Small animal charity based in Richmond, North Yorkshire, UK
News, stories and gossip from the Bunny Burrows residents.
Unfortunately we have decided to cancel January’s auction. Due to high levels of COVID 19 in our small area of North Yorkshire; it is unfair for us to ask our volunteers to take so many parcels to the post office. We will review the situation for February’s auction nearer the time.
In the mean time watch this space for our next online fundraiser … coming soon to a screen in your home.
We are now one of Nature’s Own affiliated charities.
When you buy their products using our referral link they donate hay back to us. This is a wonderful scheme designed to help small charities like ourselves.
Although we buy the majority of our hay direct from the farmer. The rabbits and guinea pigs always appreciate fancy feeding hay. After all everyone appreciates a little treat every now and again.
Brrrr it’s cold outside; much colder than what we are used to even here in North Yorkshire! Its causing a few unexpected problems. Eleven problems to be exact!
Eleven tortoises have been hibernating in the shed. Nothing unusual there, they’ve been successfully hibernating in there for several years. It is their home for half the year. However with no sign of this cold snap ending and temperatures dropping well below zero the shed is now too cold for them to safely hibernate.
So what to do with eleven hibernating tortoises?
They need somewhere cold but not too cold, dry and sheltered to continue their hibernation. Somewhere that is easy to access. Not to mention somewhere big enough to keep all eleven!
The answer – the conservatory!
Much to Gretel’s disgust Gwen has turned the heating off in the conservatory and barred her access. The tortoises are all neatly stacked with their names on their boxes, sleeping the winter away.
So 2021 hasn’t got off to the best of starts. Here in England today is the first day of our third national lockdown. It may not be how we wanted to start the year but it is what it is.
We would like to take this time to remind you of the message we posted back in March. A rabbit is for life not just for lockdown.
A rabbit like any other pet is a lifelong commitment. They should be a member of the family not an impulse buy.
With an average lifespan of 8-12 years these complicated creatures require a specialist vet which does not come cheap and at the moment vet care is not easy to access.
So please remember a rabbit is for life not just for lockdown.
Bunny Burrows couldn’t survive with out the generous donations we receive from our supporters. If you’re having a post Christmas clear out or have any unwanted presents please think of us.
Along with our monthly auction we also sell items on Facebook market place and eBay.
We weigh in clothing (when the weigh in places are open – until then we store it in the attic!).
Unwanted CDs, DVDs and books are sold using websites such as music magpie and We Buy Books.
We make and sell gift hampers using unwanted and unopened toiletries.
Got something you don’t want? Chances are we can use it to help keep Bunny Burrows running.
For more information on how we fund Bunny Burrows and to keep updated on future planned events please visit our fundraising section. Thank you.
2020 has been a memorable year for all the wrong reasons. COVID 19 turned the world upside down and even our little bubble wasn’t left unscathed. COVID 19 made me rethink about how the charity is run.
Long gone are the days of braving the elements to take the rubbish to the tip replaced with two industrial sized bins that are emptied on a weekly basis. The tombola drum is gathering dust in a far corner of the attic where it is likely to stay. Fundraising is now an online thing. eBay sales are still going strong and Facebook sales have taken off over the last 12 months and that is without the auction that is run every month on our Facebook page. What started off as a one off during lockdown 1.0 gained more popularity than I ever imagined with people messaging wanting to know the date of the next one.
As a small animal charity run from the comfort of my own home we were not entitled to any government support for the COVID 19 pandemic. However it is safe to say that due to the generosity of our supporters and volunteers not only have we survived while bigger charities folded; we have thrived.
2020 has also been the year of hand rearing baby rabbits, both domestic and wild. I was able to successfully rear ten baby wildies and release nine of them back into the wild. The tenth, named Flash for the white blaze on her forehead hid under the volunteer’s skirts and refused to go. In the twenty four year that I have run Bunny Burrows this was a first for me! I have never seen a rabbit so happy to come back!
Ying and Yang my lockdown babies were abandoned at a vets just a few days old after being attacked by their rabbit parents. Seeing the wounds on their tiny bodies was heart breaking. If that wasn’t enough it soon became apparent that all was not right with Ying. Her back right leg had no feeling and although it caused her no pain it hindered her moving. At three months old and weighing just over a kilo, Ying had it removed. Since then there has been no stopping her!
Thank you to everyone who has donated goods, money or time; Bunny Burrows would not be here without you. Every donation is much appreciated regardless of its size. The support received in Christmas cards this year has been amazing. I apologise for not sending every donator a Christmas card but you know what life here is like – chaos. I frequently wish for several more hours in the day and a lot more energy too!
In the twenty four years I’ve run Bunny Burrows, 2020 has got to be the most challenging year yet. But we have survived. Let’s hope that 2021 is a quieter year.
Merry Christmas, Gwen x
Whops 2020 has seen us neglect our website!
Watch this space while we revive and update it.
We would like to let you know about a campaign our friends at Cottontails are running – Treat Rabbits with Kindness. The campaign is to raise awareness on how rabbits should be looked after and help educate owners.
It would be great if you could also sign their petition A Hutch is not a Home.
Right now the world is in chaos. Schools are closed. Adults are working from home. Routines have flown out the window.
Given the unprecedented nature of the times that we are currently living in we would like to remind our followers that now is not the time to be buying a rabbit.
Yes you may think that you’ve got plenty of time to spare. That it would keep the children occupied while you’re working from home. But a rabbit is a life long commitment. What happens in the weeks and months down the line when schools and work places reopen?
The average life span of a rabbit is 8-12 years though some have been known to live beyond 15. We have lost three of our long term residents this year. All had underlying health issues. The youngest was nine and a half!
What happens if your income falls? Who will you prioritise? Your family or your pets? Rabbits are classed as exotic animals and have the vet bills to match. A seemingly healthy rabbit can suddenly become ill costing you hundreds if not thousands of pounds. What will have to your rabbit then?
Rabbits need two vaccines a year to protect them against common rabbit diseases myxo and VHD. Due to the nature of how these diseases spread rabbits need the vaccines regardless of whether they live inside or out. You can easily be looking at £100 a year for vaccines and that is just for one rabbit! Rabbits are social animals and need a partner of their own kind. They will need vaccinating too.
We are just weeks into this pandemic and already we have people ringing up asking us to take in their rabbits and giving us abuse when we say no.
So please think before you buy – is now the right time to add a rabbit, guinea pig or any other pet to our family?
Due to the current situation with Covid 19 we have taken the decision to cancel this years Hot Cross Bunny day.
Please bare with us at this time as many of our volunteers are having to keep their distance meaning extra work for Gwen.
