Sunday, October 31, 2010

New Hamster!

Today I adopted a hamster from the KVHS. I don't know for sure what gender the hamster is, since nobody at the shelter was sure either. I've got to figure that out. So for right now the hamster is a girl. Her name is Pipsqueak. She is a dwarf hamster. She is about two inches long and dark, smoky, grey and white, with a little bit of black. She is extremely friendly for a dwarf hamster, who are known for being nippy and sometimes aggressive. I'll put up a couple of pictures and videos of her soon. Her favorite things are celery-flavored salt licks, sleeping in her hide house, running on her wheel, crashing into things in her ball, and getting pet in between her ears.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Rabbit Care: The litter box

So now that I've covered rabbit bedding, I am moving on to the litter box. Of course, you don't have to litter train your rabbit, but it is plus if your rabbit is litter trained. It keeps their cage cleaner, and you can have more peace of mind when you let them out of their cage to play. Of course, rabbits may have accidents now and then, and they do like to mark their territory.

Litter training a rabbit can take a short time or it can take a very long time. For the most part it is much much easier if your rabbit is spayed or neutered. That way they don't have as much of an urge to mark their territory.

To get your rabbit to use a litter box requires patience and consistent training. To start you must figure out which corner of their cage they use the most. You should then place the litter box there. You need to spot clean the cage more often and make sure to put any messes they make outside of the litter box into their litter box. This way they will know that they aren't supposed to do it in the cage, only in the litter box. You can also place a large amount of hay next to or inside of the litter box. Most rabbits like to eat while they do their business, so that encourages them to use the litter box. Do not use deodorizing cleaning solutions in the rabbit's litter box. If you want to encourage your rabbit to use it, you shouldn't completely deodorize it until you are completely sure your rabbit is totally litter-trained.

A few more tips and tricks:

Once you start litter training, I find it helpful to remove the bedding from the cage and only use it in the litter pan. I find that it seem to help them learn it faster. You can give them something soft to sleep in like a bed, towel, or a blanket. I did not have to litter train Munchkin, because he came to the shelter already very well litter trained. I have tried some litter training with rabbits at the shelter.

What to look for in a litter box:
Make sure it is large enough for your rabbit. Plastic ones are the most practical. You can buy corner litter pans that fit into a cage corner. I like these a lot, and I especially like the ones that have clips to lock it on to the cage. (Rabbit like to flip their litter box around sometimes so this comes in handy!). Simple rectangular plastic litter pans for cats work just fine too. You can also get a high back litter pan. This helps if your rabbit sprays a lot or doesn't do a good job of keeping everything in the litter box.

A special note: Do NOT ever use clay cat litter for a rabbit's litter box. It is extremely dangerous if ingested. Use a rabbit safe bedding instead.

Next time: Out of cage playtime

Ohio dogs

Hi everybody!

This is an update on the shelters Ohio dogs. I was able to walk them just a few days ago. They are such sweet, wonderful dogs! Two of them are pit bulls named Millie and Bob, and the other one is a patterdale terrier. I walked the two pit bulls. Bob was so malnourished that he was on IV's when he first arrived. He is gaining weight but he is still skinny enough to have every bone in his tail visible. He loves everybody. He loves to cuddle and he sometimes gets sad when we stop cuddling him. He will hang on to my leg every time I try to leave. He just craves some attention. Millie was used for breeding and we believe she had litter after litter after litter of puppies. She is very sweet too, but she is pretty nervous. Both dogs get along well with everybody and they seem to get along very well with other dogs. Millie loves the puppies that we have at the shelter. I hope they go to really good homes. The other dog, the patterdale, is just a happy go lucky little fella. He is also very cute! The KVHS website has a link to more information about these dogs, and you can see a video of Bob. Just click on the Kennebec Valley Humane Society link to the right.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Rabbit Care: Bedding

 I have been getting comments asking me what to use for bedding for rabbits, so now I will talk a bit about that.

