1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: You're listening to Petlifradio dot com. 2 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 2: Welcome to Animal Toopia on pet Life Radio. I'm your host, 3 00:00:27,399 --> 00:00:31,120 Robert Semro. Thank you for joining us on today's show. 4 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,759 We visit some furry and fun small creatures who like 5 00:00:33,799 --> 00:00:36,399 to hop to it. We also visit with the unique 6 00:00:36,399 --> 00:00:39,759 and wonderful organization that is helping out homeless people and 7 00:00:39,799 --> 00:00:42,640 their pets. We'll be right back with a visit to 8 00:00:42,679 --> 00:00:45,920 the bunny Burrow with the bunny Bunch after these messages 9 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:46,920 from our sponsors. 10 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 3: Sit stay, We'll be right back after a short pause. 11 00:00:53,039 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 4: Well for to be exact, pet pet pet Go, Where 12 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,280 the pets go? 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Then check out the show that will answer 36 00:02:13,879 --> 00:02:17,199 the burning questions. Where do you get them, what do 37 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,599 you feed them, how do you take care of them? 38 00:02:19,759 --> 00:02:23,360 And most of all, what were you thinking? With the 39 00:02:23,439 --> 00:02:27,439 Exotic pet? Experted author Bob Tarty every week on demand 40 00:02:27,719 --> 00:02:35,080 from petlight Radio dot com. 41 00:02:35,319 --> 00:02:39,479 Speaker 8: Let's talk about Let's pet Headlight Radio. 42 00:02:39,719 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 4: Pet light radio dot com. 43 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Animaltopia on petline Radio. We thought it 44 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:00,240 was the perfect time to share information about Bunny from 45 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,560 one of the foremost experts in everything Bunny, Caroline Sharland 46 00:03:04,879 --> 00:03:05,879 from the Bunny Bunch. 47 00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 9: The Bundy Bunch is a nonprofit, all volunteer run organization. 48 00:03:11,199 --> 00:03:14,120 What we do is we rescue rabbits and other small 49 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,439 animals when they're homeless. We rescue them from shelters, people 50 00:03:18,479 --> 00:03:20,960 find them on the street and we take them in, 51 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,280 get them well, spain new to them, and then we 52 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,199 actively look for good homes for them. 53 00:03:25,719 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: We recently spent some time at this wonderful organization's home 54 00:03:28,719 --> 00:03:32,120 in Montclair, California, and we're thrilled to see the care 55 00:03:32,199 --> 00:03:34,960 and knowledge that they have about the bunnies, chinchillas, and 56 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,960 guinea pigs being embraced and welcomed by the animal loving community. 57 00:03:39,319 --> 00:03:43,080 The founder of the organization is Caroline Sharland, who is 58 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,759 an expert in the bunny world and is often sought 59 00:03:45,759 --> 00:03:48,960 out for her expertise in opinions on all things bunny. 60 00:03:49,439 --> 00:03:52,919 At age six, Caroline knew she wanted to assist animals. 61 00:03:53,319 --> 00:03:56,479 She raised money for the RSPCA in England, where she 62 00:03:56,599 --> 00:04:00,280 is from. She put on concerts in her backyard Old 63 00:04:00,319 --> 00:04:03,680 Baked Goods, did dog walking and carol singing with other 64 00:04:03,759 --> 00:04:06,879 children in the neighborhood to help raise money. When she 65 00:04:06,919 --> 00:04:09,919 moved to America. She volunteered with a variety of cat 66 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,000 rescue groups and helped them with events and fund raising. 67 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,439 The more she became involved, the more motivated she became 68 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:20,160 to help change things. Then fate stepped in. She began 69 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,399 rescuing rabbits. Shortly after, she came upon a rabbit in 70 00:04:23,439 --> 00:04:26,079 a pet shop. He was sitting in a little wire 71 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,480 cage full of poop with an empty food and water bowl. 72 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,680 The cage was dirty and he had no space to 73 00:04:32,759 --> 00:04:36,040 run around in. Caroline asked someone who worked there to 74 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,360 please give him some food and water. She waited around 75 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,360 for nearly twenty minutes and they did nothing. She went 76 00:04:42,399 --> 00:04:45,040 home and she told her husband about this poor rabbit 77 00:04:45,079 --> 00:04:47,600 that needed a home. They got in their car and 78 00:04:47,639 --> 00:04:50,399 went straight back there to get him. They named him 79 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:55,759 Benjamin Bunny. Caroline and her husband experienced firsthand why bunnies 80 00:04:55,759 --> 00:04:57,040 can be so special. 81 00:04:57,639 --> 00:05:00,439 Speaker 9: They're a very intelligent animal. A lot of people have 82 00:05:00,519 --> 00:05:04,040 no idea how intelligent they are. They're very endearing. They 83 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,240 definitely know their name. They know a lot more than that. 84 00:05:07,399 --> 00:05:09,759 I mean, they're always happy to see you. They're a 85 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,040 very gentle animal, and they are they're not like people 86 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:14,839 ask are they like a cat? Are they like a dog? 87 00:05:14,879 --> 00:05:16,839 And you know, they're actually not. They're not like any 88 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,879 of those animals, and so they're just a very gentle 89 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,000 creature that needs a lot of special care. 90 00:05:23,079 --> 00:05:26,959 Speaker 2: Having had cats all her life, Caroline knew nothing about rabbits. 