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Boarding & Grooming Services


Apart from everything else I'm occupied with, I provide a boarding and clipping/grooming service. These extra jobs came about through default – meaning that I never intended to offer them, but due to the fact that pet owners didn't have anyone else to go, I thought I may as well help them out. Another mouth to feed or coat to clip/brush doesn't daunt me and I would much rather provide these services than imagine any bunny suffering just because they had no where else to go . . .
 


Clipping and Grooming

Many years ago, I kept English Angora rabbits, then Jersey Wooly and now Cashmere Lops and during this time I have gained a good deal of experience with long coated bunnies.

The Angora is top of the list of breeds when it comes to the necessity of clipping and grooming. Their coat grows like a sheep – continually – and for Angoras not to suffer the consequence of matting(which can vary in extremity), they need to be regularly groomed and clipped.

Other semi-long coated breeds grow their coat to a certain length and that is it. This is all fine and good until moulting time comes around. However,when rabbits shed their coat and owners miss grooming them, some (not all) can end up with matted areas that need to be dealt with.

For a average job I charge a minimum of $30, which is quite reasonable considering the time and effort it can take. If the coat is in much worse condition the price would naturally increase, though I'll try to make it still at a fair/reasonable amount. Bunnies that need major work tend to be dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon. I like to give bunnies 'time out' during a clip, so they can take a break to hop around, refresh themselves with food/water and toilet, if need be.

Here are example photos of a cross bred angora bunny dumped in a cardboard box next to a rubbish bin. The young lady who found and adopted the poor fellow brought him to me to clip his coat. Although it is not obvious in this photo, he had large solid masses of tangled fur stuck to his skin.

                       
Before and half way through the clipping procedure

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All finished and definitely feeling much more comfortable now!

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A note of thanks . . .
 
The preschool would like to thank Christine Carter for generously donating her time in clipping our pet rabbit, Baxter. Baxter is a cashmere lop and needed a little help to shed his summer coat.
President, Fadden Preschool Parents Assoc.

(To help them out am happy to provide free clipping services to 'school bunnies'. Baxter is not one of mine, he's a stardard sized cashmere with an angora type coat & consequently would be a cross bred)

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Boarding Bunnies and Cavies


                             (please note I'm based in Canberra. ACT)

It is not surprising for pet owners to be pleasantly relieved when they find me, for they can then go on a relaxing holiday with the knowledge that their bunny/s or squeaks are being well looked after. On occasion I may receive a postcard or an e-mail saying 'Hi, we're having a wonderful time!" or "How is my baby, is he okay, does he miss me?"

Many a time, I have been told disastrous stories about someone's pet that was left in care with people who knew little about them. Unfortunately, because they weren't familiar with tell-tale symptoms of specific illnesses, they hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation. Or some even forgot to feed, water or check on the pet, resulting in unnecessary suffering or a worse case scenario – death.

Upon arrival boarders receive a health check, so I can make sure they are in a good healthy condition and to avoid introducing something highly contagious to my rabbitry. I generally do not reject bunnies with treatable health issues, though much depends on what it is. For example (and sometimes unbeknown to owners) I've found cases of wryneck, mites, fly blow, malocclusion, snuffles, weepy eyes and various other types of health problems. Apart from their own companion/s, boarders do not co-habit with other rabbits, so are therefore somewhat quarantined.

Although owners do not have to provide anything, they may choose to bring along veggies, which would tend to go to waste anyway. Some also arrive with their buns favourite treats, a special toy or whatever they feel might be useful. More often that not owners have commented that their pet looks fitter or healthier – as if having spent time on a health farm. Usually this is due to owners being informed that their chubby pet needed to go on a diet, which I adjust accordingly, to achieve a little bit of necessary weight loss. What owners are perhaps noticing, is a visible improvement in their pet's health and well being.
 
Boarding charges per pet are only $4 a day/night, which if compared to cat and dog boarding fees is markedly less than what you'd expect to pay. If need be, your pet will receive a complimentary manicure (or if maulting a quick brush/pluck) and if you'd like, I would be happy to demonstrate these procedures to you.

Advanced bookings are recommended and I can also cater for 'special needs' pets.

Phone Christine 6231 5862 or Email 


                                  Other Boarding Facilities

Sydney
(Annagrove)
Melody is very experienced with bunnies (former breeder) and her husband is a rabbit savvy vet. Phone 0412 929 202 or Email

*New* Sydney (drop off locations St Ives & West Pennant Hills)
Email or visit website: BunnyWonderland

Newcastle (NSW) Trish Ratford at 
The Rabbit Patch Phone (02) 4966 0836 or Email

Adelaide (Smithfield) Sally Arnold Wildwood Rabbit Stud Ph (08) 8254 8601 or 0418 611 780 E-mail
 

Melbourne
Bek's Bunnies Phone 0416 276 997 or Email
From these photos you can see that Bek has fabulous boarding accommodations . . . 
 
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Since there are so few boarding facilities for small animals, it would be very helpful if you could recommend others in your area! 
Phone Christine 6231 5862 or
Email 

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