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Topics of This Page: Rescue - 1/29/03 Rescue - 2/08/03 Sadie - 2/18/03 Rescue - 2/26/03 Don't Be A "Litter-Bug" ... 01/29/03 Rescue Well, we went "to the rescue" of that lady we mentioned yesterday. We found a "warren" area of their yard, fenced off and full of bunnies. However, it was not nearly as bad as we'd first expected. There were only about twenty bunnies, counting five newborns (2-3 weeks old). The situation began when the woman had "rescued" some does ... or she was told they were all does, anyway. Well, they multiplied "like rabbits"! She still wanted to keep the does. We had no argument, in that the bunnies were obviously well cared for - just not handled. We brought back eight bucks and the five newborns. We're not nearly in the bind that we had anticipated, but we still could use a couple of foster homes for a small while - contact us, please, if you can foster for a couple of weeks.
Don't Be A "Litter-Bug" ... 02/08/03 Rescue "... to the rescue", again. We got word from the Southern Palms Mobile Home Park that they had bunnies all over the place. Obviously, a "Litter Bug" problem, we went to catch what we could and assess the situation. They called us because the old owners (the new owners truly care) had previously called the Animal Control Department and they sent out people to "catch at any cost" all the bunnies they could. This, we were told, entailed grabbing by the ears, clubbing with nets - then catching, and chasing the poor things until they were too tired to run anymore. The "catchers" didn't care because they were going to take the bunnies to the Fish and Game people so they could kill them (if they weren't dead already) and throw them into the desert so the birds of prey "wouldn't have to work so hard." This outraged the residents of the park to the point that they literally "hosed down" the catchers and forced them to leave the property. -- They were asked (in no uncertain terms) to not come back! At any rate, when we arrived, we found very quickly why the 10-20 bunnies that are still there were not caught. These crafty fellows and gals are what we call "ten foot" bunnies -- you can't get within ten feet! We left some containment cages for the residents to house what few they will catch and we'll be going back to loan some live traps which we believe will ultimately be the only way to catch those that remain. We did not come away empty handed, though. We got back with five more babies! ... Cute little things from about 4 to 6 weeks old. They don't look to need formula though, given the "wild" way they were living. ... we'll keep you posted. ... slight correction - The residents caught three more babies and five adults (13 bunnies so far from this rescue).
Don't Be A "Litter-Bug" Oops, too late, again ... but we've been blessed with five brand new "kids"! We got Sadie on Thursday evening, 2/13, and she blessed us with seven kits on Sunday afternoon, 2/16! One was stillborn and another died a day later, but the remaining kits and Mom are doing fine, it appears. We were concerned that Sadie might be too young to make milk, but she's come through like a trooper! When Sadie arrived, she was part of a group. This is a particular problem with numerically large rescues - singular examination is not always immediate. We were extremely fortunate to have "gotten to" Sadie and Jacob (roommates) when we did. The birth was totally unattended in our kennels, but had just happened perhaps only minutes before we arrived to examine them. We set up a nest box for her with a little grass hay and Sadie has done the rest! She even got around to pulling some fur (after the fact) to make her "house a home".
Don't Be A "Litter-Bug" ... 02/26/03 Rescue Not nearly so glamourous on our part, but quite heroic on the part of Bill and Linda. Linda called to tell us she had caught a bunny that was running loose on the street. This is not an uncommon phone call around here (isn't it a pity?) and, for the most part, we just have them bring the bunny by and we add them to the bunny list. But after Linda called back and said she'd caught two more, we realized that she'd run into another "Litter Bug" problem. ... Turns out that Linda is more than the typical animal lover. She protects, feeds, catches and neuter/spays feral cats. When she saw the "group" running loose, she had no qualms about going to the house and asking about ownership. The woman in the house said the bunnies were not hers, so Linda "went to work." She caught one and then called us. Linda's husband, Bill, went back over there with her and they enlisted the help of a "son" that lived there. This time they caught two more and two or three more were still loose. Bill left his phone number "in case they caught one of the others". The boy called back crying saying he wanted the bunnies back - "Dad said", was the boy's reason. Bill told them they'd already been taken and a few minutes later, the "Dad" called, cussing and threatening to sue. The man might have held some credibility, except he came out and watched Bill, Linda, and his son running around the field trying to catch the bunnies -- and did nothing but walk back into the house. Our speculation is that "Dad" was unable to catch them (bar-b-que) and since Bill and Linda had, he wanted them back. At any rate, the others will remain "under watch" for now. We'll be going back to let the man show us where he puts the food and water for "his rabbits" and proceed accordingly. ... We'll keep you posted.
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