Our masthead bunny, Philomena, has graced this space before. A serious rabbit, Philomena occasionally goes through “false pregnancy” due to health issues that prevent her guardians at Long Island Rabbit Rescue from getting her spayed. (http://lirrg.org/spay_neuter.htm) Thankfully however, she is currently a contented lady

who sometimes busies herself with impressive, competition-level nest building. Photo: Mary Ann Maier.

Tiny RabbitIs RescuedFrom Tire ShopIn Valley StreamPage 5

Dana KrempelsOffers AdviceFor UnderstandingYour First RabbitPage 6

Actress FoundHer PerfectLeading Man,Mr. TrixPage 16

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Bonding SessionsWere Tense at First,But Now They ShareHis Fun Tunnel By Amanda Cranney

In March, I adopted my first rabbit fromthe Manhattan Animal Care Center. AlanRickman (formerly Adrian) was thesweetest little guy and I knew that Ieventually wanted to get him a companion.

Rabbit Rescue & Rehab volunteers participated in Adoptapalooza on Sept. 18 at Union Square. Among those who helped out with the rabbits at Petco were, from left, standing: Erin McElhinney, Cathe Rekis, Elizabeth Martin,Liz Jazwiecki and Thea Harting. In the front are Nadine Heidinger and Neil Schaier.

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NYCMETRO RABBIT NEWS OCTOBER 2016

Four months later, we made the plungeand set up a speed-date appointment withAmy Odum. Alan Rickman was terrifiedof all the little girls he met. I was shocked!He seemed so confident and comfortable

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A bonding session between Alan Rickman, left, and Isobelle.

Grampy Zachariah, Once a Stray,Is Now a Happy Old GentlemanBy Eileen Hagerman

One afternoon back in May, a former co-worker sent me a Facebook messageasking if I knew anyone who would beable to help a stray rabbit that had comeinto her animal hospital’s emergencyroom. After three weeks, the hospitalstaff were at the limit of what they coulddo for him. He had some issues with hislacrimal glands that secrete tears, and

also some problems moving his hindlegs. At this point, he needed somethingmore than they could offer him at thisfacility, and they were looking to find ahome for him.

When I saw his photo, I immediatelytold my friend that if she could get therabbit to me, I would figure somethingout. I contacted Long Island Rabbit

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Rescue Group, and I was told that if Icould foster him, the group would help findhim a permanent home. Unfortunately,as soon as the rabbit was brought to me,I realized that his medical issues weremore extensive than I had originallythought. This little guy was an old man,with quite a bit of muscle loss on hisback and puncture wounds on his rear legs. He had a lot of problemsgetting around.

I discussed what I found with DeniseBertolotti at LIRRG, and we agreed thata visit to a rabbit-savvy vet was in order.I named him Zachariah (and later foundthat according to the Urban Dictionary,Zachariah means “pure, unadulteratedawesomeness” or, as my husband toldme, “The Lord remembers,” in Hebrew).At our visit to Catnip & Carrots

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Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Laura Georgetreated Zachariah with Revolution forpossible fur mites, and taught me howto clean and treat his eyes twice a day.We put him on Metacam daily for pain,and decided to switch him to Oxbowyoung rabbit pellets to try to help himgain a bit of weight. My husband and Ialso ascertained that Zachariah is deaf.

True to his name, Zachariah – nicknamed“Grampy” – proved to be an awesomepatient, willingly letting me treat hiseyes and taking his Metacam with gusto!As I am a proponent of alternativetreatments, he began weekly acupunctureand cold laser therapy with Dr. MichelSelmer at Advanced Animal Care Center

This little guy was an old man.

Three weeks from the time that Ibrought Isobelle home, I was able toremove the second pen and the two nowshare the area that Alan Rickman had tohimself. They share the whole apartment,with one litter box, one food bowl andtwo water bowls.

We celebrated Isobelle’s one-monthadoptaversary in August, and I can’tbelieve that there was a point when thetwo rabbits didn’t get along. They hop

Isobelle was beginning to feel more comfortable andlying somewhere other than her Amazon box hideout.She and Alan Rickman enjoyed observing each other.

At long last, Alan Rickman and Isobelle are best friends.

around my family and me that I wassurprised he didn’t feel the same wayaround the other rabbits.

After introducing him to four girlbunnies, we brought back Isobelle, thefront-runner, to see if they could be amatch. Well, Isobelle stepped up hergame and groomed him for at least a fullminute. While I was still cautious, as Ihad never bonded two bunnies before, I definitely wanted to give anotherrabbit a good home, and I signed theadoption papers.

I will admit that those first few weekswere tough. For three days Isobellewould run away when I entered herpen. I was so sad for her! At first thebonding sessions weren’t going as well asI hoped they would. Alan Rickman wasstill afraid of her and while they hadsome good dates (they just sort of staredat each other), there were other timeswhen Isobelle would growl and lunge athim. I was starting to regret gettinganother rabbit and feared

that they would both be unhappyforever (a tad dramatic, I know).

After about two weeks of bondingsessions, I felt comfortable giving themmore space to be together if I was home.Alan Rickman seemed to enjoy havingmore space, and that made him morecomfortable around her. Isobelle wouldstill growl but would no longer chasehim. Progress! They soon were eatingabout a foot apart from one another andIsobelle stopped growling altogether.

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Zachariah’s first week at home.

Lola.

in Huntington Station. We also addedtwo Chinese herbs to his daily regimen.I saw positive results, and within a fewweeks, Grampy Zachariah was gettingaround pretty well. I knew he wouldnever be 100%, but he was able to hoparound the house. Moreover, his fur wasgrowing in beautifully.

By Shane York

The psychic said, “Prepare yourself.” Iwas in New Orleans on business when afriend suggested we stop by one of themany fortunetelling shops. I had askedabout my bunny Lola, and his responsemade my heart stop, mostly becauseshe’s over 12 years old and has started tosee some health issues. He looked at mypanicked face and said, “She’s not goingto die, but you need to prepare yourself.”He provided no details. Did I just payto be terrorized or was I given a realwarning? Now I couldn’t get home fastenough. Speeding through the airport, Ifinally bounded through the front doorto see my little bunz running around asnormal. It was a major relief. Just as Iwas thinking how silly it was to let astranger freak me out, I suddenly noticedsomething different in her right eye.

It was a little lighter and cloudier thannormal. The next day it seemed slightlyworse so we ran to Dr. John Pisciotta atthe Rye Harrison Veterinary Hospital,who confirmed Lola was developing acataract in her right eye. “She’s lookingthrough some really dirty windows,” Dr.Pisciotta said. He warned that oncecataracts start, they usually progress veryquickly and then often spread to the

other eye, causing near-complete blind -ness. This was devastating news; myheart instantly broke. Within days herright eye was completely glazed over andthe left eye started to show signs of acataract as well.

