Bunnicula
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Hi all!
As some of you are aware, we've been looking to find a buck to bond with Gingivere. She doesn't always get along with our other doe (Emmaline)...and Emm has her own "hubby" in Pipkin, anyway. I was going to attempt to bond Gingi with the other 2, but since Emmaline and Pipkin have an extremely loving relationship, I really didn't want to do anything that might change the dynamic of that.
My hope was to find an adult buck with a calm disposition. I checked local shelters, but the right fellow was never there. I have thought about some I've read about here on RO, but I have continued to have this nagging sensation that I should look locally...that there's got to be a bun around here in need of a fresh start. I knew I could go back to where we got all our Holland Lops...but that's usually baby bunnies...and I really don't think Gingi has the patience to endure the teen years with another rabbit.
I even found myself at 2 pet stores in the past week - just looking. I almost adopted a Holland Lop at one...only because the conditions there were deplorable and I wanted to rescue him. Still, he looked depressed and maybe not well...but I didn't...just didn't feel right about him...
I've investigated rabbit rescues. Unfortunately the two closest are over an hour away. Both would require my bringing Gingivere along to pick her mate. She's not a good traveler, though (grinds her teeth - shows obvious stress signs in the car), and I don't want to put her through a long ride if it's not necessary.
So todayI visited another local pet supply store. They carry rabbits from local breeders, but they also have rabbits surrendered by owners that they are seeking to rehome. I fell in love with 2 mini-lops...but both were female, and too young...and not rehomes (which is something I really wanted to do - to give a bun a 2nd chance). There was also a sweet lion head (pretty much maneless) buck. Nice disposition - and they said he'd been there a few months. I was tempted, but he was difficult to handle. While I'm fine with a bunny that doesn't want to be held, he was a bit beyond that.
And then there was Max. Max is a surrendered male Mini Rex. They had pretty much no info on him...the workers weren't even certain he was a male...they just kept saying "we think so." So...I checked myself. Yup! He's male all right! A neuter will be in order for this fella.
I kept going back to visit while shopping. I held him. Petted him. Sat on the floor with him in my lap (which is when I checked his gender - he let me easily turn him over on his back).
Well...he lives here now. WOOHOO!!! I'm going to call the vet first thing Monday morning to schedule an exam and neuter. Then I'll move his cage in the same room with Gingivere. Then the bonding process...
I was going to build Gingi a new NIC palace this weekend. But I think I will wait until I can get the new guy neutered and settled. If they do bond, then I'll build them a home they can share together...and maybe if they are first introduced to it together Gingi won't be territorial about it (she is a cage hog).
I don't think he's going to continue his life as Max. Any name suggestions are welcomed. And here he is:
He's got the softest fur I have ever touched. It's like velvet. In fact, while sitting on the floor of the store holding and petting him I was reminded of my favorite children's story: The Velveteen Rabbit. And at that moment it was like a lightbulb went on! I felt the tears well up, held him close, and KNEW that he was the one. I didn't choose him because he was the cutest or the most friendly...simply because he was the ONE.
Whether or not he bonds with Gingivere, he's here in his forever home! Wish us luck on our new household adventure.
-Mary Ellen
As some of you are aware, we've been looking to find a buck to bond with Gingivere. She doesn't always get along with our other doe (Emmaline)...and Emm has her own "hubby" in Pipkin, anyway. I was going to attempt to bond Gingi with the other 2, but since Emmaline and Pipkin have an extremely loving relationship, I really didn't want to do anything that might change the dynamic of that.
My hope was to find an adult buck with a calm disposition. I checked local shelters, but the right fellow was never there. I have thought about some I've read about here on RO, but I have continued to have this nagging sensation that I should look locally...that there's got to be a bun around here in need of a fresh start. I knew I could go back to where we got all our Holland Lops...but that's usually baby bunnies...and I really don't think Gingi has the patience to endure the teen years with another rabbit.
I even found myself at 2 pet stores in the past week - just looking. I almost adopted a Holland Lop at one...only because the conditions there were deplorable and I wanted to rescue him. Still, he looked depressed and maybe not well...but I didn't...just didn't feel right about him...
I've investigated rabbit rescues. Unfortunately the two closest are over an hour away. Both would require my bringing Gingivere along to pick her mate. She's not a good traveler, though (grinds her teeth - shows obvious stress signs in the car), and I don't want to put her through a long ride if it's not necessary.
So todayI visited another local pet supply store. They carry rabbits from local breeders, but they also have rabbits surrendered by owners that they are seeking to rehome. I fell in love with 2 mini-lops...but both were female, and too young...and not rehomes (which is something I really wanted to do - to give a bun a 2nd chance). There was also a sweet lion head (pretty much maneless) buck. Nice disposition - and they said he'd been there a few months. I was tempted, but he was difficult to handle. While I'm fine with a bunny that doesn't want to be held, he was a bit beyond that.
And then there was Max. Max is a surrendered male Mini Rex. They had pretty much no info on him...the workers weren't even certain he was a male...they just kept saying "we think so." So...I checked myself. Yup! He's male all right! A neuter will be in order for this fella.
I kept going back to visit while shopping. I held him. Petted him. Sat on the floor with him in my lap (which is when I checked his gender - he let me easily turn him over on his back).
Well...he lives here now. WOOHOO!!! I'm going to call the vet first thing Monday morning to schedule an exam and neuter. Then I'll move his cage in the same room with Gingivere. Then the bonding process...
I was going to build Gingi a new NIC palace this weekend. But I think I will wait until I can get the new guy neutered and settled. If they do bond, then I'll build them a home they can share together...and maybe if they are first introduced to it together Gingi won't be territorial about it (she is a cage hog).
I don't think he's going to continue his life as Max. Any name suggestions are welcomed. And here he is:
He's got the softest fur I have ever touched. It's like velvet. In fact, while sitting on the floor of the store holding and petting him I was reminded of my favorite children's story: The Velveteen Rabbit. And at that moment it was like a lightbulb went on! I felt the tears well up, held him close, and KNEW that he was the one. I didn't choose him because he was the cutest or the most friendly...simply because he was the ONE.
Whether or not he bonds with Gingivere, he's here in his forever home! Wish us luck on our new household adventure.
-Mary Ellen
