I have two very sweet little guys that are recent arrivals here. They are beautiful pure black babies with dreamy chocolate colored eyes. I’m not too sure of their breed mix, but they were listed as Jersey Wooley mixes from the vet who looked at them recently.
I had read this crossposted appeal from Auntie Heather on a forum:
The shelter just called me about these adorable bunnies – they are so cute and affectionate. they are about 12 weeks old that were found just out in a park. Just scooting about on the grass! ….. The little ones appear to be well fed, energetic and they are different, in that the legs are pointing outward. They cannot hop or walk like most of our other rabbits -The vet said the legs were not broken, that it appeared that they were born this way. The shelter says they are unadaptable and wonders if anyone might want a bunny like these …
Well, as much as they pulled at my heartstrings I just didn’t think there would be a chance of my approval for adoption since I live over 2,000 miles away – but unbelieveably I was approved for adoption and TONS of support came from everywhere in the time we all worked to bring them home.
I’m sure some of you have read a little about them in this thread here: https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=54&forumid=6&postid=28987&view=topic
Well, thanks greatly in part to angoragrl, my babies are home!
I can’t begin to THANK or describe just how many people were involved in helping these babies – the people who found them in the
park, the San Jose Animal Service shelter who took them in, “Auntie Heather” who made urgent email pleas for their rescue…
– Save A Bunny rescue who claimed them from the shelter (who planned on euthanizing them) – the foster home they went into, their
vet Dr Harvey …
Randy, a rescue/rehab individual (Sabrina’s House Rescue) who PMed me quite a bit about special needs/splayed bunnies when I was
considering adopting –
Everyone who worked with the bunderground in attempt to get them here, everyone rooting them on, the pilot who took his day of to fly
these guys to Missouri, a friend Melissa who picked them up at the airport and transported them to me…
ALL of this has been extremely overwhelming to me! But tonite, for the first time I can say the babies are HOME …
Fiesta is the smaller of the two, but doesn’t like being picked up very much. He loves to explore and is very happy.
Holiday is larger and is more apt to hide. He’s very curious but on his own terms right now.
Both like to stay within “reach” of each other and they move together as much as possible. They’re bookends as far as their front
legs go – when side by side looking in the same direction.. their backward legs are together. Mirror images, of sorts.
Fiesta is well rounded while Holiday (being larger) already is “flatter”. Weight maintenance will be a huge issue with them as
their organs will be compromised as time goes on.
As for now they are very alert and curious about their new surroundings.
In a large setting, the boys don’t gain a lot of momentum at first but once they push off of something they can turtle-flap pretty darn quick, if just for short distances. In smaller areas they are more mobile if they can “kick off” of an object. I think, if the stall ends up being a big part of their habitat when they aren’t roaming, I may roll up some blankets around the edges so they can launch
themselves.
They also seem to have more momentum if their surface is padded to slightly different elevations. That seems to help them get a better
grip and it makes movement a lot easier.
Of course, I have a lot to learn and discover with them yet. I’m still learning quite a bit about their mobility at this point.
They’re so new here right now, everything is a crash course learning session.
I’ve had them in my computer room for the last few hours while I was on the phone and on the computer. My carpet is only *slightly* worse for wear but that’s ok.
I’m not sure what to do quite yet. I have Berber carpeting and if anyone is familiar with it, it’s not the softest carpeting around so
I’m concerned about their inner legs on it.
What I may do tonite is go get a nice heavy shower curtian or tarp and put it on the floor, then put some throw rugs etc on top of it
in various areas. If I get some of the non-slip rubber stuff to put under them (on top of the plastic bottom) the rugs shouldn’t slide
out of place – and then I can cover that with a flatter blanket.
That should create a nice leak-proof “run” for them with elevated areas to give them better traction. I can roll blankets to put around the makeshift enclosure so they would have a “bumper” to kick off from when they reach the edged. Physically they can’t climb so
height on the “walls” wont be an issue at all.
I can’t use any “gated” items (not even NIC grids) because their legs are haywire and are prone to snagging on stuff. Melissa told me
about more solid NIC panels though, and I’ll be looking into finding some.
I’ll have to look for the Palace Pet Bedding that has also been suggested since I’m unfamiliar with it.
Here’s how I have them set up right now. More pictures are
uploading, but it’s taking a while…
Holiday resting his head on Fiesta:
Holiday exploring the computer room:
Fiesta taking a short rest:
Fiesta having a snack
Holiday tring to catch some Zzzz