Each week WKTV features adoptable pets from area shelters. This week, we focus on Carrot, a bunny available for adoption at West Michigan Critter Haven.
By West Michigan Critter Haven
Carrot is a Dutch rabbit with a beautiful gray and white coat. But she’s more than looks. She’s a smart, sassy girl and knows what she likes. She adores shoulder rubs and bum scratches. Like most rabbits, she takes pride in her personal space and doesn’t approve of any rearranging that she hasn’t done herself. She loves fresh leafy greens and grass hay. She will grunt her disapproval if you don’t feed her quickly enough, too. Her foster person adores her and Carrot has wiggled her way into the hearts of many that have followed her story and generously donated to cover her medical costs.
Like many of our surrendered critters, Carrot the rabbit was relinquished to us by a family who had outgrown her. She was a pet shop purchase for their daughter. Several years later when the daughter left for college, the parents decided they no longer had the time to care for Carrot. They reached out to us and we took Carrot as soon as we had an opening in our foster network, in October 2016.
As soon as Carrot came into our care, we had a suspicion something wasn’t quite right. While doing a careful physical check and nail trim for Carrot, we noticed her belly was quite enlarged and as tight as a drum. Our minds immediately went to reproductive organ cancer since Carrot was an unspayed female. Unfortunately, unspayed female rabbits have an 80 percent chance of developing uterine cancer. Spaying and neutering rabbits is absolutely crucial to their health and wellbeing. This is something that many rabbit owners are not aware of.
As with all of our unaltered foster rabbits, Carrot went in for her spay surgery just a few days after coming into our care. Our worst fears became reality when our veterinarian informed us that while the surgery went well, Carrot had been suffering from uterine cancer. The mass that was removed from her was nearly one-third of her body mass. And to make matters worse, less than 24 hours after her surgery, Carrot promptly demolished her sutures and ate the staples that were required for the size of the incision.
Carrot is a fighter with a huge personality. Her x-rays showed no signs of cancer anywhere else in her body. She also successfully passed her staples. We’re happy to say she’s in wonderful health. So aside from scaring the heck out of us with a rollercoaster of medical issues, the only thing she has left to do in our care is find her forever home.
Carrot is roughly six years old. In rabbit years, this is about middle age. Rabbits routinely live to be 12 years and older. She’s litter trained and spends her unsupervised time in a large dog exercise pen where she can stretch out and romp around freely. We do not advocate the use of cages, as they are quite restrictive. When supervised, she loves exploring her bedroom and other bunny-proofed parts of her foster home.
Carrot is a sweet, independent rabbit that will require a patient, loving adopter. She would do best in a home with adults or a family with mature children who will respect her and give her the space she needs to adjust. Since rabbits are prey animals, most do not like to be held. She is the type of rabbit that enjoys human company on her level. She enjoys flopping down near you while you watch TV or enjoy a book on the floor with her. She will also beg sweetly for treats by standing on her tippy toes against you to do her best to reach the treats in your hand!
Rabbits are not easy, starter pets. Carrot’s story is the perfect example of this. They are extremely intelligent and trainable. They require attention, love and a life indoors with their families. West Michigan Critter Haven is a chapter of the House Rabbit Society. To learn more about caring for rabbits, please visit http://rabbit.org/.
More About Carrot
- Litter trained
- Spayed
- No small children
Want to adopt Carrot? Her adoption fee is $75. You can learn more about Carrot and other West Michigan Critter Haven adoptables at http://wmicritterhaven.org. All adopters must be at least 18 years old.
Interested in fostering small animals for West Michigan Critter Haven? Email info@wmicritterhaven.org.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Donate at http://wmicritterhaven.org!
