March 14, 2025 • 36 mins
Small pets, big hearts! Join us for a conversation with Hannah Lorio Falgout from Jefferson SPCA about their amazing small animal adoption program.
Check out the Jefferson SPCA website here: Jefferson SPCA Adoptable Rabbits | jeffersonspca
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Episode Transcript
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Dixie (00:02):
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
people and rescues making adifference in the lives of animals.
Today's guest is Hannah Lorio Falgout,and she is the small animal adoption
coordinator at the Jefferson SPCA.
Hi Hannah.
How are you?
Hannah (00:19):
I'm good, how are you?
Dixie (00:21):
I'm great.
Can you tell us about yourself and how youbecame involved in small animal rescue?
Hannah (00:27):
Yeah, so I I got involved volunteering, funnily enough.
Rachel, who is my boss shehad posted a picture 'cause I
had adopted my cats from there
but she had posted a picture and we werefriends on Facebook of a new bunny set up.
Asking basically if anybodywanted to volunteer to play
(00:48):
with rabbits and whatnot.
And I was like I'll volunteer.
Like I've always had rabbits prettymuch my whole entire life actually.
Because when I was in fifth grade, Iactually went to Jefferson Feed, which
is where our adoptables are Jefferson.
SPCA is inside of there.
And.
My first bunny was from there.
I actually adopted him.
His name was Frosty, and hestarted my whole journey.
(01:12):
So I really startedresearching and all of that.
And just got like super into rabbits.
So then I started, watching YouTubeand advocating for bunnies and
stuff so that's how I got involved.
I was in another job at the time and Iwas telling her how I was ready, to move
(01:32):
on with my life, get a new job, and shementioned that she needed an assistant.
So I got hired with them.
So now I'm like the program'sdirector's assistant and the
small animal adoption coordinator.
So that's how I got to where I am now.
Dixie (01:49):
Now you said that you had first found out about
them through adopting cats.
Do you still currently have cats as well?
Hannah (01:56):
Yes, I do.
I have four cats.
Two of my cats I adopted 2020 I believe.
And they are older cats.
I didn't want kittens.
I love kittens, but.
I wanted older cats 'cause I justfreak out with little things.
So yeah, so we have two cats that camefrom there and then a couple years later
(02:18):
I always wanted a black cat, so I endedup adopting another cat at that time.
And then recently, like inthe past year, I trapped a cat
that was unfixed fairly easily.
Like I literally just picked him up.
And I took him home 'causeI was like texted Rachel.
I was like, Hey, like Ineed to get this cat fixed.
(02:38):
And I was in the bathroomwith him 'cause that's where
I was keeping him at the time.
And he just crawled in mylap and just sat there.
And I was like, you don'twanna be a street cat.
So I ended up with afourth one because of that.
Dixie (02:51):
That's good And I'm glad to hear too that you adopted adult cats.
And also a black cat because those are theones that are the hardest to get adopted.
Everybody wants kittens.
I like kittens, don't get me wrong,but getting a cat, it's so much easier.
You know what you're getting into already
Hannah (03:08):
right?
Kittens are so cute.
Anything, any baby.
Animal is cute.
But I just, I, my heart goesout to older animals in general.
I always adopt even with rabbits,like all of mine were like moms.
I never adopted, the babies ifthey were found with babies.
I always adopted the mom rabbits'cause I always fell in love with them.
(03:28):
Always drawn to that for some reason.
Dixie (03:31):
So do you allow the cats to interact with the rabbits
or do you keep 'em separated?
Hannah (03:37):
I do and don't.
So one, I have a bunny roomwhere five of my bunnies free ro.
So I actually have seven rabbitsand two free ro in my bedroom.
I keep my bedroom door closed onlybecause one of them will run into the
other bunny room and start fights.
(03:57):
So I have to keep them separated.
But I do leave the bunny room door openmost of the time because they don't.
Venture out of their room really.
And my cats will go in there and hangout with them and it's funny, but one
of my bunnies really loves the cat thatI recently rescued from the street.
They will literally sharelike vegetables together.
Like they will sit on the rug andboth eat their veggies together.
(04:21):
And it's so cute.
Dixie (04:23):
Yeah.
I'm glad to hear too that, 'causeI, I think there's a lot of
people that don't realize thatcats and bunnies can get along.
Hannah (04:30):
They're, they can be dangerous in a sense.
Like recently we did rescue a bunny at theWorld War II Museum and it had abscesses
all over, and we recently found outthat the bacteria was from cat saliva.
But that's usually notreally common for it to happen
But yeah, that's a veryslim case most of the time.
(04:52):
Like I think domesticated indoor catscan get along with rabbits fairly well.
Dixie (04:59):
So now, what types of small animals does your organization primarily rescue?
Hannah (05:05):
We rescue all kinds, mostly rabbits and Guinea pigs.
But recently we took in two chinchillasfrom L-A-S-P-C-A and two gerbils
from J Paws, which is the shelter.
So we just take whatever they have.
I don't think we would ever do likesnakes or anything like that, but
(05:26):
I've, they have never gotten that.
'cause I don't know anything aboutthem and I don't really do reptiles.
Dixie (05:33):
So Do most of the animals typically come from the shelter?
Hannah (05:38):
Yes, most of 'em do.
More recently, like within the year sinceI've been working there, I was rescuing
a lot from parks around Jefferson area.
Like Lafreniere Park is one bigone that a lot of people in our
area know about, where there wasjust a surge of white bunnies.
White bunnies are actually theleast adopted bunnies because their
(05:59):
eyes are red, reddish blue, really
and people don't like that forsome reason, which I get, but I
actually find them the sweetest.
But yeah, they are thehardest to adopt out.
But there was so many living there,they just kept breeding and breeding.
And so us and two other bunnyrescues, Lola Bunny and Friends and
(06:20):
Bun Again Rabbit Rescue, they hadhelped us clear out that park.
And then we also recently.
Cleared out Kenner Park, which wasanother big one that was took forever.
