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
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 . . .
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
