The Bunologist Sept09

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September 2009 • • • • • •

What’s News? Alannah Hill stops using rabbit fur

How I came to live with a giant bunny Shelter update Adopt me! Dear Diary Clarence the SUPER SPY & the opposite brotherhood Clarence & me

Japanese hop to bunny cafe for relaxation 31 August 2009 - Reuters Stressed-out Japanese seeking to unwind are hopping to a restaurant that serves cuddly pet rabbits alongside, and not on, the menu.

17 August 2009 – Fairfax media The Usagi-to-Cafe in the central Japanese city of Nagoya features everything bunny: rabbit decor, rabbitshaped toys and dishes moulded to look like rabbits.

Alannah Hill’s recent use of rabbit fur on her frilly designs led to a protest outside her South Yarra store, a death threat and a torrent of abusive emails. Alannah's nerves are so frayed that she has given in and will stop using fur: She states, ''After 4500 intimidating and abusive emails, the decision not to use rabbit fur AS A TRIM was made for me by the one that threatened my seven-year-old son, Edward. ''I believe cyber-bullying needs to be addressed and treated as a criminal offence. Basically, I was intimidated into consent.'' Gosh, poor old Alannah! Bullied to remove rabbit fur from her frilly little garments. As she says… it’s ONLY A TRIM!! Try telling the rabbits that!! (BOING)

But it's the live animals in the room next to the restaurant that keep the patrons coming. "They are different from stuffed animals, as well as from dogs or cats. They feel as fluffy as cotton and I feel so relaxed when I am cuddling them," said Hiromi Ono, a 25-year-old businesswoman as she held a rabbit. Cafes that offer animals are quite common in Japan, where strict housing regulations often ban pets. But most of the cafes feature cats. Diners pay a 900 yen (about $10) cover charge and then 100 yen a minute to cuddle one of the 18 “staff”. "Bunnies here are taught to be amenable that you can pet and cuddle them as much as you want, and many customers like it," said rabbit aficionado Naoki Kurata, who set up the cafe about a year ago.

Latest Guiness Book of Records – Oldest Living Rabbit

Scooter bunny

11 September 2009

Biscuit is a 2 lb Dutch with an unusual means of transportation - a scooter.

A rabbit living in Carroll County in Maryland (US) has been recognised as the world’s oldest living rabbit. According to an article in the Associated Press, the rabbit’s owner – Jennifer Russell – received confirmation earlier this month. Heather – the record holding bunny – was adopted in 1995 with papers that said she was 2 years old. Owner Russell believes that now makes Heather somewhere between 15 and 16 years old. According to NBC Philadelphia, in her prime, Heather was a “diva”, growling if the cat got too close.

17 September 2009 - My House Rabbit

Biscuit accompanies her owner on his scooter while he travels to work at a produce stand. There she becomes the centre of attention as people stop by to say hello and watch her sample the wares. Her owner, Coleman Rogers, has had house rabbits for pets for the last 17 years. His first was left at his house by a friend, and he was soon hooked on rabbits. Each of his rabbits has been litter box trained and cage-free. Biscuit spends most of her time in Rogers’s kitchen.

How I came to live with a giant bunny By Andrew Kaighin Throughout my life I have taken home many stray animals. Until 18 months ago the strays I had taken home had all been cats and dogs. The only contact I had with rabbits was through nature documentaries and I thought they were interesting in the wild but not very interactive as pets. 18 months ago I was working for Melbourne Uni at the Werribee campus for vet science students. After work one evening I went for a jog with my friend Janine through the parks of Werribee. We saw something run past us very fast. It looked like a giant rabbit. 30 seconds later 2 boys walked up leading a greyhound. The boys asked, “Have you seen a rabbit?” “Is it yours?” I said “Yeah it’s our pet” they replied. It seemed obvious that the boys had released the rabbit as live prey and I instantly felt protective. “It went that way,” I said, pointing in the opposite direction to the one the rabbit had taken. We all continued on our ways. Whilst I was working in Werribee I would visit the medical wards every lunchtime to say hello to the animals in there. I paid particular attention to the Stray ward where stray animals were taken to await the ranger and the pound. I walked into the stray ward the next day and sitting in a cage halfway up the wall was a giant bunny staring at me. It was the same bunny that had escaped the greyhound.

