About a month ago through the exhaustive efforts of our volunteer home visitors, Catskill Animal Sanctuary had found enough wonderful homes for our resident rabbits that we could once again accept new needy rabbits from our long waiting list. Three new bunnies arrived and immediately touched our hearts.
Roland is a sweet black and white Dutch bunny who arrived with his sister from a home where they were ignored. Though five years old, he and his sister had never been given names, and they clearly did not receive much human attention. Roland was skinny; his sister Holly was emaciated. Holly also had a severe upper respiratory infection--so severe that we could hear her wheezing from twenty feet away. After two weeks of antibiotics, she recovered from the infection, but was so weak from prolonged malnutrition that she passed away shortly after. Little Roland had lost the only companion he had ever known. In addition to being stressed and obviously depressed, he wasn't gaining weight.
Well, after a trip to the vet for some much needed dental work, Roland can chew effectively and painlessly, and has some new bunny neighbors to socialize with through his fenced in area. Though still a little leery of humans, Roland is bright-eyed and curious. We so hope that he finds a home or a bunny buddy soon, for he's certainly willing to trust. He tries to scamper away when I (Walt) reach to pick him up, but once I hold him, he relaxes and soaks up the love. With one brown eye and one blue, Roland looks like an other-world mystic, and I half expect start reciting rhymes like a character from a Lewis Caroll story.
Another newcomer to CAS is Fergus, an adorable white lop bunny with grey ears and pink eyes. Fergus was obviously cared for and is in perfect health. He was lucky enough to be a house rabbit, but former owners were no longer able to give him the attention he needed. He's pretty shy, but responds lovingly when he's being handled. He even starts grooming my arm when I hold him for long enough! He's been getting spoiled at lunch when of our volunteers hold him on their laps and stroke his fur.
Calling all bunny lovers!!