Salty goes to the vet...

Ok, Blue, we don't know what's up with her, but she seems to be doing better. After finally getting Katie to go to sleep today, I went down to clean the rabbits and Salty (large gray chinchilla rabbit that came down from Cottontail Rabbit Rescue) was grinding her teeth like mad. I thought I was home for the day (You know how that goes Linda) but I had to get her to the vet. If you pet a rabbit and they start grinding their teeth, that is called tooth purring, they are enjoying be pet. If you walk in on a rabbit grinding it's teeth, usually it means it's in pain. So, from Stratford down to South Wilton I went. They did blood work and an X-Ray. We don't know where we will be getting the money from for this one, and we are awaiting the results. She was spayed November 5th, so it's a little late for lesions I believe, and she is newly bonded to Marle. The Doc feels a knot in her uterine area, so maybe an infection from the surgery? Puppy and Lovey got adopted, I have a GP here for a Christmas present for someone, and I'm getting down in my cages. I have 4 cages of rabbits left (one cage is mine) and 4 cages of chinchilla's still looking for homes. Brandee

OK, just got an update. She's in major stasis, tho she is still eating, blood values were poor, and may be kidney stones. Linda is going to try to pull her through, but with the lack of funding for surgery, we may have to put her down. If it's kidney stones, they gotta come out. I'm so upset for Salty, and am very happy Linda got her some heavy duty pain meds....

Blue goes to the vet

Well, Blue had to be rushed down the vet today because she started breathing funny. Linda started her on Zith 3 days ago, but even her beautiful fur looks bad today. We are thinking she may need to spend the night on oxygen. We have two of the HS bunnies also going to South Wilton tomorrow, one is having surgery, I wish I had taken a picture of the tumor on one of the legs. Linda and I are undecided on whether it's a massive tumor or a massive abscess. I'm so tired today but at least Katie seems to be feeling better, I think her teeth are finally busting through. Yawn... More later...

Lots going on...

Well, it's been a while, so for those of you who don't know, we lost our son 18 weeks into the pregnancy. It was a bummer, but we are moving on. Lumar, Ali's boyfriend, lost his mother 2 days ago. Harvey's brother has been in the hospital in a coma for over a week. It's been nuts. Now let's get to the rabbits. I just took in one 2 weeks ago, the cutest lion-head that was running loose in the Grasmere area of FFLD, his name is Drew and will be neutered and up for adoption soon, I'll post a couple of pics when I can. We took in a couple of others with health issues, and there are two at the HS that we are helping with, one looks like possible testicular cancer again. I took in a black bunny from animal control in ffld today, he looks like Michele Chellemi's bunny Jet, he's black and beautiful. I'll have to think of a name for him later. Again, another neuter. We had a bunny come in from North Haven that was all messed up, broken bones, jaw, dislocated shoulder, respiratory, and Linda did her miracle work with Dr. Fahey once again, and she, Blossom, is doing really well. Katie is running under my feet, so I'm going to bail for a few and see if I can't get back onto blogging more soon, like about how my garage now looks like a thrift shop! We are still taking tag-sale donations, and will take them all year round. Brandee

Argh! Long week...

I don't even know where to start. Last Thursday is just a blur, I know it involved a kitten call and the Trumbull rabbits, I just know it was rabbit filled and we spent a good portion of the day in the car. Friday morning I got up, borrowed a trap from Feral Care, set two traps in someones yard in Stratford to trap two rabbits running loose (there was a third but a car took that one out), ran a bunny to South Wilton Vet that had come in from Trumbull with scabs, missing fur, and major front teeth malocclusion, went to Linda's to pick up a baby bunny I'm watching, and then took the bunny with Katie (my 14 month old) and I too my OBGYN apt. at 10:45 in Fairfield. They weren't even awed that I showed up in the office with a rabbit. They know what I do. Saturday we had another Tag-Sale, we made it little over $300, and have another one next Saturday, and two in October. We are hoping to buy an incubator that has a front sliding door on it, they hold the heat well, and they cost about $500. It's a necessity for when we get in baby bunnies. I lost 5 this month. It sucks. Our money this past tag sale went to two vet bills incurred on the same day. One for a rat that has been passing blood in the urine, another for a 6 week old baby bunny that had to have Bot-Fly larvae (cutebra) removed from it surgically. We spend it as fast as it comes in, there is so much going on right now. We are in need of donations for our upcoming tag-sales. Please contact Brandee for item donation at 203-767-1150.

Sad News..

