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)

Ivan, Petco Conference

Ok, well, we saw Dr. Pieper yesterday, Ivan and myself that is. Ivan's head is tilting the other way. What is happening apparently is that the brain stem ends around the ears and the abscess has gone from one side and kind of flopped over the brain stem to the other side. Ivan is still on his chloramphenicol (haven't missed a dose yet!), and now on ear drops that are irritating to him, boy is he trying to shake them out! He also had another mild shot of steroids. He hasn't completely flipped, and isn't out of the clear, like I said in my previous blogs. We can only see what is really going on with an MRI, and we just can't afford it right now (I think it runs 500-1200, can't remember, but it's very expensive) so we will just keep doing what we can right now, and it has definitely shown progress. He is hopping around my house like a crazy man still. We live in a center-staired cape so he keeps running in circles around the main staircase... Living room, computer room, hall and than all over again. He's making up for loss time I guess.

Linda and I had a conference call with Petco today re: Rabbits coming into the New England locations. We are very upset about the sale of rabbits in these stores, and they are looking at it as keeping up with local markets. We also spoke with a woman, I'm not putting names. I had a bunch of rabbit questions I asked that weren't answered to our satisfaction and we are looking forward to speaking to their District Animal Care Trainer to see what information he has to offer up on rabbit care. The DM is working on it (we understand it all goes back to Corporate), trying to get us answers and trying to see what he can do to keep everyone happy. I don't envy his job, especially having to deal with people like me that will never, ever understand the sale of animals in stores when there are thousands looking for homes. He let us know that they are working on other ideas, but we are not at liberty to say what those are at the moment as we gave our word. I guess we'll just sit back and see how things unfold for now. It's very upsetting, very heart wrenching to me, but we will stand by both our word, and by our goals to helping these animals find homes.

Please don't forget that we have 2 dates at Petco coming up for adoptions and donations. We will be at the Norwalk location on the 10th and the 24th from 10-4pm. Come and bring your family to see the Easter Bunny and have your picture taken!

Good night, and say a prayer for Ivan!
Brandee

Ivan tilts the other way, Raven, JD, Petco, Hip Hop

This is so messed up, and please believe we will get an appointment with Dr. Pieper in the next week, but Ivan's head is starting to tilt a bit the opposite way. He is still hopping all over the place, and is trying to mount our old Lab Mix, JD, who keeps doing an angry bark when the bunny climbs on him. It's kind of funny, in a silly sort of way. I can't imagine what would make his head start going the other way, maybe his neck muscles finally getting use and he is getting tired or lazy, but we will go see Dr. P to see what is up. As I stated before, yes, it is a miracle to me and others that have seen his progress, but I am still not getting my hopes up that this will be cured. I am curious as to what this is. Hope all is well and everyone has checked out our YouTube videos through the web-site. There are so many very cute videos, but I think the "Flash, Zippy and Thunder" is my favorite after watching the little wacky Flash flip over so many times like a chinchilla rolling in the dust!

I took Raven down to our Norwalk location today. Omigoodness, the birds are having their last wind tonight, I keep waiting for Chris to say to throw the blanket over them, but he doesn't seem to be bothered by them yet. The bearded dragons are doing well, hopefully we will have them adopted out soon

Look for us at Petco on the next two dates at the Norwalk location, and the Easter Bunny's friend Hip Hop will be there too!

Good Night!
Brandee

Pet Press Article, Adoptions and Ivan

I'm sitting here with Ivan and am wondering why things work out the way they do. He has white gunk coming out of his left eye that is pretty useless right now as with the wry-neck issue this eye just stays closed. I have been opening it and trying to make him get some use out of it by following my finger around. I'm getting little to no response, but hey, I just started yesterday! As gently rock him, I hear some gas bubbles! We just got done with nibbling on some lettuce! Stormy's eye is great, Bubba's butt is better (eye still watery) all the remaining babies are doing great, Bay is great, Shaylah's fur all grew back in on her head, Juliet and Cleo have both stopped sneezing, Parsley has found Hermione in the upstairs bedroom, so now the baby gate! As far as I know, things are well at Linda's location, except Pumpkin seemed to backtrack a little in his healing (EC & upper respiratory). I have a write up in Pet Press this month (I don't remember what I sent, as I sent in a few articles) that I am told is the one on spaying/neutering. I am having a problem finding a copy (I need a few if anyone sees it this month's issue is apparently all about rabbits!). Next week I will be taking in one of the Fitchburg bunnies from Mass through the HRN. We are happy to help, even though it's only one rabbit! I am house sitting for the 9 bunny people. Things are quite well, they rearranged things so that the bunnies are separated from each other, and there are appointments coming up for the other females to be spayed. The 4 remaining babies (I'm pretty positive) are all girls, about 6-7 weeks old. I actually felt at peace when I went there today, really. I'm glad I thought about things and have decided to respond to them differently.

