"Rabbit rescue is a group effort!"

Cathy Genna, a long time friend of Petwerks, won an award from the New Jersey Veterinarian Medical Association for her work in rabbit rescue. In telling us about it, she claimed, "It's an award for all of us who do rabbit rescue." She shared a clip which was shared at the award luncheon, and we wanted to share with you!



2013 NJVMA Animal Hall of Fame - Cathy Genna from NJVMA on Vimeo.

Animal lovers might enjoy some of the other winners; check out the 2013 award page for more!

Save a bunny's life: get a plant.

As Kermit The Frog said, “It ain’t easy being green.” Well, for a bunny, Easter isn’t any picnic either. Holidays are meant to help us remember and celebrate moments in our lives. The Easter holiday is to remind us of the spring, the rebirth of nature. Rabbits have become a symbol of Easter and of the fertility of nature. All in all, not a bad reputation for a bunny.

However, Easter is one day in the year. A pet bunny can easily live for ten years. So, while the Easter holiday may last but a moment, a single day, that bunny you want to give as a gift may very well need you for the next 3,462.5 days – or longer.

All too often what happens is that a bunny is given as a gift and the children, even the whole family are joyous about this sweet, cute and adorable little addition to the family for a few weeks. Then we’re off to summer and the bunny is forgotten. This once vibrant symbol of life is left in a cage and neglected, or worse, turned loose outside. Once outside, your bunny has a very slim chance of surviving even a few weeks. It is just cruel to subject a bunny to that; where is the love for this creature now?

You want to show the wonders of life? A pet as a gift is not the way to do it. If you do choose to get a living, breathing, creature, you need to commit to learning about them first, and committing to providing for them, not just for one day…but their entire lives.

If you are not SURE you can or are willing to commit to being a parent to a pet bunny for the next 3.462.5 days or more, then just DON’T DO IT!  Get a plant instead, because “While it ain’t easy being green,” it is a lot harder being a neglected pet!

Get a plant, save a bunny’s life!

Adorable note cards now available in the Boutique.

Okay guys, I have a goal for 2013: CRAM the Boutique with adorable bunny items you just gotta have. We're off to a great start, thanks to this find by Scot: blank bunny note cards by Kristiana Pärn. A simple set of six small thank-you sized note cards suitable for mailing. Three cute and quirky designs (two each) of sweet bunny images: a bunny swinging, a bunny napping, and bunnies lounging in trees. A must for your desk, whether at home or at work, so you can dash off a quick note of thanks or well wishes when the need arises! Cards are blank inside so you can add whatever sentiment fits the bill!

Set of six bunny note cards (boxed). 

Some days just take you by surprise.

Some days just take you by surprise. And not long ago, Scot had one of those days.

Petwerks World Headquarters is located on a short street in the tiny town of Turner, just outside Salem, Oregon. Our quiet street has a few small businesses located in warehouses on one side, and houses on the other. The most action the street sees is when Scot goes next door to borrow the forklift the paving company graciously starting sharing with us when ours died.

We have a small dumpster out front. We go to great lengths to find ways to recycle anything and everything. When we were in Bloomington, Indiana, Mary at the Monroe County Indiana Solid Waste Management District Reuse Center was AMAZING at connecting the oddest of items with the most amazing of uses. The holes we cut in carpeting for the Bunny Abodes? She found a school that used those and other carpet scraps for children to use as alphabet boards as they learned to read. Plexiglass ends? Those were really hot for use in creating museum mounts! 

The backside...  

Alas, this area does not have something that amazing. We have found individuals to take wood offcuts for kindling, sawdust for mulch, etc. Locals have also helped themselves to the contents of our dumper, and this is both good in that items are finding a second life, but bad as some people aren't very thoughtful and will leave a big mess around our dumpster. 

We were thinking of pulling the dumpster inside each day. 

A few weeks ago, a gentleman that Scot has seen at the house across the street from time to time approached him as he was heading for his truck to leave for the day. The gentleman approaches him, and holds up a piece of scrap MDF we use in the Bunny Abode House Rabbit Condo flooring. He is showing the back side, so Scot knows its our scrap. He said he wanted to give us something, and turns the scrap over. 

