BUNS Newsletter - November 2015

November Hoppy Hour Hoppy Hour is this weekend! Join us on November 7, from 1:30-3:30pm.  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     Meagan and Buffy are our Guinea Pigs of the Month! Abyssinian or American, you can have both styles with this guinea pig pair. Meagan and Buffy are young sisters about one and a half years old. They have always been together and are closely bonded. These girls have plenty of running and playing left to do and are looking forward to being spoiled with lots of hay and salad, especially green peppers. Are you up to the challenge? Read More       Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Our next Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class is November 14, 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! Are you going? We'd love to hear from you on our Facebook event page. Read More     Support BUNS at CPK On Wednesday, November 18, show your support for BUNS by eating pizza! Bring in the BUNS flyer to the California Pizza Kitchen at Paseo Nuevo any time from 11am–10pm on Nov 18 and they'll donate 20% of your check to BUNS. What could be better than Pizza and Bunnies?! Click on the flyer to download a printable copy, and remember to bring it with you on the 18th. If you're going, tell all your friends on Facebook to come too! Read More       Brandy’s Story - A lucky bunny who still has a leg to stand on! In late July a teeny-tiny white bunny was abandoned in Santa Ynez. She was named Brandy and brought into BUNS on July 20th 2015 by the wonderful staff at the Santa Ynez Humane Society. Brandy was in critical condition, with one of her back feet starting to die with no circulation to her leg or foot from an unknown injury. She was in shock and septic and given a 50% chance of survival. With such damage her leg would almost certainly need to be amputated. To make matters worse, she was very weak and weighed less than half a pound, so anesthesia was not possible. Without the option of surgery, her chances of pulling through were pretty low. Undeterred, a talented BUNS fosterer and the wonderful Dr. Haskell and staff at Adobe Pet Hospital tended to Brandy with endless compassion and hope. If they could get her weight to over two pounds she would be OK for surgery. Over the next three months Brandy went to the vet twice a week and endured many soaks, pokes, and bandages. Even though Brandy was tiny she had big-time tenacity. Slowly, the little bunny grew, and in spite of all expectations her foot and leg started to heal and grow new vascular tissue, nerves, and muscles. Only her itty-bitty heel failed to heal with the rest of her foot. Her scheduled amputation was replaced by a skin graft performed in September, and by mid-October she was hopping like nothing had ever been wrong. With the amazing hard work of Adobe staff and BUNS fostering she is a fully functioning and very happy bunny. She was spayed last week and will join the bunnies at the shelter in early November! Brandy loves people and has such a sweet disposition. She loves to jump and play wherever she is!!! Come in and meet sweet Brandy, maybe your home is the next chapter in the life of such an amazing bunny. Funding for Brandy’s vet bills is provided by the generosity of our donors. Your can help us care for bunnies like Brandy by pledging a monthly gift to BUNS through our donations page at http://www.bunssb.org/donations/

