The Carrot Tribune - January 2018

In this issue... Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class January Hoppy Hour Bunny of the Month Thomas Fire Bunny Evacuees   Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is January 13. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More       January Hoppy Hour Bring your fuzzy friend, January 27 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Read More     Bunny of the Month Dove is our Bunny of the Month for January, 2018!. She is a spirited girl with a curious nature. She wants you to earn her trust, and you will be bountifully rewarded with her love and devotion! Dove hopes to find a forever home to help her start the new year off right! Read More     The Thomas Fire 21 Bunnies Salute to Evacuation Safety Volunteer Gloria shares her experience with the Thomas Fire. The Thomas Fire brought destruction and the need for immediate and quick response.  I live in Ojai and had little notice that I would need to evacuate my 21 rescued rabbits from Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter to a dear friend's ranch several miles away. Many people with horses and dogs were also taking shelter there.  The only safe place for the bunnies was the large bathroom in the tack room by the stable. It had a door to keep out dogs and wasn't too cold at night. I had already purchased enough carriers in case of emergency, but had not planned on the small space which meant the rabbits rotated exercising in the bathtub throughout the day.  Here is a list of the essentials I remembered: A calm, loving demeanor to help keep the bunnies as calm as possible. I sang to them, groomed them, and told them what was happening and that we would be home soon; Plenty of hay; Medications (I forgot mine, but had theirs packed); Veggies, bottled water, and timothy hay pellets (I couldn't pack all their bowls so I rotated water & pellet bowls); Plenty of large carriers, fleece liners, and towels; Oxbow Critical Care (two of my bunnies didn't want to eat after a couple of days away from their safe routine and my veterinarian wasn't available). When we were able to return home I received a call from a friend in rabbit rescue who was helping to place rabbits abandoned by their owners in the Los Angeles fires. The county shelters intended to euthanize them if not adopted. I was so very grateful my home and bunnies were all safe, I adopted one of the LA bunnies.  We named her Scarlett after the infamous movie character who fled from the Atlanta fires during the Civil War. I can't imagine not evacuating my rabbits, but hundreds were abandoned. We can now all be better prepared to evacuate our bunnies and ourselves in an emergency situation by reflecting on the Thomas fire. Photo below: Thomas Fire Bunny Evacuees "Bathtub Exercise Time"

The Carrot Tribune - December 2017

In this issue... December Hoppy Hour Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class Party Photo Booth Gallery Bunny of the Month 25 Years of BUNS     Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is December 9. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More       December Hoppy Hour Bring your fuzzy friend, December 16 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM 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     Photo Booth Gallery All the bunnies and guinea pigs had a blast at the 25th Anniversary Party a few weeks ago, but some have been anxious to see the gallery from the photo booth!  The wait is over! Hop on over to our image gallery to see the results of our photo booth fundraiser! Read More       Bunny of the Month Miss Denim is a beautiful Chinchilla breed rabbit with a great personality... and our Bunny of the Month for December! She is a curious girl who loves her time as the "run-around bunny" at the shelter. She is a good hostess, and may even stop to receive treats (and pets, too!).  Most of all, Miss Denim is looking for the perfect human to make her life complete! Head to our Bunny of the Month page to learn who our Guinea Pig of the Month is... Read More     Twenty-Five Years of BUNS We had our 25th Anniversary Party on November, 18, 2017.  Our intrepid volunteers helped to organize and host the party at Earl Warren show grounds, in a lovely grassy area with tasty bbq with the amazing BUNS supporters and critters.  BUNS alumni joined new friends while bunnies and guinea pigs enjoyed an outdoor adventure on the grass with tunnels, hideways, treats, and each other to  play with. Even some BUNS animals got sponsored to join the fun, which always makes their wait for a forever home so much more pleasent! Hoppy Hour was well attended by 75 bunnies that delighted all the humans watching! Pignic piggy’s had fun playing and munching on grass and treats!  A professional photo booth with fun props was always very busy photographing attendees critters.  The sale and raffle money raised will help with so much for bunnies and piggys that need medical care.  Andrea Bratt came to help us with her sister Heidi Bratt selling many fun items and hosting bunny bowling and kissing booth! We were delighted that our founder Dorothy Deil came to enjoy the party and dedicated an exercise pen, complete with bunny plaque, in her name at BUNS!  We've had a great 25 years, and now look to the furutre to provide another 25 years of service for the animals and people in our community. We thank our community, adopters, and donors for the attendance and support you have given BUNS! We could not do it without you!

The Carrot Tribune - November 2017

In this issue... BUNS 25th Anniversary Party! Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class Bunny of the Month Clicker Training   BUNS 25th Anniversary Party On November 18th, we're hosting a party, and you're invited! This year is our 25th year in operation, and we want you to help us celebrate this November. It's a Hoppy Hour, Pignic, and Party all rolled into one great time! We'll have a raffle, bunny kissing booth, bunny photo booth, bunny bowling, bunny-wares sale, and more! Lunch will be available, along with wine, beer, and dessert! Lunch: $15 Hoppy Hour: $10 Pignic: $10 Read More       Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is November 11. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More     Bunny of the Month Jack Sparrow is adorable! This little Dutch breed bunny is a lovely boy with a curious nature. He is engaging and active, and is hoping to find his perfect match and his forever home! Read More       Clicker Training Bunnies I was in the middle of a Bunny Festival, when a tourist from England asked me what was happening. We had a lovely chat. She told me that rabbits in England jumped hurdles in competition. The idea was enchanting and I shared it with Andrea Bratt. Andrea began to train her rabbits to jump hurdles. One day her phone rang. Pet Star asked Andrea to put her bunnies on TV. At first Andrea thought it was a joke, but no, Pet Star really wanted hurdling bunnies for their show.  So Andrea began training her bunnies, Mattie, Philbert and Muffy, to hurdle in different locations: her hula studio, parks, the court house, and finally KEYT. One day, while training bunnies, the man who made the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile (yes, it was made in Santa Barbara), came by. He was also a dog trainer and advised us to learn more about clicker training. Andrea’s bunnies were filmed twice for Pet Star, but did not win the competition. After that, though, those bunnies would run their hurdle course under any conditions. See Mattie, Phibert and Muffy here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE9OXATfF0o Andrea and I went to Karen Pryor’s Clicker Expo, a three day conference packed with information about animal training. Through Clicker Expo we met Teresa Lewin and Joan Orr who were writing a book, “Clicking with Your Bunny.” We were hooked. BUNS volunteers learned to clicker train. BUNS bunnies were jumping through hoops, following targets and generally having a good time. We sent photos of BUNS bunnies being trained for inclusion in the book. See more bunny tricks here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgDHWLyztCI&NR=1  We joined Teresa in presenting a class at the House Rabbit Society Headquarters. Later we wrote an article on clicker training for the House Rabbit Journal. Then it was off to Reno, for the Best Friends 1,000 Bunny Rescue where we taught another class in clicker training. We taught at Best Friends in Utah and even went to Michigan to teach a class.  Andrea continued to pursue clicker training and began training dogs. Her knowledge and skills were assessed and certified as a trainer by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). She opened her training business: K-9’s Behave. In addition to K-9’s behave, Andrea is under contract to train dogs for Animal Services. Andrea also teaches our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class, which includes clicker training. In 2016 the APDT asked Andrea to present a class at their national conference on clicker training bunnies. Andrea, Paul, and Kristina Knight, a BUNS clicker trainer, packed up a group of BUNS bunnies for the conference. While she was there, Andrea was approached by an English lady, who said she had come from England for the Clicker Training Bunnies class. She brought Andrea tea as a thank you. So we came full circle, from the first English lady who got BUNS started on clicker training, to another English lady who came to the US to learn about it. Good Show!

The Carrot Tribune - October 2017

In this issue... 25th Anniversary Party! Basic Bunny Class Hoppy Hour Bunny of the Month Filling your Bunnies Stocking Why BUNS Spays and Neuters     Party Time! We're hosting a party, and you're invited! This year is our 25th year in operation, and we want you to help us celebrate this November. It's a Hoppy Hour, Pignic, and Party all rolled into one great time! We'll have a raffle, bunny kissing booth, bunny photo booth, bunny bowling, bunny-wares sale, and more! Lunch will be available, along with wine, beer, and desert! When: Saturday November 18, 2017, 12:30 pm to 3:30pm Where: Earl Warren Show grounds, 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara Tune in next month for more info!     Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is October 14. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More       October Hoppy Hour Bring your fuzzy friend, October 28 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM 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   Filling your Bunnies Stocking 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 raphia. 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. Here are some other things you can do to make your bunny or guinea pig’s holiday extra special. Give them an edible bouquet: http://www.bunssb.org/bunnies/edible-bouquets-and-basket-bowers/ Make a editble  toy: http://www.bunssb.org/bunnies/do-it-yourself-toss-toy/ Let them rest on or tear up a paper mat: http://www.bunssb.org/buns-newsletter/september-2013/make-mat/ 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.   Why BUNS Spays and Neuters This year is the 25th anniversary of BUNS! We're celebrating by sharing stories about our history. In 1992, when BUNS began, there were only a few bunnies at the shelter. But with BUNS the quality of care increased and rabbits were not routinely euthanized. People became more comfortable bringing rabbits to the shelter. By 1994, it was clear that rabbits were entering the shelter faster than they were leaving. Some of the rabbits delivered litters at the shelter. So we were very aware of how quickly rabbits could breed. At first we handled the increased population by adding more housing. Outdoor hutches at first and then we built the rabbit building. The building housed 18 cages, which we thought would be sufficient. But no. The rabbits kept coming in and not enough were going out. One of our volunteers, Vickie Ward, had worked with other non profit animal rescue groups. She advocated for spaying and neutering rabbits from the begining. At that time, the County, on adoption of an un-neutered dog, collected a refundable spay neuter fee. The money would be refunded to the adopter upon presentation of proof that the dog had been neutered. Not everyone reclaimed their money, so the money in the fund grew. The County used the unclaimed money to spay or neuter dogs and cats. BUNS asked for some of the money for rabbit spay and neuters. We did get one grant, but it did not last long. Vickie made arrangements with Dr. Westheimer to spay and neuter rabbits for a reduced price. She, very generously, agreed to donate the cost of spay and neuter from her own pocket. Vickie continued to pay for spays and neuters until she stopped volunteering at BUNS. By that time we were committed to spay neuter. To this day, BUNS spays and neuters all the rabbits although the cost is often over $200 per animal. BUNS also tried neutering male guinea pigs, but sadly the guinea pigs we neutered died shortly afterwards. After four deaths, we had to give up.  It took a long time and a lot of hard work to develop our current spay neuter program, but there were two excellent outcomes.  First, Animal Services decided to spay and neuter the rabbits at the Santa Maria and Lompoc shelters prior to adoption. They did not want residents of those towns to have less service than BUNS was providing. Second, over the years intake at BUNS has reduced and our rabbit population, while it varies, has stopped growing. Still, every year BUNS gets calls from families whose rabbits gave birth unexpectedly. Today, we are better able to help them and we are glad to be of assistance.     Recently on Instagram...

