Oh. My. Gosh.

A few of us “oldies” were talking on Facebook and I decided to hop back over and see what I’ve been missing…. for the last five years. WHO IS STILL ON HERE?

When I got my first rabbit 8 1/2 years ago, I stumbled on BinkyBunny. I owe my deep involvement in the rescue rabbit community to this site – where I learned the proper way to care for bunnies and met the people who became my best friends. 8 1/2 years later, we are STILL best friends. 😀  Some of you I *may* know or follow on Facebook, my name on Facebook is Sandra Lee.  I previously owned the blog/online store “The Bunny Chick” which is no longer available online.  I do hope to start blogging again but have no interest in starting another store. I’m an HRS Educator and an admin on the House Rabbit Society group page!

Anyone who was on BinkyBunny previously, definitely knows me because of my first 3 bunnies, my three Tans (hence the username). My group has increased and decreased in so many ways over the past 8 years but these 4 bunnies currently rule my heart and home:

Fleury (left) & Zoe (right) – my bonded pair:

Fleury is an 8 1/2 year black Tan. He was my first bun, along with his two siblings, who came from a breeder (I know, I know! *facepalm*) . Fleury was double-exposed to EC (in the womb and after birth) and has had a lot of complications with EC over the years. When he was 3, his eyesight went from normal to fully mature cataracts in a span of 14 days. He has kidney disease and neurological damage due to EC episodes also. This little bunny is one of the strongest bunnies I’ve ever known though. He was the runt of his litter and the only one who has survived. His sister, Sidney, passed away 3 years ago due to complications from EC that led to sepsis. His brother, Tanger, passed away a year ago due to kidney failure from EC. We are currently battling another episode of EC, but he’s got this! If you’ve never interacted with a Tan, they are extremely active, extremely opinionated, and extremely destructive (=P). Even in his old age and with his illnesses, Fleury is my most active bunny. His neurological damage can make it difficult for him to remain upright but he still runs around and binkies more than all my other buns!

Zoe is a 6 year old Lion Lop. She was a personal rescue from a breeder who gave up all her breeding bunnies to me when her husband and her split up and her husband was going to release them all. My boyfriend, at the time, fell in love with her so she never left (all the others found homes/went to rescues). Zoe thinks humans are disgusting, so I let her do her own thing, but LOVES other bunnies. Zoe and Fleury used to be a part of a group of 8 bonded bunnies and she instantly loved EVERYONE. She’s an extremely laid back and lazy bunny. If you look at her the wrong way, her thump will literally shake the house.

Simba was my first adoption (he came directly after my Tans). Simba is a 10 year old Lionhead. He is currently a single rabbit, though currently being bonded to my next introduction). He is free-roam and despite what his adoption papers would tell you, he’s one of the sweetest, most lovable bunnies I’ve ever met.  He was initially rescued by a school teacher who found him wandering outside the school. He came in with an umbilical hernia that needed repair from a botched neuter. He was almost euthanized during his life at the shelter due to extreme aggression. It turns out, he’s only “aggressive” in small spaces because small spaces make him nervous. He will gladly snuggle and hands out kisses. I am diagnosed with C-PTSD & Bipolar Disorder and this little man has helped me survive many nights as an emotional support animal. He lays on my chest and gives me kisses when I’m laying in bed from panic attacks, and he has laid by my side during many nights that I struggled with depression. I cannot love this bunny enough for what he’s given me. <3

And last, but not least, my most recent adoption – Bazil.  Bazil is a 3 year old New Zealand White. My giant Goober man came to me roughly 2 months ago from NJ.  He was originally rescued from a cosmetics company who had used him for product testing. The worker who was supposed to euthanize him and the others snuck them out and surrendered them all to rescue. A year later, this May, the rescuer he was with was busted for animal hoarding. Bazil was found with 11 other rabbits in basement, living in 2 inches of feces on the floor, combined with cats and dogs. The dogs had begun eating the rabbits and weak cats for food because they were all starving. All the rabbits that survived were the larger breeds.  Although he’s only been with me 2 months, this boy has found such a huge spot in my heart that I cannot even explain.

Four other little crazy critters rule my home as well, I have 4 chinchillas also!

Mollie Ann (top right – gray chin) was my 2nd chinchilla that came from my rabbit vet. I had adopted my first chinchilla, Ollie, a few days previous from a rescue in TN. When I jumped into the chinchilla mom title, my vet told me she had a chinchilla that had been brought to her a few weeks previous for emergency surgery. A breeder had bred her and the babies were stuck, she needed emergency surgery to remove them, and was spayed in the process so the breeder ditched her with my vet.  She thought Ollie and Mollie would make a perfect couple so I agreed to take her!

Jaxon (top left – black chin) became my 3rd chinchilla when Ollie passed. Jaxon was from another city in PA, Philly, and had been left behind in an apartment complex with a few other animals. A rescuer had hung onto him but had been unable to adopt him out, so when she saw my Mollie grieving, she suggested Jaxon and he’s been here creating ruckus ever since!

Chester aka. Cheese (bottom – right) was my first disabled chinchilla! He’s blind and adopted from another rescue in TN. He was confiscated from a hoarding situation and is relatively old. I was specifically looking for an unadoptable chinchilla which is how he came into my life.

Pinot (bottom – left) is my second disabled chinchilla and came 6 months after Cheese. Pinot is actually Cheese’s son and is also from the same rescue in TN. Pinot has 3 legs – he’s missing one back leg, amputated due to a break. He’s the quickest and most hyper of my chins and the youngest!

AND finally, I still have two other bunnies that are technically “mine” but are currently in a foster-to-adopt situation. Harley (the harlequin) and Picasso (the black Lionhead) I took in from WV when the family they were with was threatening to release them and then drove to a meat breeder and was going to drop them off.  The Bunderground Railroad helped work out transport and they showed up a few days later. If anyone remembers me previously, they are actually being fostered to adopt through my ex-boyfriend that many probably remember (Aaron) and his current girlfriend. Harley and Picasso were both the perfect fit for him, so fingers crossed they are in their forever home for good!

I’m super excited to be back to the forums after such a long break!  =D Bunny people are the best people!