91 00:05:27,439 --> 00:05:30,480 She consulted some books, but there really was an adequate 92 00:05:30,519 --> 00:05:33,560 information available. The books that she read told her to 93 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,639 put a rabbit in a cage or a hutch living outside. 94 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,120 Being in southern California, she just couldn't believe that a 95 00:05:40,199 --> 00:05:43,800 rabbit would live well outside in a hutch, especially when 96 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,199 it got so hot, so she made them a home 97 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,279 in their apartment. To their amazement, Benjamin started using the 98 00:05:50,319 --> 00:05:53,920 cat's litter box. She thought this was amazing. He could 99 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,720 now live loose in their apartment just like their cat. 100 00:05:57,079 --> 00:06:00,959 The cat and the rabbit, after being properly introduced, got 101 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,199 along fine. In fact, the rabbit turned out to be 102 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,360 the boss. Still, having a rabbit run loose in the 103 00:06:07,399 --> 00:06:10,600 apartment had its challenges, like coming home from work one 104 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,920 day to find the phone cords chewed through, the wallpaper 105 00:06:13,959 --> 00:06:16,720 shredded off the bottom of the walls, and the carpet 106 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,600 pulled up. As Caroline shared with us the Wisdom of money. 107 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,920 Proofing your home is something that should be followed. 108 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 9: Rabbits chew and they will chew anything they can, So 109 00:06:28,319 --> 00:06:30,680 I tell people wherever you know, when you do have 110 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,160 a rabbit, or if you're thinking about getting a rabbit, 111 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,879 you've got to think about what's safe and what's not safe. 112 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,319 They will chew through an electric cord before you can 113 00:06:38,399 --> 00:06:42,040 stop them, so you have to make sure any telephone 114 00:06:42,079 --> 00:06:44,879 cards like cords, you know, cell phone cards are up 115 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,879 totally out of the way or covered. And we have 116 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,600 at our store a cord cover that's split. It has 117 00:06:50,639 --> 00:06:52,600 a citrus scent built in because they don't tend to 118 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,000 like that, and you cover the cord with that. It 119 00:06:56,079 --> 00:06:58,560 won't stop them one hundred percent from chewing it, but 120 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,560 it does do a good job of deterring them. There's 121 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,639 all kinds of tricks you can do. So cords are 122 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,720 very important to get out of the way. If you 123 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,079 leave your TV remote out, your little buttons on, there 124 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,759 will be nibbled off. They'll often chew the baseboards. They 125 00:07:11,759 --> 00:07:14,279 love wood, and there's baseboards all around the house. I'm 126 00:07:14,279 --> 00:07:16,079 sure they think we put it there just for them, 127 00:07:16,519 --> 00:07:18,240 and so a lot of times. What we've done in 128 00:07:18,279 --> 00:07:21,480 our home is we have tacked on untreated wood onto 129 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,360 the baseboard so they can chew it, and so then 130 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,279 when we move we can take that off and we 131 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:30,120 have our regular baseboards underneath. They will also chew carpet, 132 00:07:30,199 --> 00:07:33,319 which is dangerous if they ingested it. And so there's 133 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,199 a lot of things to think about, and we tell 134 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,360 people they can come in, they can call us where 135 00:07:37,399 --> 00:07:38,959 I'm going to be putting a new section on our 136 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,800 website about houseproofing. They can get in places where people 137 00:07:42,839 --> 00:07:45,199 can't imagine, so it's really important to make sure the 138 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:46,399 home is safe for the rabbit. 139 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,399 Speaker 2: Back to Caroline's story, well, they sectioned off the kitchen 140 00:07:50,399 --> 00:07:52,480 with a baby gate, and seeing that there was no 141 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,319 wallpaper in there and the floor was wood, they unplugged 142 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,079 the electrical cords that he could reach and made sure 143 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,759 the phone cord was out of sight. They knew they 144 00:08:00,759 --> 00:08:03,360 had to get Benjamin a friend, so they set out 145 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,920 to find one, Knowing that rescuing a rabbit is always 146 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,399 better than buying a rabbit from a pet store. They 147 00:08:09,399 --> 00:08:13,439 began their search and just by chance, shortly thereafter, they 148 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,319 saw a sign that said free rabbit while she was 149 00:08:16,439 --> 00:08:19,000 driving home from work one day, the people said that 150 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,560 they had bought the rabbit for their child, who was 151 00:08:21,639 --> 00:08:24,000 no longer interested in it. They put it in a 152 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:27,199 box and handed it to Caroline. So she took home 153 00:08:27,279 --> 00:08:31,279 another male rabbit, and they named that rabbit Ramsey Rabbit. 