We didn’t have much time before hersight was completely gone. I had to makeplans quickly so she could see andremember a new way of getting aroundthe house. She had started running intowalls and chairs – she remembered thegeneral direction of where she was goingbut couldn’t see her surroundings. Iknew she was also frustrated and sad;my hearty little eater no longer foundjoy or an appetite for her pellets or

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around together, sleep together, andharass my parents’ cat together. AlanRickman has even shared his “funtunnel” with her. I just wanted to thankAmy for everything she and the ACCvolunteers have done for both of theserabbits. Words can’t adequately expressthe amount of love I have for them andI would deal with the stress of the firstfew weeks ten times over for the sake ofIsobelle. She is such a wonderfuladdition to our little family and I amextremely grateful for that.

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Eileen and Zachariah now.

After a few months of care, however, Inoticed a bald patch on his rear end;despite how well he ambulates, it appearsthat he may be slightly incontinent, thuscausing some problems with urine scald.I’ve found that having hospital padslayering his pen, with a crib mattress ontop, makes it easier to change them outa few times a day and keep the area dry.I now know about “panty shaves,” which,along with cleaning his bum frequentlyand keeping it dry with corn starch,have become a regular routine.

I will never know whether GrampyZachariah was abandoned because of hisdifficulty in getting around, though itastounds me that someone would set ageriatric (and deaf) rabbit loose. What Ido know is that he was lucky to havebeen found – and then to make his waythrough a chain of people who wantedto help. Caring for a special-needs rabbitmeans a lot of laundry and cleaning.But it also involves a lot of love andmutual appreciation. Grampy Zachariahis a happy old man who actually groomsme when I groom him! He is safe, and he is home. Yes, we have formallyadopted him.

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Three weeks after adoption, and Isobelle was muchmore comfortable. She loves eating her greens! This isalso my favorite solo picture of her.

Bonding Sessions(Continued from page 2)

Living With a Blind Bunny:PreparingYour Heart,PreparingYour Home

treats. Three days on Critical Care,however, and she was feeling better.

Watching her move from room to room,I noted each of the “hot spots,” or placeswhere she needed help with direction.These included areas like walls, doorjambs and furniture that she tended tohit because she didn’t turn early enoughor else hopped in a straight line for toolong. What she needed was a track shecould run along, so I purchased “poolnoodles,” which are long, tubular floats,and connected them end-to-end tocreate a runway we could use to keepLola going in the right direction. Thisworked beautifully. As she hopped toofar left or right, she would feel thenoodles and correct her path. I alsofound small- and medium-sized beachballs and taped them to the bottom ofthe walls and door jambs she tended tohit. She seems to sense the balls fasterand easier than the wall, (and they’resofter) so she quickly diverts her path toavoid them. Also, I had to be especiallyon the look-out for the corners ofcabinets or other furniture with pointsor sharp edges she could run into. Icovered everything in something soft,like bubble paper wrapped in a towel.

I learned that if you have a sight-impairedbunny, you have to re-think your originalbunny-proofing ways. It’s all aboutclearing the floor of obstacles as best youcan while trying to leave the things thatthe bunny remembers as “markers” inorder to navigate around the house. Youalso need to be vigilant that pathways arealways clear of obstacles like shoes or bagsthat could confuse a bunny or trip her up.

Once Lola’s sight was completely gone, Inoticed she also found her way byrecognizing familiar smells and soundsthat occurred along her journey to thekitchen. As she hopped along, she detectedthe smell of her hallway hay box, andthe sound of the wine fridge near thekitchen to create points of reference.

Older Bunny (Continued from page 3)

Now Lola primarily hops between thebedroom and kitchen, choosing to forgothe larger living room where it’s harder toget her bearings. Also I’ve found whenyou pick up a sight-impaired bunny, it’svery important to put her down in herhay box or someplace where she knows100% where she is. If I put Lola downin a random spot, even in a room she’svery familiar with, it becomes stressfuland confusing until she finds somethingfamiliar to touch.

In the end, the psychic was right. I didneed to prepare myself and, moreimportantly, I needed to prepare myhome with the special protective measuresto keep my Lola feeling safe and secure.But now that she’s familiar with her newguideposts, she’s able to go wherever shewants. She leads a happy, contented lifeand she knows that we love her and willdo anything to make her life easier –and stress-free.

Lola on the go between pool noodles.

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Little beach balls are attached to walls.

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LONG ISLAND NEWS

Tiny Abandoned Rabbit Is Rescued After Seeking Refuge in Tire Shop By Nicole Weiss

It was early May, and our organization,Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group,received an email about an abandoneddomestic rabbit. The case was unusualbecause the rabbit was living in a tireshop on a busy road in Valley Stream.

Once a foster home was in place, we gotthe go-ahead to bring this rabbit tosafety. This young rabbit, left on aroadway, had sought shelter in the tireshop. The shop smelled of rubber andmotor oil. It was loud, dark, dreary anddangerous. The rabbit had made thistire shop her temporary home, and usedits many hiding areas to stay safe untilthe good-hearted workers in the shopfound her and contacted us for help.

On the day of her rescue, our teamarrived at the scene facing a complicatedtask. There were tires stacked to theceiling and heavy pieces of equipmenteverywhere. The building’s doors werewide open, making it very easy for arabbit to run out into a nearby parkinglot or the roadway.

We realized that the rabbit could behiding inside any of the hundreds oftires in the garage. Some quick thinkingby our volunteers, lots of fences to blockher in and some treats were some of thetools we used to our advantage. Whoknew when she had last eaten? Shefollowed our trail of treats, and after afew failed attempts when she ran backinto the darkness, she eventually let herhunger overtake any uneasy feelings shehad about us.

We eventually led her into one of ourcarriers. Thanks to volunteer Lisa Freitag’squick reflexes, we were able to shut thecarrier door the second that the rabbithopped into it. Lauren Marchant alsohelped with rescue logistics.

Once the rabbit let her guard down, sheseemed to trust us. After taking her into

our car and spending time with her in asafe, quiet environment, we decided toname her Serena. Serena seemed to be afitting name for this beautiful SilverMarten rabbit because although she hadlived for a few weeks in a noisy tireshop, she was calm and sweet, and shehad a serene personality and overall auraabout her.

Serena lived for a few weeks with herfoster mom on eastern Long Island,until she found a wonderful family whofell in love with her amazing personalityand beautiful soul. This sweet girl iswhere she was always destined to be,forever safe and loved indoors!

The volunteers who were on the scene were Nicole Weiss, Lauren Marchant, Lisa Freitag. The last photographshows Lauren Marchant with Serena.

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At Petco Union Square, rabbit volunteer NadineHeidinger lies down on the floor to snuggle withBongo, her former foster bunny.

Olivia, a former Rabbit Rescue & Rehab bunny, in hernew home.

