New Non Profit to BenefitCompanion RabbitsA Word from our President, Mary Huey

Rabbits, rabbits, and more rabbits! Theircute images are everywhere, but how manyfolks know what it’s like to bring one intothe home? Welcome to the wonderfulworld of companion rabbits and to theRabbit Advocates. Let me tell you some-thing about us.

Our passion for rabbits is sincere. Weappreciate how intelligent, gentle,affectionate and entertaining rabbits canbe and want to share our enthusiasm andknowledge with all animal lovers.

Frequently, when visiting with people whohave previously had a rabbit, we hearstories about their past experiences. Somestories are heartwarming and some are

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heartbreakers. Rabbits are prey animalswho need special considerations to keepthem safe, and they are social animals whobenefit from close human companionship.Much progress has been made over thepast few years regarding the way that theseunique animals are viewed and should becared for. It is our goal, through educa-tional efforts, to share this information andpromote a more enlightened view. Wehope this results in a better quality of lifefor all companion rabbits.

For the past five years the Rabbit Advo-cates have worked closely with OregonHumane Society in establishing theircompanion rabbit care and adoptionprogram. Rabbits are the third-most-surrendered animals at shelters, precededby dogs and cats. Our volunteers work veryhard to keep rabbits in the spotlight and toplace them in loving homes.

We have now taken the giant step ofbecoming a nonprofit organizationdedicated to the welfare of companionrabbits. I invite you to: visit our web site(www.adoptarabbit.org) attend ourmonthly meetings, come to our out-reaches at various community locations,attend our educational and fundraisingevents, call our telephone information line(503-617-1625) with your questionsabout rabbit care or about the RabbitAdvocates.

Working independently toward makingthe world a better place for companionrabbits makes this an exciting time for allof us. We welcome all of you to contact usand join in these efforts. You won’t find anicer, more caring group of people!

Rabbit Rescues:Kudos to Volunteersand VetsFollowing up on calls to our help line,Rabbit Advocate volunteers recentlyrescued four rabbits which had beenreleased in an Aloha neighborhood. Dayslater, volunteers searched the steep rockyterrain of Shepperd’s Dell State Park inthe Columbia Gorge and rescued twelveadorable dwarf rabbits which had beenabandoned there.

Many thanks to the teams of volunteerswho made expeditions to Aloha andShepperds’s Dell, the foster families whoare caring for the rabbits, and thefollowing veterinarians who have gener-ously donated spay/neuter services:

Dr. Wood, Raleigh Hills Veterinary ClinicDr. Wilson, Beaverton Pet ClinicDr. Davis, Vista Pet Hospital

Loving foster families and permanenthomes are urgently needed! Please call usat 503-617-1625 if you can help.

Become a Rabbit Advocatevolunteer. Join a group ofdedicated, fun-loving people whoare committed to the welfare ofcompanion rabbits. Meetings areheld on the third Sunday of everymonth. Log on towww.adoptarabbit.org for furtherinformation. Or phone: 503-617-1625

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Continuing Education:Q & A for Bunny Parentsby Shelley Hanel and Halli Altson

Q How can you tell when a rabbit isbecoming ill? If you see that she’s noteating what are the first steps to take?When do you need to take her to the vet?

A There are several ways to tell if arabbit is not feeling well. Symptomsinclude lethargy, decrease in appetite (sheshould always want her favorite treat),fewer and smaller poops, and a tempera-ture one degree outside of the normalrange which is 101-103 degrees F. It isimportant to contact your vet immediatelyif your bunny does not feel well.

Q What is the best way to hold/restrain my rabbit while grooming/nailtrimming/temperature taking? What isthe best way to pick up a bunny?

A Put him on your lap or on a tablewith his rear end touching your stomachand his head pointing away from you.Restrain him with both hands. You canalso wrap your bunny in a cloth and takeone foot out at a time to trim his nails. Thebest way to pick up a bunny is using onehand to lift him under his rear end and the

The Rabbit Advocates meet atOregon Humane Society, 1067NE Columbia Boulevard,Portland, Oregon, on the thirdSunday of every month(except December) from 4:00 -6:00 PM. The public iswelcome!

The following is a schedule ofeducational topics:

October 20

Emergency! What to includein your rabbit medicine chest,what to do in a disaster, tipsfrom emergency vets.

November 17

Does bunny need a pal?Bonding techniques, multiplebondings.

January 19

Fur, Tooth & Nail - Grooming,nail trimming, TTouch,malocclusion.

February 16

Common rabbit diseases,common meds, how tomedicate, meds to avoid.

March 16

A rabbit in the house: bunnyproofing, litter box training.