If your rabbit is not trained to use a litter box, your bedding will be needed for two reasons:

1. As litter to keep the cage and your rabbit clean,
2. As something to sleep or make a nest in.

If you rabbit is trained to use a litter box, you will have litter in the box, so your bedding will only be used for sleeping in, and possibly playing in. (unless your rabbit feels inclined to not use the litter box once or twice)

For a non litter trained rabbit, the bedding needs to completely cover the cage bottom, usually a layer of about one or two inches. It also needs to be changed at least once a week and any soiled bedding needs to be removed daily. I like to use the softest bedding I can find for this kind of use. When you look for the bedding make sure it is absorbent, not dusty, and safe for your pet. Here are some different kinds of bedding you can use:

Aspen wood shavings- inexpensive, does a good job, but not very soft
Carefresh soft wood fiber- very soft, very absorbent, but don't be fooled by the bag it is not 99% dust free! (more like 99% dusty)
Recycled paper bedding- this is a favorite of mine, it is absorbent, can be composted, it's good for the environment and your rabbit, most brands bedding are fairly dust free, and all around a great bedding for your pet. (Sunseed is a good brand to get when buying recycled paper bedding)

Now if your rabbit is litter trained like Munchkin, you only use this stuff in the litter box. So to sleep in he gets some towels (he loves them with all his little heart). He loves arranging them, digging in them, and hiding and sleeping in them. You can also use fleece blankets or purchase a fleece bed for your rabbit. 

Note: Never use cedar or pine shavings as bedding. It may smell good but the aromatic oils in them can cause respiratory and kidney or liver problems in your rabbit. 
Another Note: If you use something like towels or fleece make sure your rabbit is not eating them.

Next time: The litter box


Rabbit Care: Toys

A lot of people never even think that a rabbit would need toys, but they are actually very playful creatures.

Toys are healthy for your rabbit for two reasons:

1. It keeps them active and happy.
2. It gives them something to chew to keep their teeth trim.

What kind of toys are good for rabbits and where can you find them?

Well, you can find lots of toys for rabbits at pretty much any pet store, such as Petsmart or Petco.
Rabbits need chew toys, made of wood, cardboard, or hay. It is important that they keep their teeth trim. Rabbits can also have plastic toys as long as they don't chew up or eat the plastic. Most rabbits, in my experience, don't seem to like chewing plastic, so plastic is usually fine. Rabbits like toys that they can throw and push. They also really enjoy toys that rattle or jingle. Here are some specific favorites of rabbits:

Cardboard boxes
Cardboard tubes
Plastic ball with bells inside them that are meant for cats
Wood chew toys (if you make your own make sure it is natural, untreated wood.)
Sisal or loofa chew toys (you can find these at most pet stores)
Tunnels

Next time: Bedding

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Rabbit Care: Cage accessories

Well, we have talked a little bit about rabbit cages, now we can talk about accessories for the cage.

Here is what you will need for your rabbit in his cage:

1. a thick layer of bedding, or a litter box
2. something soft to sleep in
3. a hide box or someplace for your rabbit to feel safe and secure (although I understand it can be hard to find hide boxes for very big bunnies)
4. a food bowl
5. a water bottle or a water dish
6. toys and things to chew
7. hay racks or whatever else you might use to hold their hay

And something I didn't mention when I talked about the rabbitat:

A rabbit's cage should have a solid bottom, not wire mesh. Wire mesh is very uncomfortable for a rabbit's feet. It is sanitary because the droppings fall through to the bottom, but it is not good for your rabbit's feet. A rabbit does not have pads like a dog. They only have delicate skin and some fur on their feet. If you are worried about sanitation I would recommend training your rabbit to use a litter box. If you do have a wire bottom on your rabbit's cage, make sure you provide something solid on it for their feet to get a break.

Next time: Toys

Ohio Pitbulls

Recently the Kennebec Valley Humane Society got three pit bulls from Ohio. They were former alleged fight dogs found at a dogfighter's property with hundreds of other animals in Ohio. The dogs were given to shelters across the US and the KVHS received three of them. I haven't gotten to see them yet, but apparently they are very affectionate and don't seem to have any behavior problems. They are severely malnourished, though, and one even had to be put on IV's and get special care around the clock. Apparently one of them, Bob, likes to share his food. He will bring his food bowl to people. I hope they all get good homes.

New favorite shelter dog

My new favorite shelter dog, ( I do say favorite, but I really love them all!), is a Rottweiler mix named Jazmine. She is so fun and she is very loving. She loves to have cuddles and treats and she loves to get a good back scratch. If you want to see a picture of Jazmine, check out the link to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society on the right.

Yay!

I am very happy because my favorite dog at the shelter, Diesel was adopted! I hope he went to a good home!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Questions and Answers

I was asked some questions about "rabbitats" and about Munchkin:

Can Munchkin's fur be spun?

