BUNS Newsletter - May 2016

In this issue... Springtime Pignic Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class Bunny's Wild Snacks Clive's Story June Hoppy Hour     Springtime Pignic What’s a Pignic? Pignics give your guinea pig a chance to play with other guinea pigs. Boars and sows will have their own pens for supervised play. If you'd like, you may bring your own set up for individual play, so your pig can see the others from their own pen. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 14 from 1:30 to 3:30. The Pignic will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara. Admission is $10 per guinea pig and includes a health check. All animals must be healthy. Nail trims will be available for $5.00. Light refreshments will be provided. A variety of guinea pig items will be available for purchase– cozies, lap pads, and more, including custom painted rock guinea pigs! Join our event page on Facebook for more info! Read More       Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on Saturday, May 7, and next month's is June 11. Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org or join us on Facebook to learn more Read More     Bunny’s Wild Snacks Wild bunnies, grazing in the field, live on grasses. Occasionally, among the grasses, they find a succulent plant. Our bunnies cannot hunt for wild treats on their own. You, however, can find and harvest these special treats. Read more on our website about how to find fennel, mallow, and miner's lettuce. Read More       Clive's Story You would not believe Clive is the same rabbit who arrived at the shelter. Clive is wonderful. A happy handsome boy who runs up to people. He sits in laps and he gives kisses. What a change. I saw Clive when he was brought to the shelter. Clive and his two friends were the grandmother’s pets. But, explained the 8 year old grand daughter, “she left.” “My other grandmother says to tell you that she does not want to take care of the rabbits,” explained the girl. Grandmother held Clive out and all I saw was bright red tissue bulging out of both eyes. The eyes looked so sore. Looking closer, I could see dirt and fur sticking to the tissue. The eyes were weeping and the tears had matted the fur. He was pretty skinny too. Not good. Clive came home with me that night and went to see the vet the next day. Dr. Haskell diagnosed the eye condition as “cherry eye.” Rabbits have a gland that makes about 30% of their tears. Some people call it the third eyelid. Normally you can see part of it, but most is attached under the lower eye lid. Sometimes it becomes detached and the gland protrudes. The protruding tissue, exposed to fur and dirt, becomes inflamed and swells up. Clive had a bright red “cherry” at the inner corner of each eye. Dr. Haskell recommended that the third eyelids be surgically reattached. First the swelling had to go down. Dr. Haskell also said “Clive is under weight - probably due to agroceria.” “That sounds serious. What is it?” I asked. “Lack of groceries,” he smiled. “See if you can put some weight on him before surgery.” So Clive came home with me. He got eye drops which was ok. And, he got lots of food which he thought was great. Finally Clive had his eye surgery. BUNS got a bill for $463. But what a change! It was worth every penny. Clive celebrates his new life every day. He runs around his play yard, greets visitors, and stands on his hind legs for pets. He celebrates his new life every day. We celebrate his new life too! Everyone who donates or volunteers at BUNS helps give new lives to rabbits like Clive every day. You can help too. Visit our donations page to find out how you can support BUNS.     Our Hoppy Hour is in June Mark your calendars! Our next Hoppy Hour is June 4! 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

