We have been having some problems with the images on our home page. However if you click on the post, you will be able to view all of the images relevant to that post. We sincerely apologize for the problem and are in the process of trying to fix it. Thank you for your patience! ~Hop Along Hollow

Sorry I haven’t checked in sooner, it’s been a crazy couple of months. I’m just writing to give you an update on the bunnies. Capt & Morgan had their first vet checkup before Christmas and all is well, nails are clipped and everything! They’re doing fine with their litterbox now, but Morgan loves to rip the newspaper outside the cage. I have to pick my battles though I guess! The only potential issue so far is 2 days ago I noticed a little dent in the fur on the top of Morgan’s nose. I think Captain may have bitten her in the process of eating pellets or something (they usually eat together). I checked around and that’s the only explanation I can think of; there aren’t any signs of it being self inflicted and there aren’t any places her nose could have gotten stuck. One of the attached picture’s shows it pretty well. There’s no actual cut, so I’m sure it wasn’t meant to harm her or anything, but I thought I’d show you just to be 100% sure it’s nothing. I’m so glad I got the little kiddos back in October- they’re so much fun. Definitely not as scared as they first were! I hope the rest of the bunnies back in CT are doing well too!

Sincerely,
Bunny Adopter!

The following e-mail was sent out describing the importance and value of adopting dogs and cats from shelters as opposed to purchasing them from a pet store. Although the words cat and dog have been used throughout, the letter also applies to rabbits. Rabbits are the third most abandoned animal, following cats and dogs. If you are considering bringing a bunny into your family, please consider adoption. There are many rabbits out there that have had some tough times that need somebody to love and care for them like they deserve to be cared for. Please visit our adoption page to see some of the many sweet, caring rabbits that are up for adoption that deserve a chance at life!

Dear Neighbor,

During any given year, over 6 million dogs and cats* (more than the entire human population of Missouri) enter shelters and become homeless. Over 50%* of them are euthanized due to overcrowding or health issues related to abuse and neglect. The sad animals you see in the t.v. commercials, which are so difficult to watch, are real. Those animals, and many more like them, really do exist. I know, because I spend much of my time as an animal rescue shelter volunteer and see the abused and abandoned animals first hand. All are scared, many are traumatized and must be taught to trust.

Purchasing from a pet shop or even from a “reputable” breeder takes homes away from shelter animals, and perpetuates the use of animals for profit. When a dog is purchased from a pet shop the transaction keeps an animal abuser in business, as most pet shops get their puppies from puppy mills. Puppy mills are businesses specifically created to breed puppies for sale. Unfortunately, the breeder animals spend their entire lives in small cages, often lying in their own waste. They never receive any affection. They are never allowed to walk outside their small cages (except to breed). They are never allowed to play, and most don’t even know how. They are only fed enough to allow them to continue breeding. They are matted, filthy, lonely, hungry, scared, depressed and usually sick. They have been emotionally and physically abused and neglected. Their living conditions are deplorable and when they can no longer breed, they are killed. If you were to see the condition of just one of these animals when it is rescued from a puppy mill, your life would never be the same. So if you plan on purchasing that happy little puppy from a pet shop, keep in mind that you will be leaving its parents behind to be abused, and then perpetuating their misery by putting more money and more motivation into the pocket of the abuser. The highest concentration of puppy mills is in Missouri and in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Google “Amish animal abuse” or “Amish puppy mills”). Isn’t it time we stop using animals to fill our pockets with cash, or to satisfy our egos?

There is a rescue group for just about every breed (and species) of animal you can think of, and a good amount of animals in shelters are pedigreed. You need only to know the traits of the breed you are looking into to be sure it is a good fit with your family, and so will stay for a lifetime. The shelter staff can help with that.

This letter is intended only to help raise awareness. If you care about animals at all, here are some things you can do to help:

· Don’t breed animals for fun or profit. Remember there is “no need to breed” .

· Don’t buy animals from pet shops or breeders (including on-line breeders).

· Do please adopt a shelter or rescued animal (www.petfinder.com is for rescue group animals only)

· Donate to a shelter or rescue group if you can (cash, blankets, towels, food, pet toys).

· Donate pet food to a local food bank. Many food bank patrons have pets that are in need too.

· Volunteer your time to a shelter or rescue group. The animals need love, affection and fun!

· Spay and neuter your pets so the population doesn’t increase even more.

· Know that animal hoarding is not love. Take an animal only if you can give it a proper home.

· Remember that animals feel, even though they can’t cry or express in words.

· Remember that animals are like toddlers. They need our help to survive, and they need love.

· Speak up, be a Voice and a defender for the animals. Share this letter. Teach empathy.

Thank you for caring. When we know better, we do better !

Awwww, look at Parsley, what a chubby bun. Here’s what her bunny-Mom has to say:

Hi!
A few years ago I adopted a big wonderful bunny from you named Parsley. She’s doing great! From the second she arrived she declared the livingroom couch her personal lounging spot. It’s taken a while, but now she allows us on too! She’s such a smart funny bunny and she couldn’t be loved more.

Meet Dutch Pumpkin, an adorable little lionhead dutch girl. Here’s her Adoptive Mom Melissa describing her:

I adopted Dutch Pumpkin from you back in February, her new name is Lola. She was definitely a slow to warm up bunny, it took her a good few months to just get used to me. She’s still quite cage aggressive, but once I get her out (with gloved hands haha) she’s a sweetheart. She’s been doing very well since adoption and certainly has grown!

You might recall that I had a male rabbit at home that I wanted to bond her with. In short, it didn’t go very well. Every time I tried they would fight, pulling chunks of fur out of each other. It was a quite a frightening experience, and after a number of tries over a few months, I lost hope. I began thinking, though, that since Lola took so long to warm up to me, maybe it was the same with my male bun. In the meantime I made her an extension off of the male’s cage where they share a wall (its a connecting cube cage) and by the way the two of them act now, you’d think they were in love! They always go by the shared wall and sit next to each other, and when the boy is out he will not leave her side of the cage. He will lay there against one of her walls and she’ll lay right next to him! I even catch them giving each other little “kisses” sometimes.

I thought these were all good signs, but one day when the boy was out, Lola accidentally found a way to sneak out of her cage and they were running all over the living room fighting again. I’m not really sure what’s going to happen with these two, but for now they seem content living separate, but close to each other. She’s a very spunky bunny, but always makes me smile and she is a sweetie at heart. I attached a couple of pictures for you, one with just Lola and the other shows her laying next to the boy like I spoke about.

I hope everything is going well at the hollow, and I’m happy to have the chance to let you know that Dutch Pumpkin is living a very happy, comfortable life here!