I learnt that rabbits should eat only hay and greens, not rabbit pellets. They also do best in the house with the family because they are extremely social and are happiest with lots of contact. They are easily litter trained and very clean. The first night at our house the bunny sneezed a lot and then did a series of small fits across the floor. I thought the sneezing was probably nothing to worry about but the fits were very concerning. I went back to the website and found a perfect description of the fits I had just witnessed. They were called binkies and they are something rabbits do when they are very happy. When I called my friend Lizzie who knows a lot about bunnies the next day she confirmed that he had been doing binkies and it was nothing to worry about. The sneezing on the other hand…. Rabbits can get a condition called snuffles. It is a chronic infection of the nasal passages and as rabbits breath through their nose it is a very serious condition. Mr B was trialed on several antibiotics - oral, injectable and inhaled. He had a tiny camera inserted into his nose and some contents of his nose grown to determine what bacteria was up there causing problems. But for Mr B the condition cannot be cured. Mr B is a happy chap who needs to be treated with antibiotics three times daily. He sits in a plastic box (his sauna) and breathes the antibiotics through the steam created by a nebuliser. This is just enough to keep his nose clear enough to breath. When he is not taking a sauna at his day spa he enjoys hanging out with his burrow buddies, which include two humans and two cats. The nature of Mr B’s condition means that the humans in his burrow can never go on a holiday together which suits Mr B just fine as he is a very sooky rabbit.

A local Werribee lady had gone out to hang her washing on the line and found a giant bunny staring at her. The ranger didn’t take rabbits so the giant bun stayed in the stray ward for 8 days. I visited him every day. I moved him into a large dog cage on the ground floor and everyday I came and sat with him. th

He was very interactive and appealing. On the 8 day one of the nurses said “you should take him home, rabbits are easy to look after.” Anyone involved in the animal industry knows that this is a jinx of the worst kind but I took the bunny home. I started reading about rabbit behaviour and care. A friend gave me the address of a website which I looked up. It was called The House Rabbit Society – www.rabbit.org

Mr B & friend relax together (Mr B on the right!)

Shelter Update By Leigh Munro Australian Animal Protection Society Homeleigh Road, Keysborough, Ph: 9798 8415 www.aaps.org.au [email protected] I’m pleased to report August was a good month for bunny adoptions and only medical euthanasias. We haven’t had many bunnies in this month compared to July, and all the boys we’ve desexed I’ve managed to put together in the bunny area - no mean feat I can tell you! If you’ve ever tried to bond newly desexed and hormonal boys you’ll know how awesome and rare this is. We got a baby bunny surrendered to us just this week (on the 27th) because he was given as a gift to keep the dog company, but the dog wanted to eat him. The bunny had something on his fur that was irritating his skin. They didn't notice! I gave him a bath and the next day his skin was almost back to normal. Gembrook, featured in the last update, is still trying to lose weight so she can be desexed and go to her new home. She’s down to 4.4 kg from 5 kg so still has a way to go. Please give her "get less fat" vibes! Every month I stress out wondering if we’re going to get bunnies dumped from a breeder we’ve previously had around 80-90 bunnies from. His/her MO is to drop them off early morning in the overnight pens, in banana boxes with filthy hay, no food or water, and all the bunnies either neglected or with some major issue. I think we’ve only been able to rehome a dozen or so of them. These were the last bunnies we had to put down (not sure if pictures are clear to see how bad they were). There were others in the same lot who got put down (9 in total) because of ulcerated hocks and bad teeth (rex), bad teeth (white bunny- it's hard to see, but he had a huge mouth abscess, definitely couldn't eat). We haven't had any for a few months so I hope that's the last of them.

The woman who surrendered him also had an entire female she was trying to bond with the remaining entire male - she didn't even consider the female getting pregnant because they were siblings! She said she would bring in the bunnies for desexing, but it hasn't happened yet, so I'm sure we'll get the babies soon enough. A big thank you to Catherine and Michael, and also to Sue who donated $120 combined towards the rabbits. I got some very positive feedback after the last newsletter, so thank you to all those who emailed me. Words of encouragement are very much appreciated!

31 August 2009 – update Just when the dumping rates of bunnies was looking okay for August, 15 rabbits were dumped in the overnight pens at the shelter. The security footage revealed who dumped them. It was a man, the time was 8:35pm and all rabbits were left with no food or water. Unfortunately, the registration number on the car wasn’t visible. One of the bunnies dumped was blind, one had a foot missing and bad forelegs, one had severe head tilt, one had very bulgy eyes and one had a massive throat lump. There were about 6 rexes, also lops and one giant chinchilla (the blind one) as well as a couple of dwarves. We wish there was a happy ending with these bunnies, but unfortunately there wasn’t.

