So an Albino ended up on my desk at work last week…

[Nat and Billy]

Hi Everyone,

Really bizarre that i find myself here – in a RABBIT forum!!!!

So last Monday morning was pretty normal, daughter at childminders, i was at work with my parents (family business) and a team of guys that started working for us from India gave my dad a rabbit… as a “gift”!!   First thoughts – “What the heck!!??”, “Are they taking the pi**?”.

So they claimed that a Rabbit in India was good luck and it was a gift to thank us for the work we had given them. So they left us and the rabbit on my desk.

Information they gave us (bear in mind very little English!) – it was about 2 months old, had been given its injections, they had got him a day ago from a pet shop.

Instant mis-calulations – the poor thing STANK, his carrier box was FILTHY (SEE PICTURE BELOW), the RABBIT was FILTHY and it was clear to us he had been kept in that tiny box for a lot longer than A DAY!!  It had rotten bits of carrott and lettuce thrown in as food but did have water bottle which was just thrown on the floor

As a family of huge softies we were really worried for it and me being the only one with a back garden i decided i would happily take it home and was sure my 3 and a half yr old daughter would love a rabbit.

So me and my mum drove rapidly to the pet shop and spent a fortune pimping out a new home for it.  The lady in the pet shop advised us on everything, from giving him chamomile tea to calm and settle the bunny (apparently its a GREAT rarely known tip) to not feeding him carrotts and veg until he is a little older.  Once we got back to the office we took the rabbit into the wonderfully helpful girl in the shop, where she confirmed random Rabbit was infact a MALE and my daughter decided to call him Billy.  She gave him a thorough scrub behind the shop and did an amazing job!!

So Billy is now living in our home!!  He’s still pretty stained but he has settled really well and we LOVE having him with us.

Billy so far

– He pees in his toilet tray already, but  poops inside and mainly outside it – was pretty amazed when i saw him jump in it and wee!!!  Almost as satifying as seeing my daughter go to the toilet for the first time! haha.

 - He gets on brilliantly with my daughter!!  She handles him really well.

– He is super friendly!!  When i pass his home to go into the kitchen he immediately jumps up watches me in order to get a few greens (started giving him small amounts of  coriander, cabbage leaf and rocket – he LOVES it!!!)

– He has been in my garden a few times for short periods but due to gaps in the fence i cant keep him out there long, so will build/invest in an outside run.

– He LOVES to SPRINT around corners of my living room (sort of weaving in and out of things) and doing random skips in the air mid run?! LOVE watching him do this, its hilarious.

So yeah, long story but a happy one.

PS – noticed this is mainly American users, we’re from the UK, London – look forward to learning more about these wonderful animals!!

Nat, Mia and Billy

 

[kralspace]

Welcome Nate and Billy! Billy is one lucky bunny to have found you, he’s a charmer for sure. It is so sad to see them in those conditions, his stains will grow out in a month or two. Watching them binky (that funny air dance) is the best part although the bunny zooms are cool too.

Here’s a site that’s a great read for new bunny owners, it explains bunnese and how you can learn what you bunny is telling you.

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

We have lots of members from the UK, I’m sure you’ll be hearing from them soon!

[Huckleberry]

wow! That is so cool!!!! Welcome! He is very handsome.
we have buns and bunny slaves from all over. Looking forward to lots more pictures!
binkies are great. You can teach them how to do tricks too, look up “bunny tricks” on youtube, they can be trained to stand up and spin in a circle really quickly. It’s a fun way to play with them!!!

[jerseygirl]

Welcome, glad you found the forum! Thanks for taking Billy in as his future would have been grave I think. He appears to be in wonderful hands now. Its a real shame about the custom the workers have though. If you have anymore business with them, do you think it’s possible to discourage it without causing offence?

Rabbits with his colouring are called REW’s Ruby Eyed Whites or Red Eye Whites. Some people can be a bit freaked out by the eye colour but I think when you see them in person, it’s pretty.

The picture with your daughter is sweet! Billy will be well loved.

[Deleted User]

Welcome Nat and Billy!

He looks very handsome i am sure he will bring lots more smiles to all of you.

We are in the UK too

[Huckleberry]

I like the photo where he has curled around his pellets. “Ah, my food! I love it! Im so happy!!!!”

[LittlePuffyTail]

He was “lucky” indeed to have made his way to you. That picture of him all dirty made me really sad. I happen to be very partial to white lops! That was really weird for the people to give you a bunny. But they did you a favour…having a rabbit is a wonderful experience! They bring all us bunny lovers such joy and happiness. That’s very sweet that he and your daughter (who is very cute by the way) are getting a long so good.

You live in London? I think that’s really cool. I’m from Canada and I yearn to go to London!! I’m a big history buff and I can’t wait until the day I get to go visit your city!

Welcome to you and Billy. Hope to see lots more pictures and hear more stories about him!

[Beka27]

Welcome! That bun is in rough shape! But I can definitely see the “handsome man” underneath! Within the next few months, he will be practically unrecognizable from his former self! Thank you so much for taking him in!

[Sarita]

Welcome! Bless his heart – he is a lucky bun!

[TaraMichele]

looks like hes going to be one spoiled bunny! and its amazing your daughter is so good with him! I love seeing a happy ending!

[Nat and Billy]

Thanks everyone for your lovely welcomes!!

I have read up on my little bunny and found that R.E.W’s were pretty much avoided due to the red/pinky eyes. And to be honest i wouldve probably done what everyone else does and walked past him in a pet shop straight to a little “normal” looking rabbit. But fate has kindly landed him with me and I love him to bits already.

Also read that the “binky” means he’s super happy, so that was lovely to read.

LittleFluffy Tail – funnily enough my “DREAM” place to visit when i was young was always CANADA! haha.

[brittbritt]

I’m so happy Lucky is in a much better home to be spoiled in now. My first rabbit as a child was a white bun with red/pink eyes. I always think they’re beautiful.

[Lintini]

Hello and welcome! My Indy came to me like that and the urine came out in about a month like Sarita said. I am so glad he has found you for a much better home! You will love BB!

[Lis]

Welcome – I’m happy for you and for your new family member!
It sounds like you’re doing a really good job for a new bunny mom. The employee you talked to seems to have been actually on the right track, as it looks like she got you started out right. Awesome!
There’s two more things I would like to add that you might not have thought of yet. Bunnies are considered an exotic, so they need to see exotic vets. Find a rabbit vet in your area now, before something goes wrong. Also, look into getting him neutered if he isn’t already – there’s a lot less risk of cancer and he’ll be less temperamental that way.

[MarkBun]

The only thing I would suggest is something I caution any family new to rabbits with young children – rabbits are very delicate and although they seem just like stuffed animals, if they’re handled too much or too roughly, they could easily be injured. The most important thing is to make sure the child isn’t upset or insistent if the rabbit doesn’t want to be picked up and that she always, ALWAYS lets the rabbit go when it wants to go. Best to just pet it on the ground than in your lap or while holding it.

Not saying your kid would – just noting that the #1 cause of injury to a rabbit in a household with young children is their tendency to grab, hold and squeeze.

[Deleted User]

Awww. . .I’m so glad you took him in. He’s a darling! I have always loved REWs. I have a special spot for types of animals that most people don’t want.

[Meg Pressley]

Billy is gorgeous!

[Author]

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