Probably. He has a lot of downy under-coat, which is very obvious right now because he is shedding. Rabbit Fur is everywhere!

Do rabbits like changes in their rabbitat?

Well, if you move their cage to a different location they seem to be fine with that. Changing the location mixes things up and adds some excitement. Munchkin is very curious about having his cage or location changed around. He does not, however, like it if I rearrange his towels that he sleeps in. He also doesn't like it if I move his litter box to a different corner. If I do he pushes his towels over to where the litter box used to be, and uses the towels instead of the litter box. He also prefers to keep his favorite blue ball that jingles near his food dish. (he loves to put it in his food dish during the night)

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Rabbit Care: The Rabbitat - housing your rabbit

So now that you know how to feed your rabbit, let's talk rabbit cages/hutches.

Indoors or outdoors?

Indoors is always a better option. Your rabbit will be safer, there will be no predators to worry about, and in a lot of places it is unsuitable to keep a rabbit outside in winter or summer. Rabbits do not do well in extreme heat and extreme cold. I would recommend keeping your rabbit inside where it can be part of the family, and letting them outside in a pen for some exercise as long as it is safe, the weather is good, and you can be there to keep an eye on your rabbit.

What should I use for my rabbit's home?

Here are some options:

A store-bought cage:
These are a good option as long as it is large enough. The minimum cage size is at least four times the size of your rabbit and would ideally be much bigger than that. Look for a cage that provides ample room for objects that will go in the cage, and room for your bunny to move around and be comfortable. Store-bought cages are not too expensive and are easy to clean.

A wooden hutch:
First off, these are very, very expensive. Secondly, they are difficult to keep clean and can easily be chewed. The pros are you can buy fairly large ones with multiple levels that provide plenty of room for a small-to medium-sized bunny.

An exercise pen:
An exercise pen meant for dogs and puppies make excellent rabbit homes. You can buy ones meant for rabbits as well. They provide plenty of room, are not too expensive, are easy to keep clean, and are infinitely expandable. Just make sure they have a height of about thirty inches so your rabbit cannot jump out.

A homemade cage:
Some rabbit owners make their own cage. They use wire storage cubes that can be found at Target, coroplast (corrugated plastic), and zip ties to hold it together. This is great as you can make the cage however you want and it is not too expensive, but it does take time and effort to put together.

Running free:
Some rabbit owners let their rabbits have free reign over a room or the house. To do this your rabbit would have to be very good about not chewing anything, you would have to rabbit-proof the house, your rabbit would have to be litter-trained, and you would have to be careful with other pets.

What I use:
For Munchkin I use a combination of a dog kennel and a playpen. That way he gets plenty of room. A dog kennel makes a great home for large rabbits like Munchkin.

Remember your rabbit should be let out of the cage for at least one to two hours each day for some exercise and some attention.

Next time: Cage accessories

Tip of the Week

I am now doing a tip for pet owners each week. Here's the first one:

Do you own a rabbit? If you do you might be having a hard time trying to clean their urine stains out of their cage or litter box. Have you ever tried using some vinegar? A small amount of vinegar should do the trick. Just make sure to thoroughly rinse afterwards because rabbits do not like the smell of vinegar very much.

Dog owners, this tip is for you, too! Vinegar is an environmentally friendly pet-safe cleaning solution. So if you have a puppy that is not quite potty-trained yet, try out this trick.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Lacey with her Halloween toys

These are some pictures and a video of my dog Lacey with her new favorite Halloween toys. Enjoy!


Why Degus Have Orange Teeth

I was asked why degus have orange teeth. Most experts are pretty sure that it is because of a reaction between the chlorophyll from the foods they eat with an enzyme in their saliva which then stains the teeth orange. Once degus are reaching maturity their teeth will become orange. White teeth in an adult degu is a sign of serious disease.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Munchkin with his favorite piece of cardboard

Hi there! This is just another video of Munchkin with a favorite toy of his. He was tired, so he could only play with it for a very short time before he had to lay down and take a break.

Munchkin's New Trick!

Here is a video of Munchkin's new trick. He can now walk on his hind legs for a treat.

