLionhead and Dutchess is a brown andwhite female Dutch. Both are veryenergetic, need lots of exercise time and abig carpet to run and binky on. Dutchesswill come right up to greet you. She


ADOPT US!


Batik.

Nona.

Chequer.

Apple.

adores petting, and raises her nose intothe air cutely as you stroke her head andears. And no wimpy petting for this girl– she likes a strong, firm hand! Duke isalso a very sweet bunny. Their favoritefresh greens are romaine lettuce,cilantro, parsley and kale.

NonaNona is a medium-sized brown bunnywith a very sweet personality. She arrivedat the shelter with a case of malocclusion,so she had her incisors removed. Therefore,she needs to have her greens choppedup into bite-sized pieces. Nona is a littlefussy about being taken out of her cagesometimes, but once she’s out she’s veryeasy to handle. She also is very tolerantof combing and grooming, which is agood thing because she needs a littlehelp once in a while. She would probablydo well with a bunny partner who couldhelp to groom her, and she was perfectlytolerant of other bunnies living in herfoster home, so a bond would probablywork well.

BatikBatik is a small- to medium-sized maleNew Zealand White mix. This little guyis one of a litter of eight who came to

the shelter with their mom in August2015. He grew up in the shelter, and isnow ready for his forever home. Batikwould do best in a quiet home with nosmall children or dogs. Batik is stillyoung, and may grow a bit more, buthis mom is fairly small so he probablywon’t get a whole lot bigger. He haswonderfully soft fur!

ChequerChequer is a small- to medium-sizedfemale New Zealand White mix. Thislittle girl is one of a litter of eight whocame to the shelter with their mom inAugust 2015. She grew up in the shelter,and is now ready for her forever home.Chequer is very pretty and has very softfur. She’s still young, so she may grow abit more, but she probably won’t get awhole lot bigger. (Continued on page 19)

AppleApple is a medium-to-large male Dutchmix and a very special bunny. Thisyoung guy is very bright and curious,but also super sweet. His long, lean faceand body give him an athletic look anda kind of regal stature – you might thinkof him as a young prince. At the sametime, his slightly off-kilter looks – anirregular Dutch triangle and bib, andmismatched legs (one white, the otherblack with a white foot) – give him acute, comical look. Apple likes to bepetted, especially when he can enjoy itin a secluded corner of his choosing.After you’ve introduced yourself to him,he’ll continue to follow you with greatinterest, a very intelligent expression inhis eyes.

SimonaSimona is a medium-sized agouti andwhite Dutch bunny and a real lovergirl!This sweetie is very well-socialized andeager for companionship. She loves headand cheek rubs and will literally shove

Simona.


Stiletto.

Roxy.

ADOPT US!


her little head into your hand! Simona’seyes seemed to be accented with eyeliner.She has a cute little dewlap and anoversized Dutch bib that travels extra far down her back. This wonderfullyfriendly girl is likely to get very attachedto her new people, and will demand lots of attention.

RomeoRomeo is a medium-sized black andwhite Dutch bunny who was found inthe woods in January 2015 and broughthome by a Good Samaritan. He isbursting with personality and will totallycharm the person who adopts him.Romeo is currently in foster care.

StilettoStiletto is a large white Lionhead/Himalayanfemale. This girl’s looks will awe you –she has some classic Himmy markingssuch as ruby eyes and pale gray fur onher nose, ears, and feet, yet she sports a

tremendous Lionhead mane. Stilettoenjoys affection. Your fingers will getlost in that fabulous mane!

RoxyRoxy is a medium-sized Hotot mixfemale. This pretty girl is curious aboutpeople, and will examine you thoughtfullywhen you approach her. Roxy is mostlywhite with fun black markings, includingmottled black and white ears, black eye“makeup,” and some black markings onher body. She also has two black dots oneither side of her nose – a “mustache” ofsorts. Roxy would do best in a quiethome without small children or dogs.

DigbyDigby is a medium-sized gray/lightbrown Lionhead. This gorgeous guy’scoat looks like it was painted with pastels,and he has a bit of shiny gold fur aroundthe nape of his neck. Digby is very smartand outgoing – he tries super hard toget your attention, using all the strategiesand antics at his disposal. Once he has you,he’ll sit still for a very long petting session.

Romeo.

Digby.


