Have a blessed Chinese New Year Everyone and Everybun!
Monthly Archives: January 2014
Swift Like Kung Fu
January is truly the time when everything is being renewed. I just ordered my membership renewal with the ARBA for another 3 years and that made me realized how fast time has crept up on me. Though the membership does not bring much tangible benefit to me at the moment, I still feel happy making the numbers count. It is nice to be apart of such a huge organization grown out of a wonderful hobby. There are always opportunities to grow further whenever I am ready to venture more into the hobby by ensuring my membership does not lapse. Besides, the Domestic Rabbit magazine do provide a lot of information that helps me keep abreast with the latest developments in the hobby.
Soon it will be Chinese New Year. I remember not too long ago, it was the year of the Rabbit and it was such a busy year for the rabbits and I. We were so busy participating in interviews and photography sessions. This year being the year of the Horse, I believe that horse stables around the country are getting a lot of attention at the moment with journalists trying to write a little more about the animal. Though the rabbit is out from the limelight this year, my father seemed to be at centre stage each year with his captivating paintings. Horse being his favourite painting subject, he painted quite a sizeable collection this year. Please feel free to browse through his works at www.simonchanart.wordpress.com. You will notice a few different painting styles as you go through his “online gallery”.
In the blink of an eye, we are all a year older and so are the rabbits. It scares me to think that they are growing old too quickly and that I might be bidding them farewell.
Murdoch is now over 2 years old and at his “prime” age. As I was going through old photos stored in the computer, I found a photo of him as a little wee bunny. He was so adorable back then and he still is although he is going through quite a major moult right now.
Murdoch in 2012
Murdoch in 2014
Here wishing all celebrating the Chinese New Year safe travels and Gong Hei Fatt Choy. May the new year brings you prosperity, joy and health!
When It Is No Longer Fun
Happy Sunday to one and all! How fast time flies and we have crossed over to the second half of January.
My thoughts this morning revolves around the word sustainability. Through the years I have noticed that we have to always reinvent ourselves to stay fresh and relevant. Though the source remains unchanged we try to “pimp” things up to add a little spice and attractiveness to otherwise mundane stuff.
Take the mobile phone for instance. Manufacturers only produce a set number of designs but look at all the casing and “skins” one can purchase to give the phones different “personalities” so to speak.
So how do you sustain a hobby like raising bunnies as pets?
We have seen that adding colors, establish friendships with like minded people and even hanging out at shows can help us renew, rejuvenate and keep the “fire” burning.
But when all these have come to pass, what is truly at the very core that sustains us in the hobby?
In my opinion, nothing will ever last. Not even love itself. It takes a little more effort to stay in love. The little effort is waking up every morning deciding to love. A little more and less, it is all about decisions.
So what is making you want to be in love today?
Filed under Thoughts
The Grouchy Rabbit
While surfing the net this morning, I fell in love with a website and I think I am hooked. Let’s just say that I am a little bias because the word “Rabbit” is part of the title of the website and it is Monday.
But I really did fell in love with grouchyrabbit.com because it “had me at hello”.
Just one sentence:
“The person that you hate the most will always like all your favorite things and ruin them all for you.” ~ grouchyrabbit.com
How true is that?
Filed under Interesting Stuff, Recommendations
Thought Process
Why people keep pets?
What makes keeping animals as pets an interesting hobby?
The two questions above was prompted by two things that happened yesterday and today. Yesterday while I was at the mall, I stumbled across a cute little French Bulldog puppy in the pet store. This little puppy was imported from Taiwan and appeared to be cock-eyed – where both pupils are far apart from each other in opposite directions. My first thought was why importing such an inferior quality animal and sold for such a high price. On the tag, it was also stated “Grand Champion Lineage”. The image of the puppy lingered on my mind as I spent time at the mall today. It is interesting to walk around the mall looking at all that are put up for sale. Window shopping sometimes put a lot into perspective between necessity and luxury. Materialism can really get the better of us.
Then it dawned on me that animals are sometimes mistaken as materials or commodities – they sell!
So why do human beings keep pets?
I did a Google search and found some interesting answers.