Degus

Ever heard of a degu? Probably not. I didn't know what they were till we got a bunch of them at the shelter this summer. Basically they are little rodents, that look like gerbils only bigger, with brown fur and orange teeth. They are very interesting and make a lot of different sounds, like whistles, squeaks, and the special degu "chuck". Since we have had six at the shelter since the summer and still have four, I did some research and found a lot out about them. First I learned never to pull their tails, because they will fall off. Second, I learned that their average lifespan is 5-8 years! That is the same as the lifespan of a guinea pig. I know that hey like to live in pairs or big groups. I love all their different personalities. We have two girls and two boys at the shelter right now. The girls are named Day and Goo. Get it? Day-goo, degu? They are very curious little girls. They will climb in to my hand now, and try to chew my fingers, but they still don't like being touched much. The boys Pop and Corn, (yep, pop-corn), are a bit more timid. Corn likes to try to escape. Pop likes it when you rub his nose, and in between his little ears. He won't climb into my hand yet, but he will climb into his run about ball for me. The funniest thing is watching them take dust-baths.

Diesel

Right now at the shelter, we have an awesome dog named Diesel. He is a husky/akita mix and he is so handsome. He has been here before but was returned since his owner was incarcerated. He is so fun, and he loves to cuddle and give hugs and kisses. I just gave him a bath today so he looks really good. I hope he gets adopted soon, but I will definitely miss him when he is gone. If you want to see a picture of Diesel check out the KVHS website on the write and click adopt which will take you to the KVHS Petfinder page.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Rabbit Care: Water

It is very important that your rabbit always has access to a fresh and clean supply of water.

There are two different ways to give your rabbit water:

1. In a water bottle. This is easy and less messy, it also keeps the water clean.
2. A bowl, preferably a ceramic bowl they can't tip or one that locks on to the cage. The downside of these are that the rabbit tends to get debris in it, especially if your rabbit isn't trained to use a litter box and you use bedding on the bottom cage such as shavings.

For Munchkin I use both. He is pretty tidy so all that ends up in his bowl is some rabbit fur, so I refill it twice a day to make sure it stays clean. He prefers to use the bowl to the bottle, and only uses the bottle to wet his tongue before grooming himself. I refill both at least every day and wash them out very often.

You may want to know how much water your rabbit should drink.

I have read and heard that they drink a lot of water; at least an ounce per body weight. That would mean Munchkin should drink ten ounces a day. Well, he doesn't. He probably drinks three, maybe four ounces at the most. So don't worry if your rabbit doesn't drink a lot of water, just watch our for sudden changes in how much they drink. The amount that they drink also depends on what they eat. Munchkin gets a lot of water from his vegetables, so I know he is fine. I can also tell he gets enough water from the wet spots he leaves on my jeans when he licks me.

Next time: Rabbit Care: The "Rabbitat"

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Cat in an Affectionate Mood

Agatha in a happy mood

Tour of Munchkin's Rabbitat

Thought you might like to see what Munchkin's "rabbitat" looked like:

His cage is a dog kennel with a playpen attached to it.

The dog kennel gives him more room than a rabbit cage sold at pet stores does.
As you can see he has all the necessities: a food bowl, water bottle, water bowl, toys, litter box, hay racks to hold all his hay, and some comfy towels to sleep in.

This is what his playpen looks like. It has lots of toys for him to chew on and play with. He also has an igloo to hide in, but he mostly likes to push it around.

The Blue Tunnel

Munchkin's new favorite thing: The Blue Tunnel! It is an agility tunnel meant for dogs, but my dog doesn't use it much so I brought it upstairs for some out-of-cage time for Munchkin. He LOVES it. He runs and runs and runs in it, he digs in it, he likes to push it, and he even likes to take a nap in it!



Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Achooo!

Right now at the shelter a lot of our kittens are sick. They all have kitty colds. So when I clean the kittens cages in the lobby I get to listen to a chorus of "achoo's". I hope they get better soon.

Gerbils

I love gerbils. They are so much fun to watch. The one thing I do not understand about them is how when they are woken up, they are immediately active and perky. I wish I was like that in the morning. I also love the way gerbils sleep in a big "gerbil pile" all together in a tangle of gerbils.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Dog baths

When I volunteer at the shelter, I do a lot of dog grooming. I just bathed the sweetest Rottweiler mix named Jasmine. She enjoyed her bath for the most part. She now smells like a popsicle. It is amazing how a dog seems clean till you get them wet and the water comes off all dirty. Anyway, here are some tips I have learned through my shelter dog grooming experiences.