BUNS Newsletter - April 2016

In this issue... Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes - April 9 Hoppy Hour - April 23 March Pignic recap Kara Zorel is our Bunny of the Month! How to Herd A Rabbit   April 9th Class Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on Saturday, April 9, with upcoming classes on May 8, and June 11, 2016. Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org to learn more. Read More       Hoppy Hour - April 23 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     A Wheeking Good Time The BUNS Pignic on March 12 was a wheeking good time! We thank Edna, Little Buddy, Ginie, Peanut, Fifi, Buckminster, Mimi, Benny, King, Renly, Hazel, Gizmo, Mr. Piggy, Makenzie, Chippie, Hadley, Spock, Savanna, Santa Barbara, Amelia, and Santa Ana for their participation and all their family members and sponsors that made it happen.  We would also like to thank the sponsors that generously donated their quality products for our raffle, www.guineapigmarket.com, www.guineapigcagesstore.com and Oxbow. Our next Pignic is planned for May – stay tuned.     Kara Zorel is our Bunny of the Month Kara Zorel a real charmer with big brown eyes and a sweet, gentle manner. Visit our website to learn more about Kara, and to find out who our Guinea Pig of the Month is! Read More     Herding Rabbits One day your rabbit will be somewhere he is not supposed to be. Or, worse, a neighbor will knock on your door, “There’s a rabbit in my yard, can you catch it?” And you’ll be on the spot. Accept the fact that you have no chance of out running a rabbit. The slowest rabbit can run at 27 mph. The fastest human was timed at just under 28 mph. The first rule of rabbit herding is: slower is faster. The second rule is: rabbits are not people. Unlike you, rabbits have eyes on the side of their heads. They have a blind spot in front of their noses. But, they can see above their heads and behind their backs - all the better to spot predators. Spotting predators is important. When rabbits move or graze they often pause to look around. Fast moving animals, dogs, humans or mountain lions are a reason to run. Animals and people that approach slowly with pauses are not so scary. Learn more on bunssb.org at http://www.bunssb.org/bunnies/herding-rabbits/ Read More

BUNS Newsletter - March 2016

Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month March is Adopt-a-Rescued-Guinea-Pig Month here at BUNS, so this month's newsletter is all about the pigs! Read on for info about our Guinea Pig Picnic, Petco Adoption Day, and a video of an unforgettable pig named Tilly. You can also find out about our upcoming Hoppy Hour, and read about the difference between domestic guinea pigs and wild cavies. You can also download a copy of our March Guinea Pig Event Flyer if you'd like to print one out to share. Read More       Get ready for a Pignic! What’s a Pignic? Pignics give your Guinea Pig a chance to play with other Guinea Pigs. Boars and sows will have their own pens for supervised play. If you'd like, you may bring your own set up for individual play, so your pig can see the others from their own pen. Mark your calendars for this Saturday, March 12 from 1:30 to 3:30. The Pignic will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per Guinea Pig and includes a health check. All animals must be healthy. Nail trims will be available for $5.00. Join our event page on Facebook for more info! Read More     Pizza for Pigs! Pizza Rev is hosting BUNS again! Join us Wed, March 16 at Pizza Rev in support of guinea pigs (and of course rabbits!) at BUNS. Click on the flyer to the right to print a copy, out or stop by BUNS for pre-printed flyer, or simply say "We're Here for BUNS" at the register to donate! Read More         Hoppy Hour! Not to be outdone by the guinea pigs, the bunnies insisted we hold a hoppy hour in March too! Join us on March 26, 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     Genius Guineas and Crafty Cavies At least 4500 years ago, people in South America began taming the wild cavy, which eventually became the domestic guinea pig. Due to its smaller brain size, the guinea pig has often been regarded by researchers as less intelligent than the cavy.  However, scientific studies have shown otherwise. While cavies are more likely to take risks when exploring a foreign environment, the domestic guinea pig has much stronger social instincts and a greater ability to solve man-made puzzles. Both are very intelligent-- in different ways. Read the whole article on our website: Are Domestic Piggies Smarter than Their Wild Cousins? Read More     Moving On Up - Make a Guinea Pig Condo Guinea Pigs love condo living! There are tons of reasons to think inside the cube when planning a home for your cavy companion. Cube and coroplast cages, called “C&C” cages for short, are an excellent living arrangement for piggies. Using snap-together shelving grids and a lightweight solid plastic liner, the possibilities for cavy castles are only limited by imagination.  For more about how to build your own Guinea Pig condo, read our article on bunssb.org Read More       Tilly, my most unforgettable Guinea Pig. By Jean Silva I did not know, the first day I met Tilly, how much I would cherish her memory for the rest of my life. Until Tilly, Guinea Pigs were cute little guys who said “week, week, week” at the crinkly sound of a plastic bag. After I met Tilly, meeting a new Guinea Pig was an opportunity to find new wonders in the world. Tilly was a little tan and white short haired guinea pig - just the kind you see in pet stores. Like all Guinea Pigs, Tilly came from a pet store too. She was given to my friend Michele for her 16th birthday and came wrapped in paper inside her cage. Michele tore off the paper because she was afraid the guinea pig would suffocate. That is how they met. Michele, a student at UCSB, was a volunteer at BUNS and I was giving her a ride. Tilly was a free range guinea pig and she walked over to see who I was. Oh, Michele said, in response to my question, “She toilets in her cuddle cup under an igloo. She likes the privacy.” Over the next few weeks I saw Tilly every time I picked up Michele. Tilly was amazing. She came to her name and gave kisses. Gradually Michele and Tilly showed me all their tricks. Tilly shook hands left and right, gave ten, sat up, jumped into Michele’s lap, spun in circles, and jumped through a hoop. Michele laughed, and said that Tilly learned tricks so fast that it was hard to think of new things to teach her. After that Tilly learned to fetch a bottle cap and to back up. “Not too far,” said Michelle, “she likes to be close to the food.” Tilly also had sleep overs with her human friends. I couldn’t resist asking Tilly to do her tricks for me and she would, but only if I showed her that I had a treat for after the show. “Wow,” I thought, “I just negotiated a work contract with a guinea pig. Who would have thought? What a smart pig.” Tilly and Michele taught me that time and attention could make a little tan and white guinea pig blossom into a great individual. I miss her to this day. You can find Tilly and Michele on YouTube at https://youtu.be/O6dBQeYpqts. You will love them too.  Read More

