Hop-A-Long Holiday! Bun News and Pictures!

Ok, no more Brandee Cranky Pants... We are much too busy for that this week! First, let me start by reminding you that we have our party on Sunday at the Hollow and Nicole C. is going to be bringing her Wallaby with her! How much fun! I'll post pictures! Wesley came in the beginning of November, dropped off at my house by Officer Ford (formerly Rabbito!) from West Haven Animal Control (what my neighbors must think seeing all these animal control cars show up at our house!) and we had him neutered, then he went to the Hollow last Wednesday morning and was adopted Wednesday night. Good for you Wesley! Then we took in Bonnie and Clyde (no pics yet) who are now bonded together (both were already altered) and I also bonded Pepsi this week to Bunny. They are all gorgeous together. Pepsi will love her new home with Bunny! We also took in Mary Jane this week, a bunny that was permitted to run loose in Westport, and we took in Mr. Magoo who was brought down from Vermont. Magoo is a lovely lop that had to be seen by Dr. Pieper this week. He has an enlarged liver (drinks a ton of water) and a libacious (spelling?) cyst on his back. The cyst will be removed when he is neutered, but first we must wait for his blood work to come back showing us his organ functions are normal before carrying on with that step.

Hollowstock/Hopstock - HOLLOW REMODELED!!

What we got accomplished today was unbelievable! We showed up around 9, moved all bunnies to carriers and smaller cages for the day with their name cards and info, and moved all the cages out of the Hollow. Everything was sterilized with a betadine solution (through a high powered washer), washed, put through the washer with bleach or just thrown out. We had a dumpster donated by the Malone’s (Malone’s Rental Services), who also bought a ton of soda &, water for the volunteers and lettuce for all the bun’s. Their son’s Matthew and Alex were there to start with the clean up by getting all the toys, food dishes and water bottles prepared for the bleaching. Thanks Boys! All the shelves and other loose pieces were taken out of the cages and discarded.

Greer drove up from Long Island, Ali from Stratford, and Jess from Wallingford. Harvey (Fairfield Hardwood Supply & Chelsea Carpentry), Chris (LaCava’s Martial Arts & Westport Acupuncture Center) and Stan took care of the new sub-floor and tiling. Michelle M. was there to clean and Virginia and Jim came as well to help take care of things! So much happened so fast today… Harvey even ripped the fireplace right out to add to our space! WOW! The following pictures will show our day. The Hollow is amazingly more roomy, sterilized, and GOOD TO GO! It was hard to believe we had so many cages that we had enough to leave 27 cages out on the back porch in the shade for the day while the other 27 were getting sterilized! God graced us with perfect weather! Everything was catered by Letizia’s Pizza in Norwalk (AMAZING SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS!). Thank you Dennis, Michelle & Madison Letizia!

Fantasia stopped by to have Billy and Zula’s nails clipped, we clipped all the shelter bunny’s nails today and Vicky stopped by with her 12 baby bunnies from 2 litters so far (THANKS AGAIN TO PETSTORES!) to be sexed. Greer took 2 home to foster. They are SO GORGEOUS! They all look like either Jersey Woolies or Lion Heads. We are going to try to help with getting them altered and into good homes. (Pictures to follow!)

Terri Saumel has donated SEVERAL (like 20) books on tape that will be now available to listen to at the Hollow. We’ll have a tape player and CD player there for passing of time. THANK YOU TERRI! Terri donates items on a regular basis, but I have to mention that she donates these wonderful little cardboard items that when folded together make the perfect houses, she also donated all those cardboard boxes with lids on them that we tote our stuffed tubes (and she donates tubes/treats too!) back and forth in. Please say a thank you and prayer. One of Terri’s bun’s Gray-C that she adopted from us had a abscess in her neck that was just removed. Pray she comes through fine, she is in a very pampered and spoiled home and bonded to the very handsome Asher bunny.

Thank you everyone so very much for showing up and helping out. Everyone did so much work, and we accomplished so much!

We are still collecting Ink Cartridges (No Toner Cartridges) and Cell Phones, please remember to collect for us! Also, we are still in need of Vinegar, Bleach, Laundry Detergent, Large Black Garbage Bags and Paper Towels.

Thanks again to ALL! – Brandee -

Another Bunny Gets a Home!!

Ok, not even sure what his name is, you'll have to fill us in Ali! A Rex that recently came in from the New Haven area was adopted today! So quick I didn't even get to know him! Rags is going to be started on some super powered glucocimine (sp?) shots next week - we have never tried them before - to see if we can't get somewhere with him. Brandee

Mandy gets adopted!!