BUNS Newsletter - October 2015

Board of Directors Annual Meeting Our Annual Meeting to elect members to the BUNS Board of Directors is October 23, 6-8pm in the Humane Society Educational Building. In order to vote for board members, you must be a volunteer in good standing over the age of 18 and completed more than 20 hours of volunteer service with BUNS in the six months prior to the meeting. The meeting is also open to the general public. Light refreshments will be served; potluck contributions are welcome. Read More   The Continuing Saga of Claire If you saw the video of Claire's babies on Facebook, you probably want to hear more about her story! BUNS volunteer Jean Silva sent us the latest updates on Claire: PREGNANT!? No, Wait! Well, not anymore. Claire delivered. Claire got busy while I was making breakfast this Wednesday. There was a baby lying on the fleece in her cage; Claire stared at me asking, “OMG,What is it?” Then it happened again and again. When it was over, there were three babies. Claire was calm; I was in a panic. Pregnant bunnies make furry nests before delivery. They have their babies when the people are asleep - people, after all, cannot remain calm and silent during deliveries. So mother bunnies have the babies in the nest, cover them with fur and clean up. By the time the people wake up, all is calm. Not Claire. There was no furry nest. The babies were crawling all over. Claire was backed into a corner. My husband, in response to my wail of “Claire’s giving birth!” said, “Did you want me to start a college fund?” I began circling the house looking for nest building material. A litter pan, thick fleece for the floor, a tea towel to contain the babies. Fur, I did not have any fur. BUNS volunteer, Jessie, answered my plea and gave me 3 bags full. The babies were covered in Jill’s lovely fluff. “I’ll tell Jill she’s the god mother,” said Jessie smiling. Mother bunnies run on instinct. They build a nest, give birth, clean up the babies, cover them in mommy fur, nurse and maintain the nest. Would Claire know what to do next? What should I do next? I called the vet, “Claire had babies! She’s taking medicine, what should I do now? They were as surprised as I was. They had reconstructed Claire’s injured toes, but they were looking at her toes and never saw her baby bump. “Continue the medicine,” they said. I was in a dither all day. Claire sat in her corner and ate. The babies stayed in the nest. It was a stand off. At five the next morning, I could not take it any longer. I picked Claire up and put her on the nest. The babies began searching for milk. Claire looked amazed and gave them each a few licks. “OK, maybe this is going to work,” I thought. Since that morning I have seen Claire pull fur to add to the nest and voluntarily hop on the nest to nurse. The babies look healthy and spend a lot of time sleeping. Claire’s life is just like a soap opera. Someone cut off most of her toes and then left her on the doorstep of BUNS. Then she gives birth to triplets. What could be next. Keep up with Claire's continuing adventures on our Facebook Page. Want to help BUNS care for Claire and other rabbits? Consider contributing to our crowdfunding campagign for Claire at www.youcaring.com/BUNS.Claire.     Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Our next Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class is October 14, 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! Are you going? We'd love to hear from you on our Facebook event page. Read More       Hoppy Hour Hoppy Hour is just a month away! Join us on November 7, from 1:30-3:30pm.  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     Mats are Back BUNS just received a shipment of seagrass mats. If you’ve been waiting for mats we have them in stock. $3.00 per square. Our mats give new meaning to eating in bed!        Suport BUNS with Axxess 2016 Deals Support BUNS and get great deals at local businesses at the same time: the Axxess 2016 book is here!   It's just $30 per book, and $10 goes to BUNS to help support the rabbits and guinea pigs. Please contact either Ana or Lesley Fagan at newhart4@yahoo.com to reserve your copy. We can even deliver if you live nearby!     Happy Halloween!

BUNS Newsletter - September 2015

Save The Date Mark your calendars! BUNS Hoppy Hour returns on November 7, from 1:30-3:30pm.  Read More     Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Our next Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class is this weekend! September 12, 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   Ralphs: Saves You Money, While You Support BUNS I started buying rabbit vegetables at Ralphs because the prices were great!  $1.00 a bunch for Organic Kale, Romaine, Red Leaf and Green Leaf lettuce.The cilantro prices are good as well.  Because the store on Hollister also has Chinese vegetables my rabbits have developed a taste for Chinese food! Best of all, Ralphs will contribute up to 4% of your eligible purchases to Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter. That was enough for me.  I started checking the aisles at Ralphs and, WOW, they had many products I was buying at Vons and Albertsons. So, I was convinced. Ralphs is my new market. And, they have gas discounts at nearby Shell stations.  What about you?  Will you take a look at Ralphs? Ralphs has markets in 5170 Hollister, Goleta; 2840 De La Vina St., Santa Barbara; and 100 W Carrillo St, Santa Barbara.  Instructions on how to sign up are available on our website! Read More   Wags n' Whiskers Festival The Care 4 Paws annual Wags n' Whiskers Festival is the largest adoption event in the tri-counties, and BUNS will be there! It's this Sunday, September 13, 11:00am - 4:00pm. It takes place at beautiful Girsh Park, Goleta, and features adoptable dogs, cats, and bunnies from more than 25 animal shelters and rescue groups. It also showcases dozens of local pet service providers and animal welfare groups.  We hope to see you there! Read More     Happy Tale from Hoppy Hour Huck came to the shelter with his mom, Susan, and brother, Thatcher. They were a happy family: friendly, curious, and very close. After Huck returned from his neuter he and Thatcher began to fight. Finally Huck was removed from the family. Susan and Thatcher were adopted together. After that Huck changed. He began sitting quietly in corners: the corner of his cage, the corner of his play yard. He no longer approached people for pets and people no longer approached Huck. From time to time, we would see Huck grooming a guinea pig in the play yard. But most days Huck was alone. By happy chance a BUNS volunteer decided to sponsor a Hoppy Hour for Huck. He came to life. Huck hopped all over the pen greeting other bunnies. He groomed any bunny who would sit still. Gloria, a previous BUNS adopter, saw Huck at Hoppy Hour and was enchanted with him and touched by his story. She decided to bond Huck with her bunny, April Rain, and Huck’s life began to change that day. He was adopted and got a new name. “Huck (aka Abracadabra) & April live side by side and he presses himself as close to her pen as possible. He binkies every evening in his play area,” Gloria reports. Abracadabra and April Rain go on car rides while they get to know each other. Gloria said that “on the last car ride Huck groomed April.” Abracadabra! a little magic got added to Huck’s life. We are so happy for them all. If you would like give joy to a shelter rabbit by sponsoring their Hoppy Hour, e-mail info@bunssb.org to make arrangements. Who knows, you could change a life.