BUNS Newsletter - February 2016

In this issue... Basic Bunny Classes $14 Valentine's Rabbit Adoptions This March, it's time for a Pignic... And a Hoppy Hour! Our Bunny of the Month Clint and Negrita, a Love Story Crows on Patrol         Basic Bunny Class, Feb 6 Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on Saturday, February 6, with upcoming classes March 5, April 9, May 8, June 11, 2016. Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org to learn more. Read More     $14 Valentine's Day Adoptions In honor of Valentines Day, rabbit adoptions are just $14! Valentine's day is a Sunday, so adoptions on Friday or Saturday (Feb 12 or 13) will be just $14.         It's time for a Pignic! Mark your calendars and bring your Guinea Pigs to our March 12 Pignic! What’s a Pignic?  Pignics give your Guinea Pig a chance to play with other Guinea Pigs. Boars and sows will have their own pens for supervised play. If you'd like, you may bring your own set up for individual play, so your pig can see the others from their own pen. Mark your calendars for March 12 from 1:30 to  4:00. The Pignic will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per Guinea Pig and includes a health check. All animals must be healthy. Nail trims will be available for $5.00.  Join us on our Facebook Pignic page for the latest news! Read More     March Hoppy Hour We're also having a Hoppy Hour in March! 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       Guinea Pig of the Month Amelia is showing her good side in hopes of being someone’s Forever Valentine. Amelia is a cuy mix, so she is looking for a valentine who accepts her size and strength as a delightful part of who she is, and who will enjoy the journey in getting to know her shy personality.  Read More     Clint and Negrita, a Love Story Negrita came to BUNS in a crowd of young bunnies. A day care center asked BUNS for help with a large group of baby bunnies that had become teen agers. The thought of a crowd of bunnies breeding was pretty scary. So we agreed to help. But when all was said and done, Negrita stayed at BUNS. Her shy gentle nature was not a good fit for an active group of kids. Even BUNS was hard for Negrita. The barking dogs and an ever changing group of volunteers left her sitting in the back of her play yard. We tried hand feeding and clicker training. Still Negrita never seemed to enjoy her time with people or in the yards. Despite her beauty, adopters lost interest because she was so shy. One day Clint was returned to the shelter by a tearful adopter. Clint was a super sweet bunny, but, the adopted explained, she had no time for him due to work. Clint was fine with the shelter. He loved the play yards and having pets from many people. He was good at getting kids to feed him. He was just fine. Of course, Clint, was picked for adoption very quickly. But, surprise, the adopter wanted Negrita as well. So we began to date the two. Clint was curious and hopped over to say “Hi!” Negrita was shy and hopped away. Clint didn’t mind; there was lots to do in a play yard. Every so often he would hop over to Negrita and she would hop away. They did not fight, so we kept putting them out to play together. After Negrita stopped running away from Clint, we moved them into the same hutch. You should see her now. When you approach their play yard, Clint hops over....So does Negrita. If you offer parsley, Clint eats out of your hand....So does Negrita. When Clint dances across the play yard....So does Negrita. Clint has always be a happy boy, but it is a joy to see how happy Negrita is. Watching Clint and Negrita, we are reminded how much bunnies enjoy each other. If you have a lonely bunny, you will be so happy if you find it a friend. Consider taking advantage of the shelter’s $14 Valentine’s Day adoption fees. Contact us to make an appointment for a date: info@bunssb.org or 805 683-0521   Crows on Patrol “CAW, CAW, CAW” screamed the crow as he dove straight toward the top of the pine tree. I looked up and into the hard shiny eyes of a hawk just seconds before he took flight, the crow in pursuit. As they flew I watched the crow dive the hawk again and again until they were out of sight. One brave crow chasing a larger predator.  On our website, you can read more about how crows help patrol against hawks, which helps keep your bunnies safe! Read More