154 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,080 You know, the more rabbit you have, the more you 155 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,679 really need to understand the importance of proper care and 156 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:39,120 feeding for rabbits. 157 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,919 Speaker 9: Unfortunately, a lot of people think you can just give 158 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:44,759 a rabbit a big bowl of pellets and some water 159 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,559 and leave it in a cage, and that's actually the 160 00:08:47,799 --> 00:08:50,799 exact opposite. That's a terrible life for a rabbit. So, 161 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:52,879 first of all, rabbits do have to live in the 162 00:08:52,919 --> 00:08:55,960 house with air conditioning. They can't take the heat. So 163 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,320 rabbits often die in the summertime, especially California, I mean 164 00:08:59,399 --> 00:09:02,440 most of America is hot all summer, and so they 165 00:09:02,519 --> 00:09:05,039 can't call themselves like cats and dogs and people can, 166 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,480 and so they do die from heat strokes. So it's 167 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:09,480 very important to be able to provide a cool home 168 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:12,679 for them. Also, they can't live in cages. Cages are 169 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,679 way too small for a rabbit. I tell people, if 170 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:17,799 you went to go and adopt a cat or a dog. 171 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:19,720 You wouldn't bring the cattle dog home and put them 172 00:09:19,759 --> 00:09:21,600 in a cage, so why do it to a rabbit. 173 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:24,679 And so rabbits, they do great living in the home, 174 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:26,919 have to be rabbit proof. They do great living in 175 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,039 a room. If that's not possible, then they need to 176 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,159 live in an exercise pen, which is a four foot 177 00:09:32,159 --> 00:09:34,559 by four foot puppy pen is what they're also called. 178 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,039 In there, they need a big litter box, and rabbits 179 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:41,559 need to eat hay continuously twenty four hours a day. 180 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,840 And what you do is you put rabbits safe litter 181 00:09:43,919 --> 00:09:46,200 in the bottom of the litter box pilot full of hay, 182 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,600 and so rabbits can jump in and graze whenever they like. Now, 183 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,000 some people think, oh, that's discussing they're eating where they 184 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,799 go to the bathroom. Well, rabbits actually eat their own poops. 185 00:09:55,399 --> 00:09:57,360 It's sort of like they make their own vitamins. It's 186 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:00,080 a different type of poop. It's called a siccotrope, and 187 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,679 as soon as they do poop that out, they eat it. 188 00:10:02,799 --> 00:10:05,799 So once you explain and people understand how rabbits work, 189 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:08,840 then it's not as bad. So then people understand it's 190 00:10:08,879 --> 00:10:10,639 fine that they eat out of where they go to 191 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,840 the bathroom. They graze like horses do. Rabbits can't vomit, 192 00:10:13,879 --> 00:10:16,080 so they need a very high fiber diet. Everything that 193 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:17,600 goes in has to go all the way through and 194 00:10:17,639 --> 00:10:20,399 out the other end. Unlike cats, you know, they if 195 00:10:20,399 --> 00:10:22,360 they have a hair ball, they'll vomit a hair ball up. 196 00:10:22,519 --> 00:10:24,879 A rabbit can't do that, and they're very clean, so 197 00:10:24,919 --> 00:10:27,720 they ingest a lot of hair by grooming, so hey, 198 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,440 I say, is about eighty percent of their diet, and 199 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,559 they need piles and piles of hay all the time. 200 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,559 Pellets are more like a treat, and the average size 201 00:10:35,639 --> 00:10:38,679 rabbit about a five pound rabbit. We only suggest giving 202 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:40,559 an eighth to a quarter of a cup of pellets 203 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,919 a day, and that's it. The pellet should be a 204 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,120 plain pellet. You don't want the kind that has things 205 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,639 that look like cereal and nuts in. That's all sugar 206 00:10:47,639 --> 00:10:50,799 and carbohydrates. So they get limited pellets, and then they 207 00:10:50,799 --> 00:10:53,600 get a veggie salad, which we say for the average 208 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:55,559 rabbit about two cups a day, and that can be 209 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:59,000 made up of parsley, dandelion, greens, red green leaf, lettuce, 210 00:10:59,399 --> 00:11:02,559 you know, healthy greens. And then of course everybody loves 211 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,559 to give their rabbit treats. And what we suggest is 212 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,679 flowers and herbs are organic and natural for them. They 213 00:11:09,759 --> 00:11:13,200 can have fruit and very small amounts. Fruit is also 214 00:11:13,279 --> 00:11:15,919 high sugar carrots or even high sugar, and everyone thinks 215 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,960 of carrots for rabbits because of bugs, bunny and so 216 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:21,559 you know, if you do give your rabbits a piece 217 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,720 of carrot, that's fine, but only give an inch just 218 00:11:23,759 --> 00:11:25,360 as a treat. You know, you don't want to give 219 00:11:25,399 --> 00:11:27,000 him a whole carrot. That's too much sugar. 