The Carrot Tribune - September 2017

In this issue... Basic Bunny Class Sept. 9 Hoppy Hour Sept. 23 Bunny of the Month Figueroa Mountain Bunnies Update Remembering Bunny Festival   Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is September 9. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More       September Hoppy Hour Note: after a late start last month, we're back to our usual starting time! Bring your fuzzy friend, September 23 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM 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     Figueroa Mountain Bunnies Update BUNS took eleven of the bunnies that had been abandoned on Figueroa Mountain.  Sadly, two of the rabbits died of myxomatosis within a week of rescue.  To avoid exposing all the shelter rabbits to myxomatosis, we placed the survivors in quarantine. Quarantine is over. Four of the rabbits have been spayed. They will be available for adoption by September 9. The rest will be adoptable shortly after that.  Ed. note: The following thoughts on the Figueroa Mountain bunnies comes from longtime volunteer Jean Silva: Two weeks after the rabbits were rescued I got a call from a woman who left the rabbits at Figueroa Mountain.  She had been out of town and returned to find news paper stories. She called to explain what she had done.  She said that they were meat rabbits that had been abandoned on her property. They had been left sitting in the sun in a stack of “old raccoon traps” and covered by a tarp and a quilt.  The rabbits were in poor condition. She kept the rabbits for a couple of months. They slaughtered the males for meat as “that was what they were for.”  The does lived un-caged. With better food and living conditions the does’ health improved.  Some of them, she said, though developed diarrhea. She said that she did not keep them in cages and wanted them to have as much time as possible as free rabbits. Eventually she was no longer able to care for them. She released them on Figueroa Mountain so that they would have some time to run free.  When I asked why they did not bring the rabbits to the shelter, she replied they were meat rabbits.   The conversation left me with lots to think about. What makes a meat rabbit vs a pet rabbit? Why does releasing a domestic rabbit seem kind? For me, all rabbits, like all dogs are pets. The fact that some people eat them, does not, for me, change them into meat. The Figueroa Mountain bunnies may not have been young or small, but they are gentle, sweet, like to be petted and use their litter box.  They are perfectly nice rabbits and will make good pets.  They are much more than meat.   As for releasing a domestic rabbit into nature, I find it difficult to see that as a kind act.  Rabbits who are dumped in nature must be like the survivors whose small planes go down in the wilderness.  They struggle mightily to find shelter, food and water.  They endure extremes of temperature and are attacked by predators.  That was what happened to the Figueroa Mountain bunnies. The rabbit bodies littering the mountain gave testimony to their struggle.These are not stories of an idyllic life, they are stories of suffering, hardship and, in the end, luck. The unlucky do not tell their stories. In the end, Benjamin Franklin says it best: “So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.”     Remembering Bunny Festival This year is the 25th anniversary of BUNS! We're celebrating by sharing stories from our volunteers about their experiences with BUNS. This month's story comes from Jean Silva: Bunny Festival seemed like the answer to the big challenge in the early days of BUNS. More rabbits came to the shelter than were adopted.  We had to reduce intake and increase adoptions. Spaying and neutering the rabbits became a priority. Just a quickly we needed to raise the money to pay the vet.  And, we needed to adopt more rabbits.  by 1997 the answer seemed to be Bunny Festival. The first Bunny Festival was supposed to be like most Santa Barbara Festivals.  We planned on lots of artists selling their wares.  Like the 4th of July at the Mission.  The plan was to raise about $35,000 from vendor fees.  But, it didn’t work out.  All the artists were at the beach on Sunday so none of them signed up.  Other rescues, who sold bunny supplies, signed up as vendors, but as a big source of revenue it never worked out. Not to worry, we would have rabbits available for adoption. That would lower the shelter’s population.  That did not work out either.  Lots of people wanted to see and pet bunnies. Some even filled out adoption applications, but most of them changed their minds. But BUNS is nothing if not persistent.  So for the next 15 years we held Bunny Festival.  People loved the event. To this day we get questions about Bunny Festival.  I won’t deny that there were lots of great moments. But they all came with very hard work. Spa Bunne was my favorite. We groomed lots of bunnies and guinea pigs. But most important people saw a vet. Every year we would find at least one bunny that really needed that vet visit.  Then there was Laura Stinchfield the Pet Psychic.  Each year people would tell me things their bunny said.  Nancy’s bunny said that she did not like the neighbor’s cat staring at her. Rosemary’s bunnies said their favorite game was tug - but Rosemary never played tug with them.  Days after Bunny Fest, Rosemary open some fruit leather and as usual called her bunnies. They ran up, took hold of the fruit leather and tugged with all their might: Tug. Other people loved the bunny games.  Andrea Bratt did a super job. There were obstacle courses, bunny bowling, banana eating contests. There was always a crowd and everyone was smiling.  I could go on forever- the photos booth took very cute pictures.  Some are on our website to this day. The bake sale and silent auction had great buys. Kids loved the crafts face, painting and jump houses in their area.   In 1997 many organizations contributed to Bunny Festival.  The Sunken Garden was free. The County elections division loaned us their tables and chairs. Los Prietos Boys camp helped with set up and take down. But as time passed the festival got more expensive.  Parks wanted $500 for the Garden. Elections stopped loaning tables so we paid to rent. The Health Department did not want home made goods. We had to buy food. Fewer vendors made the trip.  We made less and less money. Worse yet, we were getting older and older and Bunny Festival was just plain hard physical labor.  So in the end we decided to end Bunny Festival, but we will always have the memories.

The Carrot Tribune - August 2017

In this issue... Figueroa Mountain Rescue August Hoppy Hour The Minions Escape! BUNS and GUNS       Figueroa Mountain Rescue Last week someone dumped bunnies up Figueroa Mountain, and our volunteers have been hard at work trying to rescue them this past weekend. There is plenty for the bunnies to eat, but no water until our BUNS crew gave some! They managed to save 15, but one holdout remains on the mountain. The last rabbit spotted holed up in another giant hollow fallen oak log, and couldn’t be persuaded to come out with sticks or carrots! If you want to see the size of the log, along with the heroic rescue crew, check out the attached photograph. Plans for a return (and hopefully final) capture attempt are under consideration.  Read More     August Hoppy Hour Please note the time change... our August Hoppy Hour starts half an hour later than usual! Bring your fuzzy friend, August 26 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM 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       The Minions Escape Story by volunteer Barb Pies It was a normal Tuesday morning but then when I walked into the Christmas Bunnies pen, I realized there were only 4 visible Christmas Bunnies of the herd of 12. I checked all hiding places in their special area; tubes, hampers, boxes indoors and out, even behind their large condo structure. Three days prior they had started digging a tunnel below the front entrance (see photo below) to their large, two story hutch but it had been filled in. The same tunnel had been dug again and we suspected ‘somebody’ was in there. “I hear thumping in there”, Volunteer Cole insisted. Many of the bunnies had made it into the large basement below the 1st story wood floor. We had secured two buns on the top floor so now that meant there were 10 down below! Volunteer Amy set up a folding Xpen to corral any that came out, but the rabbits were not cooperating. We gently persuaded a few with a broom and Amy quickly closed the double cage doors behind them. The three of us continued our efforts until we were down to just a few holdouts. Cole had to leave for the day but Ron was enlisted to help. Using the white Coroplast boards from the aviary cages, Ron was stretched out half in/half out of one hay pan opening, blocking escape from his end and encouraging them to exit near Amy. When the basement was empty as last, the tunnel was barricaded with bricks and the two upstairs individuals were allowed to hop down the carpeted ramps to join the escapees,12 bunnies in all! Ron, Amy, and I staggered over to the sink to clean up (Ron had scraped both shins) and to congratulate each other — Mission Accomplished!     BUNS and GUNS  This year is the 25th anniversary of BUNS! We're celebrating by sharing stories from our volunteers about their experiences with BUNS. This month's story comes from Jean Silva: In the early 1990’s, the single kennel attendant at the shelter could barely care for the dogs. So if a new animal wasn’t a dog or a cat, staff sent it to BUNS. The results could be startling. One morning a 3 foot iguana leapt onto and ran up the wall of the aviary. I jumped almost as high. Then there was the turkey; a big bird with a round tail like you used to color in kindergarten during Thanksgiving. Ducks needed a pool, so we formed a daily bucket brigade to empty and refill the children’s wading pool. An so it went: tortoises, turtles, doves, chickens and guinea pigs. Guinea pigs had their own fan club among the BUNS volunteers. Several of our most faithful volunteers loved guinea pigs. And caring for guinea pigs, (hay, salad, pellets plus exercise time) fit nicely into our normal day. But guinea pigs were occasional guests. When they came, they went into small rabbit hutches.  One day I was met by a very upset volunteer. One of the guinea pigs had his foot stuck in the wire floor. His foot had slipped between the wires and become swollen. There was no way to free him. One of the officers had wire cutters. We cut out a small square of flooring around the leg. And, took the pig, floor and all, out of the cage. Then we could cut the remaining wires off the leg. The guinea pig squealed loudly, but  was otherwise un harmed.  Shortly after that incident we bought six real guinea pig cages. Kevin Freegard built a wooden frame to hold the cages. You can see the frame today in Room A. The Zaida family wrote a guinea pig care pamphlet for adopters with a hand drawn guinea pig on the cover. With that BUNS committed to caring for guinea pigs. But, we were Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter - BUNS. Should we also be Guineas Urgently Needing Shelter - GUNS?  For a while we talked about a name change, but the concept of BUNS and GUNS did not catch on. So we just stayed BUNS but we added Guinea Pigs to our daily operations.