Michael's amazing painting.

What was once a piece of scrap wood was a beautiful and radiant painting of a path through the lush woods leading toward a shining light. The photos I've taken really do not do it justice. The colors glow wish such rich depth, you can almost smell fresh grass!

Scot was pretty dumbfounded, and expressed his amazement. The man was very mild mannered, somewhat shy, and said he just "dabbles" and wanted to show us what he had done with our scrap. His is a story of the times; with degrees in marketing and theology (and clearly a bundle of creative talent), he's found himself out of a job, now living with his ex-wife to make ends meet.

And "dabbling" in his spare time.

I'm no art critic, but this looks way beyond dabbling to me. Looking at the painting up close, the thousands of brushstrokes are just as beautiful as the piece taken as a whole.  They amaze me; each so perfect where it lies, and representing something that I couldn't even begin to piece together from paint and brush.

The painting now sits on Scot's bookshelf at Petwerks. It is headed for a proper framing and hanging. We'll treasure it forever! What a great reminder that the most amazing things can be made from humble beginnings!

I think we'll leave the dumpster right where it is, perhaps with just a little sign reminding people to please be thoughtful and clean up after themselves. 

The buns at Special Bunny are winners!

Special bunnies are... special!

Christina was our winner of the Halloween photo contest. While she won, the rabbit rescue of her choice won big as well! We sent one dozen of our very special Vacation Villas to Special Bunny,  a very special group helping rabbits with special needs in Washington. Congatulations to all, most of all the rabbits!

What does one dozen of these fun and functional bunny play structures look like? Scot had a little fun stacking and packing these into our little office...

TADA! One dozen Vacation Villas!

Don't forget, order before December 3rd and save 10%!

While our offices are closed for our visit with my parents, the wonders of the Internet are still working to take your order. As you will have to be patient as we will ship it upon our return, to say thanks we are giving you 10% off of any order over $100 (before shipping). Just enter the coupon code "THANKS" as you check out, and the discount will be added to your cart! It's that simple!

[Did you look closely at the image? Can you guess where we are? Follow-up in a comment with your guess! If there's a winner, I'll send them a little gift, so be sure to leave an email where I can get with you to confirm a shipping location. :) ]

Are you ready for your BLACK (BUNNY) FRIDAY deal?

The deals are ON right now!

Just order a 48" Double Level Bunny Abode House Rabbit Condo OR a Bunny Playland - The Ultimate Play Center and use the coupon code BLACKBUN at checkout and receive 20% off of that item! Wowza, that's a great deal! It'll be gone, quick as a bunny, so you need to get on over to petwerks.com and get your order in!

Bonzai, my baby rex boy, is listening for your order now...

That coupon code is only available from 12:01 AM through 11:59 PM on Friday, Pacific Standard Time!

Petwerks Turns 17 Today! Celebrate With Us and SAVE!

We have a lot to be thankful for, as Petwerks turns 17 years old today, November 22, 2012.

It's hard to believe that 20 years ago, in 1992, we brought our first house rabbit, Dinkum, into our lives. He was a Dutch/Harlequin mix, quite handsome. He opened our eyes to what awesome creatures rabbits can be. He was spunky, outgoing, fearless, and a sweet lover of cuddles and treats. It was his need for a durable, reliable, and roomy home to call his own that lead us to design the Bunny Abode, and to start Petwerks. Petwerks officially started in 1995, but Scot had been making toys and play stands for parrots under the name of BirdWerks for a year or two. It all started in the corner of a friend's garage! (We had quite the menagerie back then in a two bedroom apartment, seriously: four lovebirds, a blue crown conure, a sun conure, an eclectus parrot, a hamster, a terrarium with tree frogs, two large fish tanks, a German Shepherd named Bijou and the ruler of the house, Dinkum.)