BUNS Newsletter - August 2015

Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Our next Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class is this weekend! August 8, 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     September Hoppy Hour Hoppy Hour returns next month, on September 5, from 1:30-3:30pm. 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 or guinea pig. 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! If you missed, you should watch our video of the July Hoppy Hour on the BUNS Facebook Page! Read More     Guinea Pig of the Month We are Butch & Cassidy; young boys under a year old. We were lost and hiding together under a bush when a 4 year old boy heard our squeaks and rescued us. He gave us all kinds of good things to eat like fresh greens, hay and as a treat, a slice of “Pink Lady” apple. Yum! Here at BUNS we have plenty of food and after being lost, we are very happy to be together. The one big thing that we miss is having a loving home that we can claim as our very own. Read More       BUNS @ MesaFest Come visit us at MesaFest 2015! It's August 22, from 11am to 7pm, at La Mesa Park. See you there! Read More

BUNS Newsletter - July 2015

Hoppy Hour and Pignic Hoppy Hour returns this July 25, from 1:30-3:30pm. 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.  This month we're adding a "Picnic," which means your guinea pigs can come too! Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit or guinea pig. 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   Wild Fire Evacuations, No Pet Left Behind by Jean Silva Hot weather, strong winds and drought conditions leave me looking for a plume of smoke on the horizon. After many fires and four evacuation notices between me and my friends I’ve learned a few lessons. Once you see the smoke, you may only have a short time before you must evacuate your home. A little pre-planning can avoid tragedy. The Police and Sheriff will quickly block access to neighborhoods threatened by fire. If you are not at home, you may not be allowed to return home. If you are at home, once you leave, you will not be allowed to return until all danger has passed.  Once a fire starts, electricity and phones may go down very quickly, limiting your ability to communicate. Even if phones are functioning, the number of people making calls may make it difficult to get a dial tone and place a call. A radio or tv may be your best source of information about fire location, road closures and shelters. If you have children, pets or disabled family members who are regularly home alone, ask your neighbors to help if you are gone. Exchange phone numbers, share emergency plans, the location of pets and evacuation supplies. Do a family drill. Register your phones with the reverse 911 system to receive emergency notices. In an emergency you can follow County Fire on twitter @SBCFireInfo. Our website has links to fire preparedness sites for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Red Cross. If you evacuate, take your pets with you. Plan on keeping your pets at your side for at least three days. Before a fire, pack a Bunny or Guinea Pig Go Kit. See the list on our website for the items you will need. Be sure your carrier is clearly labeled with your name, address, pet name, and emergency phone numbers. While not absolutely necessary, a folding exercise pen or small cage/large carrier make safe housing. If you have no other options your pet can live in a bathroom (make sure you close the toilet lid) or shower stall.  Micro chips are the most reliable way to recover a pet that has gone astray. Consider getting your pets chipped. If they are chipped, make sure your contact information is current. In a large scale evacuation, emergency housing is at a premium. Check with friends in advance to see if they have room for your family and pets. Below is a web site showing pet friendly hotels. In past emergencies, some hotels have waived no pet policies, so go ahead and ask. The Red Cross will set up emergency shelters. If an emergency shelter does not admit pets, ask the workers where the emergency pet shelter is located. Once a fire has started, emergency personnel set up a unified command center. That command center will coordinate any animal rescue or sheltering with local Humane Societies, County Animal Services, and animal rescue groups. Within the first 24 hours contact information will be announced on radio and tv. Use that contact information to find out about emergency animal shelters. If the County decides to offer emergency pet shelter, BUNS may be asked to take in rabbits and guinea pigs. So check with us to see if we are offering emergency shelter at BUNS: 805-683-0521 or our Facebook page. Read More     Tristan is our Bunny of the Month! Hi, my name is Tristan, the only Californian rabbit at the shelter. My markings on my nose, ears, feet and tail were developed in California in the 1930s  and they make me unique. I am a big boy who really enjoys having a run around the shelter, now and then, as the bunny greeter, but I have been here so long, it would be nice to move on to greener pastures. The dwarfs and lop-eared rabbits grab all the attention, but they are not true natives like myself. Our breed slogan is ”From East Coast to West, Californians are the Best”. Stop by and see how wonderful I really am! Read More