DopeyDopey is a small- to medium-sized maleblack and white Dutch mix. This guy issuper friendly and will do everything he can think of to get your attention,including climbing on his cage bars andsticking as much of his face through thebars as possible. When he finally getsyou to come and pet him, it seems asthough he can’t really believe it – he sortof freezes in place. Dopey’s name doesn’tsuit him at all – he’s really smart and haswonderful energy. He has the earmarksof Dutch heritage – vestiges of a Dutchtriangle on his face and a bib that doesn’tmake it all the way around his shoulders.

SleepySleepy is a medium-sized dark agouti-brown boy. This guy’s name describesthe opposite of his actual personality.

Dopey.

Sleepy.


ADOPT US!



Sleepy is a very excited, energetic “TypeA” boy who absolutely loves his playtime.He gets the other rabbits in the shelterpretty riled up when he’s out in theplaypen – so he must be a born leader!Sleepy is a strong bunny with a muscularbuild. He’s very self-assured and seemsto have an agenda at all times. However,he does like to be petted too, so he’s notalways in high-energy mode.

SnoopySnoopy is a small- to medium-sizedblack and white Dutch female. Thispoor girl came in to the shelter as a stray,and she seems pretty traumatized by herrecent experience. Snoopy will need aquiet, patient, bunny-savvy home whereshe can gradually calm down and learnto accept affection. She has a distinctivewhite smudge on one of her black earsand huge, luminous brown eyes.

BambiBambi is a large brown Lionhead female.This girl is a real beauty, with a marvelousbroad nose, impressive “mane,” and a cutewhite cottontail. Bambi is a real snugglertoo. She’ll literally come right up to youand smush herself against your body,asking for affection. This girl wasunfortunately not properly fed orexercised in her prior home. She’s quiteoverweight, so she’ll need to get on a proper bunny regimen in her newforever home.

BradBrad is a medium-sized brownish-blackLionhead. This guy is very sweet andwell-mannered, but he’s kind of anintrovert, too. He seems a little timid orshy, but he will let you pet him, and helikes to have his head stroked. His coat isincredibly soft! Brad would probablybenefit from a bunny partner – somebunwho would make him feel more secure.

FievelFievel is a medium-sized male Lionheadmix. This guy is absolutely stunning –

he’s all white, with fluffy cheeks andLionhead tufts around his ears. But themost amazing thing about this guy is hiseyes – they are an unusual, gorgeousdeep blue. Fievel likes to hang back andobserve you with those bewitching eyes.

Snoopy.

Bambi.

He needs socializing, so he’d do best inan experienced bunny home.

CarlCarl is a very large, very handsome NewZealand White. This guy is truly magicallooking, with a pristine coat, big pinkears, beautiful pale red eyes, nicely curvedjowls, and sweet chubby cheeks. Carl is avery shy guy and needs a lot of socializing,so he’d do best in a bunny-savvy homeand would probably also benefit from asomewhat more confident partner bunny.

Angel HareAngel Hare is a brown and white Dutchfemale. This girl is quite large, butshould only be medium-sized. Clearly shewas improperly fed and/or inadequatelyexercised in her prior home. Angel Hare’sname suits her because she is truly aperfect angel! She adores being petted,especially while she’s lounging in herlitter box, and if you stop she’ll look atyou imploringly – it’ll melt your heart.Let’s get this girl a home where she canget in shape and feel loved!

FreyaFreya is a medium-sized brown Rex mixand a total love. This girl loves attentionso much that she’ll practically crawl onyou to get it! She smushes right downwhen you start to pet her. Freya willprobably be a real lap bunny in her newhome. Her coat has a Rex-like feel, andher brown fur is darker around her earsand her “muzzle.” She would make agood choice for a first-time bunny owner.

BiscottiBiscotti is a large, very handsome mixed-breed boy. It’s kind of hard to ascertain

Brad.

Fievel.


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this guy’s heritage – it looks like he’s gotsome Lionhead, Himmy, and evenHotot blood. He’s white with some pale

Biscotti.

Wyatt.

Angel Hare.

Freya.

brown markings and a wonderful darkbeauty mark just above the right side ofhis elegant long nose. And he has someLionhead fur tufts between his ears,making it look like he has a mini crewcut!Biscotti is quite wary of people. If youjoin him in his hidey spot, though, hewill let you pet him, and he likes neckand cheek rubs. Biscotti would do bestin a quiet bunny-savvy home.

WyattWyatt is a small Hotot mix with asensitive temperament. This little guy is abit nervous and hesitant, but he’s curiousabout people. Once he trusts you he’ll (Continued on page 22)

start to enjoy your attention pretty quickly.Wyatt is white with some grayish-brownmarkings, including interesting mottledeye rings and a cute beauty spot on theright side of his nose. He has nice bigbrown eyes with dark lashes.