BUNS Newsletter - January 2016

Thank you! Thank you to everyone who sent presents for under our tree. We didn't get names or contact information from all of our Santas, but we are so grateful to everyone. Thank you so much! Thank you to all our generous supporters, we wouldn't be able function without your donations. Thank you to everyone who gave a home to a bunny or guinea pig this year. A home is such a precious gift and one that we treasure most of all. Finally, thank you to our wonderful volunteers and to our shelter friends at ASAP, CAPA, DAWG, K-PALS, the Santa Barbara Humane Society, and Robbie and Tami. We are lucky to have such wonderful vets like Dr. Haskell and Dr. Gibbs and all the staff at Adobe Pet Hospital, also Drs Sostrin, Welton, Franklin, Sisk, Rittenberg, and Lawrence. Our hats are off to the staff of Animal Services who work so hard. We are lucky to be part of a caring and special community.         2016 Class Schedule 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 9, with upcoming classes February 6, March 5, April 9, May 8, June 11, 2016. Classes are free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org to learn more. Read More   Are you missing the symptoms of a dangerous condition? Long-time volunteer and experienced bunny caretaker Jean Silva has written up a very informative article on molar spurs in rabbits.  If you love some-bunny, this is a must read.  Both the front teeth and the cheek teeth are kept at normal lengths by the wear caused when the teeth rub against their opposing partner. When the teeth are out of alignment, overgrowth occurs. In the case of cheek teeth, elongated tooth enamel points can develop. These points are called molar spurs. … Left untreated, molar spurs can cause your bunny to go into GI stasis. They can also result in abscessed cheeks and teeth which are much more difficult and costly to treat than spurs. Read More   Don't you like my hat? Sometimes our fuzzy friends react to change in unexpected ways. Here's a story from one of our volunteers about an unexpected reaction to a change of clothes. Sweetie glared at me and laid her ears flat on her back the moment that I stepped into her play yard. Sitting down 3 feet away from her I spoke in a friendly voice. “Hi Sweetie. Would you like to have some dinner?” I lay my hand palm down about 2 feet from her nose. She leapt forward and firmly bit the back of my hand. Guess not. Sweetie and I had had a polite relationship until now. What had happened to upset her so? As I left the house, I had put on a baseball cap she had never seen before. Could that be it? “Don’t you like my hat?” I asked tossing the hat on the ground. Sweetie charged forward, sniffed the hat. She picked it up in her teeth and shook it. Until, satisfied she dropped the hand and returned to her spot. Once again, I placed my hand in front of her nose. This time she lowered her head and accepted a pet. Soon I was holding her in my arms carrying her in for dinner. Rabbits observe the profiles of other animals rather than the details of appearance. Sweetie was not used to blue headed beings with beaks sprouting from their foreheads. She was not about to be picked up by one. I have noticed that on rainy days, the sight of me in a mackintosh alarms most rabbits. So if your rabbit is unexpectedly alarmed by you, consider how you may look.