And all the bunnies there were verysick with parasites and just all kinds
of injuries from just living the roughlife, but yeah, mostly now we take
(06:44):
from the shelter but it just depends.
Dixie (06:49):
What are some of the biggest misconceptions people
have about small animal rescue?
Hannah (06:56):
I think people just don't know it exists.
That's the thing I think when people thinkof rabbits, they think of baby bunnies.
They don't think that people rehomethem or that, if people have a bunny
and they decide they don't wantit, that it can just live outside.
Because wild bunnies live outside.
And the truth is domesticated rabbits,they have some instincts of a wild rabbit.
(07:19):
Their brain has actually decreasedsince we've domesticated them.
So they don't have the ins asmuch of the instinct as a wild
bunny and they don't survive.
I think it's also just like anotherthing, like we recently did a bunny
bunko, 'cause we've been raising money to.
(07:40):
Build the rabbits at the rescue, newenclosures that are more standard size
for what they should be living in, ifthey're going to live in a cage, which
I always advocate for free roaming.
If somebody feels they need tohave a rabbit live in some type of
enclosure, I'm totally okay with that.
But I think there's a totalmisconception of spaying and neutering.
(08:01):
Like at the bunny bunko, thislady argued with my boss.
And was like, you can'tspay and neuter bunnies.
And she just kept arguing with herand my boss was like, yes, you can.
Like we do it all the time.
So there's a lot of misconceptionswhere people just don't think that vets,
exist for small animals, but they do.
Dixie (08:25):
Yeah, when I had Lola and friends on, we were talking about the bunny
reproduction and how every 28 days,and I knew Bunnies had a lot, but I
had no idea it was that close togetherand and the fact that people just
go dump 'em and don't spay a neuterhim, it causes a really big problem.
Hannah (08:45):
It does, and it's a huge problem, especially like during Easter.
We even have people granted that we arein a store that people think, oh, you
can just go buy an animal from the storethat we're located in, and people will
come during Easter time, which I actuallystop adoptions a few weeks before Easter,
and then a couple weeks after as well toprevent people, just bunnies getting in.
(09:09):
People that don't have the right.
Intentions.
But yeah, people will walk inall the time and just be like,
so we can't buy a bunny today.
And I'm like, no.
Like we, we do this becausewe're trying to save them.
We're trying to give them their secondchance, and a lot of the times, the
rabbits that are bought at Easterend up on the street a couple months
(09:31):
later and people just don't realize.
There's way more carethat goes into rabbits.
So you think most people think youcan stick 'em in a hutch outside and
they're gonna be fine and thrive, butthey can't thrive in that environment.
I think also the misconceptionsis that they're boring animals,
which they really aren't.
If people would just actually researchand set up the right environment for them
(09:57):
in their home, they could see just howmuch personality a rabbit could have.
Dixie (10:03):
Yeah.
I've seen videos on YouTube wherethey have bunnies that are jumping
all over the bed and runningaround just like a cat would.
Hannah (10:11):
Yeah.
They're crazy little things,but they're so funny.
They make me laugh.
And today I, we just put a new enclosureup actually today, and one of the bunnies
had been looking just really depressed.
'cause we have adoption tanks thatwe're trying to get rid of so we can sh.
Educate people more on whatthey should be living in.
And so it's like a glass tank andit's almost like a fish tank, really.
(10:35):
And I, when I started working thereI knew that was something I wanted
to change, I just knew that wasn't agood environment and people couldn't
see the bunny's true personalities.
And then again, the normal lookingbunnies were not getting adopted.
You get a lopp or a fuzzylion head or whatever.
Those go quick becausepeople want cuteness.
(10:56):
And I always tell people like,come and meet the bunnies.
Don't just go off looks, comeand meet the personality.
They all have different personalities.
But yeah, that was just something Iwanted to do to help educate people on.
What they should be living in.
But anyway, it's funny we put himin the enclosure and his little
butt was wiggling his, so like whenthey get excited, like their little
(11:19):
tail wags almost and it's so cute.
Dixie (11:22):
Uhhuh.
That's cute.
Now, how do you assess the temperamentor personality of each of them?
Or how would you tell people whoare prospective adopters that they
should spend time with the Bunnyto learn the Bunny's personality?
Hannah (11:38):
So most of the time I tell people to set up a meet and greet, and then
I ask them what they're looking for.
Now, a lot of our, my emails actually comefrom Petfinder, which it's really hard.
For people to really know apersonality through a picture online.
So a lot of our bunnies, likethe one right now that we have
is like an Angora lionhead mix.
(12:00):
Her name's Twix and I've gotten a bunchof emails on her and I'm like, I know
she's beautiful, but she's also reallyshy and because she came from an abusive
case so she's really shy and it takesa while for her to warm up to people.
So I always tell people I'm like youwanna make sure that's what you're
really looking for, and sometimespeople do change their mind on
(12:23):
rabbits and they're like, I reallylike this personality and this bunny.
And I'm like, that's what I want.
I want people to meet theanimal before they take it home
most rabbits, they do take timeto get used to their owner.
They're not like gonna be totally yourbest friend the day you bring them home.
And I think that's for any animal really.
(12:44):
It's just because they're preyanimals, I think it takes a lot longer.
But once you earn a bunny's trust,and I always tell my husband this,
I'm like, once you earn a bunny'strust, it's like the most rewarding
thing because they are prey animals.
And something about that justfeels good that I could earn
that trust of that bunny,
Dixie (13:04):
Do you have fosters too?
Hannah (13:06):
I do somewhat.
There's a few groups, a few people thatI like, really trust to foster, but a
lot of times people don't ask to foster.
I would be more willing to letsome, like right now I'm fostering
one the one from the World WarII Museum with the abscesses.
And she's doing really well now.
(13:27):
But yeah, I usually keep my smallcircle of people that I know because
I don't really have a lot of peoplethat I know that wanna foster rabbits.
It's an overlooked animalin the foster system.
