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!

Wow... Long Time No Blog!!

Hey, well, here was my day... I woke up with my 11 month old, soon to be a year (WOW HAS IT FLOWN BY!), and noticed that the garbage had been broken into by Raccoons... It was all over the driveway, so I called my good friend Madison Letizia (age 10) and she came over to play with Katie so I could clean up my driveway and put the dishes away, get a couple of bunnies together to swap with our main location in Norwalk, Madison rode down to Norwalk with us and watched "Brats" in the backseat with Katie. THANK YOU MADISON! We stopped at Dutchess and got breakfast. I went and did the shots and was sad to be in such a rush to leave Linda to set up and rearrange the cages to accommodate the bunnies I brought down. Things change so much with a baby, and now that she's walking, I can't just put her in the stroller and expect her to watch me help clean, she screams for being confined! Linda will be joining in on knowing what that is all about as her Grandson Logan is now 2 months old and will be strolling around in just a few months as well. Next I dragged Maddie and Katie to the dump with me, then we dropped Maddie off at home to visit with her Uncle Jason. Katie finally fell asleep for her 8:30 nap at 11:00, and I continued to weed the garden and do dump runs. I had to stop the traffic next to Sikorsky Memorial Airport to help a turtle cross the road... Another dump run, and then I did the unthinkable. I went to Dutchess again. I got a burger and pulled over next to the Ramada Inn on Lordship Blvd. to eat my burger and there was a baby Seagull walking through the parking lot crying. I called Wildlife in Crisis to ask their advice, went about my business, then went back by. The baby had climbed the back stairs at the Ramada and was laying there crying. A guy came out and said that it had been there the past day, so I gathered it up, brought it home and fed it, then Jim to the rescue! He not only took Cakester the Guinea Pig down to the Humane Society for me, but also drove the Seagull (a "Laughing Gull") down to WIC in Weston. I then went to drop off Peanut (bunny) to her new home. I cleaned some of the cages downstairs, then went to the graduation party of Nick Romeo who I have nannied for for over 8 1/2 years. We came home, Katie and I watched Mama Mia (again) and then I went down to clean cages. It's been a long day. My cat Toby, a stray we took in a couple of years ago, is missing. I'm afraid when we unload the garage for our Hollow Tag Sale this weekend, I might find him injured or worse. He doesn't come up to people, so it's touch and go with what's wrong with him. My cat Mitose peed on a couple of Katie's things this week, so Linda Howard at Linda's Doggie Salon in Stratford (SHE ROCKS!!) gave us a cat cage, which my husband cut new shelves for, and now we have to lock Mitose up at night. It sucks, but I can't deal with cat pee smell. We have many rats, Degu's, chinchilla's and bunnies up for adoption and foster. HELP!

If you are cleaning for us, THANK YOU! If you can help keep the litter boxes cleaned out, awesome, since summer is here the urine build up in litter boxes will cause more humidity, so please help us keep them really wiped out, also keep the doors closed at both locations, we don't want the possibility of fly strike hitting us. We are in need of 33 and 39 gallon black garbage bags, and if you see papers out on your neighborhoods recycling days, please think of picking them up for us and bringing them by, the less Linda has to do going out collecting, the more she can concentrate on keeping her home, seriously, her biggest business is designer fashions and collectibles on EBAY. Help where you can if you can... It takes a lot to run a household, and even more when you add a shelter on to it! Any fundraising ideas you are willing to follow through with is a huge bonus with us too! We take volunteers needing to fulfill community service hours, and those looking to rack up bonus credits for college... Have a great weekend! Brandee
203-767-1150

Chin Adoption, GP's and Rats for adoption, Bunny bondings...

