May the year of the Rabbit leaves you with abundance of wealth & health. As we usher in the year of the Dragon, may the blessed abundance be compounded aggressively and ferociously! Gong Hei Fatt Choy!
My wish is to still be able to post bunny pictures like these in another 12 years time. May Tru-Luv Rabbitry see many more bunny years!
Here wishing all bunnies safe & healthy throughout the Dragon year!
Loong Ma Cheng San! Po Po Kung Sing!
Sang Yee Heng Loong...
Filed under Greetings
If you are thinking of getting a pet rabbit, you may want to consider adoption instead of purchasing. A couple of days back, there was an article in The Star newspaper regarding the rabbit woes that our neighbor country Singapore is facing (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/17/asia/10273080&sec=asia). For such a small country, the number of abandoned pet rabbits is staggering. The HRSS must have their hands full trying to get new owners for all these abandoned bunnies. Here’s a link to their facebook page on the updates of their bunny rescues stories – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.222141714492334.58816.171689892870850
In Malaysia, we are unable to obtain a statistics as we do not have the HRSS but there has been clear indication that there are rabbits being put up for adoption nonetheless. It is sad that rabbits has become a fad/passing phase as the Year of the Dragon gets closer.
For those of you thinking of giving up your rabbits, please do not release them to parks or jungles as your domesticated rabbits will not be able to fend themselves. But if you are reading this, I am sure you should be civilized and learned enough to know that already. I urge all readers who know of anyone contemplating giving up their pet rabbit(s) please talk some sense into them so that they will continue caring for their pets!
Pet rabbits released in the park/jungle/public places will cause a huge problem like what we once read about what happened to the University of Victoria (British Columbia) – http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/rabbits-gone-wild-on-canadian-campus/.
Filed under Announcement, Rabbits Around The World
The last thing Indy & Indiana can remember is the noise in the workshop. The tickling sensation from the sewing machine can be vaguely felt. It is an unforgettable feeling because the combination of the noise and tickling, their hunger were filled with the warmth of cotton making way into their little tummies. “These two are perfect, I would like to have them both please”, said a voice.
And then there was darkness…
“Thank you very much for these wonderful gifts Aunt Karen, I am sure the girls will love them very much”, said Tim.
It was in Room 294 where Indy & Indiana first met Tim at Indianapolis. “We overheard you mentioned about the girls. Who are they?”, asked Indy. “You two are coming to live with us in Malaysia. The two girls are my daughters Bree & Beth”, answered Tim. “They will be so excited to see you both”, he continued. “When are we leaving?”, asked Indiana. “In a couple of days after the convention. For now though, you both will be warm and cosy in my suitcase”, said Tim.
Time went by pretty quickly and soon, Indy & Indiana found themselves floating in the air and when they finally arrived in Malaysia, they were both give hugs by the girls. Beth and Indy became good friends since they both have so much in common. Bree and Indiana took a while to get acquainted as Indy had a hard time understanding Bree.
So it begins the adventure of Indy & Indiana with the B-B Girls…
Indiana (left) & Indy (right) are two Solid Cream Holland Lops from Build-A-Bear workshop
Filed under The Chronicles of Indy & Indiana
As pet owners we often go through different feelings about our pet(s). Based on my own experience and observation, I was able to derive the following categories of owners and the state of mind that they go through. I am not saying that they are either right or wrong but I just thought it would be an interesting topic to write for today.
The Impulsive
Often times, the impulsive pet owner is one that falls in love at first sight. At the spur of the moment, something just tickles their senses and they tend to want the cute little bunny immediately. The impulsive will come to realization (out of a sudden) that they have spent a bomb purchasing a pet while still feeling a void and sense of uncertainty. They start to doubt their action thereafter. The relationship between the Impulsive and the bunny can be quite an uncertain one. Often times, the slightest mistake on the bunny’s part (spraying, biting and molting) will sent it out the door.
The Slow Coach
Some start off with a little spark of interest and over a period of time, their passion keeps on growing and soon the little spark becomes a bonfire. The slow coach take his/her time researching and learning before diving into the hobby. They often get what they are looking for, are contented and happy.