But I would like to grow it at some point,
Dixie (13:41):
yeah.
It's hard to find fosters for dog andcats too, and so I can imagine it's
difficult to find it for bunnies as well.
Hannah (13:49):
And you don't want them just going anywhere.
Most people know theeducation on dogs and cats.
I say that there's still alot of people that don't.
It's, it, there's a whole thing.
'cause rabbits just have so mucheducation that's a little behind.
I say rabbit tears advanced a lot,even in the last 10, 15 years.
(14:09):
So much has changed, even fromwhen I started having rabbits to
now I've changed like a lot of thestuff I do to take care of them,
Dixie (14:19):
What are the, some of the common health issues that
you could see in rabbits?
Hannah (14:24):
Mostly we see parasites.
That's probably the number one GIstasis, which I called a silent killer.
Parasites are fairly treatable, butmost of the time the rabbits that
have 'em are just from outside.
But most of the bunnies that havecome outside from outside that we've
(14:44):
rescued have had some type of parasite.
So that's the one thing I seethe most in rescue as far as like
owning rabbits and having rabbits.
As well as in rescue, GI stasisis a pretty serious thing.
It can be caused by another illness orit can just be from inadequate diet.
(15:08):
Sometimes they just eatsomething they shouldn't.
And sometimes just randomthings will cause it.
Like teeth issues, that's another illness.
Teeth issues.
But.
So it's basically when theystop eating and rabbit's,
guts need to constantly move.
So if they stop eating,they can't throw up.
If they ate something they weren'tsupposed to eat, so basically
(15:30):
get stuck in their digestivetract and they can't get it out.
So sometimes you have to dolike an emergency surgery.
You usually have a 12 to 24hour window for GI stasis.
And the signs of it areusually like hunched over.
They look really depressed almost.
And they're not eating, and they'renot eating their favorite things.
That's the biggest one.
(15:51):
But a lot of times it iscaused from teeth issues.
Like recently, one of my bunniesstarted not eating and I took him
to the vet and they were like, oh,he has some spikes on his teeth
because their teeth, they eat hay.
To grind their teeth down.
But sometimes genetics play a role intheir teeth issues, so they'll have to
(16:13):
shave the little spikes off their teeth.
'cause it'll hurt themwhen they're eating.
Dixie (16:18):
And that's just on the teeth.
Is it like a gum thing?
'cause I know in cats get the stomatitis,which is like a inflammation of the gums
that causes a whole bunch of issues.
And cats don't eat.
Hannah (16:28):
So it, it's literally just like on the teeth.
It's like a growth on the tooth basically.
And they'll just shave 'em offand then it fixes pretty much
most of the time fixes it.
But yeah, the hay is just is so important.
And actually a lot of people thinkthat rabbits should be eating
pellets, but pellets actually makerabbits fat, basically, I call it.
(16:53):
The meat rabbit logic because if you'reRA people see that and people think, oh,
rabbits are supposed to have pellets,but like people gave rabbits back in the
day, pellets to gain weight to make thembetter, to eat, if that makes any sense.
As much as that's morbid.
But.
Yeah, so I always, I do givemy rabbits pellets sometimes,
(17:16):
usually as a little treat.
But they have access to hay 24 7 andthey get veggies twice a day, which
is about a cup for each of them.
Dixie (17:26):
For a new adopter, a person new to bunnies, what should
they be Feeding the bunnies?
Hannah (17:32):
Depends on the age of the bunny under four to six months, they
usually eat alfalfa hay because it'srich and calcium and it's fatty.
So it'll help them, gain weight and grow.
And they'll also have junior pellets.
Which they can eat pellets at avery young age and really should.
(17:56):
Same goes for a nursing mother.
They should have access to pelletsas well because it helps them
to produce milk for the kits.
I'm saying that because we've hadrabbits that gave birth in our
rescue and I had to learn that.
And then for older adult.
(18:16):
Bunnies, they shouldbe eating Timothy hay.
And a little bit of pellets.
About a tablespoon to a fourth.
A cup of pellets is a day.
A day is okay.
And then baby bunnies shouldnever have access to vegetables
until about four months.
Adults can have it really anytime.
Dixie (18:37):
Are there certain vegetables that are better than others?
Hannah (18:41):
The one vegetable.
I always tell people, 'causethey're surprised when I tell
them that bunny should not haveis actually iceberg lettuce.
It is poisonous to rabbits.
And a lot of people don't know that'cause they think of, that the bunnies
can eat all kinds of vegetables.
But yeah, no carrots also sugary.
So if you give a carrot to a bunny.
(19:02):
The misconception of Bugs Bunny,you should really only give
them like a pea-sized amount.
Same goes for fruit and stuff.
It really should be smallamounts 'cause it's so sugary.
But they can eat things like my bunny'sreally like cilantro and parsley.
They also like dill and I give minea lot of romaine lettuce as well.
Dixie (19:25):
So romaine lettuce is
okay, just not
iceberg.
Hannah (19:29):
So romaine lettuce is okay.
I guess iceberg is not goodbecause of the high water content.
It really has no nutrients.
I don't know exactly what makesit poisonous, but I just know
people that have fed their rabbitsbefore they knew iceberg lettuce
and the rabbit would just die.
And I'm like, what?
I didn't know that either.
(19:50):
And I did a lot of research,when I, every vegetable I fed
my rabbits when I first started
. Dixie (19:55):
Yeah.
I didn't know that, that's,I would've thought that they
could have could've eaten that.
I did not know that at all.
Hannah (20:00):
Yeah, I mean I've gone to like the park before we rescued the rabbits
and there would just be carrot sticks andiceberg lettuce one time and broccoli.
And I'm like, oh my gosh.
All those broccoli causes likegas build up in bunnies, which
can also lead to GI stasis.
So I'm like, all the improperveggies were on the ground and those
bunnies were like, they survived.
(20:22):
And it's crazy to me because Iguess they were so used to eating.
Such random food that their gut justtolerated at much more than a rabbit that
lives in your home, if that makes sense.