Check our website:www.adoptarabbit.org, foroutreach schedule andspecial events

Got a Question About HouseRabbits? We’re here to help.Call our help line, 503-617-1625

EVENTSother hand to lift him under his chest/front arms making sure that he can notjump out of your arms.

Q How long can I expect my rabbit tolive? What are the positive steps I cantake to ensure as long a life as possible?

A Your rabbit can live 8 to 12 years.To increase longevity, keep her indoorswith you and exercise, feed and love herwell!

Q What is the best living arrangementfor a rabbit? Will my bunny be happierwith or without a companion?

A A good home for a bunny is insideyour house with as much room as pos-sible. If needed, a wire pen with room toplay, jump, stretch, feed and use alitterbox will help contain your rabbit.Many bunnies are happier with a compan-ion. Care must be taken when introducinganimals. See our website for moreinformation.

Q Where can a new rabbit owner findthe most basic, easy to understand andaccurate info on caring for a bunny?

A Visit our website,www.adoptarabbit.org, and the links fromthis site.

Living with aHouse Rabbitby Lara Blanck-Weiss

When my first house rabbit came home, Ithought I was prepared. I’d decided hewould be cage-free. So, I set up a lowercupboard with a shelf and a ramp for hishideaway. That corner of the room had awater bottle, food dish, cute toys, andlitter boxes set up, and I had good,healthful pellets and timothy hay. I hadread the House Rabbit Handbook. I wasready for my new housemate.

Little did I realize how much there was tolearn. Otis arrived and refused to go in thecupboard nook I’d created – except to usethe lower half as a litter box if hay was inthere. He liked to hang out under hisramp, but didn’t like going on it. Thefencing I used to limit his space (to aidwith litter training, as I’d read to do) wasseen as a challenge. The first three nightswith a rabbit in the house were loud; hequickly learned I came running at the

sound of the fencing banging. It took me awhile to recognize his neat trick. I wasbeginning my training.

Since that start, Otis has learned new waysto get my attention. There’s no morefencing so instead he flings the remotecontrol. As soon as the fencing camedown he moved “his” space to one of thechairs under the kitchen table.

Otis has learned “no” means to stop whathe is doing, and he has learned when hewill hear it. In those situations he isstealthy, practically tiptoeing, and whenhe hears the inevitable “Otis NO” hebinkys away gleefully. He now begs oncue, but I sometimes feel he taught me togive treats on command. We’ve compro-mised on where the litter boxes should beplaced and Otis has been keeping his sideof that deal. I’ve learned to store paperitems and plants above knee level, and tolatch doors behind me. And the mostimportant lesson I’ve learned: No toy is asgood as a cardboard box with hay inside.

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Volunteer Spotlight:Mary Thompsonby Joan Gilbert

Mary T, as she is called by the RabbitAdvocates, is a highly dedicated andmultitalented volunteer. She fostersrabbits, answers the phone and e-mail helplines, educates the public, helps at specialevents, takes rabbits to adoption out-reaches, and is the Webmaster for thegroup. Behind the scenes, she is on theBoard of Directors, chairs the Educationcommittee, and participates on theVolunteer and Risk Management commit-tees. In short, she is there wheneverneeded!

Mary has had a fondness for rabbits sincechildhood. When she and her husband Jeffmoved to Oregon, they brought two houserabbits with them, Babs and Lillian.Because of her love for them, and desire tohelp other rabbits, she started volunteer-ing at Oregon Humane Society over fiveyears ago. When the idea came up for a

new nonprofit group dedicated toeducating the public about companionrabbits, she was eager to get involved.

Mary takes digital pictures of adoptablefoster and shelter rabbits for the website,www.adoptarabbit.org, and adds colorfuldescriptions. “The website is also a great

way to become involved in a largercommunity of people with an interest inthe welfare of companion rabbits,” notesMary. There are articles addressing rabbitcare and behavior, links to other informa-tion, rescue groups, retail outlet sites,recommended books, and more.

Ebony, who is blind and at least partiallydeaf, was one of many rabbits who found aloving home through the website. Marydescribes him as “an elder-bun who islovable but not one that the averageadopter gravitates towards.” When acaring family saw his picture, they decidedthey would love to have him in their home.He got attention, affection, and “even gotto sleep in bed with his people.”

Mary works as a software engineer, enjoysthe outdoors, reading, taking exercise andart classes, and playing Mah Jongg, anancient Chinese tile game. She plans to goskydiving someday. She says that “ thecamaraderie and support of the membersof the group make volunteering a fulfillingexperience”.

Keeping Bunny Healthy:NutritionbyValerie Madison

The best health insurance for your rabbitis a high fiber diet. Beneficial bacteria andprotozoa located in the rabbit’s cecum andlarge intestine ferment and convert foodinto digestible nutrients that can be usedby your rabbit. Bunny parents should beaware that any sudden change in diet candisrupt the normal microbial populationin the gut and have serious consequencesfor bunny’s health.

