NTRS Newsletter

June - 2010

Dear Friends and Bunny Lovers:

This is the first of our new email newsletters.  We decided that because of the high cost of printing and mailing newsletters, NTRS could put the money to better use by spending it on the rabbits care.  We have some wonderful rescue news and a lot of new bunnies.

Let me start with our recent big barn yard rescue.  We saved thirteen rabbits from a bad situation where they were running loose and breeding in a horse barn.  Consequently the mothers were having their litters all over the place and unfortunately many of them were being stepped on or accidentally killed.  Upon arriving at the barn an NTRS officer quickly assessed the situation and decided to take them all.  Five of the thirteen rabbits are babies from three different litters.

Little Charlotte is the oldest at about 4 weeks of age and as you can see she is missing an ear and she had an eye infection.

Three other babies were about 1 week old (one of them is missing a back leg), the last baby is about 12 days old when we rescued them.  Of course they have been in our care for almost 3 weeks now and they are doing really well.

Along with these babies we saved 4 adult females and 4 adult males.  The spay/neuters alone for these 13 rabbits will cost us at least $1,500 along with any medical bills for injuries they incur.

Now to Usher - a one year old Holland Lop surrendered from a family in Paris, TX who were unable to care for him because he has severe head tilt due to both ears being infected.  His condition is improving but is still critical.  At the very best it will take months for him to recover and he will most likely live with the tilt for the rest of his life.

Clooney, this Dutch boy was rescued from Euthanization at a shelter.  He had the 3rd eyelid glands so swollen they protruded permanently to the point that he could not close his eyes.  The good news is Clooney underwent corrective eye surgery this week and we are very happy to say it was a success.  He is still under medical care but will soon be available for adoption to a forever home.

Einstein ( a Lion Head) is another shelter bunny who came with an eye injury - at first we thought he might lose the eye but with medication it improved to the point he is on eye drops alone now.  The good news is he has been adopted to a wonderful home and as we understand it doing very well.

Elvis Parsley was literally saved from the needle in the nick of time thanks to a volunteer at a city shelter who sent out an impassioned plea for someone to "please save this wonderful rabbit."  So we did.  He is a Lion Head with an attitude but I know will find a loving home soon.

Noah was dragged home by a cat as a gift to his mother, when he was only four weeks old.  Because of the little rough handling by the kitty, he suffered injuries to his ear, eye and under his chin.  However, he is doing just great now and is absolutely the dearest little guy in the world.

Marlow suffered blunt force trauma to her face.  Her nose bone was broken and some of her front teeth either totally broken off or partially broken.  She also suffered eye injuries.  It is possible she might have been hit by a car or maybe someone was just being cruel and hit her with something, we really don't know but she was in terrible pain and couldn't eat or drink.  She had been running loose and a neighbor finally was able to catch her and luckily contacted us.

Marlow has a long way to go to regain her health again.  However, she is eating critical care and of course she is on pain meds until her broken bone heals and then we will have to address the teeth and what to do about them.  This one will be a very expensive rescue for us because of the long term veterinary care needed.

Otis and Leo were two separate rescues on the same day.

J.J. and Suzette (NTRS volunteers) followed up on two separate reports of bunnies running loose and in danger of being hit by a car or attacked by dogs.  J.J. and Suzette took off on their first bunny rescue of this kind and were able to save both rabbits.  We couldn't have done it without her help. Otis and Leo have already been neutered and are ready for a forever home.

And finally, Bo.  Garland animal control called one night with a baby bunny with both legs on the left side broken.  Their vet had given her a pain shot but even so she had to spend the night at the facility before we could get her to a vet.  Once again J.J. and Suzette jumped out and volunteered to get her.  Bo was taken immediately to Dr. Effie Giannopoulos of CityVet (NTRS's Veterinarian) who said we would need an orthopedic surgeon to assess the treatment needed.  At this time we are not sure if she will have immediate surgery or if it will be best to wait until she gains more strength.  She may even lose a leg, we just don't know yet.  However, she is eating and hopefully this story will have a happy ending.

Once again we are looking at a great deal of money but then we couldn't say "no, we can't afford to save her" could we?

Most shelters and many rescue organizations choose not to spend money on injured or sick animals they choose to euthanize. Their protocol is to "spend only on the healthy".

NTRS decided 20 years ago that this would not be an option for us.  We will never euthanize unless there is absolutely no other choice and the rabbit is suffering.  All the rabbits that come into NTRS's care, are given a chance to live and look forward to being adopted with caring people.

Because of this, NTRS is at a critical point financially, we need to raise an immediate $4000 to cover our medical expenses for these rabbits and to be able to keep saving those that will need us in the future.

Every little bit counts so please consider making a donation to our veterinary fund by either Pay Pal at NTRS.org or by check to: NTRS - 1013 Lesa Lane, Garland, TX 75042  -  or better still drop by and visit our fabulous bunnies.

Come see the babies, it is a real treat to see how cute and fat they are.  And, Jellybean might just be there, he sometimes comes to visit on a Saturday afternoon in his wheels and races about the living room.  Jellybean's story surely inspires us all to never give up on an animal that had the will to survive and live.

Remember, we are a non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.  Please help us continue to save the rabbits that need us the most.

Barb Yule
Founder and President of NTRS.