The Disposable
A bunny is nothing but another “disposable material”. Those who often look for a pet bunny during Valentine’s Day, Birthdays, Easter or any other auspicious occasions normally falls under this category. A guy buying a rabbit for his girlfriend who knows nothing about rabbit except that it is cute as a baby bunny could be taken as a symptom of The Disposable. The special occasion passes and so does the interest for the bunny. Another example of The Disposable type is someone that purchase a pet and request for an exchange the day after.
The Sympathetic
The Sympathetic is the driving force of the pet industry. They always find themselves sobbing looking at a sickly bunny in the pet store and normally make the purchase feeling sorry for it. They are convinced that the bunny will be better off in their hands. Not every bunny is really saved in this situation and although the kindhearted should be applauded, the saying “you have to be cruel to be kind” holds true sometimes.
The Hoarder
The Hoarder wants every rabbit that is alive under the sun. Those that have suffered the loss of a beloved pet can easily become a hoarder. They want many rabbits so just in case any one of them decides to die, The Hoarder will still have a couple more to replace so to speak.
The Phobic
The Phobic is a total opposite of The Hoarder. After losing a beloved pet, The Phobic usually are very careful in giving him/herself wholeheartedly to the pet in fear that they will be hurt again. Some may not even want to have a pet anymore. The Phonic makes a very good pet owner but it is good for them to come to terms that all living creature will face inevitable death.
The Indecisive
Buck or Doe, Tort, Broken Tort or Blue? The Indecisive can sit and look at just one bunny but still cannot make up his or her mind. It is best for The Indecisive not to waste their own precious time and most importantly the precious time of the breeders who have put in much effort in their rabbits.
The Ever Faithful Monogamist
I feel that The Ever Faithful Monogamist makes the best pet owner. They only want just one bunny as pet and often shower their pets with so much love. The only set back is that he/she may become too attached and if not careful, he/she may turn into either The Hoarder or The Phobic when his/her pet passes on.
After all that has been written, I wonder which category do I fall under. The answer is, I am not going to judge nor praise myself. Let’s just put it this way – I am a Slow Coach slowly becoming a Hoarder!
How can you not want to HOARD over such cute faces?
Filed under Random Topics, Thoughts
I am sure you would agree that nothing is perfect in this world. Though I have shown through my blog posts how much I adore my rabbits and make them seemed as though they are perfect, I do have a couple of pet peeves raising them. These dislikes are those that made it hard for me to answer the question – “What you like most about Holland Lops?”. It is funny how I think about my dislike for them whenever I am asked that question. How ironic!
Here are a couple of my all time favorite pet peeves:
Pet Peeve #1: The Sprayers
I totally dislike bucks that sprays. I know it is a sign of their love for me but I really hate being shot at and the feeling of that warm stinky pee. Sometimes it is inevitable because some bucks just love to bring down the “Golden Shower”.
Pet Peeve #2: The Hormonals
There are some does that goes totally berserk at times and they like to scratch and bite. I find it strange that 80% of the time they are the sweetest thing but the other 20% of the time they turn into were-rabbits!
Pet Peeve #3: The Bowl Diggers
Rabbits that dig their food bowl and scatters food all over is annoying to me. I don’t like the fact that they are wasting all the food that I give them but they are smart animals and there is a reason why they do that. I am happy that they no longer do that after I switched feed!
Pet Peeve #4: Death
I totally dislike the fact that my rabbits would eventually die. The worst part is, most of the time favorites are first to go. Now I know better to have an equal space in my heart for each one of them so that all are my favorite!
Pet Peeve #5: Frequent feed change
I hate rabbit feed brands that come and go in the market. There are also those that goes out of stock temporarily while awaiting shipments. I normally avoid this sort of brands. Glad my rabbits are now on a decent and consistent brand!
At the end of the day, we must realize that we are living in an imperfect world only to be made perfect by this……
Sheer Happiness!
Filed under Thoughts
Unless you have plenty of cash in reserve in case of emergencies, a policy of rabbit insurance to keep your furry friend healthy is nigh-on essential, so you may want to compare rabbit insurance as soon as possible. After all, you don’t want your dear pet falling ill or getting an accidental injury; still, it’s a fact that illnesses and accidents are something that both people and animals deal with on a daily basis.