Petwerks has always remained a small, family run company making products in the USA, using materials produced in the USA whenever possible. I won't lie, that's presented its challenges throughout the years. But we feel its worth it. (We asked for a business consultant's input at one point, and his advice: buy the raw lumber, ship it to China in a container, have it milled and assembled there, and have the finished products shipped back to us in a container. Um... no. While that might have been "cheaper," it certainly isn't a good use of resources, creates a load more pollution, and would take the quality control, which is important to us, out of our hands and into those of the lowest bidder. Not acceptable.) We've had our ups and our downs, for sure. But our hard work is rewarded by a slew of dedicated long time customers, and a steady flow of new customers. While we had stronger days while back in Indiana at the old Gosport Opera House where we kept ourselves and two full time employees busy while, we've weathered the storm of the changes in our economy and found ways to do things more efficienty, which helps us keep costs down.

We've been helping bunny slaves for 17 years, and we plan to be around for many more! :-) We continue to have new ideas and can't wait to show them to you!

Petwerks is Scot Leith working full time in our manufacturing facility along with our full time employee Brian in Turner, Oregon. I'm Scot's wife, Amy, and I work part time on marketing, the web site, office tech needs, etc. (I work part time here because I work full time elsewhere.) These days it's just us, our own two buns Lizzie (Butterscotch Dutch) and Bonzai (mini Rex), our dogs Jackson (10 month old Corgi/Border Collie mix), Greta (8 year old all-white German Shepherd, inherited from Scot's mother when she passed away unexpectedly earlier this year) and Winston (14 year old Corgi/Spaniel mix), along with foster buns Indy and Andy.

We are celebrating by giving our customers two great opportunities to save:

1. We will be on vacation visiting my parents from November 22nd through December 2nd. During that time, any order of $100 or more in product (not including shipping) will receive 10% off if you use the coupon code "THANKS" during your checkout.
   
2. Forget "Black Friday" and get a great deal during BLACK BUN DAY on November 23rd! On that day ONLY, order a 48" Double Level Bunny Abode and save 20% by using the coupon code "BLACKBUN" during your checkout. 

Help us AND help your friends by sharing this info. Follow us on Twitter (and retweet the tweets about the sales), mention us in a Facebook post, link to our Facebook posts, etc. THANK YOU! 

BLACK (BUNNY) FRIDAY Sale: 20% off a 48" Double Level Bunny Abode!

You know at Petwerks we don't often run sales, because we work hard every single day to bring you the best possible prices on only the best products for your house rabbit. (We demand nothing less, as bunny slaves ourselves!) Despite 2012 being quite a year of loss and turmoil, we have a lot to be thankful for and to celebrate. We are thanking YOU by offering a very special "Black Friday" deal: 20% off a 48" Bunny Abode House Rabbit Condo. This is available FRIDAY ONLY, and you get it by ordering through our web site and using the coupon code "BLACKBUN" at checkout!

So let's celebrate the adorable black bunnies out there, like this guy!

This is a one-day-only sale, so help us get the word out; please Tweet, post on Facebook, etc. to share the fun with friends.

Already have a Bunny Abode? Then treat your special little prince or princess to a Bunny Playland - The Ultimate Play Center, also available for FRIDAY ONLY at 20% using the coupon code "BLACKBUN".

You and your favorite rescue win!

Show us a picture of YOUR best carved pumpkin OR other ghoulish handmade Halloween decoration or edible treat. (It does not have to be bunny themed.) From all entrants, we will pick ONE grand prize winner. You will receive a two pack of Vacation Villas, sent to you fre

e from Petwerks! ALSO, we will send a 12 pack of Vacation Villas, a $119.88 value, to the rabbit rescue of your choice! Your chosen organization can use them to please their foster rabbits, raffle them off at their next event, sell them as a fundraiser on eBay--whatever they wish to use them for! The donation will be sent to the organization along with a card noting your involvement in the donation from Petwerks!

THREE runners up will each get a nifty new Bunny Treat Ball, an adjustable plastic ball you can fill with little nibbles your inquisitive bun gets as they nose and roll it around. These items aren't even on the website yet, so you can be the FIRST to try them.