BUNS Newsletter - June 2015

Let's Raise some Dough! On Monday, June 29, show your support for BUNS by eating pizza! Bring in the BUNS flyer to PizzaRev at the Paseo Nuevo Shopping Mall in Santa Barbara any time from 11am–10pm on June 29, 2015 and they'll donate 20% of your check to BUNS! What could be better than Pizza and Bunnies?! Read More         Basic Bunny Class, June 13 Our next Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class is this weekend! June 13, 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     BUNS Gets Ready for Changes Hold on to your ears, BUNS may be in for a bumpy ride! The American Humane Association (AHA) report to the Board of Supervisors recommended many changes at the shelter. Some of their ideas were good. Others were a little scary! Read more on bunssb.org ... Read More

BUNS Newsletter - May 2015

Hoppy Hour Hoppy Hour retuns this May 23, from 1:30-3:30pm. 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.  Read More     Edible Bouquets and Basket Bowers Does your rabbit have the blahs? Is he sleeping more and binkying less? Pulling carpet? Chewing his cage? Grooming too much or to little? If so, your bunny may find his life... BORING! Maybe its time for both of you to add a little variety. Excite your bunnies sense of sight, texture, taste and smell with two fun projects: edible bouquets and basket bowers. You will both have a lot of fun! Read More     King is our Guinea Pig of the Month! Look into my beautiful dark gray eyes and fall in love, says King. Weighing close to 4 pounds, he is a big boy who has more for you to hug and hold. Estimated to be about 1 year old, he is calm in your arms and lap if held securely, and doesn’t mind kisses on his pretty gray ears. Read More

BUNS Newsletter - April 2015

Volunteer with BUNS! If you’ve been wondering if BUNS wants or needs your help the answer is YES! There are so many different ways to participate which will immediately benefit our abandoned bunnies and guinea pigs. No experience is required to volunteer as we provide on-the-job training for tasks like keeping cages clean and inviting, providing fresh food, water and salad or learning how to handle, groom and socialize rabbits and guinea pigs.  All ages are welcome! For those under 16 we invite parent/child teams to help out.  If you want to help without getting furry and dirty consider offering your technical, artistic or craftsman skills. We can certainly put them to use to help our homeless furries.  It’s a great feeling to know that your effort makes life better for the cute, the innocent and the needy bunnies and piggies and is also deeply appreciated by everyone else on the BUNS team! Read More       Hoppy Hour Recap On a lovely Saturday afternoon, twelve bunnies came to play at the first BUNS hosted Hoppy Hour. Rabbits had the opportunity to prove they could play well with others. They frolicked and ran around in a large pen full of boxes and tubes for the afternoon on the lush green grass of the Humane Society, while their humans watched. Both humans and bunnies had a fun and relaxing afternoon. Light refreshment mainly consisting of cupcakes donated by Luna Cakes, a local baker, were enjoyed by all. Based on the positive feedback of the event, BUNS is already planning another Hoppy Hour. Please stay tuned for details.     Keep Your Bunny Safe in Hot Weather Your rabbit is at risk of heat stroke when the temperature is above 85 decrees. This summer may be hot. The National Weather Service already says this March was the hottest on record for Santa Barbara. Untreated, heat stroke can be fatal. So keep you bunny cool on hot days. Check your bunny early and regularly on hot days. Always have your vet’s phone number handy. Read on to learn more... Read More       Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on April 11, with upcoming classes on May 9 and June 13. Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Read More     Santiago Santiago is cute, available and our Guinea Pig of the Month! On the smaller side and  thought to be under a year old, he boasts a perfect, swirly, rosette on top of his head. Santiago also has a sweet, gentle personality. Let his easy going manner win you over as he lounges in your lap munching a nice piece of lettuce. Read More   Help Fill Our Easter Basket Make some bunny happy by giving adding a toy to our Easter basket. Bunnies and guinea pigs can get bored while they wait for their forever home. You can make their lives a little richer by giving a toy from the BUNS wish list. You could make the volunteers happy by sending us some supplies from the wish list too! Our wish list is on Amazon under BUNS (Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter). You can visit it any time or subscribe to the list so that you get e-mails as we update the list. Learn about great rabbit and guinea pig toys and supplies. Thank you for helping care for the rabbits and guinea pigs!  Read More

