7.31.2007

Holly passes away, Martin's dead leg, Bob

We have some terrible news. Holly went in for her spay today and died during surgery. We have had 2 major hits this week with Holly's passing and the passing of Ivan, and they have dumb-struck us. Holly had severe scarring on her lungs. I am sorry to Linda & Chelsea for the loss. She was a cranky little cutie that was to be bonded to their lop after she was spayed. We took in 11 baby hamsters yesterday that were in less-than desirable condition and they will be picked up by Claudie this week and possibly transported to Jessica at the New York Hamster House. They look like European Black Bears and Syrians and they are all so sweet, I know, I handled them!

Yesterday morning Bob (an Ivory look-a-like) was dropped off. A woman had taken him in from neighbors and her son had severe allergies. She has been trying to find Bob a home for months, I also got a call for a bunny that will be dropped later this evening that sounds like a NZW (New Zealand White).

Our news of the day is that yesterday a bunny named Martin came in. He was found last Thursday in Stratford, same area several other bunnies have been found. He has a dead back left leg that will more than likely be amputated today. Please say a special prayer for Martin, we know no back ground on him. It pains me to see how people leave there animals to suffer and then just toss them out at their own convenience. I will add pictures as I get to it. His leg is black and looks like petrified wood and just gets in the way. The surgery is going to cost the Hollow over $500. Any donations are much appreciated!

Brandee

7.28.2007

Update from our Hollow President - Linda

Hi All: I am delighted to tell everyone we had a stellar day at the Hollow! Little Milo, the gray, head tilt bunny has left for his new home in New Jersey with a lovely family. They were so thrilled with Milo and the work we are doing they paid a double adoption fee of $150 as a thank you. Then another gal came with her bunny Peter and Peter and his human mom Emily fell in love with little, black Silky! Silky and Peter are spending a couple of nights at Brandee's getting to know each other and being bonded then they will go to their home in New Haven. We had still a third family visit who fell in love with Indiana and they want a friend for him. The family is vacationing the first two weeks of August so Indiana will be with us a while longer but they seemed pretty certain he was their choice. They are still debating who will be leaving with him as they want a bonded pair. I still have to do a reference check and get an adoption application from them but they seemed like nice folks and I think the adoption will go through fine.Thank you to Michelle & Rob who had taken Indiana home with them and done some intensive attitude adjustments on him the last couple of weeks. He is now a sweet bunny and I think will make a wonderful pet. They now have their hands full working with Thumper and Pom Pom who are a soon to be bonded pair of problem children dwarf bunnies who hopefully will learn to behave and get into the shelter soon. They are adorable but naughty!Ali - who's family has been fostering Leenie has returned Leenie to Brandees. Leenie is now spayed and will be coming down to the shelter when there is an open cage. They will be taking on another "problem" bun who needs special treatment in her place. April has recovered from her virus and is now back in the shelter. We now have a tiny Oreo look alike who joined us on Friday. For now she is called Moonbeam and she seems to be adjusting rapidly to the good life. She was caught running free in Redding and from her appearance has been running wild for a while. What a lucky bun to have survived.We currently have a have a Hav a heart trap out trying to catch a bun loose near Rt 7 in Wilton. Hopefully she will be in safety soon.Please welcome our latest Volunteer Amanda and add her to your volunteer distro lists. Amanda is only with us while on Summer vacation but she will continue to volunteer with us during her college vacations. (meemee816@aol.com) Amanda's family adopted Rain some months ago and I am hearing tales of a very happy bunny who shares a bed with her doggie friend!I know you have all read about Ivan and I just want to tell Brandee one more time how sorry I am. Brandee worked tirelessly to keep Ivan happy, clean and comfortable, making him feel loved and giving him every chance to recover. We were so completely shocked by his passing today. He has seemed to be holding his own. With these delicate creatures you just don't know. Anyway, Brandee, since Ivan couldn't ever say thank you let me say it for him. He loved you dearly and I feel privileged to have had him for a night two weeks ago. He had a dynamite personality who never gave up. I'm so glad that he had found love and got to experience some comfort before he died. Enough for now. Have a good week everyone......