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Close Encounters of the Furry Kind: Understanding Your First RabbitBy Dana Krempels

Before you begin, you should treatyourself and your bunny to a copy of“The House Rabbit Handbook” (5thedition) by Marinell Harriman, themost up-to-date and accurate book onrabbit care. It is available at most majorbookstores, or can be ordered at anyonline book source. No rabbit homeshould be without it. More informationon rabbit care can be found atwww.rabbit.org.

The Rabbit Personality“Is a rabbit more like a cat or a dog?” It’sone of the most frequent questions werabbit folk are asked. The answer: neither.Dogs and cats are predatory animals,with evolutionary histories completelydifferent from those of herbivores suchas rabbits. Whereas the ancestors oftoday’s dogs and cats were bred forcenturies to lack their natural fear ofhumans, domestic rabbits have beenbred primarily for meat, fur and otherphysical characteristics. This means thatwhen you adopt a bunny, you adopt a“domestic” animal with much of theheart and spirit of a wild creature whoseancestors survived only if they werealert, easily startled, and had a naturaltendency to avoid large, scary-lookinganimals like humans. It may be morechallenging to win the trust of thissensitive, intelligent creature than it is towin the heart of a puppy or kitten thathas been bred to trust you from birth,but it’s worth the effort.

The myth that certain rabbit breedsmake better pets is just that: a myth. We have known aggressive lops (a breedsupposedly gentle and friendly), super-affectionate dwarfs (supposedly hyperand mean) and every type of personalityyou can imagine in our “mutts.” Somerabbits are friendly from the day they’reborn, whereas others are shy and

retiring. Once in a while, we’ll meet atrue Attila the Bun, with an aggressivenature that can’t easily be tamed. Thereare as many rabbit personalities as thereare rabbits.

Rabbits are highly intelligent, social andaffectionate. They also can be bratty,willful, destructive and even vengeful. Ittakes a special type of person to be ableto coexist happily with such a complex,demanding little soul.

Unfortunately, many people buy rabbitswithout understanding their true nature,and this is one of the main reasons somany rabbits are “dumped” soon afterreaching sexual maturity, when theybegin to assert their strong personalities.

Bunny Handling – and NotOne of the most common misconceptionspeople have about rabbits, possiblybecause they look so much like plushtoys, is that they like to be held andcuddled. Many people are disappointedto learn that their bunny does not liketo be held. But consider for a momentthe natural history of the rabbit. This isa ground-dwelling species, and a preyitem for many predators. It is completelyagainst a rabbit’s natural tendency towant to be held far above the groundwhere he cannot control his own motionsand activities.

When you force a bunny to be heldagainst his will, you reinforce his innatenotion that you are a predator trying torestrain him. Holding a rabbit while hestruggles and kicks is not only dangerousfor the human (sharp claws!), but alsofor the rabbit. A rabbit is built for quickescape, with powerful muscles attachedto a relatively light, flexible skeleton.When a bunny is held in the air, helacks the natural “brake” of the groundagainst his hind feet, and one powerfulkick can hyperextend the spine, causing

it to subluxate or fracture. We have seenan alarming number of young rabbitswith broken backs and legs becausepeople (usually children) insisted oncarrying them around and handlingthem against their will. A very fewrabbits enjoy being held and cuddled.The vast majority do not, and prefer tosnuggle on the ground, with you lyingclose (like a fellow bunny). If you loveyour bunny, you’ll respect his preference,

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knowing that his safety and well-beingdepend on your playing with him on his own terms.

This is not to say that a rabbit can neverbe picked up. Sometimes, as for trips to the vet, a rabbit must be handled,and it’s best to learn to do this safelybefore you have an emergency. A rabbitshould never be handled by the ears. To safely pick up a bunny, gently andsimultaneously place one hand scoopedunder the rib cage, and the othersplayed around his rear end. Lift quicklyand confidently, and turn the bunny sothat his feet are placed against yourchest. This will make him feel moresecure, and less apt to struggle. If hestruggles wildly, carefully and firmlylower him to the ground and releasehim, and then try again. Practice makesperfect. But remember that for playtimesituations, it’s better not to force theissue of holding and cuddling.

Getting to Know Your New BunnyTo understand rabbit behavior, try tothink like a rabbit. Remember that as aprey species, a rabbit is naturally shy andwary – much more so than a predatorydog or cat. It will be up to you, theadaptable human, to compromise andalter your own behavior so that thebunny understands you are a friend.Once you have done this, you will havewon the unending love and loyalty of amost amazing creature, whose ways ofcommunicating with you may be assubtle as a nose bump on the leg (“Hi,Mom!”), or as overt as a skin-breakingnip (“Put me down!”) or an adamantthump of the hind foot (which canmean anything from “Mom! There’ssomething scary outside!” to “Hey! Payattention to me!”)

Imagine what the world looks like tothis bunny. She’s surrounded by a newenvironment, and there’s a big, strange-smelling animal that’s always loomingover her. She has no idea you’re trying tobe friendly. Her “hard wiring” tells her:“AAAAAAAAGH!!! It's going to EATME!” Imagine yourself in her bunnyslippers: No one speaks her language;she has been taken from her family andhas no one of her own species to comforther; and she has no idea whether you

plan to love her, cage her forever, orhave her for dinner. You must graduallyand patiently earn her trust. It can takean hour, a day, or even weeks or months.It depends on the personality of theindividual rabbit, and on your willing -ness to be patient and loving.

You and bunny should be together in aprivate, quiet room. No other pets. Nodistractions. If children are present, theyshould be instructed to lie on the floor,too, being very quiet and emulating thebehavior of the adult in charge. Stress to the children that getting to know abunny is a little bit like waiting for abutterfly to land on your head, ratherthan chasing it around with a net andforcing it to hold still.

Have a little treat – such as a carrot orpiece of apple, banana or a little pinchof oats – in your hand. Lie prone on thefloor and let the bunny out of her pen.(This should be at ground level so thatthe bunny can come out and go into thepen as she pleases. Having to grab thebunny every time you want her to comein or out can undo hours of patienttrust-building.

Don't expect the bunny to approachyou immediately. Remain quiet andpatient, even if it takes an hour or more.Rabbits are naturally curious, andeventually she will come over to sniffyou, and perhaps even climb up on yourback for a look around.

If the bunny is very shy, resist thetemptation to reach out and pet her.Instead, let her sniff you, hop on youand get to know your scent. Eventually,when she sees that she can move freelyaround you without being touched orgrabbed, she will learn that you are not a threat.

If bunny smells the treat you have, andcomes to investigate, hold onto it whileshe nibbles, instead of letting her grab it and run off to eat in a private place.This will establish that she can safely eat

Close Encounters(Continued from page 6)

Spooky, who weighs 9 pounds, presents less of atemptation to people who might want to grab and pickup a bunny.

Cute Lil Britches would probably try to bite a strangerwho tried to pick her up!

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in your presence without worrying thatyou’re going to grab and restrain her.