Entering is easy: post YOUR entry on the Petwerks Facebook wall. Then… watch as others vote with LIKES! We encourage you to enlist your friends, family, and favorite rabbit rescue organization to get in on the fun… campaign for them to support your entry if you wish. ;)

We will confirm that the winner is the authentic owner/creator of the object in question by either asking and/or doing research online to make sure the photo wasn't just nabbed from another web site, so be ready to show us a picture (in email if you wish) of your face next to your winning object. :)

GOOD LUCK EVERYBUNNY! Contest runs THROUGH November 6th, so toss your hat into the ring! 

Some buns have all the luck! Bunny Abodes in a swanky RV!

One element making our jobs fun is the diversity of those who have opened their hearts to rabbits. We have friends and customers all over, of all ages, of varying backgrounds, etc. We were thrilled to hear from a customer who was looking for the right accommodations for her rabbits, which were going on the road with her in her lovely RV as she embarked upon post-retirement adventures.

Read what she proactively sent us after the Bunny Abode condos were in her rv and ready to roll:

I am SO sorry it's taken me so long to get photos to you of the wonderful environments you created for our traveling rabbits!  I finally have had the time to get the photos resized so here are several.  

We are both SO pleased about how well it has worked out.  You may or may not notice that above the two condos and to the right of the large condos are carriers so we can safely evacuate the rabbits if need be.  You will also notice that the two pairs who have shelves are very happy about using them, tho they clearly also have room to cuddle on the main floor if they wish.  [...] 

Thank you so very much for what you do and the integrity and quality you pour into your business!  If you EVER need a recommendation, please feel free to give people my name. 

MaryKaye B. 

Thank YOU, MaryKaye, for loving your rabbits and giving them only the very best as they share your adventures!

The Twitterplate Contest!

Unique, stylish and adorable bunny items find their way into my hands often. With each I think they'd make a pleasant surprise gift to someone for some reason, or some little contest I do through the BunFun Newsletter. Can we just say I have a bit of a backlog building?

I've been gazing at two lovely small fingerbowl style porcelain pieces that are hand painted with a lovely motif of rabbits frolicking under the moon. They are rustic in design, but perfect in their weight, shape, feel and balance.


I want to give these away to two lucky people!

Petwerks has been blessed to serve you for over 15 years, powered by favorable word of mouth and very grassroots marketing efforts. We do not bombard you with multiple emails each week screaming, "SALE SALE SALE," or other gimmicks. We publish meaningful information when it's warranted, and hope you will share us with new rabbit owners and other house rabbit enthusiasts.

Help us grow our Twitter followers! Getting mentions from YOU will help expose us to the members of YOUR network who are bunny fiends. If they check us out, then THEY follow us and... well, you now how this goes.

So here's a simple Twitter task: mention @Petwerks in a meaningful tweet. Everyone who does this between now and 5:00 PM PST on Monday June 25, 2012 will be entered into a contest. Two winners will be drawn at random and will receive one of these adorable food-safe bowls. They are about 4 inches across. Perfect for a dish of soy and wasabi along side sushi, or a place to park your rings on your dresser at night, or just a cute piece of desk decor.

So Tweet away. Share a product link from our website, or tell us how much you love your Bunny Abode House Rabbit Condo you bought 5, 10, or even 15 years ago! Tweet us a mention with some meaningful information, and ask your other bunny friends to do the same -- if they follow us and repeat a tweet or add their own that, they could win!

Petwerks closed through April 15th.

PLEASE NOTE: Petwerks will be closed through April 15th. Scot's Mom passed away unexpectedly, and we will be back east in Indiana until then. Please help us out by placing an order, but be aware that we cannot begin shipping until after our return. Bunny Abode Condos will not be available until April 24th.

Petwerks needs your help.

