Gidget is about 2 years old now. She was surrendered to the shelter because the child in her family became allergic to her. Whether that is a true story or not we do not know, as sometimes people use “allergies” as an excuse to dump a pet that no one wants to care for, but here are some ideas for when allergies do become heightened around guinea pigs. We have found that wearing long sleeves when handling timothy hay stops our arms from breaking out, and others have reported that feeding second cut timothy hay (grassier, without the seed heads) or orchard grass eliminated the problem for the allergy sufferer.

Gidget is a little shy and not used to being handled a lot, but she has not nipped since we have had her. She enjoys living next to the other guinea pigs, however she has not been compatible with our pigs and may prefer to always have her own space. She is fine with the rabbits.

Contact us here at Friendly Farms if you would like to meet this sweet girl.

Our next

RABBIT and GUINEA PIG SPA DAY

is being held on Saturday, May 19, from 1pm until 5pm.

We pamper your bunny with a pedicure, scent gland cleaning, and a gentle brushing. For the guinea pigs, a nail trim, outer ear cleaning, and basic grooming. A cilantro or parsley treat for sweet breath, and your furry friends are refreshed and ready for spring!

Cost: Suggested Donation of $10
Donations will go to the Friendly Farms Medical Fund.

Where: Silkscreen Express
1550 Hillsdale St.
Seaside, CA 93955

Contact: Lori Albee
831-663-1413
getinfo@friendlyfarms.org
Licensed House Rabbit Society Educator

Refreshments provided.

We welcome all of your questions about living with rabbits or guinea pigs.

Please RSVP so we are ready for you and your furry friend(s).
Sign up soon – limited space available!

This precious little girl was left at the shelter with her mom and brother last week. Mom was adopted from the shelter, and her brother is waiting in foster care for his neuter. Little Babs is looking forward to moving into a loving home with another guinea pig friend to keep her company. Do you have a female or neutered male who needs a companion?

Please visit Guinea Lynx for lots of great information on living with guinea pigs. Cavy Cages has terrific housing ideas.

Did you know that guinea pigs are not cheap starter pets? The ASPCA says they are more expensive than a small dog, but less costly than a rabbit to care for. Guinea pigs live 5 – 7 years, and need a source of vitamin C daily – fresh green leafy vegetables are the best source. They also need lots of grass hay and limited amounts of a quality pellet such as Oxbow Cavy Cuisine.

Guinea pigs are great family pets, but not recommended in households with children younger than 6. An adult must be the primary caregiver.

Contact us here at Friendly Farms if you and your guinea pig are interested in meeting this delightful girl!

The SPCA bunnies have moved into the new adoption facility! They have a room in the cat wing of the building, and all of the modular cage units are new as well. I was there during a quiet afternoon, and the bunnies were mostly snoozing, with a little grooming and munching to break things up.

Franny lifts an ear to check out the interruption to her siesta.

The SPCA is open for adoptions from 11am – 5pm Monday through Friday, and 11 – 4 on Saturday and Sunday.

Pickles and Rosemary are a bonded pair who are delightful to watch snuggling and grooming.

There are more beautiful bunnies at the SPCA than are shown here. Go to their website to see more pictures of adoptable animals, or better yet, visit them in the new adoption facility!

Tidbit snoozes in his litterbox while Hopkins grooms himself and his stuffed friend.

Popcorn

Darling Doris is living it up with her new friend Blackie in a wonderful home! Congratulations to everyone!

Doris is a sweet adolescent guinea pig who is very neat and tidy. She is quite social and talks to you when she hears you come home and especially when she hears the refrigerator door being opened! She likes to be held and will even fall asleep on your chest if you support her. Doris particularly loves romaine lettuce, cilantro, and parsley, but she will eat anything green. She has been living in an adult foster home and any guinea pig savvy person would clearly see just how special and fun she is.

To learn more about living with guinea pigs, please visit Guinea Lynx. Cavy Cages has great info on housing.

We only adopt to homes where an adult will be the primary caretaker and the guinea pig will be a family pet. Please be aware that guinea pigs are not inexpensive- their needs for fresh food, bedding, hay, and veterinary care can be as much or more than for a rabbit. They are not recommended for families with children younger than 6.

If you are interested in giving Doris a safe and loving home for all of her 5 – 7 years (or more!), please contact us here at Friendly Farms.

February is Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month! We will have a table at the Del Monte Center Petco this Saturday, Feb. 25, from 1 – 4 pm. Stop by with your questions about living with a house rabbit, or just to pet one of the adorable shelter rabbits we will have with us!