Dixie (20:34):
Yeah, definitely.
So now when you adopt the rabbits out,of course you're gonna spay a neuter.
What other kind ofvetting do they have done?
Hannah (20:43):
Regular, normal checkups.
They should be getting yearly examsjust because rabbit hide illness.
And we also have beenvaccinating for RHDV2.
It's just like this thing that eruptedlike in the eighties, I believe.
And it's finally made its wayto the United States, but it's
(21:04):
basically contracted from deceasedanimals, but can be carried on human
clothing, human shoes into your home.
And it's, doesn't go awayjust by washing your clothes.
And it lasts about, likethe germs will last 40 days.
On your items.
(21:24):
And basically if a rabbit contracts it.
There's no warning signs, they just die.
So I recommend it, peopleget them vaccinated.
We haven't had too manycases in Louisiana.
I think there's maybe been like onebut somebody recently told me that it's
starting to move into our area more soI'm like kinda recommending it way more.
(21:46):
But yeah, so I do recommendthat I get mine vaccinated.
Because I work around otherrabbits and you just never know.
But I do
Dixie (21:55):
What kind of post-adoption support do you offer to adopters?
. Hannah (22:01):
I always give my adopters for rabbits, at least my phone number,
because I want them to be able to text me.
If they have a question or a concern,because I wish there was that support
for me when I adopted my bunny.
And I know it's helpful because, for dogsand cats, obviously you can totally reach
(22:22):
out to the rescues and ask questions.
Rabbits are a little bitmore on a time basis.
Like for example, a GI stasis.
It's such a timely, area where youneed to get the bunny to a vet.
You wanna make sure.
Things.
I also don't have a lot of adoptersthat are first time rabbit owners
and have never owned a small animal.
(22:43):
And I want them obviously I educateall my adopters before they adopt.
We always have a meet and greet.
We talk about the care, wetalk about, common illnesses
how rabbits should be living.
I want them to be able to, becausethat's a lot of information at once.
I want them to be able to askme for advice or whatever.
So I do provide that for them.
Dixie (23:05):
And if it doesn't work out, do you take the bunnies back?
Hannah (23:08):
I do.
My one thing is I, it sounds terrible,but I tell every adopter this, I'm
like, please do not dump the animal.
I'm like, please do not dump the bunny.
I was like, it takes a lot to catch them,and they really don't survive outside.
I was like, I don't think you'regonna do it, but I have to warn you,
I want you to bring it back to me.
(23:29):
If things aren't workingout, bring it back to me.
I don't want you tobring it to the shelter.
I want to come back to my rescue.
'cause I know them and I know I can getthem to adopt it out again eventually,
because I know their personality,
Dixie (23:41):
and that's the good thing with adopting from a rescue.
'cause I know on social media.
I recently just saw a story aboutsomebody giving away a rabbit with their
hutch because their child lost interest.
Yeah.
And that's just so upsetting.
So it's a good thing that rescues do taketheir animals back if it doesn't work out.
Hannah (24:02):
And it's a super common thing too, that people get rabbits
thinking they're starter pets.
It's and I always tell people, I'mlike, you'd be do better getting your
child a fish than any other animal.
Not even a hamster.
Like they even requirea good amount of care.
I always tell people, like theycome in and they'll be like, Hey
(24:22):
does this, do you think a rabbit'sa good pet for a three-year-old?
And I'm like, absolutely not.
If your kid wants a pet, and Ireally don't think you should get
your kid a pet in general becausethey're going to lose interest.
That's just how kids are.
Get them a fish.
It doesn't live as long.
They can live a long life,but they don't live as long.
They're pretty easy,low maintenance animals.
(24:43):
You gotta clean their tank and feedthem, but they're pretty low maintenance,
so I always tell people, I'm like,not a rabbit, not any small animal.
And they're just so fragile,like Guinea pigs and rabbits can
break their backs just so easily.
And kids love to pick up animalsand hold them very close.
And small animals are just not into that.
Dixie (25:02):
Because they're prey animals.
Hannah (25:05):
Like I get scratched even.
I'm used to carrying bunnies,but even I will get scratched
by their back feet sometimes.
And it hurts.
I'm not gonna drop them, but a kid holdinga bunny may drop an animal if it starts
to scratch at them, because that hurts,
Dixie (25:20):
definitely.
Now you've gone over, the challenges withpeople like dumping bunnies, of course.
So do you have any heartwarmingstories about people adopting bunnies
and getting, before and afters?
Hannah (25:35):
There's one, one of my good fosters and adopters, she
loves red-eyed white bunnies.
And so she's adopted a lot of the onesthat have been harder to adopt out.
One of them was a big giant,like 11 pound red-eyed white.
Oh, wow.
Funny.
Before my boss or I evenworked with the J-S-P-C-A.
(26:00):
Was adopted out from us.
So it was microchip to us.
One day somebody texted me,they're like, there's a big
white bunny and LA near park.
Can you go out and see?
So I went out and saw, and somebody haddumped the bunny in the pouring rain
because nobody was in the park, obviously.
So I went out in the pouringrain and I, it took me five
minutes to catch this bunny.
(26:21):
I noticed so she was a big white rabbit.
She had some, I believe,neurological issues, which
were undiagnosed at the time.
But had a little bit oftrouble walking and didn't like
getting off of rugs and stuff.
But she was also dyed pink and she wasoverweight and had sore hocks, which
(26:42):
are basically from improper flooring.
The hocks of a rabbit will get sore.
So they need a lot of cushion.
But anyway, so we checked for amicrochip and she was registered
to us and she was about five yearsold and I just couldn't believe it.
Like somebody, somebody had anattention to adopt a rabbit and then
(27:04):
proceeded to give it all the wrongthings and then eventually dump it.
But she took, Lacey took the bunny fromme because she knew it would be a hard
adoption for me to have, and so sheadopts all of the red eye white bunnies.
She just loves them and I love thatbecause there's not many people that do.