Harry & Tiana by Stella

I thought you might like this photo of my bunnies. They love each other so much. They are very much free range bunnies. They live inside, but can go outside to a cat proofed area through a little bunny flap. Harry is the white tipped one and Tiana is a grey brown bunny. I'd like to share a picture of a real cutie who is up for adoption. His name is Ollie (above), and he was surrendered for not getting along with another male undesexed rabbit.

I have learnt so much from my first experience with bunnies, that bunnies definitely need a friend. Harry is a desexed boy and Tiana a desexed girl. We got them from lovely Leigh’s animal shelter in Keysborough.

Adopt me!

Dear Diary By Karen

Found: Dwarf—lop ear, black bunny Location: Melbourne (Point Cook)

The Do Hop Inn has been filling up with even more bunnies this month! Fortunately, most of these newbies are just “on holiday”, but we do have one more surrender bunny called Rex. He’s a little black undesexed bunny nearly 6 years of age. The short story is that he was surrendered because his health issues were distracting his human friend from her studies so her mother decided he must go (hmmm….. some people just amaze me!) Since Rex’s age, wonky front leg & dental problems would not have given him a chance at a shelter, he came to live with us. Good news so far with our ex farm bunnies. Poppy has recovered really well after her abscess was removed. She was on pain relief & antibiotics for a long, long time but everything seems to be okay for now. She seemed to develop an addiction to pain relief but, for now, she’s off the stuff! I can’t imagine her spending time in Rehab with the likes of Amy Winehouse.

Arrived on our doorstep. Unable to keep as we have one jealous rabbit already. Have tried to find owners but no one has come forward. Great temperament, loves to play, still needs to be vet checked not even sure of sex. We do think it’s a female though. Would love to find a good home in a bunny friendly residence. If you are interested and feel you can offer this bunny a home, please contact Roma on 0433 996 761.

Found: Dwarf Rex Location: Melbourne

Just when I was going to say that Lulu hasn’t had any problems since her spell on antibiotics, she’s had another tummy upset. We’re really hoping that she’s on the mend though. Nicknamed “polar bear” (because of her size & her luminescent white coat), she’s just the most glorious bunny and so beautiful. Izzy, the only farm bunny that hadn’t required any medical treatment so far, developed ear mites this month! They were seriously nasty and I was very annoyed with myself that I didn’t notice them earlier. By the time I saw her ear, the mites were thick, brown & crusty. Fortunately, one dab of Revolution for cats on the back of her neck (measured for her weight) fixed them right up. It was quite amazing to see how quickly the mites went away. In only a few days, her ear was looking much better and in one week, they were all gone. BIG CELEBRATIONS THIS MONTH….. We celebrated Dingleberry’s eighth birthday mid September!!! Woo hoo – Carrot cake, cranberry juice and celery muffins all round (and that’s just for the humans!!). Dingleberry is our very first bunny. She now has a bit of a wacky head tilt from an inner ear infection she acquired four years ago but she’s still running around & enjoying life. Pumpkin, after breaking up with his girlfriend Tinkerbelle, now has a new girlfriend. She’s gentle, won’t bite, she’s super soft and loves to be groomed. Her name’s Butternut… and she’s a sheep! A sheep pillow that is.

I'm a nine-month old albino desexed male dwarf rex. I don't have a name because I've never had a proper home it's a bit of a sad story. I'm a bit shy because I'm not used to people but I haven't bitten anyone and I tolerate long cuddles. I would love a real home and family, perhaps with a nice girl bunny to be friends with. I look a bit scruffy in the picture because I was having medical treatment, but I'm all better now. Please call Ruth on 0403 980 640 or email [email protected] for any questions about adopting me.

Oh well, she might not be another real live bunny but Pumpkin thinks she’s pretty cute!

