Hi, I’m Caroline, and I love bunnies.
As you might expect, I talk about my bunnies a lot, so I’ll introduce them here. I apologise for not knowing what breeds they are, but I don’t care. All that matters is they’re bunnies!
Holly – 2020-now
I have no idea what breed Holly is, but she’s beautiful. She’s quite nervous (we don’t know much about her background other than that she as surrendered) but is really coming out of her shell. She came to us with her daughter Daisy and we believe she’s about 2. She’s small and delicate but does the best zoomies I’ve ever seen.
Daisy – 2020- now
Daisy is half whatever Holly is and half Netherland Dwarf. She’s far more confident than her mum, and spends way too much time trying to hump her. My neighbours must think we’re insane, saying ‘stop humping your mother’ multiple times a day.
Daisy has slight head tilt, so her zoomies are far more refined (I assume it’s a bit of a struggle zooming with head tilt), but she’s been treated for it and I think it’s improving. It was very slight to begin with – it just looked like she was thinking.
Isobel – 2019-2020
Isobel was a blue French Lop we got when she was 3/4. She was big and extremely aggressive at first but after a LOT of time and patience she began to mellow into a big love bug.
Unfortunately, she passed away earlier this year, we believe from a heart attack, a couple of days after exploratory surgery. We were heartbroken, but it was extremely quick and not uncommon in such big rabbits.
I was devastated when she died, because she’d been making such great progress, but I’m glad she spent those last few months with people who were happy to tolerate being bitten and growled at. She was so so funny, and loved to chase us, which once she stopped biting our feet, we were happy to let her do.
Original Isobel – 2009 – 2019 (and Lucy 2009-2010)
I’m not proud to say this, but Isobel was bought from a pet shop with her sister Lucy. The pet shop was horrible and each only had one ear. I got drunk with friends the day after I saw them and made my boyfriend go and get them.
Just in time – they were literally on the way back to the breeder to become baby machines that day. I think they were German lops.
Lucy, unfortunately, passed away following her spay surgery. I managed to get her to eat a bit of food, but it wasn’t enough.
Both rabbit had breeding-related health problems, but luckily Isobel remained a trooper re. surgery her whole life, and had a massive tumour removed from her face when she was 9. The vet said she was moving towards her food before she was even fully conscious.
George – 2008 – 2018 (and Alice 2008- 2013)
George was an Agouti-Dutch mix who we got when he was 18 months old with his partner Alice. They were identical except Alice had a white nose and George had white socks on his front feet, so I assume they were litter mates.
We’d gone to a rescue to look at another pair, but I felt in love immediately with George and Alice. They weren’t even up for adoption – the rescue planned to keep them indefinitely because George was so vicious.
I didn’t care. They came home that day.
And boy, he was vicious. We couldn’t go near him for over four years. Alice, however, was a gregarious sweetie pie. She loved cuddles and fusses and would come and chill with us whilst George sat sulking in their pen. After a lot of time and treats, he would come and sit with her, and occasionally liked a very quick pet on the forehead.
Alice had been born with a brain parasite, and it wasn’t expected that she make it to two, but actually she lived until she was 6, and only had one flare up when we thought she wouldn’t make it.
When Alice died, it was like someone flipped a switch in George, and he became a loveable snuggle bug. We managed to bond him with Isobel and she was the dominant one.
Honourable mentions
We’ve had three long term fosters – Molly, NB, and Bruce. I’m afraid I only have pictures of Bruce:
Molly was a rex rabbit that was living in our local cemetary and terrorising local dogs. She was handed into the vets and we held onto her for a few months, got her spayed etc. She was a sweetheart, so was easy to rehome.
We found NB (new bunny because we weren’t keeping her and she didn’t have a name – it stuck!) on the side of the road and took her home. I think she escaped from a meat farm because, god, that rabbit was fat – I think she was a Flemish Giant cross.
She only ate hay and a few greens (no pellets at all) and couldn’t lose weight. She lived in a cage that she (by choice) never came out of. Luckily she was also super sweet, and was rehomed with Molly.
Bruce was dumped on an industrial estate near my boyfriend’s work. He was neutered and chipped because he’d been bought from Pet’s at Home, who make sure their rabbit’s are. When we rang the number we were told in no uncertain terms not to bring him back, so we fostered him until he was rehomed by the Blue Cross.
Bruce was an adorable rabbit (we had original Isobel at the time and he loved her, but she HATED him) and was clever, sweet, and funny.
The only issue we had with him is that he hated being picked up, and would kick harder than a tiny bunny should be able to, so I can only assume that’s why he was dumped.
Judging by the previous owner’s tone, you’d have thought he’d set their house on fire. I have no idea what breed he was – some kind of Harlequin x mini lop.
I’m gonna leave you with one final picture of original Isobel:. The quality is crap because iPhone cameras weren’t what they are now, but BELLY