Have a “bunny playtime” like this everyday until it becomes routine, and bunnyloses her wariness around you. Touchesshould come gradually. Extending afinger or hand for her to sniff is a politeoverture, and she may allow you togently rub her forehead, ears, or hertemples (the smooth areas on the sidesof her head, just below her ears). Theseare favorite rabbit “scritchy spots,” and ashy bunny is more likely to allow you totouch her head than she is to let you rubher back or any other area where shecan’t really keep an eye on you.

If bunny withdraws from your attentions,let her. Be patient, and never forceanything. Never, ever chase the bunny.Despite what you might hear fromother sources, we’ve never met or heardof a rabbit who truly likes to “playchase.” That's a predator’s game, and ismore likely to cause terror and stress inyour bunny than entertain her. This isone reason that boisterous children andrabbits are NOT a good match.

Rabbits and ChildrenIn most cases, children and rabbits arenot ideal companions. A rabbit’s delicate skeleton and prey-species nature predisposes him to be fearful ofthe attentions of most active, happychildren, however well-meaning theymight be. It takes a very special, maturechild – willing to follow the proceduresdescribed above – to make a goodcompanion for a rabbit.

Some people tell us they are disappointedthat the rabbit is “not turning out to bethe sort of pet we wanted for our kids.”Such folks may have had unreasonableexpectations for a rabbit, expecting him to behave more like a dog or catthan a rabbit.

Rather than being disappointed that arabbit is naturally shy, and not what you might have expected, take theopportunity to teach your childrenrespect for a very different kind ofanimal whose behaviors and ways ofcommunication are not the same astheir own. If a child wants something tocarry around and cuddle, provide astuffed toy – not a live rabbit.

Even if your rabbit is the “family pet,”an adult should always be his primarycaretaker. Young children don’t have thesense of responsibility necessary toproperly care for a rabbit, and shouldnot be expected to behave as adults,especially if the safety of your companionrabbit is at stake. Parents also should beready to take over the rabbit-care dutiesof the teenager who goes off to college,leaving Fluffy in their care. A well-cared-for house rabbit, spayed or neutered, canlive eight to 12 years, or even longer.

She Is a Sentient Creature,Not a ToyLook at your rabbit with enlightenedeyes. Understand that nature made herjust as surely as it made you, and that,like yours, her personality is at leastpartly a product of her ancestry. She isnot a toy; she is a highly intelligent, lovingbeing who can become an interactive,loyal member of the family if you allowher to be what she is – a rabbit. Theperson who can do this is in store forthe most delightful companionship of a lifetime.

Copyright – Dana Krempels, Ph.D.Senior Lecturer;Director of Undergraduate Studies Department of Biology, University of Miami

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Marshmallow, at Petco Union Square, is protected froman impulsive admirer.

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Rabbit volunteer Kerstin Aumann trained her son Alex (seen here with Snowball) how to behave toward bunnies.

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Sailors, Police and BunniesThe NYPD adoption van took partin an ACC mobile adoption eventon Memorial Day weekend. Twosailors, Aaron Baker and GaryRamirez, above, were in the city forFleet Week NYC with their ship,USS Fort McHenry. They visited thevan to chat with rabbit volunteersand staff. Below, Police Sgt. MariaSexton, left, who has owned rabbits,was in the truck talking to the publicabout rabbit care.

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ADOPTIONS

Meet Our Brooklyn BunniesAdoptable bunnies are available at theBrooklyn shelter, 2336 Linden Boulevard.Volunteers are there most Saturdays andSundays, and speed dates can be arranged

by emailing adoption@nycacc.org.These photos are just a sampling of thegreat rabbits waiting to meet you.

Laurel and Sarah.

Oahu with Maui in the background.

Bon Bon.

Bunny.Bloomie. Chewy.

Deimos.Oreo.

Darkwing.

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ADOPTIONS

We Are Looking for Loving Homes:These Rabbits Are AvailableAt Manhattan Animal Care Center (NYC ACC)By Kirsten Ott

CordeliaCordelia is an adorable medium-sizedblack and white dwarf mix. This girl isquite shy. She’s curious enough toapproach and sniff you, but will quicklyretreat. Cordelia is also a bit pudgy, so inaddition to socialization she’ll need agood diet and exercise regimen. Therefore,she really should be adopted by a bunny-savvy adult-only home. Cordelia hasvery interesting markings. She’s mostlyblack, with white fur on her chest andfront legs. She also sports a Dutch-likecrooked white stripe down the front ofher face, and best of all she has a cutewhite cottontail!

SheldonSheldon is a large brown/charcoal boywith a very nice temperament. This guyis a bruiser of a bun, with a sturdy body and big round head. He’s easy toapproach and loves being petted. Whenyou pet his head, his ears don’t relax andflatten the way most bunny ears do –they pop back up as though they’re onsprings! Sheldon might take a breakfrom affection for a bite of hay, but soonenough he’ll hop happily back to youfor more love. He has a fun white markon one nostril and just a bit of white furnear one shoulder.

Jocelyn Jocelyn is a small-to-medium grayish-brown Lionhead or Jersey Wooly girl.This girl is about 80% fur! Her superfluffy coat, wonderfully fuzzy cheeksand flat face give her a comical, some -what unkempt look. Jocelyn is a veryopinionated, spunky girl who insists on getting her way. Her adopter willhave to worship and obey her – and doa lot of grooming!

Kylo RenKylo Ren is a small tan male bunnywith a very determined personality. This

little guy is very curious – he wants tosniff and chin everything in his path.Kylo Ren isn’t really interested inaffection – probably because it wouldrequire sitting still for a spell. He’s likelyto calm down somewhat post-neuter.Kylo Ren’s delicate looks are deceiving –he’s actually quite a brave soul.

Cordelia.

Sheldon.

Jocelyn.

Kylo Ren.

Mai.

MaiMai is a small- to medium-sized femalebunny with a reserved nature. This girlseems shy – she’s not inclined toapproach people. She does likeaffection, though, but she just prefersyou to come to her. Mai has a daintyface – it’s heart-shaped, with a pointynose – and delicate little feet. Best of all,she has a gorgeous, warm, reddish-brown coat. Mai would do best in aquiet home.

IbisIbis is a very large Himalayan male whowas surrendered with 10 family members,most of whom are not particularly well-socialized. This is definitely true of Ibis– he’s not very comfortable with people,and while he’s curious, he won’t linger inyour presence for very long. It’s too bad, because Ibis is easily one of thehandsomest bunnies in his family. Hehas a sculpted, aristocratic face, and nicesturdy build, and gorgeous large pink

Milo.

Judy.

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eyes. Ibis would do best in a bunny-savvy home, and would probablybenefit from a bunny partner.

MiloMilo is a small brownish-black boy witha fearless, curious outlook on life. Thislittle guy is clearly still on the young side,and is far more interested in explorationand play than in affection. His hormones –and he – should calm down post-neuter,but his forever people will have to do lotsof bunny-proofing, because he’s likely tobe very active for quite some time.