Ok, Mandy got adopted today! YAY! She is a little black and white lion-head that came in from Mandy at Cottontail Rabbit Rescue. See Linda, there is a reason you are home sick! Just kidding! Just had to mention - I think I posted when I gave birth to my son in October that the nurse in the room during delivery is the sister - in -law to a woman that helps to run 3 bunnies rabbit rescue... small world! So Katie, my 2 year old, just started preschool on Wed. Her teacher Miss. Jen called me to let me know how my friends daughter was doing (long story) and said "I just remember where I know you from! You are Brandee with Hop-A-Long Hollow, right?" She also works for Linda Howard who owns Linda's Doggie Salon here in Stratford. We have done several rescues with Linda. Soooo Funny! Just glad I feel I'm starting to get back into the swing of things a bit! We have feet, not inches, of snow, and it's a beautiful week. Be careful to all! Brandee :o)

Linda Sick, Rags not well...

Well, Linda was sent home from the airport by her husband and crawled into bed for 3 days. She's still not 100% but will hopefully still be joining him in Florida by weeks end. Feel better oh great bunny lady! I'm currently bonding Kia and Marly back together, she had her eye removed and is doing great! Rags, one of my most favorite buns to ever come into the Hollow, is going down hill so fast. He has horrible Arthritis that just hit so hard that it looks like he has a splayed back leg now. We are certain he won't be with us much longer. We also have Oliver and Rosie too that are just off, so they are under careful watch.

It's amazing how all of the volunteers have once again pulled together to make sure the Hollow is covered again - I personally want to thank everyone! THANK YOU! I will be going away at the end of Feb. and have Ali and Kristine doing shots for me, so want to say thanks to them too! THANKS! Will try to get some pictures the next time I'm down. All bondings going pretty well so far! Brandee

P.S. Just wanted to say Thanks to one of my Awesome Friends Mindy Coman for her and fiance' Rob providing us with SO MANY PAPERS!!! And on a continuous basis, and Flyer Free! Thanks guys!!

Linda away??? 3 Bondings!

Believe it or not, Linda is going away! Ok, working vacation, but she's actually getting on a plane! I'm wondering if she will ever come back! Went to clean today - we are going to try to have Marley and Kia put back together. They have been separated in cages next to each other due to Kia's eye removal. I did 3 bondings last week, Dixie and Woodstock, 2 black female rabbits adopted at separate times from the Westport Humane Society, and Winter (who just lost bond-mate Licorice) with Lucky. Just exciting as all seems well so far and 3 bunnies got homes last week! Skylar, our severe head-tilt bunny, is more than likely being adopted - maybe even today - by a family that called actually looking to take in a special needs bunny! YAY! Hopefully that goes well! Brandee

Bondings and such... Goodbye Licorice...

Well, I have started back with bondings and cleaning 2 days at the Hollow. Right now I have Ali's infamous Dixie - the Flemish beauty (my favorite breed) as her bond mate Jellybean passed a couple of weeks ago. Not going so well, so going to swap for a new bunny today. A woman from Wspt. adopted from the Humane Society last year, and they fell in love with another bunny yesterday, both girls, and they will be getting dropped for a bond attempt later today. Don't have the best of luck with same sex bonds, but the younger is 4 months and spayed, so perhaps her hormones haven't kicked in yet. All is crazy here, lack of sleep, etc... Down at the Hollow, even crazier! Thank goodness for the come back of a couple of volunteers (thanks Greer!) and the adoptions and bondings we have going on. One thing strange is the amount of eye removals we are having - yes - eye removals! A woman brought her sick bunny in last month that's eye actually burst (ewwww!) and was removed. Feather had an eye issue upon coming in and had hers removed. Kya's just got removed last week because of an abscess in the eye ball (so wild looking) and now it looks as though Athena's may be coming out as well. When it rains, it pours. South Wilton is getting lots of rabbit experience from us! Linda got a call from South Wilton the other day that Licorice had passed away. Her bond mate Winter will be coming in soon for a new bond mate. Well, I'm actually packing up the kids to go down and clean, let my daughter Katie play with Linda's grandson Logan (who is going to be a big brother in July!!) so maybe some more news later! Don't forget to check our website at www.hopalonghollow.org for updates on adoptable bunnies and other small animals! Brandee :o)