Dear friends,

March is wrapping up as a pretty crappy month for us. Today, I put Scot on a plane to Indiana to gather with his brother and sister to help his Mom. She went into the hospital Tuesday for a routine surgery, and due to complications (pulmonary embolism, kidney shut down, medical coma, respirator pretty much sums it up) is... at that point where the hospital starts asking you questions you never want to answer, especially if your family members have never spoken to you about their wishes. (PLEASE, everyone: talk to your loved ones about your wishes if conditions are critical, and End of Life Care choices are a possibility. Do a Living Will to make it formal. At least talk about it so people know.)

This, on the heels of, just a week ago, handling the loss of our dog Marissa to an unexpected discovery of an advanced metastasized cancer. As you know and understand, our companion animals are our family, period. 

Oh, and did I mention that currently we are short one full time employee? So that makes... hiring for a new position... the head of the company gone and... oh yeah, me coming in after my day job to run Petwerks. :) I'm experienced, able and ready to do it, but it does mean a few things:

1) Bunny Abode Condos and some accessories for the condos will not be available until after April 24th.
2) EDIT: Orders for all other items (food, toys, treats, hay, etc.) will be processed upon our return on April 16th. (Previously we stated we'd continue shipping, as I wasn't aware she'd leave us so soon and didn't think I'd have to fly back east, too.)
3) Your patience, understanding AND continued support is very much needed and appreciated. 
4) Please share this with others! Take a moment to hug the ones you love, and pray for those in need.

We need our family and friends now more than ever, just as we've been there for ours when things arise.  We thank you all, and hope April springs up sunnier for everyone.

If you would like to place a condo order to get it into the queue, please call. While you'll have to leave a message, I WILL return your call when I can. If you need Critical Care or another order ASAP, please call and email -- I'll get it out right away even if I have to get up in the middle of the night to go box it up.

Love, hugs and nose rubs,

Amy

Bunnies and pancakes?

Once upon a time, a photographer named  Akutagawa put a pancake on a the head of a bunny named Oolong and put it up on the Internet. An early 2000's Internet meme was born, and continues to this day. (To read the whole story, see Wikipedia.) Oolong, thanks to his photo-crazy owner, was soon the impetus for a lot of discussion about rabbits.

And it's just one of the bunny and pancake connections that exist in this world. There are quite a few. It's kinda weird. But... we like bunnies. And we like pancakes. So it's okay.

Did you know there are multiple days to celebrate pancakes? While not an official holiday, IHOP has National Pancake Day - February 28, 2012. Eat at IHOP and get a free short stack on that day, in hopes that you will make a charitable donation.

Then there's Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day. It's the day preceding Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. What's the 'cake connection? I'm told pancakes are eaten before Lent begins as they often contain one or more of the ingredients that are restricted during Lent. So it's a celebration if you're into that flavor of religion/spirituality.

And quite randomly I've read that National Pancake Day is September 26. Why? I have no idea. But it seems oddly far away from National Maple Syrup Day on December 17th. Who can wait that long?

Whatever day you might choose, make your own Bunny Pancakes to celebrate.  Or find a variety of seriously good pancake variations at Serious Eats.

Either way, enjoy the unique and special relationship you have with your rabbit today. Whether pancakes are involved or not. 

Because bunnies breed like...well, bunnies!

February 28th is World Spay Day!

As someone who fosters pet rabbits as well as simply a concerned citizen, I can't emphasize enough the importance of getting your pets, and especially rabbits, spayed and neutered. Not only does it cut down on overpopulation, it also helps to cut the risks of some cancers, and can certainly help with those pesky behavioral issues.

Add to that the fact that many foster and rescue groups are pushed to the brink of their capabilities all at a time when belt tightening and budget cuts have made it such that many community animal shelters no longer even accept rabbits, and you have a situation where even a few extra bunnies is a big deal with no place to go.

There are currently thousands of loving, adoptable, often spayed and neutered, pet bunnies out there at shelters and rescue organizations just waiting for a good home. Let's not add to that situation when the solution is just so simple.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So this World Spay Day, make sure ALL your pets are spayed and neutered!

Check out the Humane Society of the United States for further information. Also check with your local rabbit rescue or shelter to find local veterinarians specializing in rabbit spays and neuters.