BUNS Newsletter - March 2015

Bring your bunny to Hoppy Hour! You and your bunnies are invited to the very first BUNS Hoppy Hour. 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 March 21, from 1-4pm on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit, who must be healthy and 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         Adopt-a-Rescued-Guinea Pig Month In 2002 the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) declared March as Adopt-a-Rescued-Guinea Pig celebration month.  The month is devoted to raising awareness about guinea pigs in shelters and about pet cavies in general.   Though we are called Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter we also care for and find forever homes for homeless guinea pigs.  Come by and meet some of our cute piggies such as King, a beautiful boy with white fur. Read More     Linda is our Bunny of the Month! Lovely Linda is wishing on a 4 leaf clover that she will soon find her forever home. Once in poor health and suffering,  she is all fixed up now and has blossomed. Linda has always lived indoors and would love a home where she can work on other "bunny projects" and stay mentally and physically active. Read More     Preventing Myxomatosis Myxomatosis is a fatal disease of rabbits. On the South Coast, myxomatosis cases usually occur between February and September when mosquitoes and other biting insects are most active. Because there is no vaccine or treatment for this lethal disease, prevention is the only option. You can reduce the chance that your rabbit will become infected – visit our myxamatosis page to learn more. Read More

BUNS Newsletter - January 2015

BUNS Bake Sale! BUNS is holding a bakesale on February 14, at the county animal shelter! Visit us between 10am and 3pm to get some tasty treats for your valentine! All proceeds will go to the care and feeding of our shelter bunnies and guinea pigs. We hope to see you there! (Photo by Sarah, via Flickr) Read More         Eat Pizza, Support BUNS! On Tuesday, February 24th, show your support for BUNS by eating pizza! Bring in the BUNS flyer to the California Pizza Kitchen at Paseo Nuevo any time from 11am–10pm on Feb 24 and they'll donate 20% of your check to BUNS. What could be better than Pizza and Bunnies?! Click on the flyer to download a printable copy, and remember to bring it with you on the 24th. Read More     Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on February 7, with upcoming classes on March 7, and April 11. Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Read More     Updates from the field We recently heard an update from Ryan, who adopted Clark (then Alvin) in November: Clark was brought home to be a companion for my other guinea pig, Colin. We brought Colin to your shelter and he chose Clark out of about three different pigs we tried dating. They both got a little defensive as we got home, but now they are living together in harmony! Clark is such a cuddle bug and loves to curl up and nap in someone's arms or in an old tshirt. I love him so much and I'm so glad your shelter is there to provide the services it does and to unite people with wonderful pets like Clark. Colin and I are both eternally grateful and we know where we will be looking if we need anymore piggy friends!  Want to share your guinea pig or bunny story? Send us a message on Facebook, or email newsletter@bunssb.org!        Miss Dot is the Bunny of the Month Gentle Miss Dot is looking for her forever Valentine. She arrived at BUNS and immediately gave birth to 8 babies over 3 years ago. She watched as her babies, one by one, found new homes, while Miss Dot, being very shy and afraid, was easily overlooked. Recently, in foster care, she was given a nice cozy bunny bed and lots of one-on-one attention. Miss Dot has blossomed into a beautiful, sensitive rabbit who is happy and trusting if you take it slow in getting to know her.  February is “Adopt-a-Rescued-Rabbit Month”; can you give this sweet girl a home? Read More