220 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,519 Speaker 2: As the word got out that Caroline had a pair 221 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:33,399 of rabbits, little by little rabbits that were no longer wanted, 222 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,120 or rabbits that people had found were brought to her, 223 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,960 it wasn't long before she had a house full of rabbits. 224 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,720 Seeing that there were a lot of rescue groups helping 225 00:11:41,799 --> 00:11:45,679 cats and dogs, but not rabbits, she decided to start 226 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:49,480 a group just focused on helping rabbits. Not only did 227 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:51,879 she want to find homes for rabbits, but she wanted 228 00:11:51,879 --> 00:11:54,000 to help the rabbits have a better life once they 229 00:11:54,039 --> 00:11:57,080 were in a home. There have been occasions where the 230 00:11:57,159 --> 00:11:59,879 Bunny Bunches had to rescue as many as six hundred 231 00:12:00,039 --> 00:12:04,120 rabbits from one location. It's a tremendous undertaking and requires 232 00:12:04,159 --> 00:12:07,720 not only funding but also volunteers to make it work. 233 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,600 The Bunny Bunch is fortunate to have a stellar group 234 00:12:10,639 --> 00:12:14,240 of volunteers that contribute in a variety of ways. With 235 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,519 more than three hundred rabbits in their care at any 236 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:20,200 given time, it's essential that the proper grooming is done 237 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,639 for the health and safety of the rabbits. 238 00:12:22,919 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 9: That's very important. Rabbits do shed a lot, and rabbits 239 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,399 are very clean, so they continually groom themselves. However, when 240 00:12:30,399 --> 00:12:32,919 they do that, they ingest a lot of hair and 241 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:35,120 that's the reason for the high fiber to keep the 242 00:12:35,159 --> 00:12:38,120 hair going through. But when they're shedding, it's important that 243 00:12:38,799 --> 00:12:41,080 they are brushed. So when they're shedding, we suggest they're 244 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,279 brushed every day. When they're not shedding, we suggest they're 245 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,480 brushed at least two to three times a week, if 246 00:12:46,519 --> 00:12:49,399 not more so. Keeping all the loose hair off is important. 247 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,240 That helps them not to ingest it. Another thing is 248 00:12:52,279 --> 00:12:55,480 their nails continually grow and so they do need to 249 00:12:55,519 --> 00:12:57,759 be trimmed. The nails need to be trimmed, and they 250 00:12:57,759 --> 00:13:00,960 also have scent glands. Males and females have either side 251 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,399 of the genital area and these need to be cleaned out. 252 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:05,799 Just what's easy to do when you know how to 253 00:13:05,879 --> 00:13:08,039 do it, and you just use a cuter, a little 254 00:13:08,039 --> 00:13:10,120 bit of water and wipe that out. 255 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 2: We all hear about spaining and neutering our dogs and cats, 256 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,919 but don't forget that this is a very important thing 257 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,960 to do for rabbits as well, not only to curb 258 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,639 the overpopulation, but also for the health of the rabbits themselves. 259 00:13:24,399 --> 00:13:27,960 Female rabbits have the potential for uterine cancer, which can 260 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:33,240 be eliminated by spaying your female rabbits. Also, behavior wise, 261 00:13:33,639 --> 00:13:37,000 you'll see a tremendously positive difference in the rabbits after 262 00:13:37,039 --> 00:13:40,559 they've been spade or neutered. They're not hormonal or fixated 263 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,399 with trying to find another rabbit to mate with. They 264 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,360 truly are much better behaved. Caroline also shared a tip 265 00:13:47,399 --> 00:13:50,919 with us about spade and neuter rabbits. They will almost 266 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,320 always use a litter box, so there's one more reason 267 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,879 for you to get your rabbit spade or neutered. The 268 00:13:56,919 --> 00:14:00,679 Bunny Bunch is a phenomenal place that stresses education. They 269 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,159 not only educate those considering adoption, but they also work 270 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,279 with some of the veterinary clinics in teaching schools to 271 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:12,240 help share their expertise in particular animal knowledge. Still, with 272 00:14:12,279 --> 00:14:16,360 all that education and information, people are still pleasantly surprised 273 00:14:16,399 --> 00:14:18,559 by the joys that can await them once they adopt 274 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:19,039 a bunny. 