Pleading on behalf of Edward (warning photos are graphic)

It has been a long time since we've had a blog post entry. With Easter just around the corner,

I would like to introduce you to Eddie G. Edward was most likely a live gift from an Easter past. Eds was found close to death, eating dried bread in someone's yard. Ear mites had completely taken over and he was nothing but skin and bones. His eyes were crusted shut and he was too weak to attempt to escape his rescuer. 

What happened to Edward is quite common. A bunny is purchased on impulse without thinking about the future. When the person becomes tired of the bunny, they are set free. Domestic rabbits cannot survive in the wild. It is a death sentence. You are not setting them free, you are sentencing them to a horrible death. 

Edward is safe now. He will never know that kind of suffering again. If you see this kind of thing happening, please speak up. It is a brutal end for a bunny and also a crime to abandon an animal in the wild. It would have been kinder to leave him at a kill shelter. A quick death would have been far better than the suffering this bunny went through.

“We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that the animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect them and love them as we love ourselves.” 

Cesar Chavez

Hoppy Thanksliving to all!

All the beings at Heartland Rabbit Rescue wish a Hoppy Thanksliving to everyone on this holiday. A great big thanks to all those who support the bunnies and the ducks (Arnold, Queenie, Bubbles and Donnie) and the donkeys (Mollie and Judy) and Midnite the wonder pony. Enjoy your holiday and remember...If you can lead a happy, healthy life without harming anyone, why wouldn't you? Keep yourself warm and safe and happy and do the same for others during this holiday season...and throughout the year.

Heather

This is Heather. She, along with 5 other bunnies, came to Heartland a few weeks ago from a municipal shelter. We were fortunate enough to be able to squeeze them in even though it meant some creative arranging of living spaces.

Heather.

These bunnies, at the time they were seized, were essentially living in a death camp. According to the information supplied to us, they were being raised in order to be killed and eaten. We believe Heather is the mother of the other bunnies that came with her. She is clearly older and seems to be more severely traumatized. During her life she may have been forced to have many babies and then seen them killed.

She initially was fairly withdrawn and very passive. But slowly slowly she seems to be coming back from whatever internal recesses of her cognitive and emotional self to which she had retreated. She's still somewhat muted in her emotionality and responses but she's already come a long way back from wherever she was hiding.

Part of her rehabilitation consists of her receiving periodic sessions of sitting on someone's chest and being given gentle headrubs and strokes. She's gone from being wide-eyed and frozen during these sessions to where she now relaxes and closes her eyes. She'll probably doze off during the session one of these days.

On August 1st, when she was being carried in from some outside play time, she gave a small teeth chatter in response to a head rub. That's the bunny equivalent of applause and/or a smile. Being present when someone smiles, maybe for the first time in their life, is a very powerful (and humbling) experience.

Heartland can't save every bunny, although we wish we could, but we do save some bunnies...and Heather is one. Please continue to support Heartland and all of your local rescues and sanctuaries. There are untold numbers of animals just like Heather who need a place of refuge and safety.

There's a mouse in our house!

A very good friend of ours works at an animal shelter here in Denver. Knowing mice only live for 2.5 years, she took pity on a little guy who had been at the shelter for quite some time and made a (lovably) impulsive decision to bring him home. Sometimes he comes to live with Daniel, the girls and I. While his official name is Basil but we often just call him Mouse.

While Sable and Shadow were initially very wary of Mouse in his exercise ball, everyone became quite friendly once they figured who was in the rolling ball.
The mouse in our house is quite welcome.

Pippin

Many of you may remember the handsome and gentle Pippin. You might recall that Pippin spent the first 8 years of his life in a backyard hutch. A prison sentence that no living creature deserves. Pippin's life began anew at Heartland and then a new chapter began for him just a few months ago.

We treasured our little guy. He was a kind spirit that enjoyed naps in the sunshine and a fine slice of banana. He was a slow jazz kind of bunny man. Laid back and easygoing, he did indulge in the occasional dig. He stole our hearts and eventually one of our volunteers just had to give him what he always hoped for.....HOME.

Pippin is where hope lives. A tiny little light that kept burning and pushing him to survive all those years.

Ole Pipster even had himself a girl. A lady bun named Nester that thought he was the cat's meow.

Pippin passed over to the Summer Lands very early this morning. He was brought back and laid to rest at Heartland. It seems altogether fitting and right as it was where his hopes became reality. We loved you so much Pippin. We ache that you are gone but we will keep hope alive just for you little man and keep going for all those other bunnies like you......the ones that are still hoping.

There Is A Little Magic Inside Them All

The Magic Of Love

Author: Helen Steiner Rice

 

Love is like magic

And it always will be.

For love still remains

Life's sweet mystery!!

Love works in ways

That are wondrous and strange

And there's nothing in life

That love cannot change!!

Love can transform

The most commonplace

Into beauty and splendor

And sweetness and grace.

Love is unselfish,

Understanding and kind,  

For it sees with its heart

And not with its mind!!

Love is the answer

That everyone seeks...

Love is the language,

That every heart speaks.

Love can't be bought,

It is priceless and free,

Love, like pure magic,

Is life's sweet mystery!!

Bonnie, Russell, Peanut and Charlene

Winston

Dolly

Misti

Cocoa

Peanut

Marshall

Binker



From all of us at Heartland;

 

We wish you a happy and safe Holiday season.

 

Please remember that animals do not make good surprise gifts. They are long term commitments and if you choose to make a pet a part of your family, please don't shop, ADOPT!

Bunny Babes

No...not those kind of bunny babes. I mean actual baby bunnies! There are far too many rabbits in need of forever homes so babies are not something we aim for. But when nature gets its way, we sometimes get to enjoy the results. This past Labor Day I had the pleasure of meeting some beautiful babies. I took some video not considering that I don't know the first thing about video editing. But with the help of a friend I have finally created and uploaded the video. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqNxpY7IWy0&feature=youtu.be