February's Rescue Support

Rescue of the Month:

Baby Blue Bee Bunnies is a rescue that is close to my heart and one that I think is perfect to start our subscription journey with.

When I adopted Cinnamon back in 2019, she hadn't had an easy start in life. She was sick, she was aggressive and truth be told, we were scared of her. Our friends and family feared her. The vet struggled to examine her and despite having worked with countless abused animals in the past, I regularly considered rehoming her. It was tough. I refused to cage her up but every time we woke up and placed our feet on the floor, she would come rushing out from underneath whatever piece of furniture, in order to attack us.

[Cinnamon eating fresh plantain]

One time, our friend was looking after Cinnamon and we received a call from him, at midnight. He was screaming because Cinnamon was chasing him around the house, biting and attacking. After months of providing her with the very best, we came to the conclusion that Cinnamon simply did not want human company. However, despite the stress that she put us through, we didn't want her to be alone.

We adopted Nutmeg in 2020 in order to provide Cinnamon with a companion of her own kind. A bunny who she could understand and communicate with. Unfortunately, we, like many others, chose Nutmeg over our preferences rather than Cinnamon's needs.

[Nutmeg eating a hazel leaf]

Nutmeg proved to be a confident boy but he was also very cheeky. He constantly poked his face into Cinnamon's territory. He didn't respect any boundaries and unfortunately, he caused her a lot of stress. However, we were blind to this. From the human perspective, Nutmeg appeared to be seeking attention, wanting to interact with the bunny in front of him. Cinnamon, on the other hand, appeared to be a terror. Biting him through the fence, attempting to jump over the pen in order to attack, she was out to get him, or so we thought.

[Nutmeg on the left with Cinnamon pulling him through the bars.]

The problem is that humans have a natural desire to anthropomorphise objects and animals. We don't view animals as such, we force human qualities onto them. We perceived Nutmeg as a loving, sweet boy who wanted nothing more than love from his sister. Whereas Cinnamon appeared to be grouchy and mean. It seemed like she wanted nothing to do with him. However, the reality was that Nutmeg was, simply put, an asshole. Whereas Cinnamon was scared. She was anxious. She lived every day in fear and having a strange rabbit enter her territory caused her further panic and stress. She was misunderstood, by trying to provide her with the best life, we instead caused her far more stress. However, that's not to say that bunnies shouldn't have companionship. On the contrary, they need that stability and understanding that only another bunny can provide them with.

How did our perception of their behaviour change? What triggered us to step into the shoes... paws (I guess that'll do) of our rabbits? That's where Baby Blue Bee Bunnies comes in.

After a particularly bad fight, which destroyed one of the nerves in my hand, I booked an appointment with Baby Blue Bee Bunnies' behaviourist. Truth be told, she was brutal. She didn't sugarcoat her words, she was honest and fair. She told us things as they were and despite feeling like I had let my bunnies down, at the time, I respected her honest nature.

Over the year, we had been told by countless vets, bonders and friends that Cinnamon was "unbondable", that maybe, "she prefers to be alone". Jeniveeve was the only one who turned around and said "It will take time, it will be hard work but you will have a trio". Cinnamon didn't want to be alone, she was what one may call a "rabbits' rabbit", a rabbit who relies on the safety of a group. Cinnie's need for companionship was immense.

We worked hard, we trusted and we ended up with a happy trio. Cinnie has been binkying, zooming and flopping constantly, since bonding with our terrors. Jeniveeve gave us the strength and determination to reach success and for that, I will be forever grateful.

[Nutmeg sandwiched by Tumeric on the left and Cinnamon on the right. ]

A bit about Baby Blue Bee Bunnies:

BBBB are a rescue located in Scotland, whose primary aim is to educate the general public about the welfare needs of bunnies. They work to break down common misconceptions and barriers. Unfortunately, due to this, they often suffer severe backlash. However, this doesn't stop them, if anything, it fuels their determination to continue making a positive difference.

Our Valentine's Campaign:

In February, the BBBB volunteers team (including ourselves) joined forces to help educate about the need for companionship and encourage bonding. Cinnamon's story is featured in this campaign as well as the stories of some of our furry friends. Click on the following photos to find out more and don't forget to read the captions which include some of our personal experiences ❤️

Check out the posters we made, using the responses provided by the BBBB following:

Slide to view the posters that we made based on the recent poll results.

What services do they offer?

• Rescue, Rehabilitation & Rehoming.

• Luxury Boarding (no cages/hutches).

• Bonding.

• Behavioural Consultations.

• Nutritional Advice.

• Grooming appointments.

What makes BBBB different from other rescues?

Baby Blue Bee Bunnies have a somewhat unique ethos when it comes to adoption. They don't take the usual conveyor belt nor 'dating' approach when finding a suitable home for their rescue bunnies.

Upon the arrival of each, individual bun, they take the time to assess their behaviour. Taking into consideration both the personality and the temperament of the rabbit, they match the bunny with a family that will provide them with the most suitable environment. A nervous and cautious rabbit will never be matched with one of the same temperament as this would result in two nervous wrecks, stumbling through life, always on guard and stressed (even though, this can prove to be an easy bond). Instead, the bunny would be matched with a companion who has the ability to provide them with the confidence and guidance that they require to lead a fulfilled life. This method ensures that rabbits have a stable dynamic and are bonded for life, however, it does mean that it takes longer to find suitable homes for the buns. More often than not, the bonding process is also more time-consuming.

With the increased number of abandoned rabbits due to the effects of Covid and with Easter around the corner, rescues are in desperate need of support. Every month, we will aim to introduce you to a new rescue, providing support links and ways that you can help them through this difficult time.

How you can help:

Donate:

https://www.babybluebeebunnies.com/store/p108/Donation.html

Join the Bonus Ball (£3 per ticket, for a chance to win £75):

https://www.babybluebeebunnies.com/store/c25/Donate_to_Win%21_Monthly_Competition.html

Support the One Hop Shop:

https://www.babybluebeebunnies.com/onehopshop.html

Become a Member (Receive access to incredible educational materials):

https://www.babybluebeebunnies.com/membership.html

Sign the petition (If every person with a single rabbit took the step to adopt a companion, this would massively relieve the pressure that rescues are under):

https://www.change.org/p/uk-government-make-companionship-for-rabbits-a-legal-requirement-in-the-uk

Spread awareness and educate:

Share the BBBB educational posts on Instagram & other social media:

https://www.instagram.com/babybluebeebunnies/?hl=en

Print the BBBB educational posters and hang them around your local vet clinics and pet store notice boards:

https://www.babybluebeebunnies.com/posters.html