I thank you and the bunnies thank you!

Cell phones and bunnies and tails, oh my!

Quirky ideas, slick design, and bunnies... three things that'll get me every time. Put them together and...

This is a rather ridiculous product... ridiculously cute, is it not!?

Check out the Rabito. I love the little logo in the lower right corner. It took me a moment to realize it's a bunny, hopping away, as seen from the back. 

The case is protective, AND the tail acts as a stand so you can sit your phone down and have it propped up so you can watch your favorite YouTube video of bunnies... like this one. It's so sweet and adorable it will make you laugh! 

Bunnies everywhere; and let me carry your artsy bunny item!

Fab is one of my favorite places to find quirky things -- sometimes great mod design of useful products I never knew I just HAD to have, and other times... some really out there stuff that I'm sure no one needs. But that stuff is sometimes awesome, too. :)

Here we have little caddies made from recycle/reconstituted/nifty-eco-friendly-green-words leather scraps and ends. That looks like bunnies. Sorta. Cute? 

On a similar note, I am seeking bunny themed gift ware of a unique fashion for the Petwerks Boutique. If you are an artist or craftsperson with a unique, American made item available for wholesale (small purchases, in the dozens and not the thousands), please drop me a line -- we might be able to help each other out.

Cilantro recall? Seriously? Yes!

This is from http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/12/cilantro-recalled-due-to-possible-salmonella/ . Important news. Please pass it on!

Cilantro Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella

BY JULIA THOMAS | DEC 11, 2011

A California produce distributor, Pacific International Marketing, or Pacific, is recalling 6,141 cartons of cilantro due to potential Salmonella contamination.

A sample of the cilantro tested positive for Salmonella, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

No illnesses have been reported.

 

Source of the contamination is unknown, the Salinas-based distributor said in a news release.  The cilantro came from Salt River farming, located in Phoenix, AZ and was distributed through retailers in California, Arizona, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana, South Carolina and Missouri.

The California Department of Public Health, FDA and Pacific are coordinating the recall.

The recalled cilantro is distributed in Pacific International Marketing cartons of 60 bunches, 30 bunches and 20 3-bunched sleeves. The bunched cilantro has a twist tie labeled "Pacific" and the UPC code 33383 80104. The UPC code for sleeves is 40695 80104.

The carton codes are:

 

- 19 78

  111411 

- 19 78

  111811

- 19 84

  111811 

- 19 94

  111811

- 19 78

  112111 

- 19 78

  111911

- 19 84 

  111911

 

- 19 94 

  111911 

Walmart and Giant Eagle advised their customers that the recalled cilantro bunches were sold in some of their stores. The FDA does not routinely provide lists of retailers that sold recalled products, but suggests consumers ask stores if they sold recalled products. Some retailers notify their customers about recalls.

Customers who purchased the cilantro after Nov. 16 but before Dec. 10 can return to the place of purchase for a full refund. 

For more information, contact Pacific International Marketing at 831-755-1398, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST or by mail at: P.O. Box 3737, Salinas, CA 93912-3737. 

© Food Safety News

Have a safe and happy holiday!

by Amy Young-Leith with editorial assistance provided by Bonzi the Bitchin' Rex and Lizzie the Stone Cold Boxer

Through the media we see holidays as bright, happy, and filled with joy. Let's be honest, though; it can also contain some hassle, stress and crazy times. Luckily, we only have to sit down with our rabbits (and other companion animals), take a deep breath, and focus on what's really important to get a little reprieve from the craziness.

Amidst the hustle, however, there are some important things to watch out for! 

• Increased household hazzards
• Powered decorations mean more powder cords
• Plastic, chemically or cosmetically treated Christmas trees 
• Plastic tinsel and other decorations

Bunnies are like children; a great deal of their experience with the world comes through their mouth! It's up to us to make sure we keep dangers out of their reach. Nudging, biting and chewing are how inquisitive buns get the 411 on what's going on.  Be sure to carefully consider if a bun's home range needs to be restricted or altered if you have new, temporary dangers present in the home. A baby gate or x-pen blocking off the room with a Christmas tree, a strategic decorating approach, and vigilant attention to what gets left on the floor can save a bun from an emergency trip to the vet, or worse!

