The Carrot Tribune - December 2016 - BUNS

In this issue... Make our Holiday Hoppy December Hoppy Hour Basic Bunny Class Bunny of the Month Reflections on 2016 Make our Holiday Hoppy The bunnies and guinea pigs have covered a Christmas tree with their wishes for the new year.  The bunnies’ first wish was to eat the tree and they tried!  But the volunteers put it on a table. Some of the bunnies seem to be making a plan to get up on the table.  So, as long as the tree lasts, we would so appreciate if you would help us fill the space under the tree.  Our tree is covered with wishes: whisk brooms, vinegar, bleach, a stethoscope, litter boxes, ear cleaning solution, q-tips, exercise pens, pen lights – oh just everything we need at the shelter! The bunnies and guinea pigs want you to remember that they need treats: Oxbow Simple Rewards are good, so are banana chips and currents. We have a wish list on Amazon under Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter.  So just check our list. If you are ordering on Amazon, a portion of your bill can go to BUNS. Head to to smile.amazon.com and select BUNS as your charity. If you are shopping our wish list, we get the present and a donation.  If you are buying for someone else, we still get a donation from Amazon. Thank you for making the holidays and the year hoppy for the bunnies, the piggies and the volunteers! Read More     Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class Our next Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class is December 10, from 1:00 to 2:30 at the Humane Society! Bring your Rabbit or Guinea Pig. Learn easy handling and care-taking during the first hour, then for the last half hour play training games that are fun for you and your pet. Classes are free to BUNS volunteers! Read More     December Hoppy Hour It's our last Hoppy Hour of 2016! Join us Saturday, December 17 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Bring your fuzzy friend and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Read More       Bunny of the Month Carlton is our Guinea Pig of the Month for December! Carlton came to the shelter with a bad case of mites, but look at him now - such a handsome boy! Carlton is a mellow fellow; very easy-going and friendly.  Lounging on laps while munching a baby carrot is one of his favorite pastimes. Carlton is looking for a home where he can have his little ears pet and be fed fresh hay and veggies forever. Read More       Reflections on 2016 The New Year is almost upon us, and here at BUNS we like to reflect upon the year past: the challenges, accomplishments, and the great joy that comes with caring for and rehoming the rabbits and guinea pigs that come through our doors.  This year some of our longer-term residents found their forever homes, like the sweet, shy girls Negrita and Miss Dot, the bonded boys Casper and Lloyd. Even two pairs of "Christmas bunnies" – Barty and Tangerine, and Cubby and Amaryllis! Two of the volunteer favorites, Claire and little Brandi, also went home. Those tiny baby girls were abandoned and badly hurt, Brandi almost losing her leg. They required extensive medical help and diligent foster care, and BUNS provided for every step towards their recovery and happy ending. There was Melina, so sick she had to be syringe-fed; and Wheatley, a guinea pig with the worst case of mites. There was Troy, found dying in the park, and Fluffy, our newest video star, who underwent an amputation. It was a difficult battle, but all these animals pulled through and will find their home someday. This is our philosophy at BUNS: we don’t give up on any animal, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem.  On the more mundane side, there were the daily operations of our shelter. By the time the year is out, the cages and hutches will have been cleaned 366 times. We'll have prepared 366 salads. We will have filled thousands of hay boxes. Every day animals played, napped, enjoyed treats from visitors, and waited for adoption. Volunteers, board members, animal services staff, and veterinary professionals will have worked around the clock for 366 days to make BUNS possible in 2016. And of course we couldn't have done it without the support of our community and our generous donors. This holiday season, help us pave the way for another successful year. Donate to BUNS and help us continue fighting for the rabbits and guinea pigs of Santa Barbara County. Together we can help realize the dream of finding a home for all animals. To make a donation, visit www.bunssb.org and click Donate.