The Carrot Tribune - July 2017

In this issue... Basic Bunny Class July Hoppy Hour Calling all Guinea Pig Experts! If Your Bunny Has Myxomatosis How the Bunnies Gained Independence     Basic Bunny Class, July 15 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is July 15. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More       July Hoppy Hour Bring your fuzzy friend, July 29 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM 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   Calling All Guinea Pig Experts! If you have experience with piggie-wrangling and cavy care-taking, BUNS is looking for you!  WHAT: BUNS needs volunteers (age 16 or older) with experience socializing and bonding guinea pigs, doing nail trims, health checks, grooming fur, cleaning ears, bathing, and possibly, in future, chaperoning or “bouncing” at our Pignic events. WHO: BUNS currently has a nice assortment of super-cute guinea pig males and females in pairs and singles. WHEN: Your talents are needed for a regular weekly shift of  2 or more hours at the shelter and / or helping at our quarterly Pignic events. If you have some, but not all, of the above skills, we’d still love your assistance! Please email info@bunssb.org or call us at 805-683-0521.     Miss Caress Miss Caress is our Bunny of the Month! She's a shy but curious girl, who has a lovely spirit and  a regal manner. She appreciates pets and scratches around her beautiful ears, and speaking of beautiful - her coat is incredibly soft and shiny! Miss Caress is ready to find her forever family. Want to know who our Guinea Pig of the Month is? You'll have to visit our website! Read More     If Your Bunny Has Myxomatosis Since the beginning of the year BUNS has heard of six cases of Myxomatosis at four different veterinary clinics. The seventh case was at the shelter, Jewel came into us with Myxomatosis.  Myxomatosis is a fatal viral disease affecting only rabbits. It is transmitted by biting insects, mosquitoes, fleas, biting flies, and ticks.  We have an article on our website about the disease and how to prevent it: http://www.bunssb.org/bunnies/myxomatosis This week, BUNS has spoken to two people who were afraid that their bunny had myxomatosis.  In both cases the rabbit had one or more of the symptoms: lethargy, swelling of the eyes, ears, lips, genitalia and anus.  We just experienced a case of myxomatosis at the shelter. This is what we learned. First, make an appointment with your vet. Your vet can diagnose the illness and advise you on what to do next.   Second, even before seeing your vet, move the sick bunny into a room with no open windows or doors, no other bunnies and little traffic. If your bunny has myxomatosis, s/he is now a source of the virus. If s/he is bitten by an insect, that insect can give the disease to another bunny.  Even if you do not have another bunny, your sick bunny could be the source of infection and death for another bunny in the neighborhood.  Third if you have other bunnies, move them into a separate room from the bunny you think is sick.  Keep the doors and windows closed.  Plan to monitor your other rabbits for signs of the disease for 14 days.  Fourth, make sure flea control for all your pets is up to date.  Your dog or cat will not catch myxomatosis. But they could provide a ride to a flea that fed on your bunny. That flea could transmit the disease to other bunnies in your home or even in the neighborhood.   If you are not using flea control, start now.  BUNS is using Vectra 3D which, in addition to killing fleas, repels 80% of three of the four types of mosquitoes common in our county. However, like most flea products, its use is off-label for rabbits.  Additionally, if your rabbit weighs less than 5 lbs, you will need to use less than the pre-packaged dose.  Discuss flea control with your vet before selecting any product. Fifth, prepare yourself, your family and your bunny for the possibility of euthanasia. There is no treatment for Myxomatosis. The disease rapidly progresses to death. However in the days before your rabbit dies, they appear to be quite miserable. Euthanasia may be the kindest thing. Spend some time with your rabbit.  If s/he is still eating, serve its favorite foods. Give lots of pets. Give your children a chance to say goodbye. Tell your bunny how glad you are that s/he was in your life.  If you choose to euthanize, you may take your bunny to the vet. If you would like it done at home, ask your vet. If they are not able to come to your home, BUNS has contact information for several mobile vets. Decide on your pet’s final resting place. Your vet can take care of the body or arrange for cremation. You may decide on home burial.   The loss of a pet can be as painful as the loss of a family member. If your bunny had a buddy plan of spending extra time with them. Consider how best to help children in the family. Be sure to include yourself for a little extra TLC.  You can always come to the shelter for some bunny time or someone to talk to. The House Rabbit Society has a list of resources: http://rabbit.org/faq-pet-loss-support-and-grief/  The Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline is available 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm EST Monday through Friday.  They have a downloadable brochure with advice helping your children and companion animals: vet.tufts.edu/petloss Read More     How the Bunnies Gained Independence By Jean Silva. In the spirit of the fourth of July. In the early ‘90s the County Animal Shelter, where BUNS operates, barely had enough staff to care for the dogs. The director of Animal Services was a former health educator with a passion for children but not for animals.. He was happy to have volunteers caring for animals. When bunny lovers began to care for the rabbits no staff paid much attention. Gradually, we took on more responsibility and more rabbits. The House Rabbit Society had information about diet, housing and exercise. Dr. Haskell helped us with sanitation, disease control and veterinary care. Our friends in the Dog Adoption and Welfare Group (DAWG) let us use their non profit status and we raised money for the rabbit building. We were feeling pretty confident. The dogs were another story. County staff and DAWG volunteers continually disagreed. The most passionate disagreements dealt with euthanasia and who would decide which dogs would die. But, the volunteers had a role in euthanasia decisions. The disagreements reached the boiling point and a new director was hired. He was an emergency medical technician with no experience in shelter management. At first the new director spent a lot of time talking with staff and volunteers. We were hopeful that he would bring us all together to work on behalf of the the animals. One day I arrived at the shelter to find a dog volunteer standing by a kennel sobbing. The staff had taken a dog to be euthanized with no warning. That was how DAWG volunteers learned that they no longer had a say in euthanasia. After that all volunteers were afraid. If a rabbit was left the shelter, volunteers would fear the worst. We learned to put notes on the cages and sign in sheets for rabbits that had gone to foster, the vet or had been adopted. Some days we would see a group of staff, with little smiles, carrying the red box full of euthanasia drugs and know that another dog was about to die. And, weekly, we found dog volunteers mourning over lost friends. The County did not attempt to euthanize rabbits. Instead the new director informed us that he was moving all rabbit hutches to the Lompoc and Santa Maria Shelters. We had just finished the rabbit building. Our volunteers were talking among ourselves about giving our hutches to the other shelters. But, when the new director announced he was seizing the hutches, we said no. The hutches belonged to BUNS not to the County. Dr. Haskell had recommended that new rabbits be held in hutches until we were sure they were healthy. The new director responded that rabbits had no value and did not merit this consideration. He did agree that we could have 2 hutches. We continued to use the hutches. One day, I arrived at the shelter to find that staff had taken an axe and demolished a hutch. The pieces were left on the ground in the rabbit area. Shortly after that the new director had staff move all the rabbit hutches to the rear of the shelter and forbade us from using them as long as they were on county property. Enough was enough. The rabbits decided to fight. We allied with the DAWG volunteers. They had a base of public support. We had people who knew county politics. We drew up Memorandums of Understanding for both groups and presented them to the Public Health Director. We had meetings with members of the Board of Supervisors. We made contributions to political campaigns and held fund raising parties. We reached out to volunteers in Lompoc and Santa Maria and lobbied our supervisors on their behalf.The dogs and the bunnies dug deep, bit hard and would not let go. It was a painful time. Full of stress. Each time you approached the shelter, you did not know what you would find. Or what would happen when you left. Often at night my husband and I would watch Zulu, a movie about a small band of British soldiers fighting thousands of Zulu warriors. Like them we too hoped to survive, but the outcome looked grim. Good things did come from our efforts. BUNS and DAWG had their MOU’s approved by the Board of Supervisors. DAWG used part of a bequest and a grant to improve the kennels in Lompoc. The Director of Animal Services was removed. Supervisor Wallace, a vet, visited the Santa Maria Shelter - a derelict house that was too small for health or safety. He left in tears with a dog. A new director Jan Glick, who was an animal shelter professional, was hired as the new director. The County built a beautiful new shelter in Santa Maria. Since that time, BUNS has had control over what happens within the fence that surrounds the rabbit area. We have been able to provide a no kill shelter in an open admission stray animal shelter. We have been very fortunate and owe a great deal to all the people who supported us, DAWG, the Board of Supervisors and to our director Jan Glick.