275 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 9: What really surprises people is once the rabbit has had 276 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,480 a chance to settle into the new home, had a 277 00:14:24,559 --> 00:14:26,919 chance to get to know the people that are looking 278 00:14:26,919 --> 00:14:29,600 after them, and realizing that everything is safe. What an 279 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:34,399 incredible animal they are. It amazes people how they they 280 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,639 come to you for affection and they want to be 281 00:14:36,679 --> 00:14:39,200 part of the family. They don't necessarily want to be 282 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:41,440 picked up and cuddled, but they love it when you 283 00:14:41,519 --> 00:14:43,519 lay down on the ground with them, When you stroke 284 00:14:43,559 --> 00:14:46,279 their ears, they'll actually come up and groom you. They'll 285 00:14:46,279 --> 00:14:49,879 lick you in return for you grooming them stroking them. 286 00:14:50,519 --> 00:14:53,440 Like I said, they're very endearing. And the nice thing 287 00:14:53,519 --> 00:14:55,639 is a lot of people don't realize that they can 288 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,200 live ten to fourteen years. They have a much longer 289 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:01,679 lifespan than people realize. In the olden days, you know, 290 00:15:01,919 --> 00:15:03,799 they was thought they lived three to five years, but 291 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,759 they were on a bad diet, weren't spaed on, you 292 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:10,679 didn't lived outside. Now they're you know, indoors, getting proper vepcare. 293 00:15:10,759 --> 00:15:12,960 I mean, we have bunnies that have even gone through 294 00:15:13,039 --> 00:15:16,759 radiation therapy for cancer, and you know, it's heart medication 295 00:15:16,879 --> 00:15:19,360 and you know, now there's so much more medically known 296 00:15:19,399 --> 00:15:21,960 that when they get older, just like people and other animals, 297 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,039 you know, we can assist them with medical medication and 298 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,840 different things, and so they do have a very long 299 00:15:27,879 --> 00:15:30,519 life and they really really know you very well. 300 00:15:30,799 --> 00:15:33,679 Speaker 2: The Bunny Bunch Boutique was started shortly after the Bunny 301 00:15:33,679 --> 00:15:36,080 Bunch Burrow due to the fact that there were little 302 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,639 or no supplies for rabbits in the pet shops that 303 00:15:38,679 --> 00:15:41,559 were appropriate. Plus it was a great way to raise 304 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,840 money to help rescued rabbits. It's also a great way 305 00:15:44,879 --> 00:15:47,679 for them to give the quality food, treats and toys 306 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,360 that they want to provide for their bunnies, as well 307 00:15:50,399 --> 00:15:53,440 as making it an easy one stop place for other 308 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:55,679 bunny parents to find those things as well. 309 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 9: We're very proud of our store. We started it many 310 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:00,399 many years ago. And the reason we started it because 311 00:16:00,399 --> 00:16:03,919 we couldn't find really anywhere where you could get items 312 00:16:03,919 --> 00:16:06,440 for rabbits that we considered safe for them to chew 313 00:16:06,519 --> 00:16:09,360 or play with or really healthy for them to eat. 314 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,279 So I love gardening, so I started a line of 315 00:16:12,279 --> 00:16:14,960 treats which I actually grow. They're all organic flowers and 316 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,720 herbs that are safer rabbits, and I actually sun dry 317 00:16:17,759 --> 00:16:20,879 them so it gives them extra vitamins, and we package 318 00:16:20,919 --> 00:16:23,080 them here and we actually ship them all over the country, 319 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:26,279 even all over even other countries. And the nice thing 320 00:16:26,279 --> 00:16:28,559 about these are the rabbits love them and they're healthy, 321 00:16:28,879 --> 00:16:31,440 and so we know that people can give their rabbits 322 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,600 something that's healthy and that they do enjoy. We have 323 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:37,000 very good quality hay. We have over three hundred rabbits 324 00:16:37,039 --> 00:16:39,159 in our care at all times, and so we have 325 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,320 to make sure we can provide for them things that 326 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,960 they like. So what we do is we shop for 327 00:16:44,039 --> 00:16:46,720 very good quality hay. We sell good quality pellets. We 328 00:16:46,759 --> 00:16:50,440 have a lot of treats, toys choose to entertain the rabbits. 329 00:16:50,519 --> 00:16:53,279 Rabbits teeth grow continually, so they have to be chewing 330 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:55,519 on things and they get bored. They like a lot 331 00:16:55,519 --> 00:16:57,320 of things to do, so we're always coming up with 332 00:16:57,399 --> 00:16:59,960 new things and adding different things, and you can show 333 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:01,919 astor or shop online. 334 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,039 Speaker 2: The Bunny Bunch has many different types of bunnies and 335 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,759 as you've heard, is out to help out as many 336 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:10,599 of them as they can find forever homes. I thought 337 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,599 i'd share this startling fact from our friends at the 338 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:17,160 Bunny Bunch. Did you know eighty percent of rabbits bought 339 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:20,480 for Easter will not make it past that first birthday. 