Clarence the SUPER-SPY

Clarence frowned, putting his paw to his chin thoughtfully. ‘But, if the Spy League is evil that means… you’re evil, Ecneracl,’ he said in a surprised tone. ‘True. I am in search of a worthy planet to turn into the Anti Spy League’s new head quarters, and I think I know where it’s going to be… Your planet!’ said Ecneracl with an evil laugh.

and the Opposite Brotherhood by James Robertson Previously...... by Ted Barker Hey, my name’s Ted Barker. Before I start I just want to tell ya that I found out all this stuff after that thing with the Titanic. Clarence found the Time Manipulator Orb in a crevice in the Spy League junkyard. He took it to the Do Hop Inn to turn it into a super cool Time Machine. With the help of Dingle, Lulu, Poppy, Isabelle and Stuart (mostly Stuart and his weird equation) they were able to make it. But then someone stole the Time Machine (this is getting better and better and better) and when he got the other bunnies to help him find it another Clarence the Super Spy was in doorway. I’ll leave it to the Narrator now…

Clarence shifted. ‘I think I say this for the whole planet that we’re not going to let you take over the world,’ Clarence said triumphantly. Ecneracl grimaced. ‘Fine. I’ll blow your precious planet Earth to smithereens with the rocket the Anti Spy League is sending to me through the other Dimension. I’ve got your Time Machine with me so what’s the worry? But, so you all are not tempted to stop me…’ Then, three things happened in the time Poppy blinked: Ecneracl flicked the trigger of the grenade and threw it like a javelin at Clarence and his friends. Clarence swerved around to grab the Shield Detonator on his computer desk (that’s why Clarence shifted before). He pressed the big pink button in the middle of the device and threw it at the grenade. The pink energy shield, that they all expected, covered the grenade in mid air, and last but not least the huge explosion ripped apart the grenade’s shell and filled the sphere shaped shield with smoke. Ecneracl then used the Time Machine to get away unseen.

The other Clarence was pointing the detonation grenade threateningly at Clarence the Super Spy, Dingleberry, Stuart Little, Lulu, Poppy and Isabelle. They backed down towards Clarence’s huge computer. The other Clarence came closer. ‘My name is Ecneracl. I am from the opposite world,’ he said, while pointing his other paw at Clarence. ‘I am your opposite, Clarence.’ ‘Wow,’ whispered Lulu in Clarence’s ear. ‘You really are a super hero, Clarence, if you have an evil twin.’ Clarence hushed Lulu.

Poppy (above) finished her blink. ‘What I miss?’

Ecneracl continued. ‘I was running away from the Mr. Beaver troops when I found a portal to your world and got away.’

Clarence couldn’t believe himself! He let that stealing brother of his steal the Time Machine!!

Stuart put up his paw. ‘What is it like in the Opposite World?’ he asked.

But now wasn’t the time to get angry with himself. Clarence, Dingle, Stuart, Lulu, Poppy and Isabelle ran over to the computer and started locking onto the NASA Satellite Network.

‘In my world,’ Ecneracl said importantly ‘everything, except the people and animals’ appearance, is different; the sun is dark and the moon is bright. Croissants are Italian and pizza is French. South is north and east is west. And the Spy League are the ones who want to dominate the world, and those pesky Mr. Beaver Industries and the Secret Order of the Mystifying Cucumber just want to stop us.’

*Spy-Notes: Clarence’s computer can hack onto any computer in the world, and even not in this world. Clarence can go into the NASA exclusive network any time he wants.

A picture of a sleek black rocket with twelve mini boosters and two big jet boosters appeared on the screen. It was huge, and hurtling towards them.

‘So, you followed me all the way here, didn’t you, Clarence?’ It was Ecneracl. He was on the opposite side of the room.

Clarence typed in some keys and a close up diagram of the rocket appeared.

Clarence and his friends got into Super Bunny attack mode.

Isabelle started reading it out loud. ‘It’s got the power of twenty-five and a half atom bombs. And a percentage of one million kilograms, kilometres, killer whale, killer bunny… Well it’s going to kill us,’ she said nervously.

‘My rocket is about to hit this place,’ he said slyly. ‘I’ll be on a different planet watching your planet explode.’

‘But, if it’s from the Opposite World it should only be half a percentage of what it really is. So, umm, it should only be five hundred and five thousand kilograms, kilometres, killer whale, killer bunny… don’t get me mixed up Isabelle!’ said Clarence in a very scientific tone. ‘Which would only destroy half the planet unless…’ Dingleberry pawed Clarence’s shoulder. ‘Unless, what?’ she asked. Clarence turned around to look at his friends. ‘Unless, it hits the biggest nuclear power station in the world. Which is the one Tessa won at the Annual Race. Remember?’ he said.