1. Brush out mats and tangles first.
2. Prepare to get WET!
3. Make sure the dog's fur is very wet, or dilute the shampoo with water to make sure it gets to the skin.
4. Tearless shampoo for doing the dog's face is easier and more stress-free.
5. It is much easier if the dog is secured in the tub.
6. Use a good-quality dog shampoo. It's just easier.
7. It may sound strange, but have FUN. Make it enjoyable for you and the dog.
8. Use the right kind of shampoo; for instance, don't use moisturizing shampoo on a very greasy dog. That generally makes the problem worse.
9. If it really is no fun, just remember it could be worse. You could have been bathing a cat. And trust me that is not much fun.
10. Seems like I should have a tenth tip, but I don't.

I always enjoy the satisfaction of seeing a clean dog walking away getting ready for adoption.

Rabbit Care Part 1: Feeding Your Rabbit Veggies

Veggies. Rabbits love them and veggies are healthy. Here is some information about feeding veggies to rabbits.

   Are vegetables a necessary part of a rabbit's diet?

Well, as long as your rabbit gets a balanced diet and hay, it isn't going to kill him if he doesn't get vegetables, but feeding your rabbit veggies helps keep him happy and healthy.

  How much veggies should I feed my rabbit each day?

About two cups per seven pounds of your rabbit's body weight. It also depends on your rabbit's energy level. I generally give Munchkin about two cups of vegetables, which is slightly less than the typical standard, but he is not very athletic, and he is working toward maintaining a healthy weight.

   What kind of vegetables are safe for my rabbit?

Here are a few: romaine lettuce (never iceberg lettuce), celery (best chopped into smaller pieces so your rabbit doesn't have difficulty with the strands), carrot tops, small amounts of carrots, basil, collard greens, dandelion greens, mint, endive, dill, green peppers, spinach (small amounts), cilantro, parsley, sage, and lemon balm

   Note: Spinach is high in oxalates which can accumulate over time and become toxic to your bunny, and carrots, though they are a favorite of rabbits, are very high in sugar and are best fed as a treat only. Iceberg lettuce is not a good veggie for your rabbit as it is very watery and has no nutritional value for your rabbit.

Here is what I normally feed Munchkin for veggies each day. Note the small piece of carrot, and the celery is chopped up. He especially loves the celery leaves. Sometimes he also gets some herbs from the garden.


Here is video of Munchkin enjoying his veggies:





Next time: Rabbit Care: Water

A little more about Munchkin

I've been asked a few questions about Munchkin, so here is a little bit more about him. I have no idea how old he is, I wish I knew, but the shelter doesn't know and it is pretty much impossible to tell a rabbits age after they have reached adulthood. I am assuming he isn't extremely old or anything. Rabbits typically live about 8 to 10 years. So I am hoping he's got a lot of years ahead of him. He is a pretty large rabbit. Roughly from the tip of his nose to his tail he is probably about fifteen inches give or take a few inches. I will have to measure him next time I get a chance. Right now he is snoozing. His new favorite pastimes are: licking his humans and pushing his igloo hideaway around.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Dog Beds

Someone asked me what kind of dog beds are in the Snoozing Dogs post. They are Top Paw Orthopedic Foam dog beds. Yes, they have a removable cover. You can find them at Petsmart.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Shelter Rabbits

Right now at the Kennebec Valley Humane Society we have two awesome rabbits. Here is a little bit about them.

Snowball is a sweet medium-sized male rabbit. He was found in a dumpster. He came in very dirty. I trimmed his claws and gave him a bath. He has a floppy ear because it was broken at one time. He loves to snooze on the upper level of his cage. He is very friendly and loves to follow me around. He does not like having a hand right in front of his face, but he does enjoy a lot of attention.

Luna is a female angora rabbit. She seems to have Himalayan coloring. She loves something soft in a quiet, cozy space to sleep. She is a little matted but we are working on that. She loves to have someone's lap to cuddle in. She loves being groomed.

If you are interested in these rabbits you can check out the Kennebec Valley Humane Society's website over under "Critter Corner's Favorite Sites".

Rabbit Care Part 1: Feeding Your Rabbit Pellets

Hello Everyone!

Pellet Food

Pellet Food is probably the most convenient thing to feed your rabbit. It is easy to store and feed, and easy to purchase. It comes in many varieties.