The Carrot Tribune - June 2017

In this issue... Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class - June 10 Hoppy Hour - June 17 Bunny of the Month Twenty-Five Years of BUNS: A No Kill Shelter I Maddonari         Basic Bunny Class, June 10 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is April 8. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More     Hoppy Hour - June 17 Bring your fuzzy friend, June 17 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Read More       Bunny of the Month Our Bunny of the Month is Darla, a stunning girl with a curious and friendly personality. She loves to know what everyone is doing, and loves getting treats, as well! She has the most stunning blue eyes, and her lovely gaze will melt your heart. Darla is hoping to find her forever home with you. Want to know who our Guinea Pig of the Month is? Visit our website to find out! Read More     Twenty-Five Years of BUNS: A No Kill Shelter This year is the 25th anniversary of BUNS! We're celebrating by sharing stories from our volunteers about their experiences with BUNS. This month's story comes from long-time volunteer Jean Silva: In 1992, when BUNS was founded, public shelters faced a population problem. Public shelters are open admission: they accept any stray animal from their service area. These shelters had only so many cages or kennels and only so many staff. So when the cages and kennels were full, the arrival of a new animal meant that another animal had to go. Of course adoptions were the best outcome, but when no other option was available, euthanasia was the answer. No kill shelters, in contrast, managed their populations by admitting a new animal only when space was available. BUNS was different. We were an open admission no kill shelter. Our volunteers did not plan on euthanizing any healthy rabbit. Indeed many of our early volunteers began work at the shelter to save lives. So we did all the work, provided all the cages and hutches, and paid all the bills. When we ran out of space for rabbits, we found or bought another hutch; we moved rabbits into foster homes. As the number of rabbits at the shelter grew, we found new volunteers or worked harder. But, no matter what, we did not euthanize healthy rabbits. Most weeks only one or two rabbits would come into the shelter. So all we had to do was keep a couple of cages open at all times. The challenge was to find space for groups of bunnies. Family groups could be housed in one hutch, but as the babies grew more space was needed. Fortunately the Long Run was donated. It was bout 10 feet long, with an enclosed cage at one end and the remaining 7’ as a fully enclosed wire run. In 2001 our newsletter reported: “On Wednesday December 28th, BUNS received 19 Agouti rabbits. Many of these poor little souls had sore paws, and two of them required extensive medical attention for jaw abscesses and GI blockage. Another one, named Gino, just decided he did not like this whole thing and stopped eating. Thanks to the quick response of all our volunteers we have been able to shelter them all. All of them are making full recoveries. Now we are on the lookout for good homes for all of them.” After this, we began to collect cages. A local research facility that went out of business donated 19 small rabbit cages. Mostly the cages were stored. But in an emergency they could be used as temporary housing. Rabbits could stay there until a foster home or a larger cage opened. During the Jesusita Fire in 2009, BUNS filled to the rafters. A BUNS foster home and a rabbit border had to be evacuated. One of our volunteers, Andrea, turned her backyard into a bunny refuge for our BUNS fosters. Meanwhile, evacuees were bringing their rabbits to the shelter. Jean, whose own fosters were evacuated to Andrea’s, spent the night at the shelter. Each time a new rabbit arrived, she would pull an emergency cage from storage. She set it on top of a hutch added a litter box, food and water. The shelter stayed open all night receiving dogs, cats and rabbits. The next morning BUNS volunteers appeared without being asked. Everyone worked extra shifts: checking new rabbits, trimming nails, cleaning and feeding. Our wonderful volunteers kept this up until people were able to return to their homes and claim their bunnies. And so it goes, once every one or two years we get a large group of rabbits. Overnight the shelter population can double. Our last big group was the Christmas rabbits. Twenty eight rabbits arrived in December 2013. We still have 12 of this group at the shelter. When the next fire happens. When the next family whose breeding got out of control arrives, BUNS will be there for you and for the rabbits.     I Maddonari on Facebook Read More

The Carrot Tribune - May 2017

In this issue... Basic Bunny class, May 13 Hoppy Hour, May 20 Preventing Myxomatosis From the Archives: Tricks are for Rabbits Join us on Instagram       Basic Bunny Class, May 13 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is April 8. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!      Hoppy Hour - May 20 We have another Hoppy Hour this month! Join us May 20 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Bring your fuzzy friend and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Join us on our Facebook page for more info! Read More     Preventing Myxomatosis Why worry about Myxomatosis, a mosquito bourn disease, during a drought? The Myxomatosis virus, a fatal rabbit disease, exists in California’s wild rabbits.The drought drives wild animals, including rabbits, closer to communities where irrigation provides water and food. Mosquitoes, which transmit the virus, breed in any source of standing water: flower pots, pool filters, even bottle caps. In warmer weather, more mosquitoes survive the winter die off. Which means more breeding stock going into the spring. This year wild rabbits, the source of Myxomatosis will be closer to your home. Mosquitoes, the most likely means of transmission, will be thriving. The combination can be deadly for your rabbit. There are precautions you can take. Window screens and screen doors can reduce access to your home and your pets. Check your screens for rips and tears. If found, have them re-screened or close the tear with duct tape or painters tape. If your rabbit lives in an outdoor hutch, staple window screen to the wooden frame around wire walls. You can buy a roll of window screen mesh from Home Depot or OSH. If your rabbit must exercise outside of a screened area, limit exposure time. Put the rabbit out in the late morning, and bring it back inside in the early afternoon. Do your best to reduce exposure time to mosquitos. Talk with your vet about Vectra 3D. Developed for dogs, Vectra 3D is, according to the manufacturer, 80% effective in repelling 3 of the 4 mosquito types likely to transmit Myxomatosis. We have used this product safely in rabbits. However, it is sold in doses for dogs 5 pounds and over. So rabbits under 5 pounds get 1/2 the dose. Talk with your vet before using. Learn more about mosquitoes, which can transmit encephalitis, West Nile and the Zika Virus’ to birds, humans, and other animals. Click here for more information: http://www.mvmdistrict.com/files/108933825.pdf Myxomatosis can also be transmitted by fleas and ticks. If you have cats and/or dogs keep their flea and tick prevention current. There is no known treatment for Myxomatosis and the California Myxoma virus is always fatal to pet rabbits. Prevention is the best and only protection your for your rabbit. Read More   From the Archives: Tricks are for Rabbits This year is the 25th anniversary of BUNS! We're celebrating by sharing stories from our volunteers about their experiences with BUNS. This month's story comes from our newsletter archives: In the 1990’s BUNS began to promote clicker training for rabbits, and this was one of our early articles on the subejct, written by Heidi Greer, former BUNS Vice President and Education Coordinator. I happened upon it completely by accident. One day I was watching TV, and my rabbit, Bretta, hopped across the floor in front of me. Feeling friendly, I made a kissing noise with my lips. How surprised I was when she ran right over, put her front paws on my legs, and touched her mouth to mine! Where had she learned what a “kiss” was? I didn’t think I’d taught her that, but then I remembered something. You see, every night I go into the kitchen, get a couple of raisins, and give them to Bretta as a treat before going to bed. However, I give them to her only after I make a sound to get her attention, and I hold the raisins in between my lips. At some point she’d learned that the sound meant she should touch her lips to mine, where she would find a raisin. Then it hit me, if she could learn to give me a “kiss”, what other tricks could she learn? Think about it; your rabbit probably already responds to a variety of sounds – the sound of the refrigerator opening means “food”, and the thump of your foot means “danger”. Why not expand on that? Clicker training has been a popular method of training dogs and horses for several years, and it works with rabbits too! Clicker training is effective because it uses the animal’s tendency to repeat actions that have positive consequences. How does it work? To put it simply, the “click” is way of saying “good” – it helps to identify which actions result in positive consequences, and thereby encourages your rabbit to take those actions. The first step in clicker training is to get your rabbit to associate the “click” with a positive consequence. You’ll need a clicker, which is a small plastic box that makes a clicking noise when pushed. You’ll also need something your rabbit already views as positive, usually food (use small portions!). Start by simply clicking and giving a treat. Do this until your bunny looks for the treat when he hears the “click”. At this point he knows that this “clicking” noise means food, which is something he wants. Next, begin shaping the behavior you want. For example, let’s say you want your rabbit to come to you when you call his name, You’d begin when your rabbit sitting or lying down. As soon as the rabbit makes any movement in your direction, with his head, his paw, his ears, anything, “click” and then give a treat. The timing of the “click” is crucial. You want to click during the action, not after it. Otherwise, he won’t associate the action with the sound of the clicker. Continue and his behavior will become more confident. Now try waiting a little longer before clicking. Wait for a greater motion towards you; maybe your rabbit will move a paw. Click again and treat. Repeat for a while and then raise the bar another level– maybe he’ll get up and take a step towards you. You get the idea! Breaking the desired action into TINY steps allows your rabbit to progress quickly. Once your rabbit has learned the desired behavior, you can introduce an additional cue, such as verbal command that he will learn to associate with behavior. It may seem strange not to give commands initially, but remember your rabbit can only learn one thing at a time. Gradually you should stop using the clicker and giving the treat. Eventually you will be able to simply give the cue and he will perform the behavior your want! Rabbits are creatures of habit and are easily trainable. Once you get the hang of it it’s fun! Think of tricks your rabbit can learn! He can learn to come, stay (very helpful when at the vet!), fetch toys, stand on his hind legs, hop in your lap, etc. It’s more challenging, but you can even train your rabbit NOT to do things, like bite or chew on the furniture. The possibilities are endless. Give it a try! At the very least you will enrich your relationship with your bunny.   Join us on Instagram Read More