Then they could hear the crack of the rocket entering the Earth’s atmosphere! Whooshing and cracking sounds could be heard all over the world! But, no one knew that it would end. ‘Quick, get into this Escape Capsule!’ said Lulu, whilst pulling a big stainless steel pod from under her fur. She unlocked the pod and Clarence and herself got everyone inside. Everyone except Stuart… Ecneracl was still standing with the Time Machine. Clarence, Dingle, Lulu, Poppy and Isabelle were stuffed inside the capsule. And Stuart, the target of the rocket! ‘Stuart, come on!’ ‘Stuart, get here or I’ll drop you in the water bowl!!’

They all nodded. None of them had been there to see it but they heard about it on the front page of the Spying Times. ‘I bet you my whole hutch system that Ecneracl’s there,’ Clarence said excitedly.

‘Stuart, over here!!!’ ‘Stuart, look out!!!!’ ‘Stuart, the rocket!!!!!’ they all screamed.

‘Ok,’ said Stuart hopefully. He crossed his paw fingers. Clarence grabbed his flashy scooter keys and headed for the stairs. ‘Come on everyone. Off to Queensland!’

But Stuart couldn’t hear them, because of the sound proof capsule. ‘Where are you, guys!’ called Stuart.

They’d turned their Scooters on Turbo Speed and now they’re speeding across New South Wales coming closer to Queensland. In about fifteen minutes they arrived at a big warehouse building, with fumes belching out through tall chimneys as high as skyscrapers. ‘Arm yourselves, guys,’ said Dingle in a secret agent tone. ‘Ecneracl is probably in there.’ Clarence, Stuart, Lulu, Isabelle, Poppy and Dingle unlatched their Shield Detonators, Mini Lasers and Rope Clinger Guns from their utility belts. Clarence kicked open the iron swing doors and as they charged through into the power station smelly fumes wafted into their sensitive noses. They wandered around the Power Station until they came to the biggest room, and the only room without all those smoky fumes.

The bad thing is, Stuart’s half blind! The rocket smashed through the roof of the Nuclear Power Station! Ecneracl disappeared with the Time Machine in the blink of an eye. Stuart screamed. The Rocket hit Stuart and the Power Station, ripping the world apart!! The capsule pod that Clarence and his friends were in went flying into the Earth’s broken atmosphere. They’d lost. Ecneracl had won. The world and everyone in it, destroyed. Clarence looked down at the broken pieces of his world through the little glass window in the Capsule.

*Spy-Notes: The Air-Tight Capsule that Lulu keeps was made by the French Colonel Bunny (Colonel Pierre Bunny) in Paris. It’s got bits of Titanium, Tungsten, Mercury, Platinum, Iron and Nickel for enhanced efficiency.

Clarence had let Ecneracl send the rocket. And just because of that the whole planet had been blown up. Clarence’s Hutch System, his computer, his human parents, his spy friends, all gone. If only there was a way to rebuild the world, but there wasn’t. Then Clarence felt something under him. He twisted around knocking Poppy’s side and saw what it was. ‘The Time Machine?’ Clarence gasped. He picked it up and dialled in the numbers, his left paw hovering over the GO button. He was very excited! ‘See ya’ guys,’ Clarence said. ‘I’ll say hello to you in the past.’ And with that he pressed the button and disappeared. Clarence reappeared in front of Stuart. Stuart gasped. The Rocket had just smashed through the roof! The other Clarence disappeared from the Escape Capsule. Clarence flung out his Shield Detonator and a big pink force field surrounded Clarence and Stuart as the rocket hit! For three whole minutes the rocket pushed against the shield! Clarence’s body ached and sweated. Finally the rocket tipped over and fell uselessly to the hard ground. ‘Hooray!’ Dingle, Lulu, Poppy and Isabelle ran from the capsule to Clarence and Stuart. ‘Yay!’ screamed the three big bunnies. They grabbed Clarence and gave him a spine-smashing hug of scary proportions. Clarence gasped for breath. Dingleberry headed for Clarence, but then made an abrupt swerve and gave Stuart a loving hug (not of scary proportions). ‘You’re alive,’ cried Dingle. As they ran out of the Nuclear Power Station, going to the Bunny Banjo restaurant to celebrate their victory, Clarence wondered… where was Ecneracl???

The End! Epilogue. ‘…So that’s what happened,’ said Ecneracl to Lenoloc Ynnub and Gip Aeniug Fiehc. ‘And I want to get him back.’ Lenoloc Ynnub nodded. ‘Do not worry, Ecneracl,’ he said calmly. ‘The Secret Machine that sent that rocket to Earth is still working. And we can send you back to defeat Clarence and take revenge, after a few minor adjustments are made.’ Ecneracl gave an evil grin. ‘Yes, and this time I’ll be ready to destroy him,’ he said. ‘Ha, ha, ha!’ ‘Ha, ha, ha, ha!’ ‘Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!’