LabyrinthLabyrinth is a very large, extremelystriking female bunny. This lady is aLionhead/helicopter lop mix with redeyes. She has wonderful large muttonchops and long tresses than flowchaotically from between her big pinkears. And those ears! Both move aroundindependently in all directions – straightup, out like wings, flopped down – andoften go in different directions. Labyrinthbrings to mind a mythical creature, suchas a unicorn. Maybe that’s why she has asomewhat mythical name! She is a fairlyrelaxed bun, and seems very comfortablewith people, soaking up any affectionthat’s offered.

HankHank is a large brown and whitehelicopter lop with a feisty, sometimescutely ornery personality. This guy isfun to watch – he has cute jowly cheeks,a big dark brown mustache, and nice bigfluffy feet, and he alternates frequentlybetween active and relaxed mode. Thoughhe’s on the hyper side much of the time,he’ll hold still longer than usual if yourub the nape of his neck or the base of hisears. Hank’s coat is white with multipleshades of brown, including a mostlybrown face.

BabsBabs is a large agouti/brown and whitegirl who’s in real need of comfort and

Looking for Loving Homes(Continued from page 11)

ADOPTIONS

Ibis.

Babs.

TLC. This girl is very nervous, andbecomes agitated when you first approachher, staring at you with her big shiningbrown eyes. She will let you pet her, butshe’ll lean into a corner of her litter boxor cage as you do so, as if she’s scaredabout what might happen during yourvisit. As she gradually becomes morecomfortable with you, she’ll turn into atotal snuggler. Babs is likely to get veryattached very quickly in a good foreverhome. She would do best in a homewith quiet adults, and would probablyalso benefit from a bunny partner.

JudyJudy is a small agouti Lionhead mix whowas found with three other bunnies,likely relatives of some sort. Judy is lesscomfortable around people than acouple of the others, which could meanshe’s younger and has had less contactwith humans, and could be partly dueto her temperament. She crouches in acorner of her cage when you pay her avisit. Therefore, she needs to be placedin a bunny-savvy home for gradual

Jay.

Jaylen.

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THUMPOCTOBER 2016 13

socialization. Judy is a very pretty bunny– she has beautiful eyes with glamorousdark lashes.

JayJay is a darling little brown Lionheadmix who was found with three otherbunnies, likely relatives of some sort.He’s quite skittish, and needs a bunny-savvy home where he can develop trustin people. Jay’s Lionhead tufts, size, andcoloring give him the appearance of atiny gnu. His white cottontail adds tohis cuteness.

JaylenJaylen is a medium-sized dark agoutifemale who was found with three otherbunnies, likely relatives of some sort.Jaylen is by far the most confident andassertive of the group. She is very active,and loves to redecorate her habitat –she’ll need lots of stuff to chew, rip, andpush around in her forever home. Shealso loves affection. She’ll jump into herlitter box and stare at you until yourespond, and then hunker right downfor petting. Finally, she’s very bright and

Looking for Loving Homes(Continued from page 12)

ADOPTIONS

feisty – she gets annoyed if you stoppetting her. Jaylen will need a homewith lots of stimulation and attention.She has an adorable mini-dewlap.

SkySky is a tiny young Lionhead mix malewith a real zest for life. This itty-bitty

guy is very alert, curious and bright. He’llapproach to sniff you, interact for a bit,and then binky with delight at what he’sdone. At this stage of his life, he’s moreinterested in fun than in affection, andhe seems to have a mischievous streak.Because he’s such a busy guy and he’s solittle, his forever home will have to becarefully bunny-proofed. Sky is mostlywhite with dark brown ears and facemarkings and a long brown patch on hisback. His large eyes look altogether toobig for his young, diminutive head.

These Rabbits Are in Foster Care

DashieIntroducing Dashie! He is a very hand -some young male Dutch rabbit who ourrescue pulled from the shelter becausehe had been abandoned there with abad case of head tilt. After receiving the vet care he needed, he is doingremarkably well. He no longer rolls andsimply looks like a rabbit who is tiltinghis head slightly to listen to somethingcuriously. However, as any other rabbitwith head tilt, he will need a paddedhabitat setup. He will have to be closelymonitored and taken to the vet forfollow up care. Dashie is a very sweetrabbit who loves to run around and be

petted gently. He has a great appetite!We are looking for either a foster homeor forever home for him. If interested infostering or adopting Dashie, pleaseemail nyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.

BobIntroducing BOB (a/k/a Big OrangeBunny!). All rabbits are beautiful andspecial, and this sweet guy is no exception.Bob came to us after being abandonedoutside with a group of other rabbits. Atestament as to why it is so important tonever expose domesticated rabbits to theoutdoors, all of these young rabbits hadterrible ear mites, parasites like coccidia

and giardia, as well as other infections andabscesses. Bob has received extensiveveterinary care and is now free of mites,parasites and abscesses. We continue to

(Continued on page 14)

Dashie.

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THUMPOCTOBER 2016 14

monitor his health to ensure that heremains on the right track after suchunimaginable neglect.He is a large, friendlyand active rabbit who is appreciatingevery moment of his new life. Bob is thekind of rabbit who reminds us why wedo rescue – no matter how stressful,difficult and expensive this work is,these rabbits are worth all of it. Seeinghim living happily ever after in a homewhere someone will adore him as muchas we do would be the icing on the cake.He has been neutered and is living intemporary foster care. If interested in long-term fostering or adopting Bob, pleaseemail nyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.

LexLex is a medium-sized male harlequinRex, approximately 2 years of age. Hehas a medium to high energy level. Heis a shy guy when meeting new people,but quickly warms up. This sweet, gentleboy is very inquisitive, likes to play withhis toys and due to his sweet demeanorwould make a great companion rabbit.Lex is an excellent eater, loves his greensand hay and has exceptional litter-boxskills. He is very well behaved andenjoys petting and hanging out with his foster mom in her kitchen duringplaytime. Lex has been neutered. Ifinterested in adopting Lex, please emailnyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.

CarmelaCarmela is a young medium-sized Rexrabbit. Her beautiful coat is mostlywhite with tan and black spots. She is asweet rabbit who loves to have her softnose petted. She also likes to explore herhouse, but her favorite thing is to relaxwith a nice soft blanket. Carmela is shyand would likely do best in an adult-only home. She would also likely makea good partner for another rabbit. Shehas been spayed and is in foster care. Formore information and/or to arrange ameeting with Carmela, please emailnyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.

PearsePearse is a gray Flemish Giant boy whowas born in May 2015. He is very largeand will still grow some more. He lovesto be petted – after you let him sniff andbump your hand a few times. Pearse is alittle bit nervous and would probably dobest in a quiet home with patient adults.He has been neutered and is in fostercare. For more information and/or to

arrange a meeting with Pearse, pleaseemail nyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.