The Carrot Tribune - April 2017 - BUNS

In this issue... Basic Bunny class, April 8 Hoppy Hour, April 22 This Easter, Make Mine Chocolate Sixteen Years in the Trenches at BUNS Help Fill our Easter Basket         Critter Care Class, April 8 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is April 8. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More     April is a great month for a Hoppy Hour! We have another Hoppy Hour this month! Join us April 22 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Bring your fuzzy friend and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Join us on our Facebook page for more info! Read More   This Easter, Make Mine Chocolate Easter is a time for jelly beans, chocolate, eggs, and baby animals. Unfortunately it’s also a time for impulsively adding a rabbit to the family. What child, fueled with sugar and general holiday joviality, does not want his or her very own cute cuddly Easter bunny? Bringing home a baby bunny for Easter is a tradition you should skip. Instead, bring home a toy bunny to play with while you investigate if a real rabbit is the right pet for you.  Unlike the Easter Bunny, rabbits are not always a child’s best friend. As prey animals, they must be approached slowly and carefully, in a non-threatening way. Many rabbits don’t like to be picked up and held because it reminds them of a predator’s grip. If kids aren’t taught how to get along with bunny, the rabbit can remain skittish or shy. This causes many purchased rabbits to live out their lives in small cages, and usually the children lose interest in their bunny pal. While rabbits can become very social and loyal companions, they have unique requirements and habits. For example, a proper diet is essential for a rabbit’s health and longevity. They have some unusual dietary needs, and digestive issues may cause death. At BUNS, we offer education on rabbit care and interaction so you can have a happy and healthy rabbit! It is natural to have rabbits on the mind around Easter. A chocolate bunny is the perfect way to celebrate! If a bunny still seems like a good fit for your family after the sugar rush wears off, BUNS can help you prepare and find the right companion for your family.    Sixteen Years in the Trenches at BUNS This year is the 25th anniversary of BUNS! We're celebrating by sharing stories from our volunteers about their experiences with BUNS. This month's story comes from Shellye Kingsbury:  My life as a BUNS volunteer began 16 years ago, soon after I walked through the shelter’s front gate into the bunny wonderland that is BUNS. A year earlier I had been blindsided by the power of lagomorph cuteness and personality when we brought my  daughter’s classroom bunny home for the weekend. Later, when this bun hit adolescence in the classroom and began humping, pee marking, escaping, and nipping, we became the ecstatic, if clueless, new owners of Hopper Bun Bun Oreo—named by the 3rd graders. (All those special behaviors soon evaporated after he was neutered and given a home and family of his own.) Since then we have adopted 3 much-loved BUNS bunnies, including our current two, Little Willy and Evelyn. On one of my first days volunteering at BUNS, the very experienced and capable volunteer who was training me proudly displayed the scars on her hands and arms from all the biting rabbits she had handled. This did not bolster my confidence(!) but did fill me with admiration for her courage. I soon learned that the majority of rabbits are gentle and affectionate, though I did eventually get to know several bitey buns. From them I learned the most about bunny body language and how best to approach, pick up and carry a rabbit — especially those who might nip or “explode” out of my arms if I wasn’t fully attentive.  Through my years working at BUNS I have met some wonderful, unforgettable rabbits, guinea pigs, roosters, and people! The core BUNS volunteers and Board Members have been “in the trenches” together through exhausting challenges, times of heartbreak and discouragement, and times of joy, seeming miracles, and pure delight in the well-being of our orphaned fur-babies. The happiness and appreciation of our adopters is another great joy for us volunteers.  I often wonder what it is about rabbits that has captured my heart and imagination so profoundly—beyond reasonableness! They are not the only cute, furry critter around, can be very hard to read, and are quite fragile with delicate digestive systems. They can be temperamental, demanding and hold a grudge. Nor are they low-maintenance pets, needing lots of attention, interaction and close supervision for signs of possible health problems. But obsessed with rabbits I am, so BUNS is my home away from home. In closing, my work with BUNS has enriched my life beyond measure and it is my deepest wish that BUNS continues to mature as an organization and grace our community with its good work long into the future.  Stay tuned next month for more about the last twenty five years at BUNS! Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss the May edition of The Carrot Tribune!     Help fill our Easter Basket Did you know that Amazon Smile will donate to BUNS with every purchase you make? To get started, hop over to smile.amazon.com and set "Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter" as your charitable organization of choice! While you're at it, 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 our wish list too!

The Carrot Tribune - March 2017 - BUNS

In this issue... March is Adopt-A-Rescued-Guinea-Pig Month Critter Care Class, March 11 Pignic, March 18 Hoppy Hour, March 25 Bunny of the Month Bunny tales - 25 Years of BUNS       Adopt-A-Rescued-Guinea-Pig Month! March is Adopt-A-Rescued-Guinea-Pig Month! This yearly national spotlight on guinea pigs began in 2002 by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to raise awareness of the number of guinea pigs in animal shelters. BUNS is known for finding homeless bunnies a new home, but we often have quite a few homeless guinea pigs too. Their care and diet is very similar to rabbits and the number of guinea pigs we have housed has steadily increased. At one time, BUNS needed only 1 tower designed for 6 guinea pigs to house the ones coming in, but in 2015, we devoted an entire room to them. BUNS volunteers got a crash course in guinea pig care in 2011 when over 40 guinea pigs were brought in, many of them pregnant. Last year, BUNS sheltered and found new homes for a total of over 70 guinea pigs. They came in all sizes, ages, colors, hairstyles and personalities and many folks discovered the joy of having a guinea pig in their lives. Many of the guinea pigs were in bonded pairs; others were introduced to a visiting guinea pig and went home with a new friend. Being a social animal, they are happiest if they can share their life with another guinea pig or at least be in close proximity to one another. This month's Pignic event hopes to draw attention to the fun of having guinea pigs. Some of our adoptable guinea pigs will be there. Did you know guinea pigs "popcorn" when they are happy? They learn quickly the sound of a food bag and some can be easily trained. It’s a great opportunity to see guinea pigs in a natural setting and maybe consider adoption in this Adopt-A-Rescued-Guinea-Pig month!       Critter Care Class, March 11 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is March 11. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More     March 18 Pignic Mark your calendars and bring your Guinea Pigs to our March 18 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. The Pignic will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Road, from 1:30 - 2:30. 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     Time for another Hoppy Hour! We have another Hoppy Hour this month! Join us March 25 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Bring your fuzzy friend and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Join us on our Facebook page for more info! Read More     Guinea Pig of the Month Sofia & Katerina are ready for their close-ups! These 2 sisters eat, sleep and play together and are closely bonded. They are young girls about 8 months old just starting out on their life's journey. March being Adopt-A-Rescued-Guinea-Pig Month, is a perfect time to take these two cuties home. Read More   20 Years with BUNS This year is the 25th anniversary of BUNS! We're celebrating by sharing stories from our volunteers about their experiences with BUNS. This month's story comes from Jackie Zaida:  Thinking about the fact that Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter is celebrating their 25th anniversary makes me realize how young BUNS was when my family started volunteering. We’ve been a part of BUNS for the past 20 years, every Sunday at the shelter and often representing the rabbits off-site as well. When my older daughter was in 3rd grade she wanted a rabbit, so I agreed to start looking into it. Having always been proponents of adopting dogs, we started our search at the Humane Society and found only two very large, not very social rabbits. Not a good fit for a home with children. What I did find at the Humane Society was a copy of the House Rabbit Handbook. I was able to borrow it and our search for a rabbit continued. Unfortunately we did not learn of BUNS. We found a little dwarf rex at a pet store which no longer exists. We brought her home and set her up in our living room and learned we knew nothing about rabbits. Darla Cannon, a volunteer at the time worked with my husband Dan and told us about BUNS which soon led to us volunteering as a whole family. When we started volunteering there were 18 indoor cages and around a dozen hutches scattered around the yard under trees for shade. Guinea pigs were a rare occurrence, but when we had them they were housed in very small hutches. I remember washing litter pans over wood pallets laid down. There were no storage sheds yet and the kennels by the wash area usually had dogs in them. Occasionally other animals were housed in there too. Over the years there have been goats, turkeys, pigs, and, for one memorable summer, sea lions. BUNS was not enclosed by a chain link fence 20 years ago, nor was there a division between DAWG and the County (but that’s another story). We had a decorative wood picket fence, but it was no protection for our animals from dogs that got loose. I quickly got involved behind the scenes with the board serving as secretary, and even being president for several years. I still do the home visits for adoptions. Dan found himself helping with shelter improvements. Starting with building exercise pens, and moving on to new two story hutches. Hard to remember back to when we only had around a half dozen pens. Both our girls volunteered until they went off to college. While helping at BUNS they created our first guinea pig brochure. Looking back over 20 years what memories stick with me? First, not long ago, when we had a big rescue of lionhead rabbits, lops, and dwarfs. Hutches in pens as well as the creation of “room C” with cages for housing the overflow. We had to exercise rabbits every other day since there were so many. I also remember when there was a wild fire with a lot of evacuations and we took in so many rabbits we had cages stacked up on top of hutches. Thankfully just about every animal was reclaimed when the fire was under control. Today, though our numbers are low and very manageable, I know we can deal with whatever fate throws our way. I think the future looks bright for BUNS and I'm proud that our family has been a part of getting us to this point in the story. I love looking at our white board in room B seeing all the names of our adoptees. It seems to me that we have more repeat adopters or new adopters who know about us. Stay tuned next month for more about BUNS early years! Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss the March edition of The Carrot Tribune!