While we have the NHS, rabbits do not. Nowadays, veterinary visits can be extremely expensive, often resulting in outgoings of hundreds of pounds. Vets may order diagnostic tests or prescribe medication and you could end up paying for a hospital stay and even surgery. These services are very expensive, though having rabbit pet insurance will certainly take the edge off the cost.
You already make sure your rabbit is well-fed, groomed and kept in healthy conditions. Preparing for unforeseen vet needs is another way to make sure that your rabbit will live a long and healthy life.
You have to look to the future, too, When a rabbit gets older, it is much more likely to develop major health problems. In many ways, rabbits can be a lot like humans in that they are likely to get certain ailments like arthritis, digestive disorders, urinary tract disorders and even cancer.
On top of health, pet insurance for rabbits can also come in handy for other specific issues. If your pet suddenly goes missing, certain insurance plans will reimburse you for advertising and the amount of reward that goes to a person who finds the rabbit. If you have to go to hospital, you may also need someone to look after your pet; plans can also cover the cost of boarding your rabbit.
Whatever you choose, rabbit insurance will put your mind at ease and will give you confidence in them being as safe as possible at all times.
Disclaimer: PetsAtHome is a UK based company. Please check if the insurance is applicable in your country before purchasing.
Filed under Announcement, Recommendations
The thought of a new year dawning brings a question to mind – Do rabbits know the passing of time?
I believe this question is somehow related to a discussion I had with a fellow bunny owner. We were discussing if rabbits have emotion. Most of us wonder if they miss their owners, get bored, feel lonely or have the capacity to love.
They do have the capacity to love in my opinion through my observation of how does nurture and care for their young. Their natural instinct of leaving the nest and only return to feed their young for short period of time before leaving them again tells us that they are concern for the safety of their young ones.
How does all these emotions relate to time? I always wonder if time can be calculated for rabbits. Do they go by seconds, minutes and hours? How long is a minute for a rabbit? I once heard that 1 human year is equivalent to 7 years for a dog. How does that apply to rabbits?
I was just imagining a rabbit sitting in its cage for an entire day. Would it feel like a lifetime for them?
Not sure if I will be able to answer the question but sometimes we should draw a line how much we should “humanize” our pets. As much as how we like them to be us, it will not happen and we should always remember that like us humans, each animal have a purpose in their lifetime. And no matter what the purpose is, it completes what we call the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
And as our human time passes and falls over to the next second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year, we look forward to betterment and improvements. We want a better tomorrow and a better new year.
May it be a good year for all humans and rabbits alike! May we fulfill our purpose to the fullest!
Happy New Year!
Filed under Thoughts
Day 13 cutie pies…
Sleepy heads...
Somebuns stole my pillow!
SnoreeeEEeEEeeeee
Filed under In The Nestbox
This is Tru-Luv's Balian
And here he is again...
Such a cutie isn't he?
For those who have worked with Holland Lops long enough, they will concur that the older the bucks are, the more handsome they become. So it is with the case of Balian. I absolutely love this little “massive” buck. He has the “don’t mess with me” look. Don’t be fooled, underneath that “meanie” look, he is actually a very sweet little buck always looking for some head rubs.
I am glad that I started this weblog 4 years ago because I am able to recollect the past. It was an “IN” thing back then but the real reason I started this blog was because I like to keep a journal of my journey. I tend to forget things easily and keeping a journal helps me recall important things in life. To demonstrate how wonderful this weblog is, I would like to take you back 2 years ago when Tru-Luv Balian was born (17th October 2009)…
He was born on Deepavali Day and took on the name Thosai.
Balian @ 3 days old
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 16
Day 32
Day 35
Day 39
Day 47
8 weeks old
Week 8
The day when I bid Balian goodbye...
Who would have thought that little Balian will grow into such a beautiful little buck by just looking at these photo? The moral of the story is, never be too quick to judge a little bunny especially a buck because they look better as they age!
And how wonderful it is for me to grow as well in my photography skills and looking back at all these pictures, I must admit that I take the worst photographs – ROFL!
Filed under Bucks, Living Elsewhere
Tru-Luv Rabbitry: Quality Holland Lops in Malaysia 