(27:25):
We have four red eye white bunniesright now that are sitting in.
Our enclosures that were born in ourrescue back in December of 2023, the day
we rescued their mom, she gave birth.
So they're very much overlooked.
And then recently that, that bunnyunfortunately did pass away the one
(27:46):
that we rescued from Lafreniere Parkbecause of neurological issues, I think.
She recently also took in anotherwhite bunny that has tumors all over.
And she's fostering that onebasically until he crosses over Uhhuh.
So sweet.
She's like falling in love withhim and it makes me so happy
(28:07):
that she can give him that love,
Dixie (28:09):
I hate to see the ones that are overlooked like that
just because of the way they look.
Hannah (28:14):
Yeah, so she's my best foster slash adopter probably because she just,
she does so much for, the ones thatget overlooked and she really cares.
And I love that about her.
Dixie (28:28):
So what are your most pressing needs?
Hannah (28:31):
Probably my pressing needs would be volunteers.
I really need more volunteers.
The bunnies don't get a lot ofsocialization in rescue and it's
hard for me to provide that for them.
And I do have a couple of volunteers,don't get me wrong, but a lot of the
times I need help with other things.
Organizing things, cleaningrabbits just things like that.
(28:55):
Giving meds, clipping nails, whatever.
Just upkeep, right?
But yeah, I really need, morevolunteers to help socialize them and
make them more comfortable with humans.
Because a lot of the times they do comefrom a bad environment where they didn't
get much socialization or interaction.
And so they need to learnlove and interaction with
(29:19):
humans and that it's okay,
Dixie (29:21):
now, would that be at the store?
Is that where people wouldvolunteer to help with that?
Hannah (29:26):
Yes.
So all of our adoptables are inside thestore, so it'd be mostly inside the store.
We recently moved the bunnies upstairs,so it's a little more quiet now.
Like people with carts and stuffwould often scare the bunnies when
they were downstairs 'cause it'sloud, it's like a warehouse building.
Being upstairs, I do find it's quieter andthe bunnies can more relax, which is good.
(29:50):
And I feel like they can interact morewith a human if we had more volunteers.
But like I said, I do have a few I.
And two of them are older.
And I do have one that's still in school,and she does help on Fridays and she'll
groom them and do that kind of stuff.
Dixie (30:08):
And do they get volunteer credit for that?
For school?
Hannah (30:12):
They do, yes.
The only thing with volunteers is Ido have to , be with them at first,
especially if they're on the younger side.
Just so a lot of people, again, they don'tknow about rabbits, so it's just, it's
good to have the hands-on experience.
I usually will sit with them and showthem everything and you know how to handle
the bunnies, and then I'll show themother things so they can help in other
(30:33):
areas, such as helping with the cats orwashing dishes and doing laundry, which
kind of contributes from all the animals,
Dixie (30:40):
Where can listeners learn more about the bunnies that are up for adoption
before they would set up a meet and greet?
Hannah (30:49):
So most of our buns are on petfinder.
You can also sometimes find themon Facebook if we post them, but
most of them are on Petfinder.
You can also just come to theJefferson Feed store that's on
Jefferson Highway in Jefferson.
Mostly we just post on Petfinder, butyou can always email me too as well.
(31:11):
And then we'd also have a websitefor the Jefferson SPCA that I
think links to the Petfinder.
Dixie (31:18):
And what is that website?
Hannah (31:20):
It's jefferson spca.org.
Dixie (31:22):
Okay.
I can include a link to that too in thedescription and I'll go see if I can
pull up the Petfinder and put that inthe description as well, so that way
people will be able to easily find it.
In Jefferson Parish we havesome really good programs to
spay and neuter at low cost.
So is there a specific program forthe rabbits in Jefferson Parish?
Hannah (31:45):
There is, and also for the male Guinea pigs.
Most of our rabbits do getfixed at avian and exotic.
I know there's other vets that also fix,.
Two clinics are on our program andonly one of them fixes both males
and females, and that's avian.
I want to, in the future, get moreclinics to help us because there is a
(32:05):
lot of rabbits, and I know Avian has.
A lot of patients and I'm sureit would be nice to have some
more clinics to help out as well.
But for male rabbits, it's $40 if you livein Jefferson Parish to fix a male rabbit.
And then for females, it's.
60 And then for the male Guinea pigs, Idon't remember the price exactly 'cause
(32:30):
we don't really get that many fixed.
Recently we just had a lot of girls.
I think it's also $40to fix male Guinea pigs.
I'll have to double check on that.
But yeah, so we do the male Guineapigs and then male and female rabbits.
The reason we don't do the lowcost for female Guinea pigs is it's
very invasive surgery and they'reso much smaller than rabbits.
(32:53):
And it costs a lot more tospay a female Guinea pig.
We have done it simplybecause they can get cancer
. Dixie: So if you get Guinea pigs, then don't get a male and female
Guinea pig and put 'em togetherunless you neuter the boy first.
Correct.
Yeah.
Yes.
And it's also just easier, to bond.
(33:16):
Small animals are vicious, not gonna lie.
That sounds crazy, but rabbits dowell in pairs and they're, they
really should be in pairs, but.
They will not want to accept that atfirst sometimes and will fight, but I
always tell people it's like humans.
Like we, we're not gonna everysingle person we meet, you just
gotta find that right person.
(33:36):
It's the same for the small animals too.
Like I just think rabbitsneed to find their companion.
Like you can't choose it for them.
They have to choose,
Dixie (33:43):
so is there a way to acclimate 'em?
If you already have a rabbit and you'rethinking of getting a second rabbit.
I know like with cats, what we do is we'llkeep 'em in separate rooms and they smell
each other through the door, and thenafter a while you bring them in one in
a carrier and let 'em sniff each otherthrough the carrier and stuff like that.
So how do you acclimate rabbits?
Hannah (34:03):
So it's different.
So I always say spay and neuteris the most important thing.
If you're gonna start trying to introducerabbits, you need to have them both fixed.