The good news is that NATURAL Christmas trees are safe -- as Dinkum made perfectly clear as he'd hop up onto the couch, race up my chest and nudge my nose and I'd smell the unmistakable scent of a bun who'd been chowing on the pine for a while. But be sure to ask before you buy a tree; a "natural" looking tree may still have been treated with pesticides, fire retardent, even paint! (Yes, some lots will spray their trees with a paint! So much for natural... )

Natural pinecones are safe as well; again, many sources of pinecones, however, will not be natural, if if they look it! (You can be totally safe with Billy's Bag of Pinecones, one of our favorite products (and clearly, it was Billy the Wonder Rex's favorite, too). Pinecones purchased at craft stores will usually be coated with a scent, some type of sealant, or other chemical process which makes them unsafe for bunny consumption.

In general, keep holiday and house plants (such as poinsettia) out of reach of pets. Most aren't toxic, but some can lead to stomach upset, and some ARE toxic... so just play it safe. Setting out a little pot of herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro) that you find in your holiday shopping rounds would always be appreciated by your buns, of course. (I was forced at bun-point to include that.)

If your bun has access to your natural tree, keep in mind the placement of lights and other decorations that may also fall within reach. For years our Christmas tree was somewhat "naked" at the bottom. We stopped about a foot from the bottom, leaving plenty of "periscope room" so buns could enjoy the tree, too, without risk.

•  Increased social or emotional stress
• New people
• People who are unfamiliar with rabbits and their "signs" and who are overly eager to interact with your bun as if s/he were a stuffed animal
• Those who don't have much respect for people's personal space, much less an animals
• Changes in routine

Every bun is different; some are the belle of a rowdy ball, while others are wallflowers or outright shrinking violets. Take your bun's social and emotional needs into consideration during the holiday time, too.

I'm a strong believer that our buns are products of their environment over time; I've socialized frightened, wild, and abused buns into confident, outgoing social butterflies... but some aren't and never will be. If your bun likes a party, then be sure to include them in festivities. Set up an x-pen in your living room so they can be a part of the holiday festivities. Place a bowl of bunny safe treats nearby so guests can treat your bun and make a great first impression on them (veggie sticks in their favorite selections are great for this, or any of our fun and healthy treats).

But if your bun is clearly distracted, worried, and stressed by new people or boisterous activity, be sure to create a space just for them. Relocating their usual home to a quiet space is preferable; so much will remain familiar it will be a comfort to them. If they are free range, create an x-pen area for them somewhere calm, putting their familiar items in it (like a used litter box, toys, any blankies or what not). Be sure to return to that space often to soothe them, and bring plenty of treats.

OK, THAT'S IT, GUYS. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE SOLUTION TO EVERY THING IS A BUNNY TREAT!

Ok, where was I?

In your home, your guests are looking to you for direction. Lay clear groundrules. If your bun doesn't like to be picked up, state people are NOT to attempt to pick up your rabbit, and if someone starts to, directly and gently say, "Please, as I said, do not pick Buster up." This is your home, and your bun's safety and sanity depend upon you! Children should always be supervised with animals, and you will know well what adults should be supervised with them too! :) And if their area is off limits, make that clear, perhaps even with a sign, or even a locked door.

If other family members bring over pets such as dogs, secure your rabbit in an area that dog will not ever, no-how no-way get access to. There are many wonderful companion dogs who are not familiar with companion rabbits, and if they are of a breed with a strong hunting instinct... things can go VERY wrong, VERY quickly. Stop that from even being a remote possibility.

In the midst of busy routines, keep your bunny's day to day the same, if possible. Feeding times, what you feed, etc. being routine can help avoid stomach upset that may be compounded by stress, or vice versa.

^&aNd moore (*&^treets. feed mour treits. nom nom nom.

GET OFF THE KEYBOARD!