* Boarding and Grooming Service *
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 brushed/clipped regularly.
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 if owners miss grooming when their rabbits shed their coat, some (not all) can end up with matted areas that need to be dealt with.
For a reasonably easy job I charge a minimum of $30, which is quite reasonable considering the time and effort this 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 that was 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!
Boarding Bunnies and Cavies
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. It is not uncommon to receive a postcard or an email 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 in 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 therefore are 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 – so therefore the owners notice 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 will receive 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 Carter 6231 5862 or e-mail ccarter@netspeed.com.au
Other Boarding Facilities
The Rabbit Shop based in Western Australia
The Rabbit Patch contact Trish Ratford Ph 4966 0836 (Newcastle, NSW)
Given there are so few offering boarding services for small animals, it would be very helpful
if you can recommend anyone in your area!