Grass hay is an essential source of fiberand is the most important part of therabbit diet. Good quality hay smells fresh,not moldy. Store it in a cool, dry place.Unlimited amounts of timothy, orchard, oroat grass hay should be available inbunny’s living space 24 hours a day.(Alfalfa hay is not recommended.) Withoutfiber, gut motility slows, the normalpopulation of intestinal bacteria isdisrupted, and changes in gut pH andfermentation occur. This chain of eventscan lead to indigestion, or gut “stasis”,which can be fatal if untreated.

High fibrous is also necessary for thehealth of your bunny’s teeth. A rabbit’s

teeth grow continuously throughout itslifetime. Without a high fiber diet, theincisor or molar teeth, may overgrowresulting in sharp molar points and facialabscesses.

A variety of pesticide-free vegetablesshould be offered on a daily basis. About 1cup per 5 pounds of body weight is a goodrule of thumb. Tough fibrous vegetablesare best; see our website,www.adoptarabbit.org, for a complete listof rabbit-safe veggies. Introduce newvegetables one at a time in small amountsand discontinue if there are any signs ofdigestive upset. Fruits and sweet veg-etables like carrots should be fed in smallamounts - no more than 1 tablespoon per5 pounds of body weight - as they containcarbohydrates and sugars which can upsetthe normal microbes of the gut, resultingin growth of undesirable toxic bacteria.

Pellets should be a relatively small part ofthe diet of an adult house rabbit. Choosea high-quality pellet that is high in fiber(>18%), low in protein (<16%) and low infat (1-2%). Feed pellets at 1/4 cup per 5pounds of body weight per day. If youneed to convert your rabbit from onebrand of pellet to another or to a smallerquantity, do so gradually, always providingan unlimited supply of grass hay. Never

feed pellets containing seeds, nuts orother “treats”. These pellets are very highin fat. And never ever feed your rabbithuman treats!

Don’t forget to provide clean, fresh waterat all times. Water is essential for hydra-tion and healthy functioning of the gut.Water can be supplied in a clean dripbottle, a heavy bowl, or both.

A healthy diet = healthy microbes = ahealthy rabbit!

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Lucky Lindyby C. Nolan Huizenga

I step around the corner and a little whiteball of energy bounces toward me, curiousand affectionate. It’s Lindy, a beautifulrabbit who has met extremes of fortuneand misfortune in his short life. It’s onlyafter he nuzzles my hand and rompssideways that I notice he looks funny. It’shis back legs: one of them curves under-neath him, and the other sticks outstraight behind him like it was attachedbackwards.

Karen DiMilia, Lindy’s adoptive mom,scoops him up and pours on the affection.Karen and her husband Richard gave uptheir master bathroom to Lindy: “Wewanted him to have the bathroom with thewindow.” They put foam padding on thefloor, covered with soft towels for hiscomfort. Most rabbits stand up on thefurry pads of their feet; Lindy’s handicapputs his weight on other places.

Lindy is one of the happiest rabbits I’veever met (and I’ve met hundreds). But hislife was not always this joyful, and it’samazing that he ended up in such a lovinghome. No one knows when or where Lindy

was born. Someone abandoned him inwinter cold on the step of a suburban petstore, whose employees turned him over toWest Linn Animal Control. They con-tacted Rabbit Advocate Mary Huey, whoarranged for a foster family to take him.After a short stay with the foster family,Lindy was brought to a vet’s office, wherethe staff wondered if he had been the

victim of abuse, and whether he wouldever be able to thrive.

Lindy’s chances of thriving skyrocketedwhen Mary and Karen made a visit to thevet’s office and both ladies quicklyrealized that Lindy needed most of all astable, caring environment. In January2002 Karen took Lindy to her home. Thelittle bunny was covered in f lea dust andurine stains. “We spent a long timecleaning him up,” says Karen. “He waspretty stinky!” These days Lindy keepshimself clean, and he’s getting betterabout using his litter box.

Veterinarian Mark Burgess has diagnosedLindy’s condition as arthrogryposis: acongenital deformity in which joints cometogether at wrong angles. It does not getworse with age, and Lindy has adaptedextremely well, getting around nearly aswell as other rabbits do. But one thing hecan’t do is scratch his ears. It’s heart-breaking to watch him try, so Karen keepsan eye out and gives him a hand wheneveran itch strikes. As for Lindy, he doesn’teven seem to know that he’s handicapped.He just wants to love and be loved. Beingadopted by Karen and Richard fits thatplan just fine!

Rabbit Advocates

PO Box 14235

Portland OR 97293-0235

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