The Carrot Tribune - February 2017 - BUNS

In this issue... Bunny of the Month Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class Hoppy Hour Twenty-five Years of BUNS Follow @bunssb on Instagram!     Eviana & Mr. Pepper February is Adopt-A-Rescued-Rabbit Month and what better time to adopt these two sweethearts? Eviana & Mr. Pepper are our Rabbits of the Month! Rescued from a local park, they are inseparable and both are litter box trained. On the big and round side, these bunnies have a gentle nature and are OK with hugs. Stop by the shelter and let them win your heart.  Read More     Critter Care Class, Feb 11 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our next class is February 11. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More       Hoppy Hour - February 25 It's time for Hoppy Hour! Join us Saturday, February 25 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Bring your fuzzy friend and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Read More   The Most Magical Place This year is the 25th anniversary of BUNS! We're celebrating by sharing stories from our volunteers about their experiences with BUNS. This month's story comes from Gloria Morgan: I first visited BUNS in 2001 to make a donation of some hay. I was immediately impressed with the personal care each rabbit was receiving. I fell in love with a large black and white lop and expected to be able to take her right home. However, it was explained a home visit would be required. I was even more impressed that the all volunteer staff would make this important effort, especially since I live an hour away. I soon learned most of the staff were busy professionals from all income levels with the common passion to help these innocent beings. These volunteers were and continue to be my role models for all that is positive and wonderful in animal rescue. I wanted to be in this circle of Bunny Advocates and Angels. I volunteered to help teach the Bunny Basics class with Jean Silva and Andrea Bratt when it was held at the Goleta Public Library. We went over litter box training and used the Poop Size Chart to emphasize the importance of hay and careful monitoring to prevent gastrointestinal complications. Jean's food pyramid diagram of hay, green vegetables, pellets, and fruit was sent home with new adopters. We encouraged all who attended to read (and speak) The Language of Lagomorphs. Andrea has expanded the class to include clicker training and it is now held at the Humane Society. I helped with "Spa Bunne" when BUNS held the annual Bunny Festival at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens. Bunnies enjoyed their nail trims, massage, aromatherapy, and a salad while their owners enjoyed a treat at Kathleen's Carrot Cafe. It was an event I compared to being as special as Christmas as I saved all my extra money to spend at the Silent Auction. Lesley, Ana, and Jackie put together amazing decorated baskets of donated treasures and services. I continue to be impressed with the facilities that are repaired and upgraded by Phil Seymour and other talented people who volunteer their carpentry skills. The guinea pig area has expanded in the past decade. It is always a pleasure to see the same faces year after year like Cindy, who carefully guides people through questions about the guinea pigs. She also contributes her professional photography skills so each adoptee looks their best for the website and bulletin board she maintains beautifully. I remember Jean treating the volunteers to pizza dinner if they would help get the newsletter ready for mailing via the postal service. Nick Burlett and his wife, Jessie (former Board of Directors President) guided BUNS into the age of technology and we now have an expanded website, Facebook page, and this fabulous digital Carrot Tribune. I have seen countless bunnies transformed at BUNS as their needs for food, medical care, affection, play, and love are met daily. I have also met the most amazing and giving people of my life. I named Jean Silva as one of the top five women I admired when asked for a graduate project. I want to send a special thank you to Shellye Kingsbury and Kimmy Swann for the service and dedication I have seen them provide BUNS this past decade. Their sensitivity and understanding of rabbits is a joy to be in the presence of. Stay tuned next month for more about BUNS early years! Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss the March edition of The Carrot Tribune!   Follow us on Instagram Did you know BUNS is on Instagram? Follow @bunssb for the latest cuteness reports from BUNS! Read More

The Carrot Tribune - January 2017 - BUNS

In this issue... Bunny of the Month Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Classes for 2017 Proper Storage of Medication Twenty-five Years of BUNS   Twenty-Five Years of BUNS Twenty-five years ago one woman decided to make a change for the bunnies. Since that time many people have been part of BUNS. Thanks to them, BUNS has saved the lives of over 3,000 rabbits and guinea pigs. The BUNS story is the story of how average people can change their community, their government, and the lives of thousands of animals. We would like to take this our 25th year to remember and to celebrate. If you are a past BUNS volunteer, have a story about BUNS or photos, please share. Contact info@bunssb.org with your story.  Read more about the early days of BUNS at the bottom of this newsletter...         Bunny of the Month Arielle is our Bunnny of the Month! Pretty Arielle with her white paws and silky fur, is a sensitive soul. She was living with her large bunny family, but seems happiest on her own or possibly with another bunny companion. She is very shy and may take her time in getting to know you but she is a sweet girl with her own special bunny charm. Read More     2017 Basic Bunny & Guinea Pig Classes Jan 14, Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 18, Jun 10, 2017 1:00 to 2:00 - Handling and Husbandry 2:00 to 2:30 - Training 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!  $5.00 for an individual $10.00 for a family Free to BUNS volunteers All classes are in the Humane Society Education Building, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Goleta, (to the east  of the Animal Shelter) Our first class for the year is January 14. Join us on our Facebook event page to learn more!  Read More     Proper Storage of Medication All pet parents will need to visit a trusted vet in the course of their pet's lifetime.  It is very important to know the proper storage of any medications prescribed for your pet.  As a general rule, most medications are stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.  However, some medications require refrigeration to maintain their effectiveness and others are best stored in dark containers. Gloria, one of our volunteers and adopters, sent in this story about the danger of improper medicine storage. Morning Glory, my beautiful bunny adopted from BUNS. developed head tilt as a result of an inner ear infection in 2014.  She made a full recovery with the help of the staff at Adobe Pet Hospital (no head tilt or lack of balance).  The Pen-G that was vital to her recovery was kept refrigerated and even put on ice for my hour drive home.  I had hired a wonderful vet tech to help me with Morning Glory at home.  She taught me a great deal about the importance of proper storage of medications.  Two months ago Morning Glory again developed head tilt.  I took her to my local vet and she was given the same prescription of antibiotics as two years previous.  After a month she was not improving.  It was by chance I discovered the Pen-G is stored at room temperature at my local vet's office.  I immediately contacted Adobe Pet Hospital and requested the refrigerated Pen-G.  Within a week Morning Glory was almost fully upright with her usual playfulness and good appetite.  I began researching the lack of effectiveness of medications based on storage.  I hope your awareness of the medications your pet may need will help insure the best recovery and health possible. Gloria sent us a picture of Morning Glory (left) and Phoenix (both adopted from BUNS):     Twenty-five Years of BUNS: The Beginning By Jean Silva In 1992, Dorothy Diehl was looking for an Angora rabbit. She came to the County Animal Shelter in Goleta.  She didn't find an Angora. What she found was several sad looking rabbits sitting outdoors, on the ground in wire cages. The cages were too small for comfort. Their food and water bowls were over turned and empty.  That night Dorothy was unable to sleep. The next day she drove to the shelter from her home in Carpinteria. Dorothy brought food and water bowls, filled them and attached them to the cage walls so they could not be tipped over.  Every day after that, Dorothy came to the shelter to give the rabbits food and water. Each Saturday, Dorothy spent the day at the shelter with the bunnies.  She greeted each visitor and asked if they could volunteer to help the bunnies. Gradually she recruited volunteers. That was how BUNS began.  We became BUNS volunteers because my husband Phil and I read the charming book Watership Down. We wanted a bunny. Our first rabbit, Fang, came from a pet store. When our friends found out that we had a bunny they asked us to take more. One neighbor brought us a bunny, Mopsy, who was being mugged by other bunnies at a ranch. A landscaper, brought us a family of rabbits trapped on an estate. “The owners want them gone or poisoned.” she explained. Another group of rabbits had been abandoned on a farm; the farmer threatened to feed them to his pigs. Soon we had too many bunnies and gave some to other friends. One day, a friend called to say that her rabbit had gotten out of her yard. Since I gave her the rabbit, she wanted me to tell her what to do. I had no idea. But I went to the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter the next Saturday to ask them.  When I was at the shelter, the staff asked if I wanted to see the rabbits. So I followed directions and found the rabbit area.  Dorothy Diehl was there and we started talking. Dorothy said that they needed volunteers and could use experienced rabbit people.  Well, I was feeling pretty ignorant about rabbits, but decided to ask Phil. He said yes. That was how we became BUNS Sunday volunteers. At last Dorothy had a volunteer for every day of the week. When we started, BUNS had a few hutches clustered for shade under Flame trees.  One hutch was filled with rabbit pellets and hay.  Volunteers cleaned the cages, changed litter boxes, fed and watered all the bunnies. At that time there were only five or six bunnies. Their care did not take much time. I remember, one volunteer, Nancy, spent her lunch hour, one day a week, cleaning and feeding.  Most of the time the rabbits were caged and unsupervised. Dorothy came spent every Saturday talking to visitors hoping to adopt rabbits. Dorothy and her partner, Tom, had plans. With their leadership we found some abandoned panels to build an exercise pen. The Dog Adoption Welfare Group (DAWG) included BUNS under their non profit status, so we could raise money for more improvements.  We wanted a building so the rabbits could be inside.  Stay tuned next month for more about BUNS early years! Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss the February edition of The Carrot Tribune! Read More