OK, it's about 9:30 p.m., I can't connect to the internet, yet again! I need to replace my Linksys.
I just finished up another ½ hour play/therapy session with Ivan. It's hard to see him struggle, but I have high hopes for him. His one eye that is open just keeps scanning everything, sideways and upside down. I wonder if he is nauseated by the whole thing, I know I would be. Say a prayer for him. I am betting on this being EC and Dr. Pieper and I spoke about him the other day and also about getting our hands on the Marquee. He goes in on Tuesday, blood work and a check-up. It's funny how with everything going on, how I am trying to find myself, that he should come into my life. I find him to be a blessing. Please say a little prayer for him that together we can get him better.

One of Alise's boys got adopted out today, which leaves one more from her litter. I'm very excited for him! Let's just hope these adoptions keep on coming, we need the room, and they need the homes!

Good Night!

Stargate, Ivan's Eating, and Cash in the Mail

I'm sitting here watching one of my favorite Stargate Episodes called "Wormhole X-Treme."

I got my new bunny today, mine forever, Ivan. He has extreme head tilt, but is eating everything I give him such as broccoli, carrots (I want to fatten him up, he is so thin!) and lettuce. I have been working with his neck today and gave him some Metacam (pain killer) since our head movement sessions to try and work on the severe muscle atrophy that comes with wry-neck are very sore to him and I want him to be in less pain. I'll keep him on it for a few days until he gets use to the muscle soreness that he will have. Ali was paid by Julie Durante in cash today. Julie said she forgot to send it out. Cash? In the Mail? I'm just glad that Ali got reimbursed for her help to us!

My Life here is not an accident, it has all been pre-destined.

18th Birthday's, Petco's looking up, and we need a new facility

Good afternoon! I am in a much better mood today than the past couple, and I did notice a full moon last night. I should really watch that! Still no word back (not expecting to hear until this evening) on Buster's blood-work. He is such a cutie though! I just got a call from Petco, we are getting in two rats that some woman dropped off as punishment to her daughter and she said they haven't been fed in 4 days. I'm hoping Julie can foster them. Below is a link to the web-site with the info on the Fitchburg Bunnies, we are taking in one male NZW he is in the first picture after the text:

http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/fitchburg.shtml

It's busy enough here, but we are out to help, we are on a mission, and we are out to meet as many people as possible, someone out there might be able to help with a facility down the road. Someone with enough love for bunnies in their hearts that have the financial backing may be out there just looking for a Non-Profit Organization to help with a hefty tax-write off! We have a possible 5 more adoptions pending right now, so keep your fingers crossed. I got up at 5:30 and was at Staples H.S. this morning decorating the building with pictures and "Happy 18th Birthday Alexa and Nicole" signs by 6 a.m. Ali and Nic are two girls I use to nanny for starting at age 3! Ali has helped with very many animal parties and both are huge animal lovers. I was at work by 7am and then went home, made my rounds and I went back to see Ali & Nic around lunch time with balloons and we will have dinner together this evening at Circle Diner. I medicated all the buns needing it this morning, put some extra food in for the very rapidly growing babies, and signed on line to see a new 40 e-mails from yesterday. Busy, busy, busy. Next week I think I'll just go driving or maybe when Jet and Gigi come to stay, just go all over God's creation to hang up bunny adoption signs. Sounds good to me, and Harry Potter will be, of course, in the CD player! I'll be looking at getting a big decal for the back of the Pathfinder as well. We need more advertising. I think we are now in the beginning stages of getting back into Petco, Norwalk again. They are under new management and the new manager seems pleasant on the phone! Ivan, the head-tilt NZW, will be coming on Friday. I am going to end my blog here today saying that I am in a much better place today than yesterday, I have been on the phone with the Stratford Library for ink cartridges, the CT HS Newington shelter both help with transport of the 23 rabbits looking for homes and to offer up our services to teach a rabbit educational seminar for employees and volunteers, and online with HRN about getting the NZW boy from the Fitchburg bunnies next weekend. Now I'm going to head out to Friendly's, wait for Dr. Pieper to call (and Linda to translate!) and settle down for a semi-quiet evening at home.

Good Night :o)