The Rewards of Fostering
by Susan Harrow
My first try at fostering rabbits has turned out to be fun, gratifying, and a learning experience. Late in June 1998, I received a call from our regional humane society. Three domestic baby rabbits had been found outdoors, and brought in. They were too young to stay there, one was not doing well and not expected to live, and no one there could care for them anyway. Could I come and get them?
Although I had never had such tiny bunnies before, I agreed immediately. My husband and I drove quickly to the shelter, my heart pounding with anxiety. I already felt committed and responsible for those little rabbits! The staff let us in the back door, as the shelter was closed for the day. We rushed to a back room, and there were two tiny white babies, little cottonballs with ears, huddled in a metal cage. The third baby had already passed away and had been removed. The remaining bunnies' tiny ears were drooping pitifully. We gently scooped them into a small cardboard box, where a piece of soft fleece was laid. I felt their little tummies, which were rounded. That meant they'd been fed by Momma Bunny, wherever she was. I sent a silent, fervent wish to her for her safety, and promised I would try my very best with her babies.
We took the babies home and set their little box in the bathroom,
which was quiet and had a good heater. I read everything about fostering infant rabbits in the
House Rabbit Handbook, and also implored HRS chapters from
San Diego and
Washington State for help, which
I gratefully received. I began feeding the babies
Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) with acidophilus added, with a tiny syringe. The larger baby started to take the
milk, but the tinier baby wouldn't -- so I would carefully place a drop on her lips and she would have to lick
it off. I was so worried about the amount they were taking in, so we bought a small scale and weighed the babies
every day. They only weighed 6 ounces at the end of the first week!
Within days, the bunnies were happily lapping the milk off the end of the syringe. They soon tired of the box, and began to scramble out and hop around. Whenever I entered their room, they would run to me, sit on my feet and look up, waiting for their milk. Those little furry faces totally captivated me! Soon I had to use two syringes and feed them simultaneously. They started to nibble timothy and alfalfa hay. They adored finely grated carrots, but I had to be careful they didn't eat too much and upset their stomachs. Carefully, I cleaned their bottoms with a cotton ball and watched them vigilantly for any signs of diarrhea. I had read that the transition between milk and solid foods can be critical for baby rabbits. Fortunately, they continued to thrive.
Now those tiny babies are bouncing youngsters, over five pounds each! We named them Mork and Mindy. We affectionately refer to them as our "white buffaloes" for the way they thunder back and forth in their pen.
Fostering these rabbits was a fantastic experience for me. I learned so much: infant rabbit care, more diet knowledge, and the immense satisfaction of seeing those little lives saved. I formally adopted Mork and Mindy; after all, I'm their mother!