MimzMum
Wise Old Thumper
Hello everyone, my name is Mary and my three bunnies and I have peeked into your forums more than once, but never to post, just to learn. We've been lurking so regularly of late we decided to join up. I hope you all don't mind having a 'Yank' in the ranks. :wave:
A quick history: I have been a bunny slave for the last 4 years. My first bun is a sooty fawn Holland Lop named Mimzy, hence my username, MimzMum. He was abandoned at my husband's place of business with two REW males back in the summer of '07. We were able to capture him (although we had thought he was a she) and I was surprised to find that hubby allowed me to keep him. We had planned to capture the other two to turn over to a shelter, but one neighbor managed to secure one of them and took him home, the other must have passed away before winter, as he'd been looking very sickly and then disappeared.
My second bunny master actually came from a local pet store later that year in December (bad, I know, but she was one of the last they ever sold after adopting a 'no bunny sales' policy). She was supposed to be my daughter's bunny, but began bonding with Mimzy, so I have since taken care of her. Her name is Pip. She is about the same age as Mimzy, we think, and a Palomino/Half-Lionhead. A very stocky and sturdy bun, I rarely have health concerns with her. We also thought she was a he when we found her. Wrong again!
After some time attempting to bond them, and it going very well, Mimzy developed worsening nasal problems, and without a clear diagnosis/cure from the vet I was taking him to at the time, we separated them before a bond could be cemented. They have been separate ever since, which I hope to remedy this year. Mimzy has since acquired mild arthritis in his hips, no cure has ever been found for his nasal problems, but no disease has presented itself during testing either. Antibiotics have little to no effect. We think he may suffer simply from allergies.
In the end though, it will not be an easy bond, due to the fact that I have three bunnies to think of grouping. Because in August of '08, I was in that same pet store buying supplies and my daughter noticed a lone, broken tort Mini-Rex sitting in a tiny pen back behind the pet costumes. He had apparently, upon inquiry, been 'returned' to the store because the four little 8-10 year old boys whom he was bought as playmate for found him, 'unfriendly'. I learned they often took him up by the ears (he is mortally afraid of anything near his face) and ran him around and scared him by grabbing him. When he was not being harassed he was locked in a dark basement. Such is the mentality of some 'people.'
How the storekeepers thought he'd be noticed to be adopted back in this little cubbyhole in the establishment, I have no idea, but he was free to whomever would have him. Now I had two buns and did not think my hub would allow a third; even so I picked him up and he snuggled right in. He knew he was going home! Still, so timid and shaken was he, that I instantly heard the name Fiver, in my head, whilst holding him. (Yes, I'm a huge Watership Down fan.) And so Fiver he was before we'd even left the store. He's highly lovable (as any bun is!) and cuddly, but still doesn't particularly like being handled. Once you get him settled, he loves being fussed over...it's just the catching him that is difficult. And true to his namesake, he is the first one to thump when he feels a threat is near.
It is mostly for him that I have been here so often in the last weeks, due to the difficulty he's had for about a year or so with recurring cecal dysbiosis; and so all the threads by 'Thumps', a veteran member here, are my main focus. I hope to effect a cure for him in particular, perhaps using similar methods as she.
I have never looked back in my role as bunny slave. My home also boasts three cats of assorted ages and one perky Yorkshire Terrier/Chihuahua mix (after years of living with MacKenzie River Huskies). My human family consists of myself and my husband, my college-age son who is currently on campus and my 19 year old daughter who still lives at home.
I look forward to being a member of your wonderful community. I hope we can continue to learn from you all, and maybe contribute something worthwhile as well.
And hopefully any future 'quick' posts will not be as long as this one was!:lol:
A good morning to all!
A quick history: I have been a bunny slave for the last 4 years. My first bun is a sooty fawn Holland Lop named Mimzy, hence my username, MimzMum. He was abandoned at my husband's place of business with two REW males back in the summer of '07. We were able to capture him (although we had thought he was a she) and I was surprised to find that hubby allowed me to keep him. We had planned to capture the other two to turn over to a shelter, but one neighbor managed to secure one of them and took him home, the other must have passed away before winter, as he'd been looking very sickly and then disappeared.
My second bunny master actually came from a local pet store later that year in December (bad, I know, but she was one of the last they ever sold after adopting a 'no bunny sales' policy). She was supposed to be my daughter's bunny, but began bonding with Mimzy, so I have since taken care of her. Her name is Pip. She is about the same age as Mimzy, we think, and a Palomino/Half-Lionhead. A very stocky and sturdy bun, I rarely have health concerns with her. We also thought she was a he when we found her. Wrong again!
After some time attempting to bond them, and it going very well, Mimzy developed worsening nasal problems, and without a clear diagnosis/cure from the vet I was taking him to at the time, we separated them before a bond could be cemented. They have been separate ever since, which I hope to remedy this year. Mimzy has since acquired mild arthritis in his hips, no cure has ever been found for his nasal problems, but no disease has presented itself during testing either. Antibiotics have little to no effect. We think he may suffer simply from allergies.
In the end though, it will not be an easy bond, due to the fact that I have three bunnies to think of grouping. Because in August of '08, I was in that same pet store buying supplies and my daughter noticed a lone, broken tort Mini-Rex sitting in a tiny pen back behind the pet costumes. He had apparently, upon inquiry, been 'returned' to the store because the four little 8-10 year old boys whom he was bought as playmate for found him, 'unfriendly'. I learned they often took him up by the ears (he is mortally afraid of anything near his face) and ran him around and scared him by grabbing him. When he was not being harassed he was locked in a dark basement. Such is the mentality of some
'people.'How the storekeepers thought he'd be noticed to be adopted back in this little cubbyhole in the establishment, I have no idea, but he was free to whomever would have him. Now I had two buns and did not think my hub would allow a third; even so I picked him up and he snuggled right in. He knew he was going home! Still, so timid and shaken was he, that I instantly heard the name Fiver, in my head, whilst holding him. (Yes, I'm a huge Watership Down fan.) And so Fiver he was before we'd even left the store. He's highly lovable (as any bun is!) and cuddly, but still doesn't particularly like being handled. Once you get him settled, he loves being fussed over...it's just the catching him that is difficult. And true to his namesake, he is the first one to thump when he feels a threat is near.
It is mostly for him that I have been here so often in the last weeks, due to the difficulty he's had for about a year or so with recurring cecal dysbiosis; and so all the threads by 'Thumps', a veteran member here, are my main focus. I hope to effect a cure for him in particular, perhaps using similar methods as she.
I have never looked back in my role as bunny slave. My home also boasts three cats of assorted ages and one perky Yorkshire Terrier/Chihuahua mix (after years of living with MacKenzie River Huskies). My human family consists of myself and my husband, my college-age son who is currently on campus and my 19 year old daughter who still lives at home.
I look forward to being a member of your wonderful community. I hope we can continue to learn from you all, and maybe contribute something worthwhile as well.
And hopefully any future 'quick' posts will not be as long as this one was!:lol:
A good morning to all!