I STOOD BY YOUR BED I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep. I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep. I stood by you on the bed as you cried many tears, " It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here." I stayed with you all night trying to reach you You could not see me yet I could be with you I wanted to reassure you- to let you know I was OK yet you were so very sad- there was really no way I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea, you were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me. I was with you as you worked today I knew you felt so bad I wanted to kiss your hand - they way I always had I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care. I want to reassure you, that I'm not lying there. I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key. I gently put my paw on your foot, I hopped and said "it's me." You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair. I tried so hard to let you know, that I was right there. It's possible for me to be near you every day. To say to you with certainty, "I never went away." You sat there very quietly, then you smiled, Then I think then you knew ... in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you. The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning and say "goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide, I'll rush across to greet you and we'll sit, side by side. I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see. Be patient, be still and then we can be for now, know that I am with you every moment of every night and day I promise you- I will never go away

Clarence & me By Ian Robertson My son James has always been fascinated by rabbits since he was tiny and his favourite toys were "Baby Bunny and Natalie" two very distinctive bunnies from Germany. This started his collection of bunny soft toys, which is now outrageously large. For his seventh birthday Sally promised him a real live bunny. We were apprehensive at first because our neighbours had had an angora rabbit that had become feral and all its fur became matted. They decided to surrender it to a shelter because they said it was destroying the garden and biting the kids. They dumped their rabbit hutch on our nature strip so we fixed it all up ready to take on James's new pet. We went to the RSPCA to suss out the requirements and there was a small black bunny looking a little forlorn because he had been found wandering around Vermont South and had been de-sexed that morning. We returned the following week to discover he was still there. We were concerned that if we did not take him he may have to be euthanased. We went off to pay the adoption fee and get his microchip re-registered into our name. When we returned we were horrified to find the little bundle of fur tearing a much larger Rex bunny to bits - what had we let ourselves into? On the way home we decided to call him Clarence after the cross-eyed lion because he fought like a lion. Houdini also became his nickname because he would escape given the slightest chance – he had escaped from his previous owners! His greatest escape at our house was by climbing up the chimney. No matter how much we encouraged him, he would not come back down and sat in the smoke box staring down at us.

Clarence was an outdoor bunny and his favourite place was his run. We used to watch out the window as he went for his morning run. He was amazingly agile and ran around in circles as though he was being chased by a pack of wolves. He was amazingly fussy about what he ate. When he needed to gain some weight, we provided him with growth pellets but we had to conceal them with his other favourite foods. When we hand fed him, he sneakily spat out all the growth pellets out of the other side of his mouth. To keep James entertained on long car journeys we used to wonder what Clarence did at night. We imagined that Clarence was leading a double life and that he had an extensive warren under his hutch filled with magnificent paintings and that he escaped each night to have adventures. The RSPCA thought that Clarence was 1 year old when we got him but we now think he may have been closer to 4 years because suddenly his health deteriorated this year and he developed arthritis and then vestibular disease. We saw a very different side of Clarence whilst he was ill. He fought so hard to get well and he would lick my hand when I was trying to clean him up which was comforting. It was heartbreaking to see him lose the use of his back legs and then to make that final decision for the vet to euthanase. Sally, James and I were devastated to lose him but, as a colleague of mine pointed out, the deep sadness we feel now is more than compensated for by all the highs Clarence gave us over the last four years. We will definitely seek to rescue another bunny (or two) from an animal rescue shelter in the hope we can experience more of those highs for the future.

To get him down from the chimney, I had to get a noodle from the swimming pool to wrap it around him and get him close enough to grab. It finally took 5 washes to get all that soot off & get him clean. After that, his favourite game was to run away from me! He would struggle like a maniac to get away from me but as soon as I put him down he would immediately start playing with his favourite purple toy. I now realise that he was taking his frustration at being caught on the toy and that he probably wished the toy was my head. Sally was the main carer of Clarence. I never saw him drinking from his bottle for about a year, until one day I was working in the garden and he kept going to his bottle pretending to drink. I noticed that he was trying to tell me he had no water and I rushed off to get him some. The following year he decided he did not like the water bottle and repeatedly attacked it with his favourite purple toy. We changed it to a water bowl and the attacks stopped.

This newsletter is dedicated to Clarence the SUPER SPY. Rest in Peace little guy.