What should I look for in a pellet food?

  Pellet food should be fresh and not too dusty. You want to look for an all pellet diet. Pellet mixes (with seeds and cereals) are not the best choice for your rabbit. Rabbits do not need to eat seeds and the cereal puffs found in mixes, and they are not very healthy for rabbits. Once you have found a good quality all-pellet food, check the label. The main ingredient should be timothy hay. Not alfalfa. Also make sure that the food is high in fiber. Again I recommend feeding the Oxbow brand.

 What a good quality pellet food looks like
What should NOT be in a pellet food.

What amount of pellets should my rabbit eat?

Typically you can just look on the label for feeding guidelines. If you also feed your rabbit hay and vegetables, I would recommend feeding a lot less than the feeding guidelines.

Should I feed my rabbits hay and vegetables in addition to pellets?

I do. Hay is the most healthy and vital thing a rabbit should eat. Pellets are good and rabbits typically enjoy them, but they are best fed in small amounts with most of the diet being hay. And of course fresh vegetables are a good addition to your rabbits diet.

Next time: veggies

Disappearing Cat

My cat, Agatha, is a very funny black cat. She spends a lot of her time sleeping in my black chair. I have to be careful not to sit on her.



The first is with the flash the second is without the flash.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Snoozing dogs

Hi there!

Here are some wicked cute pictures of my dogs snoozing away on their new beds.
It took Sheba (the black one) a little while to figure it out but she eventually got the hang of it. Sort of.



Rabbit Care Part 1: Feeding Your Rabbit Hay

Hi!

This post is all about hay!

   Why do rabbits need hay?

Well, hay is the most important part of their diet. It provides the needed roughage and fiber to clean out their digestive system and prevent hair balls. It also wears down their constantly growing teeth.

   How much hay should you feed a rabbit?

There is no limit to how much hay a rabbit should eat. Their supply of hay should be unlimited. Give them as much as they want! A rabbit's diet should be about 75% hay.

   What kind of hay is the best to feed a rabbit?

Timothy hay is probably the best kind of hay for your rabbit, but other varieties are available, such as: orchard grass, oat hay, and alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay may be a favorite of rabbits, and it is a good choice to feed growing baby rabbits, but for adults it is too high in protein and calcium and too low in fiber. Opt for grass hays like timothy, orchard grass, etc.

  What if your rabbit won't eat much hay?

First you might try switching to a different kind of hay or providing a variety of hay for your bunny.
Next think about the quality of your rabbit's hay. If it is dusty, dry, or musty smelling, then it is not very good quality and doesn't taste good to your rabbit. Look for hay that is fresh and has a lot of long strands. From my experience rabbits prefer to eat long strands of hay so you might try avoiding very shortly cut hay. A good company to try is Oxbow. Their hay for the most part is consistently fresh and very good quality. They even provide botanical hay with herbs and flowers in it to make it more enticing for your rabbit.
If none of these seem to be the problem, then it might be where you put the hay. If the hay is constantly soiled try a hay rack to hold the hay and keep it clean. Some rabbits tend to prefer to dig through the hay and have some fun with it when they eat it so you could try placing some in an edible basket for your rabbit. And just remember keep it fresh and keep it coming!

Next time: Pellet food

Poll

Hi there!

If you are interested in voting on this weeks poll check out the right side of my blog.

Munchkin

Munchkin is my rabbit. I got him from the shelter. He is an extremely well-behaved rabbit. He is a major snuggler. He was overweight when I got him, but thanks to a better diet and exercise he has slimmed down from eleven and a half pounds to ten. He seems to be a Checkered Giant or a Checkered Giant mix. He likes to play and binky (do cool rabbit moves). He also loves to sleep and dig in his well loved towels. Some of his favorite foods are papaya, kiwi, apple, romaine lettuce, basil, dandelion, sage, just to name a few. He greatly dislikes oregano, and avoids oranges. He loves to get out of his "rabbitat" and hop around and throw some cardboard (he loves cardboard). He does one trick, which is standing up on his hind legs for a treat. Some of his favorite activities: sleeping, chewing on cardboard (especially cardboard boxes that came from Target), throwing cardboard tubes, chewing loofa, eating, and rattling his cage door for attention.
Here are some pics of Munchkin:





Next time: How to take care of rabbits part 1