I have a few takes on this question and would like to break them down as the following:-
The Lover In Us
I would like to believe that most humans are compassionate. There is an altruistic part in us instilled by either our upbringing or religion. We seek to nurture and want to love or care unconditionally. I do hope this is the most of us.
The Dominance In Us
Some may feel good being above others – better or stronger. Knowing that one is far superior than another being can make us feel good and that itself can be used to feed the ego.
The Loner In Us
Humans are also social beings and living in a situation without constant affection by another of the same kind may be a little depressing. Keeping a pet for company is not a bad idea especially one that do not talk back or argue.
The Greed In Us
Those aspired and inspired to seek riches exploits all the above people. They are out to do anything to achieve their goals which is making a sale and get the numbers. “Champion Bloodlines”, “Imported Bloodlines” and many more tags are some of the ways in which one can claim credibility. Credibility as we all know, sells!
Bear in mind, I am just thinking aloud instead of saying it is right or wrong here. No matter what one say, it cannot be that powerful to influence. Everyone can and should make his/her conclusion.
I believe it boils down to principles and what is the cause one chooses to support or fight for.
For me, this brings me back to the French Bulldog puppy. Being a sucker for flat faced pets, I spent a few minutes going through some local classifieds just to see what are available in the market. I was totally shocked by what I found. There is one particular classified that showed a photo of a Frenchie puppy that looked like a teacup Boxer – it was scrawny, thin and in no way resembles a Frenchie. It was from “Grand Champion Lineage”.
I have concluded that if I ever own a dog, it would be a mongrel adopted from reputable rescuers. The main reason for my conclusion is because I am sick and tired of greedy people exploiting something cute and selling them as commodities and materials to the materialistic.
The sad thing is, it is happening in the “Rabbit World”. The same reason why the Holland Lop and the Netherland Dwarf are the two most popular rabbit breeds. A title grants exclusivity and claims superiority.
It all boils down to whether if it is merely a THING or a LIVING THING.
We WANT that THING but LOVE the LIVING.
WANT or LOVE?
Filed under Bunny Business, Thoughts
Hat In The Bin
Whenever I venture into something, I cannot help but to realize how things start to appear before my eyes. Last week, I took some photos of my bunnies wearing hats and posing with some interesting accessories I picked up while doing Christmas shopping.
The props seemed to work with scenic photographs I have taken during my many travels. I can safely say that I have found good use for these photographs.
Since then, my mind has been quite in sync with the ideas of bunnies with hats and surprisingly, I found a hat in the bin today. I thought the size was fitting for another bunny photograph session and could not wait to give it a try on one of the bunnies.
Lo and behold, it fitted perfectly and this is the final outcome:
Cow Bun on the loose!
The power of Law of Attraction…
Filed under Photos
Happy New Year 2014
Once again, we have crossed the line into year 2014. Bunny wise, 2013 has been mundane and nothing in particularly significant. I guess that is a good sign for me because it is in maintaining mode.
Over the years with the many experiences, most of the downs are no longer being handled and seen as downs. For example, I no longer fear rabbits going off feed which happens for no particular obvious reason because I am prepared and know how to handle such situations when they do happen.
The only down for me would be losing a rabbit in death if I have control over the cause of death and did not do anything to remedy the problem in the first place. Such situation did not happen throughout 2013 (touch wood!).
So what will 2014 bring for Tru-Luv Rabbitry?
This year, I did not make any New Year’s resolution. I find no reason to because I would like to enjoy the hobby as it is without any expectations for the bunnies. Breeding is no longer a priority and if I do breed them, I will most probably share the rabbits with like-minded people – those that truly love their pet rabbits.
However, I would love to take more photos of my rabbits. I find that very fun because it brings both my interest in rabbits and photography together.
One of the questions I received is about aggression in rabbits. I’ll leave you with a good video I found regarding this subject on youtube.com to start off the New Year.
P.S.: The main reason why I encourage pet owners obtaining rabbit(s) from me to neuter their rabbits. If they are for pet purposes, they should not be aggressive because most of the time, pet owners want to keep them in pairs.
Filed under Greetings
Tru-Luv Rabbitry: Quality Holland Lops in Malaysia 