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Craig (and Flo) *NEW* update - Oct 2nd Plus video

It sounds really positive - but I'm almost frightened to say that in case we jinx it. It will be so exciting when they both come home.
 
Lots of bonding vibes for Flo & Alex - especially when they get to meet fully next week. I have everything crossed for them. I bet it feels really weird for you not having a bunny around

Thank you J&B. You are absolutely right. We've had bunnies for over 10 years so this is all very strange for us. When I come downstairs in the morning I still open the door and say "Morning Flo" as she sits opposite the living room door. I keep expecting Flo to follow me into the garage when I go in there as it's her favorite place to chill out. And today I did a supermarlet shop and the trolley was half empty as there were no fresh greens or herbs. I know Flo is in the very best care and the staff are at the rescue centre 24/7 so she is getting loads of attention and stimulation. I worry so much that Flo felt that we were giving up on her and placing her back into the care of the centre so she would go to another home - but unfortunately we just couldn't facilitate a safe and secure bond here for Flo and we both knew Flo would be better with a companion.
It is interesting contemplating on the possible scenario when Flo and new bun come home. Flo should recognise everything (although we will clean and disinfect everything) but the new bun won't recognise anything so he will be socially anxious - although should be bonded with Flo so will look for her for support.
 
It sounds really positive - but I'm almost frightened to say that in case we jinx it. It will be so exciting when they both come home.

Thank you so much Babsie. We are aprehensive about things and we have often thought about what might happen if things didn't work out. But Flo is in great care with fantastic staff who are taking the process at both rabbits pace so it all seems to be going very well.
 
Here is the latest update from this morning from the rescue centre - as provided by our friend there:

"I’ve heard good reports about Flo coming over to new team members that she hasn’t met before, having a quick sniff of their hands and then hopping off.
Attached is a photo of her and Alex tucking into breakfast this morning on each side of the glass door panel between their pen areas, neither seeming fazed by the other’s presence and getting used to co-habiting alongside each other. Scent swapping between their individual pen areas continues and we’ve also been doing a bit of carrier training with Flo to desensitise her to her carrier and get her used to hopping in and out of her own accord – cranberries are our friend!
Today we have been prepping their neutral territory pen and tomorrow we’ll look to move them in there for short spells, to be separated by a grille and will see what social signs we see – fingers-crossed for them!
Will let you know what work we’ve done throughout the course of the day and send an update later on tomorrow."

It all sounds very positive so far and Flo appears to be on her bestest behaviour. Of course, neither bun has been formally introduced so we'll have to see what happens when they do get to meet each other.
I will post additional updates as I receive them.
CRaig x

Awww, Craig, it all seems very positive and I'm so pleased for you all!
 
I enjoyed reading your grocery trolly was half empty because lack of greens:D Though it must be strange to not have a bunny around.

Sending lots of vibes for the bonding.
 
Good evening bun friends. As promised, here is the latest update from Flo's bonding adventure. Our friend at the rescue has had a few days off so this is the first update we have had since Friday. I am wondering if they have the right rabbit.......
"Just to say that Flo and Alex continue to do well – as you can see, Flo is looking very relaxed in her temporary accommodation!
As from yesterday, we are now down to the single grille permanently (including overnight), as we have no concerns re: nipping or either of them being overly frustrated to get to one another. There is lots of sniffing going on between them, and both are quite content to munch away on their breakfast/tea on their respective sides. Alex especially likes to do his draught excluder impression on his side of the grille! He’s a proper cheeky chappy and doesn’t seem to be fazed by anything.
So we are going to continue to build upon this for the next day or so and then start to introduce them to each other face-to-face in the neutral pen. During the morning clean outs, Alex vacates his area into the unit kitchen area so that Flo has free roam to suss out his pen a bit, which usually makes her quite animated with lots of hopping and bouncing around from one thing to another.
Flo has even graced some of the team with her presence by hopping onto their laps whilst they sit on the floor for her socialisation sessions – apparently it’s a cranberry that is the trick!
So all-in-all, the team are quietly pleased (touch wood) with how well it’s all going so far, and are very impressed at how well Flo is coping and interacting with us."