LeviLevi is a large white lop with tan markings:tan ears, reddish-tan eye rings aroundhis eyes, and red eyelashes! This guy’scoat is bright white, very fluffy, andsuper soft – which is great, because he’svery sweet and he lets you pet him rightaway. Levi is a mellow guy. Though hisears are mostly down, one of them hassome rogue helicopter tendencies.

CharlieCharlie is a large lop with some Harlequinblood. This guy’s coat is very unusualand very beautiful – it’s a mix andHarlequin charcoal and tan with someareas of white. Charlie is a really funbunny – he’s active, playful and friendly,and he’s not afraid of anything. You’lllove to watch him race around on hisbig fluffy lop feet.

BabsyBabsy is an extra-large white bunny withgray markings and a very generousdewlap. This magnificent-looking ladywill hang back and stare at you with hergiant, long-lashed eyes. Babsy will letyou pet her, though – when you do so,she’ll pull her head in and rest it on herbig, downy dewlap pillow. She loves tohave her head stroked. Babsy is verylarge but also somewhat overweight –nothing a proper diet and regular

Levi.

Charlie.

Carl.

Babsy.


ADOPT US!


exercise can’t address. She would do bestin a quiet home without small children.

HopscotchHopscotch is a tiny, young brownish-gray boy. This adorable little bunnyprobably still has some growing to do.He’s very active, and will let you pet hima bit – then will run off like a tiny deer.He would probably do best in anexperienced bunny home.

TabithaTabitha is dark agouti and white Dutchmix with a lovely personality. This girl isclearly overweight. She’ll need to workoff that extra weight with a proper dietand plenty of exercise. Tabitha lovesaffection and will quickly lapse into abunny trance as you pet her. She’s mainlya Dutch girl, but she’s got a bib onsteroids – it looks more like a shirt!

Hopscotch.

Tabitha.

Forever Homes Found!Rabbits adopted since the last newsletter include: Honey,

Blimpie, Gladstone, Share Bear, Cutie, Sara and Suzette,

Nadia, Winter, Marlo, Blotch and Croquis, Max, Lisann,

Sam, Flavia, Dinky, Lex, Hershey, Poe, Keira, Martin, Lucy,

Dot, Rosita, Cecile, Serendipity, Patty, Thumper, Howie,

George, Autumn, Chip and Herbert.

Chip.

Make aDifference!Rabbit Rescue & Rehab needs

dedicated volunteers to help

care for our wonderful rabbits

while they are waiting to find

their forever homes. If you

would like to volunteer, email

us at

[email protected].

Lily (fka Raven) and Henry.

Photo: M

andy

Bea

dle

Letters From AdoptersFrieda

Frieda was adopted in early October byrabbit volunteer Teija Emilia, who sent usthis letter. Frieda is having a great time inher new home.

Frieda wanted to let you know that sheis busy exploring and binkying aroundher new home and has made friends withour cat. My boy rabbits, Sneaky and Hops,are in love with her and spend theirexercise time hopping next to her cage.

Frieda and our cat Sahara enjoy floppingtogether during Frieda’s exercise time,and we are bonding her with the boys.So far she has been very polite with them.She also enjoys hiding in the cat tree.

Teija

Photo: Teija Emilia


Sahara and Frieda.

Lily and Henry

Mandy adopted Lily in September as apartner for Henry. Lily had been calledRaven at the shelter, where she gave birth toa litter that didn’t survive. Henry, adoptedin the summer of 2014, had been part ofa large group of rabbits brought to theshelter when their owner was evicted. Mandywrote this letter in late October to volunteerThea Harting, who handled the rabbits’introduction and later provided advice toMandy during the bonding process.

Hi Thea,

I wanted to thank you so much for allyour advice over the past two months.You were an invaluable resource.

The buns are finally bonded!!! Theygroom each other and snuggle togetherall the time. It’s so adorable. No nips oranything; just two really happy buns.

Lily isn’t crazy about hanging out in theliving room with us but she’s reallyaffectionate with all of us, Henryespecially. And Henry is very clearlywild about her.

We have had them free-range in thebedroom for about four days now, and


it has been awesome. Last night I wassitting on the ground with them andthey came up to me and nudged me forhead rubs and then Henry ran aroundthe room like a madman and kicked uphis feet like they do when they’re happy.

The only regret I have is not gettinghim a companion sooner. I have never

seen him this happy. Bonding the bunswas difficult and stressful at times butunbelievably rewarding. Thank you somuch for making this all possible!