BUNS Newsletter - January 2015

Classes Are Back for 2015! Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on Saturday, January 10, with upcoming classes Feb.7, March 7, April 11, May 9, and June 13 2015. Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org to learn more. Read More       Mr. Moxie is Bunny of the Month Mr. Moxie is small in stature but big in sweetness! Weighing in at only 2 and a half pounds, he will give you lots of fun and bunny kisses. Suffering  from a broken leg when he arrived at BUNS, he is now  fully recovered and littler boxed trained. Mr. Moxie wants to be your house bunny for 2015. Read More

BUNS Newsletter - December 2014

May We Extend a Paw? In this season when so many are asking for your support, may we extend a paw? With your help, BUNS is able to care for stray and ownerless bunnies. Sometimes they are like Mary and her family of 4. She was found on the Westside and gave birth in an olla (a ceramic jar). Mary and her family are living in the kitchen of a BUNS family. They are warm and safe. Sometimes they have special needs like Jax whose teeth were growing out of control; soon he would not be able to eat. Or, like Kasper and his brother Llioyd, happy go lucky boys see everything as a toy and everyone as a friend. What ever their needs, when ever they arrive, BUNS offers loving care until they find a forever home.  Your help gives them a safe refuge.  You can help in many ways. We always need volunteers and fresh greens. Money pays the vet. You can donate by clicking the button below.  Or name BUNS as your charity on Amazon Smile, and we get a portion of your Amazon purchases. For other ways to support BUNS click the button below to go to our website. Hoppy Holidays and a 24 Carot New Year! - Your friends at BUNS Read More     Make a present for your fuzzy friend! Does your bunny or guniea pig love tossing things around her pen? Follow our simple instructions to make her what's sure to become her favorite toy! Read More     Winterize Your Hutch Outdoor rabbits need protection against wind, rain and cold. Last year we shared  some things that will make your bunny more comfortable, and thought we'd share with any new bunny parents this year! Read More         Need a last minute gift? Need a last minute gift for a bunny fan? Try our BUNS Logo Store on CafePress.  Read More     Guinea Pig of the Month Cornelius is a handsome fellow, and a charming chatterbox. He's also our Gunea Pig of the Month for December!  Read More       Updates from the field We recently heard an update from Stephanie, who recently rescued Rio: Just thought I’d give you an update on my amazing bunny boy, Rio. found this big boy hopping along on the sidewalk on some random street while driving around in my work truck. Finding stray bunnies isn’t all that uncommon, but what was uncommon was our first interaction. Usually, I have to catch a stray rabbit using a large net as they are super quick…however, with Rio I got out of my truck and just started talking to him while I went to the back to get my net. Amazingly, he looked at me and hopped right over to me and stopped at my feet. I bent over, picked him up and was completely blown away by his friendliness and lack of fear of people! He got to ride shot-gun all the way to our office where he had some spinach and water before we took the trip out to the shelter. I was sure someone would be missing him and was expecting a frantic call from his owner inquiring on his whereabouts; for some strange reason, that never happened.    Believe me when I say I meet A LOT of adorable, adoptable stray animals from day to day as I am out and about at work. I drop off lost and stray animals at the shelter frequently and am comforted knowing they will either be reunited with their owners or adopted in wonderful homes. Rio was different. I thought about him while at work and at home and visited with him often while he was at the shelter. There was just something special about Rio and once he was up for adoption (and after a discussion with the fiancé of course) I knew I wanted to adopt him.  These days, Rio continues to amaze and entertain everyone around him. He is the epitome of a “social butterfly” and has to greet every guest when he is free-ranging in our backyard. He and his chicken girlfriends (Henrietta, Betty & Wilma) all run around during the day, enjoying each other’s company and the cool shade on the grass. Every evening when I get home he runs to greet me, gets a slice of banana and goes into his double-decker hutch to munch on his pellets and veggies. We are also starting to become involved in a reading program that has children read to well-behaved animals to increase their confidence and reading skills. He’s definitely a spoiled boy and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Rio and I just wanted to say hi as I know all the volunteers fell in love with him too! Thanks for what you guys do and the wonderful care and TLC you provide to many homeless bunnies. Rio and I hope someday all the bunnies out at BUNS get their own rescue story and are as spoiled and loved as he is J  Want to share your guinea pig or bunny story? Send us a message on Facebook, or email newsletter@bunssb.org!