Ode to a Bunny - Read the Next Blog Down


We watch you come in, sometimes aggressive
We have you altered to make you less obsessive
People let you go without giving you a chance
Their own ignorance to not understand
is sadly your circumstance
Breeders and pet stores looking to make a quick buck
Your new owners ignorance is not your luck
We see you get sick
We sometimes watch you die
We are supposed to be strong
But still we cry
A home we wait for
The best we can hope
Some just don't get how you too must cope
All the hours at the vets and cleaning your cages
You all have histories, some many pages
When one of you gets a home
How happy we are
To see what you've been through
And how you have come so far
Best of luck to our buns
Angels in disguise
One day we hope the world
Will come to realize
That all that is good
Can be found in a rabbits eyes.

Brandee McBride-LaCava

The Loss of Ivan. Bondings and Adoptions Update


This morning when I got finished talking with Linda about Ivan and other bunnies, I went down to give Ivan his morning meds, and he didn't get up to greet me, he'll never get up again. Ivan has gone to the Rainbow Bridge. Ivan came in via an animal auction to another rescue group that brought him to me. He came in in February and was diagnosed with an inner ear abscess on his brain stem. It got better for a week or two, than he slowly started tilting the other way. He had been treated with medication including Chloremphenical BID, Otic ear drops, and even tried Bicillin for a while. Most recently he went in for a second opinion and got the same diagnosis, that was last week. I will miss him, as will all who came across his sweetness.



Ivan was an amazing bunny, and like all the wonderful rabbits we have that come in and never find homes before passing, he is a Hollow bunny, and we are happy to have had him here rather than where he could have been. Ivan will be cremated and put into my lettuce garden along with Rosie and Atilla. Today, and I believe Ivan had a hand in it, our Trumbull Animal Control bunny that came in with head-tilt and still has it slightly, Milo, got adopted out to a wonderful home in New Jersey. We are so happy for him, and hope they come back for a friend for him.
Indiana was adopted today, and his new family will pick a new friend for him as well. We got to meet Peter Rabbit today, belonging to Emily, who brought him in to do a bonding - Peter has no front teeth due to complications, and he is now in my living room in front of me and a good episode of Stargate bonding with Silky. Punky and Simon Peter are being bonded in the computer room. It is a house of craziness right now, but I happy, and all is good.


I got to meet the family of Rodelli the rat I will be taking in today. They brought Rodelli up to meet me and will drop her off for good here next Thursday. They are moving to England and the quarantine is 6 months, which is a huge chunk of a rats life. Rodelli will stay here with us and be Chris' new computer companion. She is a very sweet rattie girl!


How many animals can you count in this picture? Rodelli is meeting some of her new family, Major, our Shepard, really seemed to like grooming Rodelli, she was soaked upon leaving!







I trapped a rabbit named Radish a couple of weeks ago. She has eyes of an old soul, they are like no other bunny eyes I have ever seen before. They are filled with feeling. I had gotten a phone call from a woman who had a rabbit eating her garden, mainly the radishes, and asked us to take it away. There was poison on the plants (the white powder that is not dangerous to humans once we wash the vegetables).



Bonding Bunnies:

Punky & Simon Peter
















Peter and Silky:









Newly bonded Munchkin & Timmy:












Well, lots of good things are happening here. We have partnered with Petco in Norwalk, and more than likely Milford as well, to keep adoptable bunnies in the stores and keep sales of rabbits out. The Petco foundation has been very helpful in our endeavors. We hope that the bonding of the Hollow with Petco will help us to both open a facility in the future and continue working with Petco. We will more than likely have our kickoff in September when it becomes a little cooler in the store.


Oh, Fudge and Truffles went to their new home this past week as well, the last two animals that owner was diagnosed with cancer. All animals from her have found homes now, thanks be to God!


Ali hosted both Jess and myself last weekend to a tag-sale to benefit the Hollow and we raised $314.o8! It was great! We have had over 65 spays and nueters done since January 1st of this year! We are constantly growing and educating the rabbit community. It has been a great year for us, and we have many other wonderful rescue groups and foster homes working with us.

Thank you everyone for your support to us, we can not do it without you! Also, thank you to all the volunteers that come and clean cages, it's a huge thing to us. Jim - I warned you how many bunnies there are, and you still took it on, thank you so very kindly for the day off!

Brandee :o)