Rabbits/Expert Profile

Expertise

I have 5+ years of experience with House Rabbits, rescue groups, and working with shelter rabbits. I do educational talks about house rabbits. I advise potential adopters, supervise bunny 'dates', fundraising/educational rabbit events, and help rabbit owners with their rabbits. I will answer questions about: general behaviors, body language, housing, toys, bunny-proofing, diet, spaying/neutering issues, nail clips, preventative measures, diet, and health questions. I will not discuss: anything that deals with rabbits for fur, food, factory-style breeding, deliberate or casual breeding by pet owners, or experimentation.

My focus is solely on rabbits as loved pets. It's why I'm a House Rabbit Society member rather than an ARBA member. If you don't view your rabbit the same way you would a pet dog or cat, please ask another expert your question.

I am not a veterinarian and cannot conclusively diagnose your rabbit. My advice does not take the place of a good rabbit vet. IF YOU THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM, DON'T WAIT FOR A REPLY, GET TO A VET IMMEDIATELY!!! Sometimes what appears to be a small problem is life-threatening.

The House Rabbit Society has references on their site for vets they have researched. There are US and international links here for vets all over the world with rabbit experience: www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

I recommend the following resources to all rabbit owners:

House Rabbit Society - online rabbit info (www.rabbit.org)
Book: Rabbit Health in the 21st Century 2nd Ed. by Kathy Smith
Book: House Rabbit Handbook 4th Ed. by Marinell Harriman

Experience in the area

House Rabbit Member since 2004 Discover Your House Rabbit organizer - 2006 Rabbit Adopter since 2004 HAWS Board of Education member (rabbits) since 2005 HAWS Rabbit Volunteer since 2004

Organizations

National House Rabbit Society, Wisconsin House Rabbit Society, Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS), Education Board Member for Rabbits, Friends of HAWS

Education/Credentials

BSEE, MSEE (Electrical/Computer Engineering), Marquette University

What do you like about this subject?

Rabbits to me are the best pet to have, compared to the other big 2. But they are different and you have to learn how to read them and watch for illness, they don't broadcast it.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I am learning new things everyday about rabbits. If you have one as a pet, you can't afford not to know as much about them as you can to enjoy them to the fullest, and to take care of them the best you can.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Rabbits can cluck! It sounds like a hiccup, but it isn't - it's the sound an extremely happy, content rabbit makes! Also, be very careful what you rabbit eats. They do not vomit, so you have to avoid bad things/poisons from entering in the first place (many common houseplants are poisonous to rabbits). Peace lilies, Aloe Vera and Poinsettias are all dangerous to domestic rabbits.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Many folks with little/no rabbit experience regard them as just a 'pocket pet' much lower than cats & dogs. They have no idea rabbits have individual personalities, are trainable, express likes & dislikes, and are very interactive as an indoor house pet. Much of the blame for overpopulation & euthanization of rabbits abandoned at shelters rests on irresponsible breeders.