Mandy Beadle



Letters (Continued from page 23)

Mario

Mario was adopted in September by KatieScarr, who sent us this update in October.Mario was one of the many Dutch rabbitsfostered by Cathy Zelonis.

Mario has been an amazing addition tomy life and has now brought the cutenesslevel in my apartment right through theroof! He became pretty comfortablewithin the first few days, running aroundmaking his own obstacles throughoutthe room. Mario’s foster mom Cathygave him the nickname, “The personalitykid,” which he is definitely living up to.My mornings now consist of waking upby getting bonked in the head by my catPatti because she’s hungry, and Mariomadly running around the room, usuallywith a binky or two, and I couldn’t askfor better little companions.

Mario quickly came to know whatshaking a treat bag meant and nowwhenever I grab the treats, he immediatelyruns out from wherever he is in theroom, and launches himself onto me fora treat. He pretty much has free roam ofmy apartment whenever I’m home andawake, and he has been quite theexplorer. I keep bundles of fresh lavenderin vases around the house and he’s beensniffing them out, jumping up on thecouch and grabbing the lavender out ofthe vase to eat!

I have been kept quite entertained byhim and Patti together. Since they havebeen getting along very well, I preparetheir dinner at the same time and theyrun circles around me until I put thebowls down and they eat next to eachother. My favorite things about havingMario now in my life are his cute littlenudges that he gives me whenever I’mnear, and his adorable little mouth that Ijust love to watch chew. :)

Katie Scarr

Mario eating with Patti.

Photo: Katie Sca

rr

Mario lounging.


Letters (Continued from page 24)

Chunk at mealtime.

Photos: K

ayla RatikanChunk

Chunk, formerly known as Leo, wasadopted by Kayla Ratikan, who sent usthis nice update.

Leo the bunny is now known as Chunk,or Monkey. I changed his name, becauseI had previously had a rabbit named Leo.

Chunk has been with me for about fourdays now and he is really enjoying hisnew home. He is getting more andmore familiar with his new space. He isa curious little bunny and loves headrubs, and climbing all over the couch.

He is getting used to having me aroundand comes to the gate of his pen to greetme when I come over (probably justbecause he wants his food, but let’s sayit’s because he wants to see me.)

We are really getting used to our morningand evening hang-outs, and he has beenjoining me on the couch in the eveningsto watch the nightly news! Pretty soon,he will be king of the couch!

I look forward to all the new memories Iwill make with this little cutie!

Kayla

Update: I have had Chunk for a monthnow, and he has a curious, bossy, playful,snuggly, loving personality. He is adored byguests who come to my home and anabsolute joy to be with. He loves to join meon the couch for snuggles and explore everyinch of the apartment. His favorite dinneris a crisp, lush bok choy, and he loves totoss his toys around. This little monkey issuch a wonderful addition to my familyand I am so glad to be able to spoil andlove him the way he deserves. He’s too cute!He also has his very own Instagram forthose who would like to follow theadventures of @Chunk_bunny.

Chunk at rest.


Marshmallow.

Veronica.

Ryan.

Patty.

Jimmy.

CELEBRITIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Honey, top, and Jasper during speed date.


Sleepy.Hughes.

Suzette and Sara.

Pimm.

CELEBRITIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Nino.

Licensed HRS Educators

Manhattan:Becky Campbell, DVMDeborah Levison, DVMSymphony Veterinary Center170 West 96th Street, New York, NY 10025(212) 866-8000Katherine Quesenberry, DVMThe Animal Medical Center510 East 62nd St., New York, NY 10065(212) 838-7053, (212) 329-8622Alexandra Wilson, DVMAnthony Pilny, DVM Cynthia J. Brown, DVMThe Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine568 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10024(212) 501-8750 Shachar Malka, DVMHumane Society of New York306 East 59th St., New York, NY 10022(212) 752-4842

Westchester County:Gil Stanzione, DVMDakota Veterinary Center

Rabbit-Savvy VeterinariansHere’s our recommended vet list for the NewYork metropolitan area.Please note that manyclinics have multiple veterinarians, and our recommendations are for specific veterinariansin those clinics. If you can’t get an appointment with a recommended vet at one clinic, don’tassume (no matter what you are told by the clinic) that other vets in the same clinic can helpyour rabbit. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the vets on this list,please contact Mary Cotter at (914) 337-6146. When you make an appointment with any of these vets, please tell them you were referred by us.