340 00:17:20,759 --> 00:17:24,839 It's startling, sad, and disappointing. That is one of the 341 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,440 reasons that our friends from the Bunny Bunch in Montclair, 342 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:31,240 California really hope to drive home the message that Easter 343 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:34,799 bunnies are for Easter, but real bunnies should not be. 344 00:17:35,279 --> 00:17:39,960 For more great, comprehensive and expert bunny information, visit our 345 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,799 friends at the Bunny Bunch in person at their Montclair 346 00:17:42,799 --> 00:17:47,400 location or on the web at bunny Bunch dot org. 347 00:17:48,079 --> 00:17:50,200 When we come back, I want to share with you 348 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:54,160 all the angelic story of a small organization making a 349 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:57,920 very big difference for homeless people and their pets. We'll 350 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,559 be right back with angel Hands for the homeless after 351 00:18:01,599 --> 00:18:04,279 these messages, sit. 352 00:18:04,759 --> 00:18:08,039 Speaker 3: Stay, We'll be right back after a short pause. 353 00:18:08,599 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 7: Well, for to be exact, every pet is unique. Maybe 354 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,640 they're gray in the muzzle yet young at heart. Maybe 355 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:22,839 they're growing out of the puppy stage and into their 356 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:27,480 paws and ears, or maybe they're just trying to maintain 357 00:18:27,559 --> 00:18:33,160 a more girlish figure. At pet Smart, we have the 358 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,160 right food for your pet at a great value for you. 359 00:18:40,079 --> 00:18:42,440 That's smart. Be better together. 360 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:47,640 Speaker 5: Go to petsmartdeal dot com and save up to thirty 361 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,640 percent on passing gifts for the pets and pet people 362 00:18:50,759 --> 00:18:54,920 in your life. Toys, collars, leashes, pet Smart gift cards, treats, 363 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:59,240 and more. Go to petsmartdeal dot com today. E E 364 00:18:59,279 --> 00:19:02,240 T S M A R T D E A L 365 00:19:02,519 --> 00:19:09,119 dot com. Dyson, the new dice In animalbacks are powerful 366 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:13,039 bagless upright backings for homes with pads, air muscle and radio. 367 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:17,160 Root cyclone technology generates the strong inception power to powerfully 368 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,319 remove dust, dirt, and petair from the home or car. 369 00:19:20,559 --> 00:19:23,160 To order your dice In Animal back, go to Dice 370 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:27,240 indeals dot com dice indeals dot com to order your 371 00:19:27,319 --> 00:19:29,039 Dyson Animal back today. 372 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 7: Dyson Music to your ears. I'm not much of a reader, 373 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,319 but I do wish I were more well read. There 374 00:19:38,319 --> 00:19:39,720 are so many great books coming out. 375 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 5: I wish I could find a way to keep up. 376 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,559 Speaker 8: Audible dot Com makes it easy to stay well informed 377 00:19:44,599 --> 00:19:48,400 and catch up on your reading. Simply by listening audiobooks 378 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,599 from Audible. Turn downtime into uptime. You'll be more productive 379 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:54,200 and become well read. 380 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 3: Now I'm able to catch up on all the great 381 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:57,400 books I've been wanting to read. 382 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,880 Speaker 1: With Audible, I feel smarter. 383 00:20:00,319 --> 00:20:04,079 Speaker 5: Petlife Radio listeners. Try audible dot com now and get 384 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:07,480 your first thirty days of Audible Listener Gold Membership plan 385 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,559 free and get a free audiobook. Choose from over one 386 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,880 hundred thousand titles. To get this great deal, go to 387 00:20:15,079 --> 00:20:20,160 audibledeals dot com. That's audibledeals dot com. 388 00:20:20,279 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 10: Hi everybody, I'm Megan Blake here with my sidekicks, Super Smiley, 389 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,880 the Giant Mutt and Spokes Dooctor Throwaways. You're listening to 390 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:29,799 Petlife Radio and I would like to tell you about 391 00:20:29,799 --> 00:20:33,759 our brand new show, a Super Smiley Adventure. Our show 392 00:20:33,799 --> 00:20:37,039 explores adventures with animals. They can be traveling out in 393 00:20:37,079 --> 00:20:39,759 the world, trips or inner journeys where our animals lead 394 00:20:39,839 --> 00:20:44,559 us to inspiration and self discovery, or just plain fun adventures. 395 00:20:44,799 --> 00:20:48,759 Join us here on Petlife Radio on a super smiley adventure. 396 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 4: Good boy, let's talk past. 397 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 8: Let's come petal Headline Radio. 