A Bunny Can Live In The House!

Lots of serious topics these past few posts, so how about something a little lighter?

Over the weekend I had my first stint as a bunny sitter. One of my friends has now rescued two bunnies from the local HES: one we drove to Nashville, and now this one that she's keeping til his placement can be secured.

The first bunny, the little brown and white, was very tiny and shy.

The bunny I sat for this weekend is a big, big boy and he's really coming around to be a tame pet.
The person who gets this kid is going to love spoiling him and watching him do binkies.

A binky is what a bunny does when they are happy, they sort of run, jump, and twirl. It is as adorable as it sounds!

Here's a few photos of my charge. Isn't he something special? The ruby eyes take getting used to, but they are very expressive after you get to know him. His name is...Nibbles!

Now, back in my day (!), a pet bunny would live outside in a hutch. But did you know that a bunny can be trained to use a potty box? And they are actually very clean animals, and since they don't eat meat, there's very little odor. Their basic needs include an X Pen, potty box, paper litter pellets, and a variety of foods. They can be kept inside, in a pen when you're not home, and allowed loose in safe areas, i.e. not around other pets that may harm them, when you are home. They should be spayed or neutered, and you'll want to find a vet willing to see a bunny as not all will do so. 

They love all kinds of lettuce, greens, and some fruits. They are playful, curious, and of course, very soft. Just like a dog or cat, you would want to get to know your bunny and get to know his likes and dislikes. They all seem to like toys and something to chew on, and a place to hide like a little den.

If you have an interest in learning more about bunnies, there's resources online, and also our rescue friends are a great resource. Let me know if you feel inspired to give a bunny a lifelong home! 

Horse Soring - LTE

Letter to the Editor
Printed in the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Sunday, August 28, 2016


http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/letters/story/2016/aug/28/horse-soring/383095/

Earlier this month, I drove to Murfreesboro to speak at the USDA's public forum on new proposals for rules against horse soring. Some of the comments made by the horse trainers were shocking. I couldn't believe grownups were making them. They deny soring exists, and/or claim it is not abuse. Horse soring is alive and well.

Tennessee is currently a haven for abusers who hide their training practices and pretend it is all in the name of benign entertainment. Horse soring, both chemically and with chains and pads, should be banned, as should the "Big Lick" style of competition.

We have a chance to create a new, less-tortured future for our namesake horse, the Tennessee Walking Horse. The horses' natural gait is beautiful and should not be altered. Claims that banning the Big Lick would mean an end to horse shows, or to gaited horse breeding, are not true. Let's move into a more humane future for these gentle and sensitive horses.

The USDA is accepting public comments at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/horse-protection-amendments.

Mary Marr

Horse Protection Amendments: Speaking to the USDA in Murfreesboro

This was my statement at the public USDA meeting held in Murfreesboro, TN on 8/9/2016.

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Good Morning, USDA representatives! Welcome to the great state of Tennessee!

My name is Mary Marjorie Weber Marr, and I’m so honored to be able to speak to you this morning on behalf of the HSUS, and in defense of the beautiful horses named for our state.

I was born in Kentucky and raised in Tennessee. I am a lifelong lover of horses. When I was 11 years old, my grandma bought me this book, “A Horse Around the House”. I thought it meant I would actually be getting my own horse, to live in our house, although that didn’t pan out.

Growing up in Memphis, I attended the Germantown Charity Horse Show and loved the beauty and power of the show horses. They appeared to “have it all”: looks, strength, talent,  shiny manes and expensive tack. Some of them seemed to tremble, I thought, with excitement, as they moved. It wasn’t until later that I learned about the terrible actions their trainers were willing to take to create the exaggerated look that comes from physical pain and caustic chemicals that have been cooked into their flesh.

We have a chance right now, in our lifetime, as a society to end this practice of soring. It’s illegal, and yet it continues. Let’s bring it out into the light! I believe the trainers know that what they are doing is wrong. Veterinarians know. Farriers know. The inspectors know. Young audience members may not know, yet, but eventually they will. Don’t you? I realize there are some who will get up and say it is their ‘right’ and their ‘history’ to create horses who walk the Big Lick, but to them I would say look around you! Society doesn’t want their entertainment to come with the price tag of torturing sentient beings.

We don’t want elephants in the circus now, we don’t want orca whales contained anymore, and we don’t want to cheer for horses who have been maimed with chemicals and chains. Those days are over and good riddance. We are offended when the rich pay to kill rhinos. And anyway, the economy from that way of life is not sustainable. And neither is soring, for those who say they will lose money without it. Society doesn’t want horses treated that way anymore, and they’ve already stopped attending shows that include Big Lick.

We will continue to educate the public, and the attendance will continue to drop.

There’s still a place in the show ring for the incredible Tennessee Walking Horse, and other gaited horses, and those who love them and want to treat them with reverence.

Their natural gait is beautiful and should be respected and honored and preserved. Thank you.

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Comments are welcome, please join the conversation below.

Letter to the Editor of The Chattanoogan, RE: Horse Protection Amendments

Posted as a Response to Maryann Davis' wonderful letter to the Editor:

On Aug. 9th, I drove to Murfreesboro to speak at the USDA's public forum on new proposals  for rules against horse soring. Some of the comments made by the horse trainers were so shocking, I couldn't believe grown ups were making them. They deny soring exists, and/or claim it is not abuse. Horse soring is alive and well and happening this week in Murfreesboro at the Celebration. 

Tennessee is currently a haven for abusers who hide their training practices and pretend it is all in the name of benign entertainment. Horse soring, both chemically and with chains and pads, should be banned, as should the "Big Lick" style of competition. Doing so would not end anything but the torture of wonderful horses.

We have a chance to create a new, less tortured future for our namesake horse, the Tennessee Walking Horse. Their natural gait is beautiful and should not be altered. Claims that banning the Big Lick would mean an end to horse shows, or to gaited horse breeding, are not true. People already walk out of Big Lick competitions because they can't stand the tortured look on the horse's face. Let's move into a more humane future for these gentle and sensitive horses.

 

They are accepting public comments at:https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/horse-protection-amendments

Thank you for covering this issue.

Mary Majorie Weber Marr

Chattanooga

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Original Link:

The-Terrible-Pain-Of-Soring---And-Response

Rescue Chronicles: Tree Frog #1

6:00 A.M.

Chattanooga Tree Frog Rescue 001

He was in the bathroom, on the tile floor in the corner, completely gray colored and with his eyes closed and dog hair stuck to his sticky toes.

I took him into the kitchen and rinsed him off in the sink, and immediately he turned bright green and opened his sweet eyes!

I put him outside our window in a shrub where I've seen these kinds of frogs before, and a few minutes later he was gone.

Happy life, buddy!