Toki is a Lionhead rabbit born July 21, 2007 and ..... a breeder bun.
GASP! But you said don't buy breeder buns!
I know, I know! This is a good ol' case of do as I say, not as I do and I assure you, there is a very good reason why
A. I ended up with a breeder bun and B. You will learn from my story and not to make the same mistake that I did.
Towards the end of September, 2007 I searched on Petfinder for adoptable rabbits and came across a listing for Lionhead buns in Massachusetts. Back then, anyone and everyone could post animals to Petfinder and not all listings were actually shelter animals ... which we later realized. My husband and 8 year old son took an hour and a half drive to meet these lionhead buns that were "in need of homes". When we arrived, the woman led us to her backyard where there were about 6-10 bunnies in a pen in which she pointed to and said "these are the kits that are ready for their new homes." Wait, what? These bunnies were all roughly the same size and age though.
As I turned to my left, I noticed there was a small shed-like building filled with cages, stacked on cages...stacks on cages. *sad face* By the time I turned around to say "I think this is a breeder." My son was already in a rabbit cuddle puddle and had picked out Toki as his favorite. There is no turning back from such an event as a parent.If your child falls in love, so do you. "Mom, can we take this one home? Pleeeeeease?"
Toki was a doll as a young bun. The sweetest ball of fluff you ever did see. Happy, healthy and best of buds with our Calico cat, Ollie. They even rode bikes together. Kidding!
Around the time Toki turned 1, his eyes began to leak. I would have to wipe them daily with a warm cloth to keep his fur from matting around them and thankfully, sweet Ollie took to cleaning them for him too. The vet told me it was due to his teeth growing improperly and putting pressure around his eye socket. His teeth were basically turning in to tusks. For those that don't know, this is called malocclusion. Malocclusion occurs for a number of reasons and in Toki's case, the reason was improper breeding. It first began as overgrowth of his peg teeth (the teeth behind the teeth) and then his front teeth began growing and turning outward like tusks. The vet suggested complete removal. That frankly scared the poop out of me, so I opted for more hay, more toys and getting his teeth filed every so often. The risk was too great in my opinion so I found an alternate resolution. Over the past 9 years Toki has gotten used to me messing in his mouth and with his eyes. About once a month, I have to physically clip his top right tooth in order for him to continue to comfortably eat and drink. Thankfully his malocclusion is so bad and crooked that clipping it is possible. Anyone reading this with rabbits with malocclusion PLEASE do not try to clip your own rabbit's teeth at home! I was shown how to do this and it is only safe for us due to his particular circumstance, his trust in me and my ability to perform the task comfortably. When in doubt, see your vet!
Toki is an otherwise healthy bun and we are thankful that we've been able to have him as a part of the family for as long as we have but it hasn't been easy due to the issues he came with from his breeder. This is just one of many possible issues that we could have had to face by bringing a breeder bun in to our home.
When you adopt from a TRUE shelter, your bun will either come with a clean bill of health, or you will be told what issues they are living with so that you can prepare for what comes with that. We were unprepared but made it work and didn't give up on Toki. Unprepared families usually end up giving their rabbits away or bringing them to shelters. If you are not prepared for such things and aren't willing to commit to the possible problems a breeder or pet store bun may come with, PLEASE do not purchase from a breeder or a pet store. Save yourself the heartache and the money and give a shelter bunny a chance. Bring home a rabbit in need of love who is already fixed and know what you're getting in to.
GASP! But you said don't buy breeder buns!
I know, I know! This is a good ol' case of do as I say, not as I do and I assure you, there is a very good reason why
A. I ended up with a breeder bun and B. You will learn from my story and not to make the same mistake that I did.
Towards the end of September, 2007 I searched on Petfinder for adoptable rabbits and came across a listing for Lionhead buns in Massachusetts. Back then, anyone and everyone could post animals to Petfinder and not all listings were actually shelter animals ... which we later realized. My husband and 8 year old son took an hour and a half drive to meet these lionhead buns that were "in need of homes". When we arrived, the woman led us to her backyard where there were about 6-10 bunnies in a pen in which she pointed to and said "these are the kits that are ready for their new homes." Wait, what? These bunnies were all roughly the same size and age though.
As I turned to my left, I noticed there was a small shed-like building filled with cages, stacked on cages...stacks on cages. *sad face* By the time I turned around to say "I think this is a breeder." My son was already in a rabbit cuddle puddle and had picked out Toki as his favorite. There is no turning back from such an event as a parent.If your child falls in love, so do you. "Mom, can we take this one home? Pleeeeeease?"
Toki was a doll as a young bun. The sweetest ball of fluff you ever did see. Happy, healthy and best of buds with our Calico cat, Ollie. They even rode bikes together. Kidding!
Around the time Toki turned 1, his eyes began to leak. I would have to wipe them daily with a warm cloth to keep his fur from matting around them and thankfully, sweet Ollie took to cleaning them for him too. The vet told me it was due to his teeth growing improperly and putting pressure around his eye socket. His teeth were basically turning in to tusks. For those that don't know, this is called malocclusion. Malocclusion occurs for a number of reasons and in Toki's case, the reason was improper breeding. It first began as overgrowth of his peg teeth (the teeth behind the teeth) and then his front teeth began growing and turning outward like tusks. The vet suggested complete removal. That frankly scared the poop out of me, so I opted for more hay, more toys and getting his teeth filed every so often. The risk was too great in my opinion so I found an alternate resolution. Over the past 9 years Toki has gotten used to me messing in his mouth and with his eyes. About once a month, I have to physically clip his top right tooth in order for him to continue to comfortably eat and drink. Thankfully his malocclusion is so bad and crooked that clipping it is possible. Anyone reading this with rabbits with malocclusion PLEASE do not try to clip your own rabbit's teeth at home! I was shown how to do this and it is only safe for us due to his particular circumstance, his trust in me and my ability to perform the task comfortably. When in doubt, see your vet!
Toki is an otherwise healthy bun and we are thankful that we've been able to have him as a part of the family for as long as we have but it hasn't been easy due to the issues he came with from his breeder. This is just one of many possible issues that we could have had to face by bringing a breeder bun in to our home.
When you adopt from a TRUE shelter, your bun will either come with a clean bill of health, or you will be told what issues they are living with so that you can prepare for what comes with that. We were unprepared but made it work and didn't give up on Toki. Unprepared families usually end up giving their rabbits away or bringing them to shelters. If you are not prepared for such things and aren't willing to commit to the possible problems a breeder or pet store bun may come with, PLEASE do not purchase from a breeder or a pet store. Save yourself the heartache and the money and give a shelter bunny a chance. Bring home a rabbit in need of love who is already fixed and know what you're getting in to.