This is where we are. Flo has never hopped onto our laps - cranberries or not. The lack of apparent aggression from Flo would seem to enforce the fact she is in a very neutral environment. Flo is always in my thoughts night and day. I miss her dearly and it's been a week and a half. She must be confused as to why she is in the rescue and wondering where she goes next. I wish I could be able to tell her she will be coming back here and with a 'plus 1'.
But the centre staff are excellent and the update is very positive. Both Flo and the new bun Alex seem to be relaxed and comfortable with each others presence and new bun Alex bunny sounds an interesting character. He sounds like a very laid back bunny but he has a big adventure ahead when he gets here as he has a whole new environment to learn.
When I get the next update I will post it for everyone.
CRaig x
 
Craig, this is a great update. :) I think they're doing just fine and will be getting their sweet daddy soon. :love:
 
Aw such a lovely update about them both, but especially pleased to that Flo is so relaxed. I hope the face to face goes well, she'll soon be home Craig x
 
Great news, So pleased she’s getting a friend. She won’t be worried or wondering why she is where she is, animals live in the moment - she will just be getting on with it and enjoying her food/new found company etc so try not to worry :)
 
All sounds very positive. It will be lovely for you and Jan to have her home with her new friend once they are bonded. It is great that the rescue have the time for such a slow bond. I could never do that here as I couldn't take that much time off work.
 
I hope Flo will continue to do well with Alex so they can soon be home.
Can you temporarily rearrange a few things outside or inside so Flo has some unfamiliar areas to explore with Alex?
 
We have been waiting on tenterhooks for the last few days for an update. I have to say that whilst 'no news is good news' - it is uncomfortable to be waiting for an update whilst telling ones self that if there was a problem, we would be notified very quickly. So with that thought in mind, this update just hit my inbox 10 minutes ago....
"Hi Craig and Jan,
Just to say that I haven’t been in at the centre since Thursday but today received an update on the bonding programme between Flo and Alex;
We did the first barrier-free meet today in the neutral pen and it went super well!! They spent the first 10/15 minutes more or less ignoring each other. After a while there was some chasing and mounting from Alex, but this was very “polite” as far as these things go and he wasn’t too insistent on it. Flo also took it really well, and didn’t tell him off (even when he was humping her face!!!). We ended the session after about 25 – 30 minutes when both rabbits had settled and were relaxed and were laying down about 1.5 metres from each other. Once back in their individual kennels Flo flopped in front of the gate separating them and Alex sat nearby munching on some kale!
The plan going forward will be to do at least two similar sessions to this every day until the chasing/mounting stops and we start to see more positive signs (grooming one another, resting near each other etc.) at which point we’ll have a pair of bonded bunnies!! Once we reach this point, I think it’ll be wise to keep them with us for a further couple of days together, just to make sure the bond is secure.
But everything is looking very promising so far!

This made me cry - and I'm fragile as it is right now with everything that's going on in my life. It's been 2 weeks without Flo and we miss her terribly and it hurts us so much having her away. And we so much wanted to share in the bond as I was able to when Flo bonded with Leo. But - the single most important thing for Flo at this point, is for her to bond with another rabbit - so she has companionship once again. And to that end, this update is very much how Flo bonded with Leo but obviously when this happened, our home was neutral for Flo. And obviously we failed with the last bond we tried - and this update proves beyond any doubt that the neutrality of the rescure centre is absolutely critical to this - and I am so pleased for Flo. I am sure now that Flo will be forming thoughts for the new bun and will be building her emotions around that.
I will update the thread on Tuesday/Wednesday when we get another update and hopefully even more positive news.
Craig xx
 
It is apparent how much you love Flo from the sacrifice you are making to have her bonded with Alex away from home.
I am sending vibes that things will continue to progress until you are together again.
 
What a wonderful update. I'm so happy for Flo. :love: I know you must miss her so much... I remember when Sophie was away to be bonded to Casper, and that was 'only' for a week, and you haven't seen Flo in two weeks now... Hopefully she and Alex will be home soon. :love:
 
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