One of the white chins dropped off here last month, Ichabod (now Miiko) found a new home with the Baker family. He is going to be spoiled rotten! They did lots of research, got a cage from http://www.martinscages.com/ (0ne of my favorite sites for cages) and Emily, his primary owner, is a well spoken and very intuitive child. Also, the parents know they are fully responsible, what a breath of fresh air! Our other white chin, now named Cotton, seems to be doing awesome with Christines Button and Larrie, and I guess she'll get herself an "Easter Chin" when she gets home from visiting nephew Rylen in VA. Christine is also fostering Van-Gogh the Degu, and he is so in love with her! I'm bonding Jesse (who was our Jackson Brown) to Vanilla, and it seems to be going well, and we also had a couple of bunnies dropped off last week from Sonya, a Belgiam Hare named Elmer, and a bunny that looks like she might have been some kind of dutch mix named Lilly. They really beat each other up, so I didnt' think the bonding would work from the start, and trying them here didn't help the situation either. They just don't like each other. I bonded Lilly with the Harlequin Bugs from Mandy's rescue that we had just bonded to Jessica's Bunny Chloe that passed this week from a heart disorder, (and we are so very sorry for Chloe's passing, especially me since she was staying with me and I had to rush her to the vet, and Jess and David were on their honeymoon, I just can't not feel somewhat responsible...) Lilly and Bugs are totally grooming each other and seem to be in love. Elmer the Belgium, he doesn't like any of our girls we have right now. We'll see what the family says when they get back in touch with me again... I don't know if I mentioned we got in 4 five week old brown baby bunnies from Mandy, and a pregnant mom (Breyer) that gave birth last week to another 4. She is so scrawny, but trying to do her best to keep herself and her babies happy and healthy. 2 look like Hot-Tot's and 2 look like maybe dwarf albino's, we'll see when their eyes completely open. The bun at Linda's may give birth as well, and there are several others looking for permanent or foster homes. We have a wonderful woman, who I think wishes to remain anonymous, that is going to pay for the spays and neuters on the other rabbits left, and hopefully we can find foster homes for them. We have had a very busy couple of weeks, and though we love what we do, it can be a bit frustrating at times, and tiring... Good Night, Brandee

Addie update, more babies...

Addie went to the doctor again yesterday, they think the leg they want to amputate may still have a chance to regenerate (or fall off) and have never seen anything like her (like so many other buns we bring in) so while the other foot is getting better, starting to grow more hair, we are going to wait another month to see what happens with the foot - she's cool though - on antibiotics still, so she's great (DON'T KEEP YOUR BUNNIES OUTSIDE! FROSTBITE SUCKS! Then again so does flystrike, maggots eating your rabbit from the outside in, which happens in the summer). Mandy at Cottontail Rabbit Rescue was given a situation to deal with where this guy, if I'm getting the story straight, is a trapper. He had 15 bunnies that he was going to shoot before he went away for a month and a neighbor said he'd help place the rabbits, so we took a couple and a litter of 4 babies that are 4 1/2 weeks old, but had to be taken from their mom as she just had another litter. They are doing well, and a female I took in here just had a litter while I was at work tonight, looks like 4, but I didn't mess with the litter too much. I'll give the mom a couple of days, she's so exhausted this evening and I want her to be comfortable here.
We have had several bondings going on. Our bun Duke just got bonded to Jim's bunny Chloe, and I'm trying Jess's bunny Chloe with several of our males while she and David are away on their honeymoon... I'm trying Celeste and Johnny (Jax now) again to no avail. I have 2 bunnies coming in tomorrow (Mandy's adoptions) that I'm going to try to assist in. We have several more bondings and adoptions coming up, I'm going to see if I can take Michele C's buns Jet and Roxy in the next two weeks and see what I can do with them. Clyde had passed away leaving Bunny behind and we tried bonding her with Jesse (aka Jackson Brown) and they were doing great the first two-three days, then all hell broke loose. We'll try him with Vanilla and maybe another bunny at the HS (I think her name is Kiki) next week. It's been a busy, busy few weeks,
and Chelsea is due any day now, and both her and Linda are sick (Linda, I love you, but you sound like crap today!) with Harvey just getting over it. I'm just tired. I'm trying to keep up with Katie (9 months old today!), being at work (my job is great), making calls, checking e-mails (which I've been horrible at) and cleaning what I have here, which was 9 rabbits, and just went up to 17 over night (and the bondings), 11 rats looking for homes, 4 chins looking for homes, 3 which may have them, and 2 Guinea Pigs, a single male, and a single female... Let's not even get into what Linda has going on with all the rabbits and the new Grandson on the way.
Brandee