BUNS Newsletter - December 2015

May we Extend a Paw? The image of holiday stockings rings a bell for BUNS this year. Sore feet filled the last few months. First little Brandy with the massive foot and leg infection, then Claire, whose toes had been cut off. Now Lilo, a guinea pig, whose long nails curled under her front feet and caused a serious infection in both paws.  So with all these little sore feet, and big vet bills, BUNS could use a stocking full of money.  There are lots of ways you could help. Are you shopping on Amazon? Register Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter as your charity. A portion on your purchases will come to BUNS Do you love to shop? Check out the Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter wish list on Amazon. You can shop for us. Are you a Ralphs shopper? Register Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter as your charity. We will get 2 to 4 percent of your grocery bill. Are you a United Way contributor? You can designate some or all of your donation to Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter. Shop the BUNS store on Cafe Press.  Make a monthly donation to BUNS via PayPal.  Any amount helps and monthly donations give us the ability to plan. Make a one time donation to BUNS  If money is short, and believe me we understand that, you can still help out Newspapers are always in short supply, so bring them to us Do you love the farmers markets too? Sign up to bring us carrot tops and other trim each week. Are you a power point wizard? Let’s talk! Could you do a poster route? Are you a good housekeeper? We need window and wall washers. Could you help? Are videos your forte?  Are you handy? Get your tool belt and help us keep the shelter in good repair. Do you love to raise money? We would love to get to know you! And then, as always, there are litter boxes, water and food crocks that need attention contact volunteer@bunssb.org  It has been a remarkable year, and yet at the end all seems to have worked out for the bunnies and guinea pigs.  Little Brandy, and she is still little, is hopping around the shelter looking for a new home. This week she was part of a fashion photo shoot at San Ysidro Ranch. Claire has had her last foot surgery and will be going for her last check up next week.  She will be at the shelter after Christmas. Her babies are weaned and playing video games in a new foster home.  They will be ready for adoption in February. Lilo has had her toe nails trimmed, seen a vet and living on very soft fleece while her feet heal. None of this would have been possible without generous people like you. Hoppy Holidays and a 24 Carrot New Year, Your friends at BUNS Read More     Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes Our next Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class is December 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! Are you going? We'd love to hear from you on our Facebook event page. Read More       Filling your Bunnies' Stockings Have you ever wondered why your bunny can be sooo naughty? Because every bunny knows that Santa leaves naughty bunnies a bundle of sticks. So as that special night approaches, every bunny tries their very best to deserve the biggest bundle of sticks in Santa’s Sleigh. Don’t disappoint your bunny or next year he will be really naughty. Willow branches are high on every bunny’s Santa list. And, with a little vigilance you can find willow trees growing right here in Santa Barbara.  Snip a long flexible branch from the tree. Fold it back and forth, leaves and all, until it makes a nice bundle. Tie it with raffia. If you are lucky enough to get willow branches, cut them into 6” to 10” lengths and tie them in a bundle for your bunny’s stocking.  Store them in a well ventilated and dry area until Santa arrives.  We've gone through our newsletter archives and found some some other things you can do to make your bunny or guinea pig’s holiday extra special: Give them an edible bouquet. Make a toss toy. Let them rest on or tear up a paper mat. Find lots of other gift ideas from our December 2008 newsletter. Or go to the Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter wish list on Smile.Amazon.com for things to buy. And remember, if your bunny wants you to leave carrots for Santa, he may be planning to sneak in after you go to bed and eat them all.       Makenzie is our Guinea Pig of the Month Looking for a cute, little guinea pig with big opinions? Meet Makenzie! She is OK with a snuggle now and then, but will give you a tiny pinch when it is time to move on. She always encourages a rub behind her little ears though. If walking by, you may hear squeaks and squeals as she tries to get your attention and especially if salad is in view!  Makenzie loves to roam but enjoys human company near her at the same time. Makenzie is looking for a home that sees her “bossy” personality as charming and loves her for it.  Read More     Still time for last-minute shopping! Need a last minute gift for a bunny fan? Try our BUNS Logo Store on CafePress. Read More

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