Lovely Molly is looking forward to a new life with a family who will love her forever! Will she win your heart?

Simon is one of the 75 bunnies who were abandoned in the Marina Dunes area of Monterey County. He is a healthy, active little boy who is looking forward to having a home with lots of room he can run in, and a bunny girlfriend to spend his days with.

Are you thinking of adopting? The House Rabbit Society website has the information new bunny parents need to get started, plus pages on all kinds of rabbit-related topics for those who have lived with bunnies for many years.

Contact us here at Friendly Farms if you are interested in adopting this adorable boy.

Update 1/25/12: All but 12 of the Marina Dunes bunnies have now moved on to rescues, homes, or the SPCA! They have all been spayed or neutered, thanks to the generous work of the Avian and Exotic Clinic, which held a Spay-athon last weekend with the support of AFRP’s Rescue Rabbits Rock program and the Rabbit Haven.

Mouse and Matilda are two adorable girls being sponsored by Rabbit Ears in El Cerrito. They were spayed on 1/24 and we will take them up to Rabbit Ears this Saturday, 1/28. Contact Rabbit Ears if you are interested in adopting these cuties!

Thank you to everyone who has helped these bunnies through donations, adoption, fostering, or just getting the word out! Now we need to get the remaining 12 bunnies into rescue or adoptive homes as soon as possible.

Update 1/16/12: More of the Marina Dunes bunnies have been captured, bringing the shelter total to 73 today.

Area rescue groups took several rabbits last Friday. AFRP’s Rescue Rabbits Rock, Harvest Home, House Rabbit Society, RabbitEARS, and Save A Bunny have all rescued at least one rabbit each. Rabbit Haven has contributed a monetary donation and some supplies.

If you would like to adopt one of these delightful bunnies, please visit Monterey County Animal Services. They are open for adoptions from noon until 5:30pm, Monday through Saturday. The shelter is also in need of volunteers to help care for the bunnies and would appreciate donations of plain rabbit pellets and grass hay.

Can you foster one or more bunnies for at least a month? Please contact us here at Friendly Farms and we will direct you to one of the participating rescue groups.

Animal Control officers collected 68 rabbits abandoned on a property in the Marina Dunes area of Monterey County. Many of the rabbits are in foster care, but 10 are currently at Monterey County Animal Services, most of them for medical needs assessment and possible treatment.

According to shelter management, the rabbits are on stray hold in case the owner would like to reclaim them. If you are interested in adopting, donating, or volunteering to help these rabbits, please contact the shelter or Friendly Farms.

Duchess enjoys a sunbeam while Trevor has his breakfast.

Every year, hundreds of bunnies all over the world become disabled because of illness, injury, age, or other issues. This is not an automatic death sentence! With proper vet care and extra help at home, many disabled rabbits can live happy and well-loved lives.

Angel developed severe head tilt from e. cuniculi. With her balance mechanism not working properly, she rolled constantly and needed help with everything at first. Her recovery took a few months and included medications, syringe feeding, subcutaneous fluids and a padded enclosure. Now she is a healthy, happy girl, enjoying hopping around her enclosure, run time in the TV room or on the patio, and, most of all, her loving husbun, Cadbury.

Cadbury and Angel.

Some of the most common causes of disability are:

Hind Limb Weakness in the Rabbit, by Susan Brown, DVM

A happy Thumper getting her acupuncture treatment from Evelyn Sharp, DVM. Thumper was disabled for 5 of her 11 years.

Thumper and her first husbun, Lucindo.

A rabbit-savvy vet is a must when caring for a sick or disabled bunny. Please find one now, before they are needed, so you are prepared in the event that your bunny does become ill or injured.

Medirabbit and Morfz are both websites every rabbit parent should be familiar with.


Thumper and her second husbun, Beau.

Finding your bunny injured or ill can feel like the end of the world. There are many people out there who have gone through this difficult time and are happy to help you with their knowledge and experience. With the help of your vet and the wider rabbit community, this can be a very special loving time with your rabbit. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Contact us with any questions you have and we will help you as best we can.

A confiscation of 114 rabbits from an Aptos breeder by Santa Cruz County Animal Services has filled the Santa Cruz and Watsonville shelters to overflowing! These gorgeous little mixed breed bunnies are now looking for loving indoor homes!

Would you like to help? The shelters are looking for volunteers to help clean cages, donations for medical needs and supplies, and, of course, adopters to give these rabbits the good life they deserve!

Here are some contacts:
Friends of the Watsonville Animal Shelter
Friends of Santa Cruz County Animals
The Rabbit Haven

More about the confiscation:
San Jose Mercury News
KSBW
KION