Maple Cottage adopts Tim Tam the Bunny

Each year, when asked what she wants for her birthday, the response is the same.

Miss Bok (2):  'Wanna bunny mummy'
Me:                 'Maybe when you're a big girl, like 7'
Miss Bok (3):  'Wanna bunny mummy'

Me:                 'Maybe when you're a big girl, like 7'
Miss Bok (4):  'I want a bunny mum'

Me:                 'Maybe when you're a big girl, like 7'
Miss Bok (5):  'Muuuuum I really really want a rabbit for my birthday!'

Me:                 'Maybe when you're a big girl, like 7'
Miss Bok (6):  'I'm nearly 7.  You promised me a rabbit mum!'

Me:                 'OH CRAP!'  (when did turning 7 happen????  It seemed so far away!!)

So...Miss Bok(6) turns 7 this month.  And I have to make good on my promise.

Well I've been searching around for a bunny and decided to adopt one from the Rabbit Runaway Orphanage.  They take in bunnies that have been found, taken away by the RSPCA, or taken to the vet to be put down by owners who have decided that bunnies aren't for them after all.  The Rabbit Runaway Orphanage does amazing work.  Last weekend we went to visit them in Olinda to pick out a suitable bunny.  

The orphanage really is a bunny haven.  Even the location is magic, up in the Dandenong Ranges.  The drive to Olinda is gorgeous, we head up into the hills often.  The shops have the most beautiful wares.

 

Have you met miss jones

We fell in love with so many of the bunnies, but many are very sick and need constant care and careful monitoring - not for a household with two small children. The care, passion and dedication Bryce and Judy have for their orphans is heart warming.  

Miss Bok and I picked out 'Cuba' (Miss Bok has since renamed him to Tim Tam).  He was taken to Save a Dog by kind people who found him, took him to a vet who then brought him to the orphanage from there.  He is a very sweet boy and we brought him home this weekend.  

Isn't Tim Tam adorable??

Plenty of greens in the garden for him to eat...

He has his pick of greens from the vegie patch - today it is 

purple sprouting broccoli leaves and red oak lettuce 

His area is here, with litter tray, food, cat house to sleep in - and free range (you can tell I'm a hen keeper when I can't find better terms to use than that!!) when we are home as he's been very good with using the litter tray so far.

I've learnt a lot about bunnies.

• They should live inside because the strain of disease the government released to control the wild rabbit population has no cure or vaccine in Australia and many pet bunnies living outside die when they are bitten by mosquitoes
• They can be toilet trained
• They don't smell!  (I guess unless you don't clean out the litter?)
• They really shouldn't eat a lot of carrots - or even a lot of vegies!
• They are very affectionate

Miss Bok is absolutely delighted!  Her birthday is in a week or two so Tim Tam as she has renamed him, is her early birthday gift.  Master Bok (2) is delighted as well.  

 

Mr Bok wonders if we are becoming a farm.

The chooks haven't met him yet.  I wonder what they'll make of him?