Obviously if it's a male anda female and they're unfixed,
they're going to wanna be together.
But because we don't want any more babies,I always tell people to spay a neuter
'cause we don't need anymore babies.
(34:23):
That's right.
Yeah I usually just set up meet and greet.
So if people have a bunny,I'll set up a meet and greet.
They can bring their bunny andwe'll do what I call speed dating.
So we'll just pull out, some, so usuallyI always recommend male female bond.
Sometimes a female and afemale can work in even a male.
And a male.
It really just depends.
But I usually always start with a maleand a female because that's usually
(34:46):
the easiest way to go about it.
And we'll speed date.
So if it's a female that comes in, thenwe'll do all the eligible males and see
which one, matches the best which one'sthe most interested, that kind of thing.
And then there is a bonding process.
Sometimes you're lucky and they'regonna love each other right off
the bat, and that's gonna be it.
You don't even have to do anything, butother times you have to work on them
(35:10):
to make them want to be friends and.
For example, some of mineI had to work months.
I have two males that are bondedtogether and it took me nine
months to bond them together.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
So it's a lot of sitting watching them.
Seeing how they interact because they willbite each other and scratch at each other.
(35:34):
Another thing they do ishump to show dominance.
So you just want them to , learnto trust each other basically.
Right now, yeah.
So that process it really depends.
What I recommend is starting in a smallspace such as a small X pen just to see.
Okay.
Are they doing okay?
And then gradually making it biggeruntil they can fully get along.
Dixie (35:56):
Yeah, that, that's a lot different from acclimating cats together.
Something that I didn't know.
So tough.
Hannah (36:03):
It's a lot of work.
Dixie (36:05):
So now before we end the call, is there anything else you would like to add?
Hannah (36:10):
I think the one thing I wanna say is adopt, don't shop
and spay and neuter your pets.
That's like the biggest thingwe just don't need anymore.
It just feels many of theanimals we get off of the street
are always in heat or pregnant
Definitely.
Get your animals fixed.
Dixie (36:25):
Absolutely.
I agree with that a hundred percent.
Thank you so much for joining me today.
I learned a lot, . I appreciate it,
Hannah (36:33):
and thank you.
I appreciate you talking with me.
Dixie (36:36):
All right.
Bye.
Hannah (36:37):
All right, bye.
Dixie (36:40):
And that's all the time we have for today's episode.
If you are in animal rescue, or ifyou know someone that has a story that
should be told, please contact us.
We would love to haveyou or them on the show
.Thanks for listening, and please join us next week as we continue to
explore the world of animal rescue.
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
people and rescues making adifference in the lives of animals.
Today's guest is Hannah Lorio Falgout,and she is the small animal adoption
coordinator at the Jefferson SPCA.
Hi Hannah.
How are you?
Hannah (00:19):
I'm good, how are you?
Dixie (00:21):
I'm great.
Can you tell us about yourself and how youbecame involved in small animal rescue?
Hannah (00:27):
Yeah, so I I got involved volunteering, funnily enough.
Rachel, who is my boss shehad posted a picture 'cause I
had adopted my cats from there
but she had posted a picture and we werefriends on Facebook of a new bunny set up.
Asking basically if anybodywanted to volunteer to play
(00:48):
with rabbits and whatnot.
And I was like I'll volunteer.
Like I've always had rabbits prettymuch my whole entire life actually.
Because when I was in fifth grade, Iactually went to Jefferson Feed, which
is where our adoptables are Jefferson.
SPCA is inside of there.
And.
My first bunny was from there.
I actually adopted him.
His name was Frosty, and hestarted my whole journey.
(01:12):
So I really startedresearching and all of that.
And just got like super into rabbits.
So then I started, watching YouTubeand advocating for bunnies and
stuff so that's how I got involved.
I was in another job at the time and Iwas telling her how I was ready, to move
(01:32):
on with my life, get a new job, and shementioned that she needed an assistant.
So I got hired with them.
So now I'm like the program'sdirector's assistant and the
small animal adoption coordinator.
So that's how I got to where I am now.
Dixie (01:49):
Now you said that you had first found out about
them through adopting cats.
Do you still currently have cats as well?
Hannah (01:56):
Yes, I do.
I have four cats.
Two of my cats I adopted 2020 I believe.
And they are older cats.
I didn't want kittens.
I love kittens, but.
I wanted older cats 'cause I justfreak out with little things.
So yeah, so we have two cats that camefrom there and then a couple years later
(02:18):
I always wanted a black cat, so I endedup adopting another cat at that time.
And then recently, like inthe past year, I trapped a cat
that was unfixed fairly easily.
Like I literally just picked him up.
And I took him home 'causeI was like texted Rachel.
I was like, Hey, like Ineed to get this cat fixed.
(02:38):
And I was in the bathroomwith him 'cause that's where
I was keeping him at the time.
And he just crawled in mylap and just sat there.
And I was like, you don'twanna be a street cat.
So I ended up with afourth one because of that.
Dixie (02:51):
That's good And I'm glad to hear too that you adopted adult cats.
And also a black cat because those are theones that are the hardest to get adopted.
Everybody wants kittens.
I like kittens, don't get me wrong,but getting a cat, it's so much easier.
You know what you're getting into already
Hannah (03:08):
right?
Kittens are so cute.
Anything, any baby.
Animal is cute.
But I just, I, my heart goesout to older animals in general.
I always adopt even with rabbits,like all of mine were like moms.
I never adopted, the babies ifthey were found with babies.
I always adopted the mom rabbits'cause I always fell in love with them.
(03:28):
Always drawn to that for some reason.
Dixie (03:31):
So do you allow the cats to interact with the rabbits
or do you keep 'em separated?
Hannah (03:37):
I do and don't.
So one, I have a bunny roomwhere five of my bunnies free ro.
So I actually have seven rabbitsand two free ro in my bedroom.
I keep my bedroom door closed onlybecause one of them will run into the
other bunny room and start fights.
(03:57):
So I have to keep them separated.