From Linda:

With great sadness I wanted to let you all know that tonight we lost our little Addie. Addie was a tiny little bun with a very big heart who came from the Easton Barn rescue back in February 2009. She arrived covered with frostbite. It took many months but she healed - though she did lose one of her hind legs. Addie lived in Brandee's kitchen for the first 3 months and then moved in with Linda for an additional two months. She visited Dr Fahy weekly and had far more than her share of dressing changes, drugs and treatments. She tolerated it all and never once tried to bite anyone no matter how much pain we caused her. Brandee was sure she would never make it through that first horrible night and we expected her to die each day for the first full month. Each morning she was still with us was a miracle. Slowly she healed and one daysomething very special happened. Addie was adopted! Brandee and I both cried to see her go off on her own with one of our trusted volunteers, Melissa. It was like Addie had come full circle and found herself a wonderful new life. Little Addie spent two very happy months with her new family who adored her. For the first time in her life she knew comfort and happiness. She spent each evening cuddled up and being petted and loved. She was no longer cold or hungry or in pain. She had her dressing changed on the remaining hind leg each week and each time we all rejoiced that she was on her way and so close to final recovery. Yesterday Addie ate and acted completely normal. This morning Addie didn't seem right. She wouldn't eat. Anyone who knew Addie knew nothing gave her more joy than food. Something was very, very wrong. Addie was rushed to South Wilton where they attempted to save her but she passed away tonight. No one knows why but stasis was certainly a part of it. Addie was never strong enough for spay surgery and I suspect she may had had ovarian cancer. Purely a guess on my part. She leaves behind all of us who loved her. She was our TV star, a Hollow mascot, an inspiration and our friend. She was a part of our lives and she will be very much missed. Our condolences and our warmest wishes to Addie's family.

Exhaustion Hits the Hollow...

Things have been nuts. This morning Linda and I went to Norwalk and caught two bunnies by the highway, we have named them Basil and Nellie. Nellie (white one) screamed when I caught her, it was heart wrenching. They are here together, have a spay and neuter set for the 25th, and are terrified half to death, especially Nellie. They are settled in nicely, but after running loose for over a month, I'm sure it's been a very big day for them both.

My cat Mitose died two weeks ago, Timmy who was bonded to Munchie, died last week, and now we have Addie (little 1 1/2 pound that came in from Easton nut) at South Wilton, rushed down today not looking good. Things happen in 3's for us, and we hope Addie will pull through fine. She's already on borrowed time, I thought for sure she would die on Feb. 3rd when she was dropped off in horrible shape. Since she has made a full recovery after leg amputation and has found her palace home with her human servants. We are praying for her full recovery once again. Linda has had many pet sitting jobs come through, and we have had volunteers canceling, which seems to happen more in the summer - but really stinks because that is when Linda's asthma is at its worst. We are having a tag-sale at 306 Lordship Road in Stratford this weekend, and several others coming up through-out September and October. I just can't write enough about all the stuff we have had going on, I can't keep up, and I know Linda has had it 50 million times worse. We are looking for more donations all the time, and more reliable volunteers. Please contact us if you can help!
Brandee

Nothing to say but OY!!

So the past week and a half has been nothing short of draining. Emotionally, physicially, and mentally.

I found out that my company got bought out everyone will be getting laid off. They told us we have more than 1 year but less than 3. Hopefully the job market will be better by then!

We received a call from Trumbull Animal Control about a week and a half ago. A family in Trumbull had 17 rabbits and several other creatures in the home that were not being cared for. Apparently, when TAC went into the house, there were dead rabbits in cages with live ones, and so many bags of trash in the garage that it was packed full to capacity. Not sure if they ever actually went through the trash but the last I heard, they were sure they find more dead animal bodies if they did. TAC seized the animals and is now pressing charges for animal abuse. This is the same family who TAC seized 16 rabbits from a couple of years ago. 3 of them became HALH residents (Biscuit, Ringo, and Milo). The family decided not to relinquish the animals this time so TAC actually has to press charges in order to (hopefully) obtain custody.

I took in Sam & Dean to foster for a little while so that Linda could open up a cage for any bunnies that may come in as a result of the above situation. Sam and Dean came in to us earlier this year. They had been left in an outdoor hutch when the owners sold the home. I have no idea how long they were out there for before the new owner found them. I remember they were really skinny when they came in, but Sam (who is much smaller than his big brother Dean) is very VERY scared. He charges and grunts at any thing that moves (except for Dean), but if I sit on the floor he will come and stand on me and just be generally nosey. I'm determined to get him adoptable! Dean on the other hand is a bit timid but much more outgoing than Sam. At least Dean lets you pet him!

So last Saturday the 25th, was the HALH Garden Party. There were not as many people there are there have been in the past, but I think it was more manageable for Linda and Harvey! Overall, I feel that it went well and the food (courtesy of Harvey) was wonderful, as usual!

On Sunday, I dropped off my two Flemish Giants to Brandee so that she could attempt to bond them. They have been living in separate x-pens next to each other for well over a month but they were still bickering and boxing each other so I figured I would have Brandee give it a try. 26lbs of rabbit is a lot to handle to begin with, but add in the fact that everyone in her house is sick and it was chaos. So I went and picked up my beasties last night and we will try again in a few weeks when things are less hectic!

Anyone able to donate designer clothing/handbags (no knock off’s), 33 or 39 gallon BLACK trash bags, or newspapers, please contact Linda or Brandee! We can always used Petco gift cards and grocery store gift cards as well to buy supplies and greens!

Thanks everyone!