BUNS Newsletter - November 2014

Bobcats and Cougars, Oh My! Carnivores, in search of food and water, have come into neighborhoods.  This October a family living near Elings Park, lost their bunny to a bobcat. Changes in wildlife behavior require changes in our behavior to keep our pets and families safe. Click below to read about how to keep your family and pets safe. Read More     Updates from the field We recently heard some updates from Jade (now Penny) and her new buddy Pepper (formally known as Isabelle). The girls are doing really well and live very peacefully together. Pepper sometimes grooms Penny, and they're quite talkative with each other. Pepper popcorns a lot, and while she's doing that Penny likes to run in circles around the perimeter of the cage. It's very cute! Penny is still shy, but has come out her shell a bit and doesn't hide as much. Want to share your guinea pig or bunny story? Send us a message on Facebook, or email newsletter@bunssb.org!   Open Letter from a BUNS Volunteer At our annual meeting, Shelley K shared with her wonderful open letter to our volunteers, and we wanted to share it here.  On the occasion of our Annual Meeting I’d like to express what I’ve been thinking for a long time about our BUNS community. I want to acknowledge the tremendously hard, and good, work that so many here, and elsewhere, have done, and are doing, in the service of fulfilling our stated mission. I see incredible outlays of time, energy, personal finances, creativity, and profound caring here at BUNS. I see heartfelt concern for each other, and patience and forgiveness (not always immediately, but eventually!) for other frazzled, stressed or inexperienced volunteers, and forbearance with the uneducated public. I’ve also seen courage under miserable working conditions, ie. terrible heat waves! The last 2 years have been the hardest of my 9 years volunteering with BUNS. I, and others, have been stretched thinner and thinner by the sheer numbers of animals in our care and by a higher number of heartbreaking losses than we are used to sustaining. I suspect that every rescue organization really should have a grief counselor on call during the inevitable hard times. But since we don’t have a professional on staff I’m offering what small thing I can to help care for the caregivers, which is my deep gratitude for, and recognition of, the huge gifts we have given—not for personal gain, self-image, or glory—but for love. I thank you all most profoundly for what you have given, and are giving, to protect the most innocent among us. I will always count each of you as one of my forever friends! Shellye K., BUNS Board member and volunteer Read More     Beat the chill with a BUNS Hoodie It's starting to get a bit chilly out... keep yourself and your loved ones warm with a BUNS logo hoodie from our CafePress store! Read More

BUNS Newsletter - October 2014

Bunnies of the Month Trio! These 3 beautiful girls are hopping into Fall! Nala, Shenzi, and Sirabe are a fun trio who came into the shelter together as a bonded group.  Read More         Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on October 18th, with upcoming classes on November 22nd and December 13th, 2014 Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Read More     Volunteer for BUNS! If you are interested in volunteering for B.U.N.S. there are a lot of different ways you can make a difference in some bunny'’s life. You can volunteer one hour or more a week at the shelter taking care of the stray and abandoned bunnies that are waiting for a home. You can also volunteer to be a foster parent.There are also many other opportunities to contribute, so visit our volunteer page to learn more! Read More

BUNS Newsletter - September 2014

September is Bunny Month at the Shelter! September is a great month to adopt a bunny! Through the end of the month, rabbit adoptions include a free starter kit with nearly everything you need to get started with your new fuzzy friend. Read More       BUNS Has the Best Summer This July, Summer and her friend Jolie decided to brighten the day of everyone at Shoreline Park and raise money for BUNS. They set up a lemonade stand decorated with photos of shelter rabbits, and raised $63 for BUNS! Read all about it at bunssb.org... Read More     Your Rabbit's Personality Respecting rabbits also means knowing how your rabbit wants to be treated — and doing it. Match your rabbit's personality to the type he or she most closely resembles; then, get to work.  Read More         Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on Saturday, September 20, with upcoming classes on October 18th, November 22nd and December 13th, 2014 Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org to learn more. Read More

BUNS Newsletter - August 2014

Wags n' Whiskers Festival Come see BUNS at the Wags n' Whiskers festival this weekend! On Sunday, August 10, from 11am to 4pm, we'll be at the festival in Girsh Park, Goleta, along with adorable, adoptable, bunnies and guinea pigs. This year there will even be a bunny training demo! Read More     The story of Leela and Snickers Leela and Snickers have completely different personalities, but together they are two peas in a pod. Leela is stubborn and quite the diva, and Snickers is spunky and free spirited. The two were adopted separatly by the Alvarado family but together they've truly become members of their family.  Read More       Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on Saturday, August 23, with upcoming classes September 20th, October 18th, November 22nd and December 13th, 2014 Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org to learn more. Read More     Miss Wombat is our Bunny of the Month "Look into my baby blues and take me home," Miss Wombat says. Perhaps her baby blues are why she's August's Bunny of the Month! Read More     Beat the heat! It's been hot this summer! Help your bunny beat the heat with some of our tips from last July's newsletter. Click below to read our tips! Read More