ReeseReese is a medium-sized Harlequinrabbit who was abandoned at a vet clinicin very bad shape – obese and with aterrible case of fly strike. Think howuncomfortable he must have felt withfly larvae crawling on his backside, unableto reach to groom himself. He was giventhe vet care that he needed and has beenslowly losing weight the natural way –with a proper healthy diet and exercise.Reese is the perfect combination ofenergetic and mellow – he loves runningaround during playtime, then loungingand being petted by his human friends.Reese has been neutered and is currentlyin foster care. For more information and/orto arrange a meeting with Reese, pleaseemail nyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.

Looking for Loving Homes(Continued from page 13)

ADOPTIONS

Bob.

Lex.

Carmela.

Reese.

Pearse.

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Hardy. Emma.

HardyHardy is a large Californian mix whowas born around March 1, 2012 into afamily of 50 rabbits. Our group placedmost of the family members into fosterhomes. Hardy is very sweet but quiteshy. He is very interested in the otherbunnies in his foster home. Because ofhis shy nature and interest in otherrabbits, he can only be adopted out as apartner for another bunny. He has beenneutered. For more information and/orto arrange a meeting with Hardy:nyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.

EmmaEmma is a large female Chinchilla lopwith a big personality. Want to be aslave to a gorgeous, feisty girl? Emma isyour answer! Potential suitors mustprovide head rubs whenever Emmadesires (frequently and for long periods),and not do things Emma disapproves of,like rearrange her stuff or move yourhands too fast by her face. She absolutelyloves having her head rubbed and willinsist on a massage. Don’t try to rushher – let her do things on her own

Looking for Loving Homes(Continued from page 14)

ADOPTIONS

terms. It helps to speak to her softlywhen you are close by to let her knowwhere you are. She’ll reward yourpatience with love and companionship,forever and ever. Emma was found withextremely long nails, suggesting she was a neglect case, and she was placed in foster care for a while to help herbecome less defensive. Emma also hassome minor vision issues, so all in all she

would do best in a patient, experiencedbunny home. She’s a gorgeous big girl,with a classic Chinchilla coat and a largedewlap. Emma has been spayed and iscurrently in residence at the Petco storeon Union Square in Manhattan. Formore information or to arrange ameeting with Emma, please emailnyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.

Forever Homes Found!

Rabbits adopted since the last newsletter include: Archie, Maury, Barbero, Melo, Patrice, Cicely, Iron,

Buttersnap, Blinky, Spots, Olivia, BunBun, Lilo, Snowball, Brownie and Smores, Jocelyn, Bandit,

Squishy, Layla, Hazel, Dolman, Ellie, Lyla, Tyra, Benny, Freddie and Flossie, Pancakes, Pelham, Kelly,

Tori, Igloo and Indigo, Xavier, Dutchess, Hopper, Maxi, Stretch, Cinnamon, Potter, Josie, Chevy, Tex,

Nanny Ogg, Kenny, Quick Silver, Jaime, Lucky, Bunny, Carrots, Alfie, Munchie, Jade, Cocobutter,

Tootsie Pop, Mrs. Peabody, Bobby, Panda, Bongo, Stormie, Charlie, Roosevelt, Lilly, Frenchie, Carly

and Daisy.

(Continued on page 17)

THUMPOCTOBER 2016 16

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

As anActress, I Found My Perfect Leading Man: Mr. Trix By Anita Sabherwal

In July 2008 an actor friend contactedme about adopting his 2-year-old rabbit,Trix. I had grown up with a beloved petrabbit as a child, and my ex and I had a rabbit who had died a couple yearsbefore. I was adamant that I couldn’tpossibly survive the heartbreak of losinganother furry family member and Iwould never be a pet parent again. I hadworked a couple of shifts as a rabbitvolunteer at Petco with Marcie Frishbergand was feeling the pangs of bunnyadoption pulling at my heart strings.Just as I was contemplating if I wasready again, Trix needed a home. Myfellow actor, Sam, had moved backhome with his folks and Trix was notpart of the package. He needed rehomingand would possibly be sent to a shelter. Isaw a picture of Trix and fell in love.

Sam drove Trix from New Jersey to Soho.Trix had a small cage and some genericfood. He stretched out on my living-room rug like he owned the place. Thenext few weeks brought a hurricane ofdestruction to my apartment. I had afriend staying with me for a few weeksand had become used to the daily phone calls from her telling me that myunneutered baby had damaged variouspieces of furniture. He was instantly theman of the house, and he was now aSoho bunny who ate only the finestorganic hay, pellets, greens (he was nowhooked on sweet baby lettuces fromWhole Foods and stuck his nose up atanything else) and papaya treats. Thisboy with fancy tastes was now calledMr. Trix.

At first Mr. Trix was aggressive with meand peed everywhere. Marcie and my vetat the time recommended he be fixed,saying it would calm his feisty nature.He was fixed in September 2008 but his feisty personality remained. Shortlyafter, he had dental work and stayed

overnight at the animal hospital. Whenhe came back, he was very loving andaffectionate. It was as if he really knewhe was home and that I was his mum.

Mr. Trix was a rainbow of emotions, muchlike his mother. He was the fur baby of an actress, after all. He could be sweet,tender and loving. When I was in bedfor a week with a back injury he wouldnot leave my side, except when doingbinkies all over me in my bed. (Yes, wedid have a penned area for him in myliving room but he would fall asleepwith me at least half the time, either onthe sofa or on my bed.) Whenever I wassick, he would hop up next to me andlie against me. Every morning we had“cuddle/grooming time” where he wouldsnuggle on my chest and nudge myhand to be petted, and then wouldgroom his mother.

Mr. Trix knew when to wake me up ifmy alarm didn’t go off. There is nobetter alarm clock than a hungry bunnyjumping on you and putting his whiskersin your face. He also seemed to knowwhen it was the weekend, with extendedcuddle time. If I came home from work

later than usual, he would growl andlunge at me, but he would usually forgiveme after several minutes. The samewould be true after I returned from atrip. Even though he had the best bunny-sitters, he would growl and lunge, buthe always forgave me and would end up doing binkies to show me he washappy to see me. He was possessive andterritorial, too. If we had a houseguestand he wasn’t a fan, there were sure tobe about 50 poops outside of his litterbox and pee on his blanket. He hatedevery single boyfriend I ever had. Iremember once when my partner and Iwent to bed, Mr. Trix rattled against hispen noisily. We would get up and turnon the lights and he would sit there, stilland innocent, and as soon as we wentback to bed, the rattling resumed. Afamily friend sent Mr. Trix a stuffedanimal bun that resembled him. Heseemed to regard it as competition andattacked it on a regular basis.

Mr. Trix was my partner in life. We dideverything together. He would circle myfeet while I chopped and cooked the

Mr. Trix.