The Carrot Tribune - December 2016 - BUNS

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

The Carrot Tribune - November 2016 - BUNS

In this issue... November Hoppy Hour Pampered Chef Event Black Friday Sale Fluffy Goes to Hydopaws Rabbit Symbolism in other Cultures   November Hoppy Hour We have another Hoppy Hour in a couple of weeks! Join us Saturday, November 19 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Bring your fuzzy friend and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Read More       Pampered Chef BUNS is hosting a Pampered Chef Fundraising Event! It’s easy to support BUNS by going to the website below and ordering some great products. 10% to 15% of the sales will go to BUNS. It's a simple way to get your Holiday Shopping out of the way and also support your favorite charity. Pampered Chef products make cooking and entertaining easy and fun. Be sure to place your order before the fundraising show closes on November 29th. Let the shopping begin! To browse the catalog or order online, go to http://PamperedChef.com/go/BUNSfundraiser If you have any questions, you can contact Lori Crestfield, Pampered Chef Independent Consultant at 805-448-1412. Read More     Black Friday Sale BUNS and the Santa Barbara Animal Shelter are having a Black Friday sale! 10am to 2pm – Door buster sale  10am to 12pm – Bunnies or guinea pigs with any amount of black fur are free  10am to 2pm – All rabbits and guinea pigs 1/2 price     Fluffy goes to Hydopaws Fluffy hopped into BUNS on three legs; his fourth leg was dangling with a protruding bone - broken and irreparable. Fluffy and his friend Jubaloo were rescued from a ranch where they were not doing well. We have a photo, but I can’t bear to share it. Jubaloo was missing one ear and the other was scarred. Fluffy was four months old and as sweet as can be, but it was clear that day that he needed our help badly. A kind lady rescued them and came to BUNS for help. His first trip was to Dr. Haskell at Adobe Animal Hospital. Fluffy’s injury was so extreme and so old that it could not be repaired and the exposed bone was an invitation to a deadly infection. The leg had to be removed. We all hoped that Fluffy would hop off on his three remaining legs like our other amputees had done. But, sadly that was not to be. Fluffy rested on his hip and used his other legs to slide along the ground. We did not want this life for such young rabbit. Dr. Haskell recommended exercises to strengthen his remaining hind leg. But even with exercises, Fluffy still rested on his hip. Hopping just seemed to be in his past. Santa Barbara is fortunate to have a certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Karen Atlas, MPT, that works with animals at HydroPaws. We contacted Karen and she agreed to take on Fluffy’s case. We are so hopeful that Fluffy will hop again one day and so thankful that he is in the hands of a skilled therapist. You can see how hard Fluffy is working to learn to hop on our Facebook page. We are happy to help Fluffy recover from his broken leg and, we hope, learn to hop again. That is what BUNS does; that is what you expect us to do. We can help rabbits like Fluffy because of your generous support. You make it possible to care for the rabbits and guinea pigs, to treat their injuries and illnesses, and to find them new homes. In this time of Thanksgiving, we give thanks every day for your kind generosity. You bring untold joy to the families who adopt healthy rabbits and guinea pigs at BUNS. Please visit our donation page to see the many ways you can support Fluffy’s journey. If you shop on Amazon, please join Amazon Smile to make a donation to BUNS with every purchase at no extra cost. Visit the Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter wish list on Amazon as well, to purchase needed supplies for the shelter. Fluffy, and BUNS, thank you.   Did you know? Some eastern cultures don’t see a “man in the moon” when they look up into the night sky, they see a rabbit! In ancient times, the belief was that the “rabbit in the moon” was the ruler of all the rabbits on earth. In Japan, ancient belief held that the rabbit was responsible for keeping the moon clean. Those born under the Chinese Lunar sign of the rabbit have attributes of virtue, intelligence and skill. In the ancient Mixtec calendar, the rabbit represented one of four different year signs. Mythology of the Far East held that rabbits were creators of an elixir of life and eternal youth. The word "rabbit" is thought to be derived from either French/Flemish, or from the Middle Dutch word, "Robbe". In some Native American cultures rabbits are linked to the creation of the world, and are a benefactor of mankind. And now you know!

BUNS Newsletter - October 2016

In this issue... Basic Bunny Class Oct. 8 Hoppy Hour Oct. 22 Bunny of the Month A Salad a Day... Axxess Books are Now Available Bunnies are Making Friends at Hoppy Hour   Basic Bunny 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, October 8. The class costs $5, but is free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org or our Facebook event page to learn more. Read More       Hop Over to Hoppy Hour! We have another Hoppy Hour this month! Join us Saturday, October 22 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Bring your fuzzy friend and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Read More       Lucky and Moose Lucky and Moose, a cute dad and son duo, are our Guinea Pigs of the month for October!  Visit our bunny of the month page to learn more about these two, and find out who our bunny of the month duo is. Read More     A Salad a Day... A salad is much more than food. Salads enrich your rabbit’s life. A salad provides new scents, new sights, and new tastes. If you are clever, it can offer puzzles to solve and several hours of entertainment. Our house rabbits usually receive a pile of salad greens once or twice a day in the same place. And, if your rabbits are like mine the salad is gone in less than 30 minutes. What can we do to make our salads more exciting? Head over to our website to learn all about how to make lunchtime more exciting for your fuzzy companion! Read More         Axxess Books BUNS is selling Axxess Books, $30 Please contact Ana or Lesley Fagan 805-451-6928 or newhart4@yahoo.com We can Deliver!      Bunnies are Making Friends at Hoppy Hour Hoppy Hour has been a hit for all the Santa Barbara community bunnies! All the participants have enjoyed social playtime with other buns, and over time many beautiful friendships have emerged. Social opportunities are beneficial to all the participants, and have lasting impressions on the bunnies who attend.  Dyllon  and Lilly are a pair of BUNS bunnies that have been sponsored for the last five Hoppy Hours. This pair was very shy at their fist few times. As the pair started to get more comfortable at Hoppy Hour they started to frolic and become friends with other bunnies. Dyllon now loves to lounge, get groomed, and hang out at the veggie buffet. Lilly loves to binky all over the Hoppy Hour arena and lounge with multiple bunnies in the shady relaxing zone.  Dyllon and Lilly are not alone, many bunnies find confidence and friendship at Hoppy Hour. Mary, another shelter bunny, grooms every bunny she can. If she is not permitted to groom a bunny she chases them away offended… such a little minx! Boogie Woogie is another frequent Hoppy Hour attendee and all the bunnies come and observe her flowing locks of fur like she is the rabbit Marilyn Monroe. The alumni that come continue to form friendships with other bunnies and frequently relax in groups. Many of the bunnies that come are shy at first, but they always seem to make bunny friends if they keep coming back. The bunnies play and binky, and generally act like one big group of extended friends and family!  So don’t hesitate to hop on over to future Hoppy Hours! If you don’t have a bunny to bring consider brightening the day of a shelter bun by sponsoring a ticket for one (or two) of them.  Bunnies give the event two ears up. Even the humans have a wonderful time laughing at all the fun shenanigans!

BUNS Newsletter - September 2016

In this issue... Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class Our Next Pignic Hop Over to Hoppy Hour Talbots Fundraiser for BUNS We Need Pet Carriers Bunnies and Guinea Pigs... Live Online! Miss Dot Finds Her Forever Home     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,  June 11. The class costs $5, but is free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org or our Facebook event page to learn more. Read More     Our Next Pignic Mark your calendars and bring your Guinea Pigs to our September 18 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. The Pignic will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Road, from 1:30 - 2:30. 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     Hop Over to Hoppy Hour! We have another Hoppy Hour this month! Join us Saturday, September 17 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Bring your fuzzy friend and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Read More     Talbots Fundraiser for BUNS     We need pet carriers! Do you have enough pet carriers for all of your animals in case of an emergency? With the most recent fire scare now behind us, we're taking stock of our emergency procedures, and have noticed we don't have enough working carriers for all ours! Make sure you have enough for your critters! If you shop via Amazon Smile, .5% of your purchase price will be donated to BUNS! And if you're feeling generous, please help us by ordering one for BUNS from our wishlist. Read More     Bunnies and Guinea Pigs... Live Online! Are you a visual learner? Are you tired of the Shopping Channel? Are you looking for fun amazing videos? Well here are some great videos of rabbits and guinea pigs for your edification and amazement: The Rabbit Vet This is a British web site with archived classes on rabbit health and husbandry: handling, bonding, head tilt, nutrition, myxomatosis and more. It is all here delivered for free with super British accents by super British Vets. If you sign up, you get e-mails as new classes are offered and can register for the class as well as ask questions. Very nice site: http://therabbitvet.com/webinar/archive/all Oxbow Animal Health We all know Oxbow, but did you know that their vet Dr. Kohles has some wonderful videos about hay? How does it grow, how do rabbits choose food in a field. How to encourage hay eating. They are short, informative and helpful: http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/videos House Rabbit Society The House Rabbit Society leaves everyone else in the dust as far as care videos go. Mary Cotter and Amy Sedaris made 48 HRS Howcast Videos. This is an amazing resource covering everything from How to Rabbit Proof your Home to - well, everything else. Want to know how to make your rabbit less aggressive - there’s a video for that. Take a temperature, walk on a leash and so much more: http://rabbit.org/hrs-howcast-videos/ Did the HRS stop there? No way! Dentistry, Pharmacology, Nutrition, Emergency Care - The HRS Conference Veterinary and Behavior Videos cover these and more: http://rabbit.org/hrs-conference-veterinary-and-behavior-videos/ BUNS BUNS has collected some great videos of rabbit training. Train your rabbit to hop on your lap or enjoy being picked up. Start your rabbit learning all sorts of fun tricks: sit up, spin, jump hurdles, dance with you. It is all on the BUNS web site: http://www.bunssb.org/bunnies/rabbit-training/ Amazing Guinea Pig Tricks Any one who thought guinea pigs should sit in a cage all day, should watch this video. These pigs do everything and have fun doing it. Want to get started with your pig? You can learn to be a super trainer too. In the meantime, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esONT_AB_u8 Guinea Pig Sounds Weeek, weeek, weeeek! We have all heard the lettuce call. But did you know there were 13 different guinea pig sounds - sounds that each have a meaning and are used in particular situations. Just listen to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=hHBEg1yp12U    Miss Dot finds her forever home BUNS happily wishes our longest-term shelter bunny Bon Voyage! Miss Dot waited for five years to find a forever home. Warmest thanks to our wonderful adopter, and all the volunteers who cared for Miss Dot over the years.

