Archive for March, 2007
Ermz.. ok, don’t be fooled by the title of this entry.. It’s not really THE HRSS wedding but rather 1 of our beloved committee members held her wedding dinner just last Saturday… And I dubbed it the HRSS wedding for a reason…
Yep, you might have guessed it, the bride and groom, being avid supporters of HRSS, wanted to take this oppourtunity to let more people know about this society that they love so much… So… 2 courageous and iconic figures of HRSS actually went up to the stage and did a little talk on HRSS. Well, not exactly the kind of school talks we give where we touched a whole lot on rabbits, rabbit care and etc… Although no one went up to our table (which was table 21 btw,a nice number!) when we appeal for volunteers to come up to us for registration forms , the ‘talk’ went ’well’ .
And I must say I really like the fact that there was this ‘talk’… I would so love to talk about HRSS at my wedding the next time.. Maybe I shld do my own talk, it’ll be more convincing.. hehe.. And although during the planning of the dinner, we crapped about having a donation booth at the wedding and having a lucky draw where prizes are our merchandise, they didn’t came through. But still, it’ll be nice to have something like that. So we decided that this shld be a encouraged practice for all future HRSS wedding banquets… Hehehe…
P.S : Sorry, no pics to show as I cldnt get my camera to fit into my clutch that night… -_-”
March 29th, 2007
Easter is fast approaching and I came across this article while surfing around for rabbit info 
. Do share it around with family and friends.
As sure as the sun rises every Easter morning, many moms and dads give in to “Easter bunny” temptation and buy a rabbit for their kids, vastly underestimating the amount of care that bunnies require. Weeks later, when “bunny fever” has subsided, many will consign now-unwanted bunnies to outdoor hutches, dump them at animal shelters, or simply set them free outdoors, where they will starve or be killed by predators. Most will end up dead or abandoned before their first birthday.
Kids Begging for an “Easter Bunny”?
Ask yourself this:
- Are you ready to possibly shell out more than $100 to get bunny neutered or spayed? Bunnies become sexually mature between 4 and 6 months of age. Left intact, they often chew, spray, bite, smell, and make more bunnies.
- Are you looking forward to more potty-training and bunnyproofing? Bunnies suffer horribly in cages and must be litterbox trained so that they can live happily in your home, but if your home isn’t rabbitproof, they will sharpen their teeth on electrical wires, house plants, or your new IKEA chaise or oak table.
- Is your child planning on taking bunny to college? Bunnies can live to be 10 years old, so you’re looking at a commitment that will last for many Easters to come.
- Rabbits must be brushed regularly because they shed like crazy and are susceptible to hairballs; if they get one, they can’t cough it up like cats do. They have to be taken to the vet and treated (possibly even operated on) or they’ll die.
- Do you like playing beauty shop? Clipping nails is no walk in the park, especially when Thumper tries to thump you in the stomach with his powerful back legs!
If you answered, “No way!” to any of these questions, please pass up those cute animals in store windows this Easter and choose stuffed animals instead. Remember, bunnies are not a child’s toy; they are at least a 10-year commitment.
Fascinating Rabbit Facts
Famous for their reproductive abilities, rabbits can have multiple litters of up to nine young, known as “kittens,” each year. Bunnies are born helpless in a shallow hole lined with grass and mamma’s fur, but they grow rapidly and are very social animals who live together as a family.
Although rabbits build nests, the parents do not stick around much during the day after their kids are born since they might attract predators. The youngsters hunker down at the bottom of the nest, hiding until mom shows up for mealtimes.
A rabbit’s teeth never stop growing! Like beavers, they are kept worn down by gnawing on food and wood. But they aren’t rodents! They are called lagomorphs.
Normally, adult rabbits occupy about 2 acres or even more if food is in short supply.
Why Bunnies Aren’t Suitable for Young Children
Rabbits are extremely sensitive, and the enthusiasm of even a gentle toddler is too stressful for bunnies. Rabbits are ground-dwelling animals who become frightened when held and restrained. The result? Children lose interest and the bunny is left alone in a cage or abandoned.
Be Prepared
Spay and Neuter: Rabbits will live healthier and longer lives when altered and won’t contribute to the overpopulation problem. As your companions, they will be calmer, easier to litter train, and able to enjoy the company of other animal friends because they won’t exhibit such aggressive behavior. Surgery can be safe for rabbits, but it is important to choose a knowledgeable and experienced rabbit veterinarian.
Rabbitproof: Since your bunny is happiest being a part of the family, you can provide a safe place for him or her by redirecting electrical wires and moving plants and other furnishings out of the way. Because of their instinct for digging, it is best to provide a large box or basket filled with shredded paper. Your bunny will enjoy lots of toys to play with, such as untreated wood, straw, wire cat balls, keys, paper towel rolls, and hard plastic baby toys.
Caregiving: Rabbits love attention! Groom them at least once a week to control shedding and for quality bonding time. Contrary to the belief that rabbits like to be left alone, bunnies need daily monitoring and space for running, jumping, and using those hind legs. Confining them to a wire hutch without interaction, exercise, or comfort is cruel. A diet of grass, hay, fresh vegetables, and a limited amount of pellets will keep your bunny in shape.
Adopting: Clearly, rabbits aren’t for everyone. Are you a gentle adult living in a quiet household? If you think that you’re someone who would enjoy sharing life with a bunny, please visit your local shelter or rabbit rescue group. Please NEVER buy bunnies from a pet store. These animals often come from rabbit mills, where they are overbred. Dealers and “pet” stores usually request 4-week-old bunnies because they require less space and are “cuter,” but bunnies of this age are ill-prepared to be weaned from their parents. An animal who is purchased at a pet or discount store will be replaced by another one from these rabbit mills, leaving one less home for a bunny already in an animal shelter awaiting adoption.