But I do leave the bunny room door openmost of the time because they don't.
Venture out of their room really.
And my cats will go in there and hangout with them and it's funny, but one
of my bunnies really loves the cat thatI recently rescued from the street.
They will literally sharelike vegetables together.
Like they will sit on the rug andboth eat their veggies together.
(04:21):
And it's so cute.
Dixie (04:23):
Yeah.
I'm glad to hear too that, 'causeI, I think there's a lot of
people that don't realize thatcats and bunnies can get along.
Hannah (04:30):
They're, they can be dangerous in a sense.
Like recently we did rescue a bunny at theWorld War II Museum and it had abscesses
all over, and we recently found outthat the bacteria was from cat saliva.
But that's usually notreally common for it to happen
But yeah, that's a veryslim case most of the time.
(04:52):
Like I think domesticated indoor catscan get along with rabbits fairly well.
Dixie (04:59):
So now, what types of small animals does your organization primarily rescue?
Hannah (05:05):
We rescue all kinds, mostly rabbits and Guinea pigs.
But recently we took in two chinchillasfrom L-A-S-P-C-A and two gerbils
from J Paws, which is the shelter.
So we just take whatever they have.
I don't think we would ever do likesnakes or anything like that, but
(05:26):
I've, they have never gotten that.
'cause I don't know anything aboutthem and I don't really do reptiles.
Dixie (05:33):
So Do most of the animals typically come from the shelter?
Hannah (05:38):
Yes, most of 'em do.
More recently, like within the year sinceI've been working there, I was rescuing
a lot from parks around Jefferson area.
Like Lafreniere Park is one bigone that a lot of people in our
area know about, where there wasjust a surge of white bunnies.
White bunnies are actually theleast adopted bunnies because their
(05:59):
eyes are red, reddish blue, really
and people don't like that forsome reason, which I get, but I
actually find them the sweetest.
But yeah, they are thehardest to adopt out.
But there was so many living there,they just kept breeding and breeding.
And so us and two other bunnyrescues, Lola Bunny and Friends and
(06:20):
Bun Again Rabbit Rescue, they hadhelped us clear out that park.
And then we also recently.
Cleared out Kenner Park, which wasanother big one that was took forever.
And all the bunnies there were verysick with parasites and just all kinds
of injuries from just living the roughlife, but yeah, mostly now we take
(06:44):
from the shelter but it just depends.
Dixie (06:49):
What are some of the biggest misconceptions people
have about small animal rescue?
Hannah (06:56):
I think people just don't know it exists.
That's the thing I think when people thinkof rabbits, they think of baby bunnies.
They don't think that people rehomethem or that, if people have a bunny
and they decide they don't wantit, that it can just live outside.
Because wild bunnies live outside.
And the truth is domesticated rabbits,they have some instincts of a wild rabbit.
(07:19):
Their brain has actually decreasedsince we've domesticated them.
So they don't have the ins asmuch of the instinct as a wild
bunny and they don't survive.
I think it's also just like anotherthing, like we recently did a bunny
bunko, 'cause we've been raising money to.
(07:40):
Build the rabbits at the rescue, newenclosures that are more standard size
for what they should be living in, ifthey're going to live in a cage, which
I always advocate for free roaming.
If somebody feels they need tohave a rabbit live in some type of
enclosure, I'm totally okay with that.
But I think there's a totalmisconception of spaying and neutering.
(08:01):
Like at the bunny bunko, thislady argued with my boss.
And was like, you can'tspay and neuter bunnies.
And she just kept arguing with herand my boss was like, yes, you can.
Like we do it all the time.
So there's a lot of misconceptionswhere people just don't think that vets,
exist for small animals, but they do.
Dixie (08:25):
Yeah, when I had Lola and friends on, we were talking about the bunny
reproduction and how every 28 days,and I knew Bunnies had a lot, but I
had no idea it was that close togetherand and the fact that people just
go dump 'em and don't spay a neuterhim, it causes a really big problem.
Hannah (08:45):
It does, and it's a huge problem, especially like during Easter.
We even have people granted that we arein a store that people think, oh, you
can just go buy an animal from the storethat we're located in, and people will
come during Easter time, which I actuallystop adoptions a few weeks before Easter,
and then a couple weeks after as well toprevent people, just bunnies getting in.
(09:09):
People that don't have the right.
Intentions.
But yeah, people will walk inall the time and just be like,
so we can't buy a bunny today.
And I'm like, no.
Like we, we do this becausewe're trying to save them.
We're trying to give them their secondchance, and a lot of the times, the
rabbits that are bought at Easterend up on the street a couple months
(09:31):
later and people just don't realize.
There's way more carethat goes into rabbits.
So you think most people think youcan stick 'em in a hutch outside and
they're gonna be fine and thrive, butthey can't thrive in that environment.
I think also the misconceptionsis that they're boring animals,
which they really aren't.
If people would just actually researchand set up the right environment for them
(09:57):
in their home, they could see just howmuch personality a rabbit could have.
Dixie (10:03):
Yeah.
I've seen videos on YouTube wherethey have bunnies that are jumping
all over the bed and runningaround just like a cat would.
Hannah (10:11):
Yeah.
They're crazy little things,but they're so funny.
They make me laugh.
And today I, we just put a new enclosureup actually today, and one of the bunnies
had been looking just really depressed.
'cause we have adoption tanks thatwe're trying to get rid of so we can sh.
Educate people more on whatthey should be living in.
And so it's like a glass tank andit's almost like a fish tank, really.
(10:35):
And I, when I started working thereI knew that was something I wanted
to change, I just knew that wasn't agood environment and people couldn't
see the bunny's true personalities.
And then again, the normal lookingbunnies were not getting adopted.
You get a lopp or a fuzzylion head or whatever.
Those go quick becausepeople want cuteness.
(10:56):
And I always tell people like,come and meet the bunnies.
Don't just go off looks, comeand meet the personality.
They all have different personalities.
But yeah, that was just something Iwanted to do to help educate people on.