BUNS Newsletter - August 2016

In this issue... Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class August Hoppy Hour Bunny of the Month September Pignic How to Choose Rabbit Pellets Our Wish List More on Myxomatosis   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,  June 11. The class costs $5, but is free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org or our Facebook event page to learn more. Read More       August Hoppy Hour Our next Hoppy Hour is Saturday, August 20 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Bring your fuzzy friend and give them an opportunity to socialize with other rabbits! Socialization is a very important part of overall rabbit welfare, and a Hoppy Hour is the perfect opportunity to let your bunny play with others.  Hoppy Hour will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Admission is $10 per rabbit. All animals must be healthy and rabbits must have been spayed or neutered at least 30 days in advance. We'll be providing light refreshments for both you and your bunny, so please join us for an afternoon of fun! Read More     Oreo is our Guinea Pig of the Month! Oreo may be pint-sized but he has a gallon-sized personality. Smart and outgoing, Oreo is an alert little guy who doesn’t want to miss anything going on around him.  Visit our Bunny and Guinea Pig of the Month page to learn more! Read More     September Pignic Mark your calendars and bring your Guinea Pigs to our September 18 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. The Pignic will take place on the Humane Society Lawn, at 5399 Overpass Road, from 1:30 - 3:30. 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   Our Wish List This week, our greatest needs are for: medium sized litter pans gallon jugs of vinegar for cleaning litter pans, and 13 gallon drawstring kitchen trash bags. Please visit Amazon to see our wish list for more info. If you shop via Amazon Smile,  .5% of your purchase price will be donated to BUNS! Read More         How to choose Rabbit Pellets Is your rabbit getting good nutrition from pellets, or just extra calories? Read on to learn how to make the best choice in foods for your bun! Read More     Myxomatosis Myxomatosis, like violent crime, is not something we think about until it happens to us.  Then, in the midst of the devastation we can think of little else. Myxomatosis is a fatal disease of rabbits that is present in Santa Barbara County and other parts of California. Read More

BUNS Newsletter - July 2016

In this issue... Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig Class - July 9 Hoppy Hour is July 30 Our Veggies are in Danger! Bunny of the Month Willow Bunches Let's Eat Chinese     "Basic Bunny" Class - July 9 Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig is happening Saturday July 9 at the Santa Barbara Humane Society from 1:00 pm to 2:30.  Bring your own bunny or guinea pig.  If you have a friend with a bunny, let them know about the class.  If you are having behavior problems with your own bunny, the class can help you too. Read More     Hoppy Hour - July 30 Join us on July 30 2016, 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   Our Veggies are in Danger! We are sad to report that our beloved two-door commercial refrigerator died last week.  We suspect heat stroke. Long a favorite, it kept up to six large boxes of vegetables nice and cool for the bunnies and guinea pigs.  Now we have only a small ice chest to keep our veggies fresh. The bunnies are concerned we don't have enough space for their favorite greens! Unfortunately, a used commercial refrigerator will cost us between $1,000 and $3,000 dollars, and we need your help.  Donations to replace the refrigerator can be made by clicking on the Donate button at www.bunssb.org.   Read More   Miss Dot Our Bunny of the Month, Miss Dot, has been a homeless shelter bunny at BUNS longer than any other. She is a shy, sensitive girl waiting to be discovered and appreciated for her quiet nature and delicate beauty. Read More       Get Them While They Last Willow twigs and leaves make a crunchy and healthy snack for your bunny or guinea pig, and you can get your pet this tasty treat at BUNS! We're selling bunches of willow until our supply runs out.  One bunch is $3.00 and two bunches cost $5.00. Get them while they last!       DIY Litter Rack Here's a do-it-yourself (DIY) easy, and inexpensive way to enhance your litter boxes for rabbits and guinea pigs. It reduces odor and keeps hay fresher for longer! Read the instructions on bunssb.org Read More     Let's Eat Chinese Do your bunnies and guinea pigs get bored with the same old salad? Mine do! I can tell by the way their ears perk up when I say, “Let’s Eat Chinese!” I was a little intimidated by the asian section of my local Ralphs, but the bunnies definitely were not! They loved the veggies and asked for more. Of course we all know bok choy. My bunnies prefer baby baby bok choy. Bok choy has 1/3 less calcium than Kale by weight. It has almost as much vitamin C, by weight as an orange! It is also an excellent source source of vitamin K, vitamin A, Vitamin B6, potassium and folate. Yummy! Have you tried Gai lan? Also known as Chinese Broccoli, like bok choy, Gai Lan is has about 30% less calcium than Kale. It is a good source of vitamin C with half the amount of vitamin C as an orange by weight. It is also a source of vitamins K and A. Yu choy is rich in vitamin C and calcium. By weight it has 3 and a half times more vitamin C than an orange. It also has one and one half times more calcium than Kale. It is a good source of vitamin A and has some iron. Choy sum is rich in vitamin C, folate, vitamin A; it is also a source of iron. I could not find information on calcium content. Napa Cabbage is a familiar vegetable. It is a source vitamins K, C, and A in that order. The calcium content is 80% lower than Kale and appropriate for a low calcium diet. Don’t forget the lemon grass. Sold dry, it will sprout roots if placed in water and will grow well in your yard. The long strands of grass are tasty and good for rabbit dental health. Ralphs, in Magnolia Shopping Center, is a good source of asian vegetables. Try substituting one or two asian vegetables for a vegetable that you serve regularly. Or make a salad of asian vegetables add some cilantro and et voila! You have a Chinese dinner for your bunny or guinea pig. Every thing but a fortune cookie. Feeding a variety of vegetables increases the variety and quantities of vitamins and minerals your rabbit has access too. Changing the content of your salads from week to week makes diner more interesting and life more fun. If your rabbit has special diet needs consult with your veterinarian before making changes. Are you a regular Ralph’s shopper too? You can select Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter to receive donations from Ralphs. Go to www.Ralphs.com, then sign in or sign up for the rewards program. Then select Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter as the beneficiary of the Community Rewards program. If you do, BUNS will get up to 4% of your grocery bill. Thanks!

BUNS Newsletter - June 2016

In this issue... Hoppy Hour is June 4 Bunny of the Month Basic Bunny Class June 11 New BUNS Merchendise, Just in Time for Summer Hay Racks for your Rabbit Who's Watching the Pets?   Hoppy Hour, June 4 Join us on June 4 2016, 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     Beary Pigilow Beary Pigilow is our Guinea Pig of the month! He's a big, handsome boy, weighing  in at over 4 pounds! Beary is a natural athlete who can jump low fences as he proved to us all at the last Pignic. This big guy is also quite cuddly, as he snuggles in your arms while munching on cilantro and carrot tops. Big and strong and 100% huggable, Beary Pigilow is ready to find his perfect family and get his summer started! What to know who our Bunny of the Month is? You'll have to visit our website... Read More         Basic Bunny Class, June 11 Learn how to best care for your fuzzy friend at our Basic Bunny and Guinea Pig classes! This month's class is on Saturday,  June 11. The class costs $5, but is free for BUNS volunteers. Visit our class page on bunssb.org to learn more. Read More     New in the BUNS Store We've added some new products to our CafePress Store, just in time for summer! Keep your drinks icey cold with a BUNS Logo can cooler or a double-wall tumblr!  Read More     Hay Racks for your Rabbit Rabbits and guinea pigs need fresh hay and a lot of it. It’s common to use hay as the bedding of the litter box since they often like to munch while “taking care of business.” While this is helpful to both us and them, if that hay becomes too wet or soiled it lose its appeal as food. It’s helpful to have an alternate source of hay available that is always clean. A great solution is to use a “hay rack” which keeps the hay off the ground and away from moisture, dirt, etc. If you enjoy making things or are looking for a fun do-it-yourself project for your family, you can find a variety of innovative and easy-to-build designs in this article from Bunny Approved:  https://bunnyapproved.com/rabbit-hay-racks-what-are-the-options/   Read More Who's Watching the Pets? Going on Vacation? Who’s watching the pets? Plan ahead: Include your pets while making your vacation plans and reservations.  Reservations for pet sitters?  Absolutely. Holidays and summers are peak demand time for pet sitters. They fill up quickly. Make your pet sitter reservations the same day you make your travel reservations. If you need to find a pet sitter, begin the search well before you plan to go. Read our full set of advice planning for pet-sitting on bunssb.org Read More