398 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:08,519 Speaker 4: Pet life Radio dot com. 399 00:21:08,759 --> 00:21:12,279 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Animaltopia on pet Life Radio. This next 400 00:21:12,279 --> 00:21:14,920 story came to us from the Animal Toopia toll free 401 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,400 share your story hotline at eight y five two sixty 402 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:22,200 four six two five eight or eight five five. Animal 403 00:21:22,279 --> 00:21:26,000 Topians don't forget you two. Can share your story or 404 00:21:26,079 --> 00:21:30,279 idea by calling us or even emailing us at Robert 405 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:34,880 at petlifradio dot com. We've all witnessed the sad scene 406 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,440 of a homeless person with their dog. I know I've 407 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:39,680 often been moved to help out with some money, but 408 00:21:39,759 --> 00:21:42,279 have walked away wondering what more I could have done 409 00:21:42,319 --> 00:21:45,759 for the person and the dog. I've also wondered why 410 00:21:45,799 --> 00:21:48,720 the person still has the dog. That dog is right 411 00:21:48,759 --> 00:21:51,799 there by their side, faithfully being a best friend in 412 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,279 any condition. I recently had the honor of speaking with 413 00:21:55,279 --> 00:21:58,039 a woman who is doing more and has created an 414 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:01,759 organization that is devoted to helping and caring for the 415 00:22:01,799 --> 00:22:06,200 homeless and their pets. Karen Hams, a founder of Angel 416 00:22:06,279 --> 00:22:09,880 Hands for the Homeless, was herself homeless at one point. 417 00:22:10,519 --> 00:22:13,279 Through a series of circumstances that could occur to anyone, 418 00:22:13,759 --> 00:22:17,200 Karen found herself and her dog living out of her vehicle. 419 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,839 Speaker 6: I ended up homeless at no fault on my own, 420 00:22:20,319 --> 00:22:24,400 with my dog, with my best friend, and it was 421 00:22:24,559 --> 00:22:29,000 just incredible. But that's how I started this organization. I 422 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:32,240 knew that people needed help out there. I could see 423 00:22:32,279 --> 00:22:35,279 all the homeless people that had pets all it was 424 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,119 just amazing to me, and I knew that something needed 425 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:41,559 to be done, so I just started. After I found 426 00:22:41,559 --> 00:22:44,720 a place to live, I started working on a nonprofit 427 00:22:44,839 --> 00:22:47,400 organization for the homeless and their pets because I could 428 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:50,559 see it was a tremendous need and that you can't 429 00:22:50,599 --> 00:22:53,039 pull the homeless person away from the pet, and you 430 00:22:53,079 --> 00:22:55,400 can't pull the pet away from the homeless person. You know, 431 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,480 you just can't do that. It's the dog is such 432 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,960 a companion to the homeless, and they just love their pets, 433 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,799 and the dogs just give them so much love and 434 00:23:04,839 --> 00:23:05,759 comfort in return. 435 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 2: Because of Karen's unique experience and understanding, she knows that 436 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,400 the bonds between the homeless and their pets are very strong. 437 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,039 As we discussed, it is also an important source of 438 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:21,599 inspiration and normalcy for the homeless to maintain their relationships 439 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,880 and care for their pets. As any dog owner will 440 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:27,920 tell you, a dog doesn't care what you have or 441 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,200 who you may be. They only care that you love them. 442 00:23:31,599 --> 00:23:34,519 These bonds are important. As Karen shared. 443 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 6: With us, that pet is a best friend, is a loyal, 444 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:42,640 loving companion and is there you know, does not leave 445 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:46,240 the side of the homeless individual, and like I said, 446 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,319 to reiterate, just gives a lot of comfort. It helps 447 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:52,839 that homeless person to persevere in their daily walk of 448 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,400 survival in that homeless state. I don't think that they 449 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,200 would really survive as well without that pet. The pet 450 00:23:59,319 --> 00:24:03,759 is very very important and that's why that I make 451 00:24:03,799 --> 00:24:08,200 sure that I have even placed pets for homeless if 452 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,400 they are enabled to take care of them. But I 453 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:14,960 also find places that may take a pet. You know, 454 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,119 someone that will be able to foster a pet, or 455 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:20,400 you know, if they don't want to let go of 456 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,119 their pets, which most of them do not. I always 457 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:28,559 have pet food, collars, leashes, blankets, all the necessities that 458 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,079 you would have for a pet at home, and I 459 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:36,440 also have resources for those pets for free spay and neuter, 460 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:41,160 and also additional information for the pets if they need 461 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:46,200 low income veterinary care. I have just so much, so 462 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:48,920 much for the pets and the homeless folks. 