381Dobbs FerryRoad,White Plains,NY 10607(914) 421-0020

Laurie Hess, DVMVeterinary Center for Birds and Exotics709 Bedford Road, Bedford Hills, NY 10507(914) 864-1414

Long Island:Jennifer Saver, DVMLaura George, DVMKristen Miller, DVMCatnip & Carrots Veterinary Hospital2056 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park,NY 11040 • (516) 877-7080

Heidi Hoefer, DVMIsland Exotic Vet Care591 East Jericho Turnpike Huntington Station, NY 11746(631) 424-0300

Jeff Rose, DVMJefferson Animal Hospital606 Patchogue Rd.(Route 112)Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776(631) 473-0415

Adoptable RabbitsThere are lots of adoptable rabbits availablein Manhattan, Long Island and Westchester.

To adopt a rabbit in New York City, [email protected] LongIsland, contact Nancy Schreiber [email protected] or at 516-510-3637(www.longislandrabbitrescue.org), and inWestchester contact Mary Cotter [email protected] or 914-337-6146(www.rabbitcare.org).

The rabbit volunteers’ email address in NewYork City is [email protected].

Adoptable NYC Metro rabbits are at Petco’sLexington Avenue (86th-87th) and UnionSquare locations; rabbit volunteers are presentat both stores on Saturday and Sundayafternoons to answer questions. There arefour rabbits living at each of those stores.

In addition, NYC Metro rabbits are at thePetland Discounts store on West 72nd Street.

You can also visit Animal Care & Control ofNYC (AC&C) at 326 East 110th St.,

All donations go directly to caring for our fosterrabbits and are tax-deductible. Please help us helpthem.Mailing address for contributions: RabbitRescue & Rehab/NYC Metro Rabbit, 333Mamaroneck Ave, PMB 363, White PlainsNY 10605. To contribute to Long IslandRabbit Rescue Group, please go towww.longislandrabbitrescue.org.

NYC/Westchester: M.C. Basile, Esq., President, Rabbit Rescue& Rehab, [email protected], Founder,Rabbit Rescue & Rehab,Chapter Manager,NYC House Rabbit Society,Adviser to Thump, [email protected], (914)337-6146, rabbitcare.orgGabrielle LaManna,New Fairfield, CT,[email protected], (203)746-7548Mary Harnett, [email protected],(914) 948-7976Marcie Frishberg,[email protected], (718) 724-4105Cindy Stutts, [email protected], (646) 319-4766Kerstin AumannMonica Shepherd,DVM

Long Island:Nancy Schreiber, President, Long IslandRabbit Rescue Group,[email protected], (516) 510-3637,LongIslandRabbitRescue.org Mary Ann Maier, Long Island RabbitRescue Group Volunteer,[email protected],LongIslandRabbitRescue.orgDonna Sheridan, Long Island Rabbit RescueGroup Volunteer, [email protected],LongIslandRabbitRescue.orgJennifer Saver, DVMLaura George, DVM

Newsletter of RRR/NYC HRS56 West Pondfield Road #5CBronxville, NY 10708www.rabbitcare.orgEditor: Susan LilloCreative Director: Jane O’WyattMasthead Logo Designer: Mary Ann MaierRabbit Rescue & Rehab is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation in New York State. Ourpurpose is to rescue, rehabilitate and findpermanent homes for abandoned, abused andneglected rabbits, and to educate the public on rabbit care through publications, phoneconsultations, home visits and presentations.This newsletter is published by RRR/NYC HRS,which is solely responsible for its content. Weretain the right to edit all submissions, whichbecome the property of the NYC Chapter andcannot be returned.

between First and Second avenues. Rabbitsfor adoption can be found by going to:http://www.nycacc.org/ and doing anadoption search. Volunteers are there everyweekday evening and on Saturday andSunday afternoons, but it is best to arrangean appointment first.

Bunny speed dates can be arranged byappointment only on weekend afternoonsat Union Square. Please [email protected] to makearrangements.

Many of our rabbits are living in fosterhomes and you can meet them as well. Youalso can arrange to foster a rabbit until he or she finds a permanent home. [email protected]

For basic information about rabbits as pets, go to www.rabbitcare.org,www.longislandrabbitrescue.org and theHouse Rabbit Society main site,www.rabbit.org.

THUMPDecember 2015


Documents

NYCMETRO RABBIT NEWS DECEMBER 2015 · The morning presentation by Dr. Micah Kohles was titled, “It’s a Gut Thing: Rabbit Gastrointestinal Anatomy, Physiology and Nutrition.”