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GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

meals that we ate together. I would have my salad and he would have his.I couldn’t snack without him begginglike a dog. He would hop up on the sofaand snatch apple slices off my plate, orclimb all over me to get a taste of banana.I remember watching TV one day andlooking over to see him face down inmy handbag rustling around. I informedhim it is very impolite to go throughmummy’s handbag and pulled him out.The next day at work I pulled out anapple to snack on and found it coveredwith little bite marks. Mr. Trix’s grandpamade the naughty mistake of letting Mr.Trix try a potato chip and cheerios. Eventhough I informed him we couldn’t giveMr. Trix people food, that didn’t stopMr. Trix from begging. You could noteat cereal or any type of chips in ourapartment without him begging or tryingto steal something. When his grandmacame to visit he would follow heraround begging because he knew hiscuteness would be rewarded with a pieceof cilantro or a bit of a carrot.

He would keep me company late atnight when I was learning lines for anaudition or a booking. He would lie onmy lap as I rehearsed. I don’t think Iowned a single script or play withoutteeth marks. Mr. Trix always wanted toleave his mark. It was as if he was mylittle study buddy. He loved when wedecided to “Netflix and chill.” He seemedto say, “Yes, it’s cold outside and mumand I are going to binge watch ‘Houseof Cards’ and ‘Breaking Bad’ while I getpetted!” The funniest times were when I did workouts at home. I think hispersonal favorite instructor was JillianMichaels. Whenever I did jumpingjacks, he would think mum was doingbinkies and would join in. He loved tohop on my stomach when I did crunchesand would run over to check my face(to see if I was okay) when I would liedown to meditate. When I packed to gosomewhere, he would jump into my

suitcase as if to say, “don’t go” or “takeme with you.”

Mr. Trix gave me unconditional love.My family is scattered all over the globe,and friends and boyfriends have comeand gone over the years, but he wasalways at my side. He loved me when Iwas dolled up for an audition, or at thetop of my game doing really well in lifeand feeling really good about things. Heloved me just as much when I was insweat pants, getting chubby after theholidays, or just feeling exhausted fromdealing with the harsh realities of beinga performing artist in New York. He

knew when life was giving me lemonsand always had the most instinctual wayof knowing when I needed comfort andlove the most. He was a huge part of mysupport system in life. He understoodme, never judged me and loved mewithout question. He was the biggestand most important part of my day anda huge piece of my heart. I couldn’t waitto wake up to be with him and Icouldn’t wait to rush home to be withhim. It’s an incredible feeling to lookinto the eyes of an animal and knowyou are so connected, that you are soulmates, forever.

My soul mate left me on June 15 at theage of 10, just a couple months shy ofhis 11th birthday.

Mr. Trix (aka Trixu, Trixu Mixu, Bonbon,Simon Le Bon, Richard Parker, BabyGeorge, MooMoo, Baba, Poochu,KitKat, Fat Cat) you will always be myPrince and I am blessed that I had youin my life as long as I did. I know youare in bunny heaven bossing the otherbuns around and eating as many papayatreats as your heart desires!

Mr. Trix (Continued from page 16)

Mr. Trix would keep me company when I was learning lines for an audition or a booking.

He would jump into my suitcase as if to say, “don’t go”or “take me with you.”

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(Continued on page 19)

Elliot, with Aki pictured as an inset in the photo.

Munchkin.

Letters From AdoptersElliot Lourdes Robles recently adopted Elliot as apartner for Aki, and she sent us this update.

I am enclosing a photo of my new bunny,Elliot. I adopted him as a companionfor my bunny Aki (pictured in the insetat the bottom left), who lost her partnerin May.

After meeting several eligible bachelorsat the Manhattan ACC, Aki pickedElliot out of the bunch, and he is trulythe sweetest, most adorable bun.

While it was not necessarily love at firstsight, I am hoping they will bond soon.However, even if they don’t bond (myAki can be a bit neurotic and he has astronger personality than I previouslythought), Elliot is too much of a sweet -heart not to keep around. He likes torun in circles to get attention, stretches

his head to get some head rubs, andhas started binkying and stretching toshow his contentment.

I also make sure to tell Elliot often thatwhether or not Aki and he bond, he isnow in his forever home!

Lourdes Robles

MunchkinKesi adopted Munchkin in August as apartner bunny, and we received thiswonderful update later in the month.

I’m writing with a bunny love story. Iadopted my Munchkin in August. I methim at the NYC AC&C in East Harlem

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THUMPOCTOBER 2016 18

Scrappy and Coco.

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on a sizzling Sunday afternoon. I arrivedwith sweaty brows and a nervous heart,and with my four-year-old bunny, Boo,in tow.

Munchkin was the first contenderamong the available bachelors. When Ifirst laid eyes on his fur – a sleek coatof midnight sky – I gasped. Not onlyis Munchkin handsome, but he iscompassionate. When he met Boo, hepatiently let her play “diva.” Munchkinshed his shy shell and he ran around thepen, clicking his heels in the air. He wasa bunny in love. We knew we couldcreate a happy family with Munchkin.

So far, Munchkin is a pensive, calm andmellow fellow. Bananas are his favoritetreat. I am slowly working to bond himwith Boo. She is all he thinks about, andhe can’t take his eyes off her cotton tail,even as she devours his hay. I can’t waitto learn more about him as the days go on!!

Kesi Augustine

CocoKim Berndt adopted Coco, formerlyknown as Petrice, in August as a partnerfor Scrappy. The two rabbits are alreadygood buddies.

We took Scrappy to the ACC inBrooklyn to go speed dating with a fewbachelorettes. Thea Harting “moderated”the introductions. Scrappy ended upchoosing Coco (née Petrice), the secondbachelorette. He was ready to hump her the moment she hopped over tointroduce herself. Thanks to Thea forhelping slow things down a bit! OnceCoco gave Scrappy his first kiss, weknew these young lovers were a matchmade in bunny heaven.

After only a week of living as neighbors,and a few additional dates on neutralterritory, they are already bonded andsharing the same run. Other rabbit pairswe’ve worked with had taken months tobond, so we are fully aware of howlucky we are. We are also so lucky tohave this wonderful new addition to ourfamily – the sweet, sometimes silly,always playful, extremely loving Coco.

Kim

THUMPOCTOBER 2016 19

Letters (Continued from page 18)

CilantroCilantro, formerly known as Hazel, wasadopted by Priscilla Cortes and herfamily in September. Cilantro is doingwell in her loving home.

MoxieMarta Michaud and her husband, David,adopted Moxie two years ago. They are avery happy family.

We are so in love with Moxie! Myhusband and I are both madly in lovewith her. She has so much personalityand brings us so much joy and fun, and our kitty loves her, too. They areofficially “sisters”! They both hang allover my husband. It’s hilarious.

Moxie purrs and purrs. We have a greattime at our home zoo! And Freddy ourparrot dances and sings in his cage, too.Good times!

Thank you for our baby girl! She such apretty and affectionate little girl, andboy does she love her dolls! I buy herlittle toy bunnies whenever I travel, andshe lines them all up and tends to herbabies! She’s the best daughter that twoempty nesters could dream of!

Marta

Marta and Moxie.

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Cilantro.