BUNS Newsletter - July 2014

Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! We've just annouced new class dates for the second half of 2014: July 5th, August 23, September 20th, October 18th, November 22nd and December 13th, 2014 Classes are free to BUNS volunteers and City of Goleta Residents. Donations are gratefully accepted for everyone else. Visit our class page on bunssb.org to learn more. Read More       Are Bunnies as Smart as…? Ever wonder just how smart your fuzzy friend is? Find out in our new article about bunny intelegence. Read More       Wags n' Whiskers Festival Mark your calendars! Come see BUNS at the Wags n' Whiskers festival next month, on Sunday, August 10, from 11am to 4pm. We'll be at the festival in Girsh Park, Goleta, along with adorable, adoptable, bunnies and guinea pigs. This year there will even be a bunny training demo! Read More     Guinea Pig of the Month Lovely Miss Woolabee is looking for a guinea pig girlfriend. She is used to living with other girls and would be happiest with a companion or two. She is a tiny girl, very sweet and easy to hold. Read More     Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter

BUNS Newsletter - May 2014

Christmas in May Breaking News! The Christmas Bunnies saga has a happy ending!  Last month we featured a special edition of the newsletter trying to find our group of fifteen adult bunnies a home where they can live in their large harmonious group. It would take a special kind of adopter to tackle such a large bunch, but just such an adopter gave them a new home!  Read More       Elsa is our Bunny of the Month Elsa was just a young bunny when she was rescued behind a Trader Joe's, in the summer of 2012. She's grown into a big, beautiful girl, patiently waiting for the right person to stop by and see and appreciate her for who she is, and include her as part of their family.  Read More   Basic Bunny Classes Don't miss our upcoming bunny and guinea pig care classes. We have classes scheduled on May 10, and June 7, so bring your rabbit or guinea pig and learn how to help them be happy and healthy.  Read More   Axel Rose, Therapy Bunny Did you know that rabbits can be thereputic? Axel Rose is a certified pet therepy bunny who visits people to help improve their physical and mental health! KEYT posted a video of some of Axel's visits with Santa Barbara's Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care. Click below to hear more about Axel and see the video! Read More       Recently on Facebook... We recently posted this photo on our Facebook page of Jazara showing Patrick how big he was when she and her brother found him. Join us on Facebook and share your story... maybe we'll feature you or your bunny in our newsletter! Read More

BUNS Newsletter - April 2014 - Extra Edition!

The Gift of Bunnies that Keeps On Giving You may recall that just before Christmas this past year, Santa delivered twenty-two Palomino rabbits to the shelter! They’re still with us and as cute and gentle as ever, but we need your help to get them adopted into permanent and loving homes! Read More       Are you ready for May 15? Starting mid-May you must bring your own bag to large stores or pay 10 cents for a paper bag. Don’t be caught without a bag, bring BUNS-logo bags with you to the store! Read More

BUNS Newsletter - April 2014

Jax's Teeth Bunnies can’t get braces, but they can get teeth that grow in the wrong direction. What’s a bunny to do? Read more about Jax and his crooked teeth on our website. Read More   Basic Bunny Classes Don't miss our upcoming bunny and guinea pig care classes. We have classes scheduled on April 12, May 10, and June 7, so bring your rabbit or guinea pig and learn how to help them be happy and healthy.  Read More     Guinea Pig of the Month Eric is a cute little guy who’s waiting for his new home. He recently lost his young companion and would be happy to find another young guinea pig that he could share his life with. He’s about one year old, likes to run and play and loves carrot treats. Read More     Mother's day is next month! Don't forget, Mother's day is Sunday, May 11! If your'e looking for the perfect gift for your favorite mother (or bunny-mother!), why not check out the BUNS Store on Cafe Press? If your mother is a BUNS fan, we have tshirts, wine stoppers, tote bags, a new pendant necklace, and more, all sporting the BUNS logo. You can support BUNS and shop for your mom at the same time! Read More