Persephone has given birth to a second litter, adding seven more bunny babies to Memphis. That makes the Memphis bunny count at fifteen from the October rescue case.

Persephone and her first litter of seven babies were among about 60 rabbits rescued on October 28, 2005 from a hoarding situation in Tennessee. For more information see the article “Over 60 Rabbits Rescued by Bunny Rescue in TN Hoarding Case” ( http://network.bestfriends.org/News/PostDetail.aspx?g=f12b53cb7eb243beae1445e05286cda1&np=96 )

Patricia Brainard, manager of Rabbitwise in Memphis ( http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN349.html ) says “We judge that she (Persephone) was impregnated within two weeks of giving birth. She wasn't spayed along with the others in this rescue because it would have been dangerous while she was nursing, and the babies were too young to wean. Because the second litter came so quickly after the first, she showed no outward signs of pregnancy until she began to build her nest (and she was examined by two vets and at least three experienced rabbit people). The new babies appear to be flourishing. Persephone is an excellent mother. She is very thin, but is eating well and is healthy and active. She will be spayed in February and will never have to go through this again”.

The first litter of bunnies have been named and are just about ready to find forever homes. Patricia Brainard says “The babies have been named Faith, Hope, Charity, Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, and Temperance. They have all been seen by the vet and pronounced healthy. I am trying to keep them sorted out so that I can figure out who is best friends with whom, because I would like to place them in pairs (spayed and neutered pairs, of course!) Justice and Prudence seem to be buddies... Justice is an especially friendly little rabbit, and looks just like Thumper. Prudence is the one long-haired rabbit in the litter. She's a bit shy. The others all look so much alike that I am clipping bits of fur off their backs so that I can tell them apart more easily”.

To offer assistance to Bunny Rescue, view a list of needed items or see about adopting a rabbit, see their Website at http://www.bunnyrescue.net

For more information and a list of needed items and to learn about responsible rabbit care, see The House Rabbit Society at http://www.rabbit.org

For more information on Hoarding Rabbits from The Wisconsin House Rabbit Society, see: http://www.wisconsinhrs.org/Articles/Animal%20Hoarding.htm

Article by Kathy Sumpter
West Tennessee Animal Coalition - www.WestTNAnimalCoalition.org