463 00:24:49,519 --> 00:24:52,559 Speaker 2: As Karen reflected on our situation and learn more about 464 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,599 the resources that were available if only she had known 465 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,839 about them, she knew she needed to act and create 466 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,960 something that every home homeless person could keep and use 467 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,599 with these and that's exactly what she did. 468 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 6: When I was homeless, there was absolutely nothing out there 469 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,319 for me, and I did not know that there were, 470 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,160 you know, things that were accessible. So what I had 471 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,799 done is I knew that I needed something so for 472 00:25:18,839 --> 00:25:22,599 the homeless to empower them. So I created this book 473 00:25:23,279 --> 00:25:28,640 that has resources in it for shelters, for legal, for medical, 474 00:25:28,799 --> 00:25:33,839 for substance abuse, for children, for families, for veterans, for everybody. 475 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:38,519 I mean, this book is so amazing and one resource, 476 00:25:38,559 --> 00:25:41,720 you can contact one resource and get numerous resources from 477 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:45,599 that one contact number. And like I say, also the 478 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:50,200 same applies for the resources for the pets. I knew 479 00:25:50,319 --> 00:25:54,359 how critical it was to have something like that out there, 480 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:59,119 because that's right the homeless do not have telephones, televisions, 481 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:02,880 computer Most of them do not, so I had to 482 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,359 have something that would be accessible and something that would 483 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:09,039 empower them so they could just you know, go to 484 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:12,200 the address or get a contact number and call it. 485 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:17,079 Speaker 2: Karen's organization is small, but its impact is large. Like 486 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,880 any organization, Angel Hands for the Homeless struggles with the 487 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:26,599 daily challenges of providing care packages, resource guides, gathering supplies, 488 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:31,480 distributing them, applying for scarce grants, and right on down 489 00:26:31,519 --> 00:26:34,519 to the concerns about whether her older vehicle will hold 490 00:26:34,599 --> 00:26:37,160 up or not so that she can bring the packages 491 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,960 and information to the people who obviously cannot travel to 492 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,720 her for help. She hopes that her organization can serve 493 00:26:44,759 --> 00:26:47,079 as a model for others to help with the tragic 494 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,440 situation that far too many people in their pets find 495 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:54,759 themselves struggling through these days. Karen and Angel Hands for 496 00:26:54,839 --> 00:26:59,079 the Homeless is an animotopian hero for bringing care and 497 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:02,759 solace to those who many ignore or think differently of 498 00:27:03,279 --> 00:27:06,519 her efforts to make something positive out of a negative 499 00:27:06,559 --> 00:27:11,000 situation that she and her dog went through are truly remarkable. 500 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:15,240 For more information about Angel Hands for the Homeless, or 501 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:18,880 to help them in their efforts. Visit them online at 502 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:25,519 angel Hands LA dot blogspot dot com. Again, that's Angel 503 00:27:26,039 --> 00:27:31,839 Hands h A n z LA dot blogspot dot com. 504 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:35,160 As we close this episode, I'm reminded how everyone can 505 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,880 make a difference in the world for someone. I want 506 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,599 to thank those who are doing just that and encourage 507 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:44,000 those who haven't done so yet to do so. Every 508 00:27:44,039 --> 00:27:47,440 little thing counts so much more these days. I want 509 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,759 to say thank you again to Caroline Sharland from The 510 00:27:50,759 --> 00:27:55,000 Bunny Bunch and Karen Hamza from Angel Hands for the 511 00:27:55,039 --> 00:27:58,480 Homeless for all that they and their organizations are doing. 512 00:27:59,079 --> 00:28:01,599 Don't forget. If you have a great animal story you'd 513 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:05,160 like to share with us, whether it's funny, quirky, or heartfelt, 514 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,799 or just an idea for a story, please contact us 515 00:28:08,839 --> 00:28:12,119 on our toll free share your Animal Toopian Story hotline 516 00:28:12,559 --> 00:28:16,279 at eight fy five two six four six two five 517 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:21,160 eight or eight five five Animal Topians for Animal Topia, 518 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:24,039 pet Life Radio and all of those who make this 519 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:28,400 show possible. I'm your host, Robert Simro, saying I'm proud 520 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,960 to be an animal topian and I look forward to 521 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:33,000 sharing more stories with all of you soon. 522 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:38,559 Speaker 3: Let's talk pets every week on demand only on petlifradio 523 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:51,799 dot com.