Source: Helpinganimals.com website http://www.helpinganimals.com/animalsHome_rabbits_fever.asp?c=weekly_enews
March 28th, 2007
HRSS received an urgent email from a rabbit owner seeking financial help to sterilize her rabbits. In her email, she mentioned that people started dumping their unwanted rabbits into her house after knowing that she’s keeping cats as well.
It started off with 1 unsterilised male, and subsequently, other intact females were dumped and they started breeding until the population hit 10 rabbits. As there’re also cats in her place, some of the young baby bunnies were attacked by the adult cats.
Afraid that the situation will get worst, she wrote to us as a last resort of help as she was unable to raise the money for their sterilization to control the population.
After corresponding with this lady, we made a trip down to her place to better understand the situation. HRSS agree to help sterilize all the intact rabbits in hope that it’ll stop the breeding and improve the situation. It was arranged that a total of 8 bunnies will be sterilized (2 of them had already been sterilized earlier prior before HRSS was alerted). 4 of them were scheduled to be sterilized on 31 Jan 2007 and the other 4 will be scheduled to be sterilize in February.
Unfortunately, we received news that some of the female rabbits were pregnant again. 2 intact males broke out of their enclosure and created havoc before they were sterilized. A total of 15 baby rabbits were born. All adult rabbits had been sterilized as at now.
HRSS will need to sterilize and rehome all the rabbits (adults and babies) and we sincerely need your help and support.
If you would like to help us foster or adopt these lovely rabbits, please email us.
If you would like to donate towards the sterilization costs, please send a cheque to :
House Rabbit Society (Singapore)
Toa Payoh Central Post Office
PO Box 108
Singapore 913104
Please indicate ‘HRSS Special Appeal’ behind the cheque together with your address/ email so that we can send a receipt.
Your help will be greatly appreciated. On behalf of these rabbits, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks!
March 28th, 2007
When BitBit crossed the Rainbow Bridge exactly 2 months ago, I was at lost. I was bitter and upset, constantly blaming myself for reasons known, unknown or ridiculous. But then I had to get on with my life (in misery) and return to Perth for studies. How do you come to terms with the passing of a loved one?
And a terror renamed Rascal entered my life shortly after.
When I think about it, I thought Rascal could fill up the missing bit I thought I had in my heart. The little reserved space for BitBit. I sought for qualities in Rascal that would resemble and remind me of BitBit. I must have been hard on the little bugger.
BitBit was mellow. Rascal, not. BitBit was a big cuddly ragdoll bunny. Rascal, none of that. BitBit was orange with a trademark blur-block look. Rascal is a chocolate agouti with wary in his eyes. BitBit was … Rascal, not. BitBit was … Rascal, not. And I kept chanting to myself this way for a while.
However, be reminded that I never treated Rascal any less than I did BitBit. He was loved and I tried rehabilitating him gradually everyday. He was an aggressive rabbit when I first met him. He didn’t give me the time of the day any day. He would lunge forward and bite me a few times, hard. He would thrash about in his enclosure and made such a racket I would go berserk. And this only made me wonder further, “Why can’t he be like BitBit?!”
And then one ordinary day, he licked my fingers as I reached into his territory. That split moment of a couple of extraordinary licks shocked my conscience. Rascal could never be BitBit. Because only BitBit can be BitBit. And Rascal can be Rascal. He is a whole unique individual all by himself. It was unfair to want to mould him into BitBit.
He would never grow any bigger or heavier. BitBit was 2.2kg and he is 1.7kg at the moment. He would never adapt a blur face for me. Or be as well-natured as BitBit.
But I tell you what he IS. Rascal is a totally adorable bugger. He licks people’s fingers and toes. He can do a double or triple binky in a row. He “wags” his tail in an absolute cute manner. He is so happy to see any of us when we go near him. (But unfortunately, he loves turning on his water bottle; the racket still persists) He has personality and strives to amuse you with his super reflexes for food. You should see him zip across the lounge when he KNOWS you have a biscuit. He is so fast, you thought you lost him.
The thing is, Rascal didn’t fill up the missing bit in my heart. It was never missing at all. BitBit is still there. Instead, Rascal secretly made himself comfy in another little space, right next to the rest of the little bits for MaoMao, Socks, Dash, MungMung, YinYang, etc. That’s just it! No-bunny is replaceable.
In case you’re wondering, Rascal is an adopted rabbit from a friend. He is the result of a child’s pet. He was left outside all day in a crummy cage and so he became an escape artiste. And wrecked the garden. And finally, Mother said, “That’s it!” And I adopted him.
He’s not aggressive anymore. Just fussy. When he comes out to the lounge to hop about, he’s learnt certain Out of Bounds areas but as all rabbits are, he’s sneaky. He loves yellow pepper and big leafy veggs. He enjoys separating his litter from his hay. And flopping. And peeking through the blinds. And he’s littertrained. What else could I ask for in him? Nothing. He just has to be himself.
(Damn slow Internet connection so I’ll upload his pics another day 
p.s. I’m back on the Blog track!
March 20th, 2007
I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter… the cast-offs of human society.
I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal and I was angry.
“God,” I said, “this is terrible! Why don’t you do something?”
God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly.
“I have done something,” He replied.
“I created You.”
~ Jim Willis, 1999
March 11th, 2007