Hazel is now known as “Cilantro.”What can I say, except that she is adream! She is so calm, gentle andfriendly. As soon as I took her out ofher box at home it was as if she hadlived here forever.

She is very different from the bunny Ihad for six years. (May our belovedCoco RIP). He was more skittish andshy. Cilantro is not skittish at all. Sheeven wakes me up by jumping onto thecouch if I’m sleeping and licks me untilI wake up!

We are all in love with her. She isalso acquainted with my 1-year-old cat, Miloh, and they get along just fine.

She is a Princess!

Warm furry regards,

Priscilla

WampaJosephine Phung adopted Wampa in mid-August. Wampa sent us a letter of his ownto talk about his wonderful new home.

Hiya!

I’m Wampa, the English Spot bunnywith a funny moustache.

I like to lounge around on my owner’scouch enjoying the air conditioner onthese hot summer days.

My favorite food is hay. It’s absolutelythe best!

I am a little shy in my new house so Idon’t show off my awesomely cute binkiesjust yet. However, my cute moustacheand little twitchy pink nose are enoughfor my owner to be head over heels inlove with me.

Wampa

Wampa.

THUMPOCTOBER 2016 20

Pelham.

Moose and Spooky.

Dutchess.

Speed date: Moondog, top, with Minchie.

Buster.

CELEBRITIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

THUMPOCTOBER 2016 21

Olivia at home with Pam Jones, her adopter.

Hugo and Delilah.

CELEBRITIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Lisette.

Stuart.

Tori.

Stretch.

Licensed HRS Educators

Manhattan:Becky Campbell, DVMDeborah Levison, DVMSymphony Veterinary Center170 West 96th Street, New York, NY 10025(212) 866-8000

Katherine Quesenberry, DVMThe Animal Medical Center510 East 62nd St., New York, NY 10065(212) 838-7053, (212) 329-8622

Alexandra Wilson, DVMAnthony Pilny, DVM The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine568 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10024(212) 501-8750

Westchester County:Gil Stanzione, DVMDakota Veterinary Center381Dobbs Ferry Road,White Plains,NY 10607 (914) 421-0020

Laurie Hess, DVMVeterinary Center for Birds and Exotics709 Bedford Road, Bedford Hills, NY 10507(914) 864-1414

Rabbit-Savvy VeterinariansHere’s our recommended vet list for the NewYork metropolitan area.Please note that manyclinics have multiple veterinarians, and our recommendations are for specific veterinariansin those clinics. If you can’t get an appointment with a recommended vet at one clinic, don’tassume (no matter what you are told by the clinic) that other vets in the same clinic can helpyour rabbit. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the vets on this list,please contact Mary Cotter at (914) 337-6146. When you make an appointment with any of these vets, please tell them you were referred by us.

Long Island:Jennifer Saver, DVMLaura George, DVMKristen Miller, DVMCatnip & Carrots Veterinary Hospital2056 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park,NY 11040 • (516) 877-7080

Heidi Hoefer, DVMIsland Exotic Vet Care591 East Jericho Turnpike Huntington Station, NY 11746(631) 424-0300

Jeff Rose, DVMJefferson Animal Hospital606 Patchogue Rd.(Route 112)Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776(631) 473-0415

Shachar Malka, DVMLong Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic333 Great Neck Road, Great Neck, NY11021(516) 482-1101

Adoptable RabbitsThere are lots of adoptable rabbits availablein Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester andLong Island.

To adopt a rabbit in New York City or West -chester, contact nyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.On Long Island, contact Nancy Schreiber atnschreibmd@gmail.com or at 516-510-3637 (www.longislandrabbitrescue.org).

If interested in volunteering or fostering for Rabbit Rescue & Rehab, please emailnyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com.

Adoptable Rabbit Rescue & Rehab rabbitsare at Petco’s Union Square location. Rabbitvolunteers are present at these stores onSaturday and Sunday afternoons to answerquestions.In addition, Rabbit Rescue & Rehab rabbitsare at the Petland Discounts store on West72nd Street.You can also visit Manhattan Animal CareCenter (NYC ACC) at 326 East 110th St.,between First and Second avenues. Rabbits

All donations go directly to caring for our fosterrabbits and are tax-deductible. Please help us helpthem.Mailing address for contributions: RabbitRescue & Rehab/NYC Metro Rabbit, 333Mamaroneck Ave, PMB 363, White PlainsNY 10605. To contribute to Long IslandRabbit Rescue Group, please go towww.longislandrabbitrescue.org.

NYC/Westchester: M.C. Basile, bunnytorts@gmail.comMaryCotter, Founder,Rabbit Rescue & Rehab,Chapter Manager,NYC House Rabbit Society,Adviser to Thump, mec@cloud9.net, (914)337-6146, rabbitcare.orgGabrielle LaManna, New Fairfield, CT,gabbysbunnies@yahoo.com, (203)746-7548Mary Harnett, mmharnett@optonline.net,(914) 948-7976Marcie Frishberg,mfrish57bun@yahoo.com, (718) 724-4105Cindy Stutts, bygolyoly@yahoo.com, (646) 319-4766Kerstin AumannMonica Shepherd, DVM

Long Island:Nancy Schreiber, President, Long IslandRabbit Rescue Group,nschreibmd@gmail.com, (516) 510-3637,LongIslandRabbitRescue.org Mary Ann Maier, Long Island RabbitRescue Group Volunteer,altitude8@yahoo.com,LongIslandRabbitRescue.orgDonna Sheridan, Long Island Rabbit RescueGroup Volunteer, hpocus217@yahoo.com,LongIslandRabbitRescue.orgJennifer Saver, DVMLaura George, DVM

Newsletter of RRR/NYC HRS56 West Pondfield Road #5CBronxville, NY 10708www.rabbitcare.orgEditor: Susan LilloCreative Director: Jane O’WyattMasthead Logo Designer: Mary Ann MaierRabbit Rescue & Rehab is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation in New York State. Ourpurpose is to rescue, rehabilitate and findpermanent homes for abandoned, abused andneglected rabbits, and to educate the public on rabbit care through publications, phoneconsultations, home visits and presentations.This newsletter is published by RRR/NYC HRS,which is solely responsible for its content. Weretain the right to edit all submissions, whichbecome the property of the NYC Chapter and cannot be returned.

for adoption can be found by going to:http://www.nycacc.org/ and doing anadoption search. Volunteers are there everyweekday evening and on Saturday andSunday afternoons, but it is best to arrangean appointment first.

Bunny speed dates can be arranged byappointment only on weekend afternoonsat Union Square. Please contactnyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com to makearrangements.

Many of our rabbits are living in fosterhomes and you can meet them as well. Youalso can arrange to foster a rabbit until he or she finds a permanent home. Contactnyc.metro.rabbits@gmail.com

For basic information about rabbits as pets, go to www.rabbitcare.org,www.longislandrabbitrescue.org and theHouse Rabbit Society main site,www.rabbit.org.

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