What they should be living in.
But anyway, it's funny we put himin the enclosure and his little
butt was wiggling his, so like whenthey get excited, like their little
(11:19):
tail wags almost and it's so cute.
Dixie (11:22):
Uhhuh.
That's cute.
Now, how do you assess the temperamentor personality of each of them?
Or how would you tell people whoare prospective adopters that they
should spend time with the Bunnyto learn the Bunny's personality?
Hannah (11:38):
So most of the time I tell people to set up a meet and greet, and then
I ask them what they're looking for.
Now, a lot of our, my emails actually comefrom Petfinder, which it's really hard.
For people to really know apersonality through a picture online.
So a lot of our bunnies, likethe one right now that we have
is like an Angora lionhead mix.
(12:00):
Her name's Twix and I've gotten a bunchof emails on her and I'm like, I know
she's beautiful, but she's also reallyshy and because she came from an abusive
case so she's really shy and it takesa while for her to warm up to people.
So I always tell people I'm like youwanna make sure that's what you're
really looking for, and sometimespeople do change their mind on
(12:23):
rabbits and they're like, I reallylike this personality and this bunny.
And I'm like, that's what I want.
I want people to meet theanimal before they take it home
most rabbits, they do take timeto get used to their owner.
They're not like gonna be totally yourbest friend the day you bring them home.
And I think that's for any animal really.
(12:44):
It's just because they're preyanimals, I think it takes a lot longer.
But once you earn a bunny's trust,and I always tell my husband this,
I'm like, once you earn a bunny'strust, it's like the most rewarding
thing because they are prey animals.
And something about that justfeels good that I could earn
that trust of that bunny,
Dixie (13:04):
Do you have fosters too?
Hannah (13:06):
I do somewhat.
There's a few groups, a few people thatI like, really trust to foster, but a
lot of times people don't ask to foster.
I would be more willing to letsome, like right now I'm fostering
one the one from the World WarII Museum with the abscesses.
And she's doing really well now.
(13:27):
But yeah, I usually keep my smallcircle of people that I know because
I don't really have a lot of peoplethat I know that wanna foster rabbits.
It's an overlooked animalin the foster system.
But I would like to grow it at some point,
Dixie (13:41):
yeah.
It's hard to find fosters for dog andcats too, and so I can imagine it's
difficult to find it for bunnies as well.
Hannah (13:49):
And you don't want them just going anywhere.
Most people know theeducation on dogs and cats.
I say that there's still alot of people that don't.
It's, it, there's a whole thing.
'cause rabbits just have so mucheducation that's a little behind.
I say rabbit tears advanced a lot,even in the last 10, 15 years.
(14:09):
So much has changed, even fromwhen I started having rabbits to
now I've changed like a lot of thestuff I do to take care of them,
Dixie (14:19):
What are the, some of the common health issues that
you could see in rabbits?
Hannah (14:24):
Mostly we see parasites.
That's probably the number one GIstasis, which I called a silent killer.
Parasites are fairly treatable, butmost of the time the rabbits that
have 'em are just from outside.
But most of the bunnies that havecome outside from outside that we've
(14:44):
rescued have had some type of parasite.
So that's the one thing I seethe most in rescue as far as like
owning rabbits and having rabbits.
As well as in rescue, GI stasisis a pretty serious thing.
It can be caused by another illness orit can just be from inadequate diet.
(15:08):
Sometimes they just eatsomething they shouldn't.
And sometimes just randomthings will cause it.
Like teeth issues, that's another illness.
Teeth issues.
But.
So it's basically when theystop eating and rabbit's,
guts need to constantly move.
So if they stop eating,they can't throw up.
If they ate something they weren'tsupposed to eat, so basically
(15:30):
get stuck in their digestivetract and they can't get it out.
So sometimes you have to dolike an emergency surgery.
You usually have a 12 to 24hour window for GI stasis.
And the signs of it areusually like hunched over.
They look really depressed almost.
And they're not eating, and they'renot eating their favorite things.
That's the biggest one.
(15:51):
But a lot of times it iscaused from teeth issues.
Like recently, one of my bunniesstarted not eating and I took him
to the vet and they were like, oh,he has some spikes on his teeth
because their teeth, they eat hay.
To grind their teeth down.
But sometimes genetics play a role intheir teeth issues, so they'll have to
(16:13):
shave the little spikes off their teeth.
'cause it'll hurt themwhen they're eating.
Dixie (16:18):
And that's just on the teeth.
Is it like a gum thing?
'cause I know in cats get the stomatitis,which is like a inflammation of the gums
that causes a whole bunch of issues.
And cats don't eat.
Hannah (16:28):
So it, it's literally just like on the teeth.
It's like a growth on the tooth basically.
And they'll just shave 'em offand then it fixes pretty much
most of the time fixes it.
But yeah, the hay is just is so important.
And actually a lot of people thinkthat rabbits should be eating
pellets, but pellets actually makerabbits fat, basically, I call it.
(16:53):
The meat rabbit logic because if you'reRA people see that and people think, oh,
rabbits are supposed to have pellets,but like people gave rabbits back in the
day, pellets to gain weight to make thembetter, to eat, if that makes any sense.
As much as that's morbid.
But.
Yeah, so I always, I do givemy rabbits pellets sometimes,
(17:16):
usually as a little treat.
But they have access to hay 24 7 andthey get veggies twice a day, which
is about a cup for each of them.
Dixie (17:26):
For a new adopter, a person new to bunnies, what should
they be Feeding the bunnies?
Hannah (17:32):
Depends on the age of the bunny under four to six months, they
usually eat alfalfa hay because it'srich and calcium and it's fatty.
So it'll help them, gain weight and grow.
And they'll also have junior pellets.
Which they can eat pellets at avery young age and really should.
(17:56):
Same goes for a nursing mother.
They should have access to pelletsas well because it helps them
to produce milk for the kits.
I'm saying that because we've hadrabbits that gave birth in our
rescue and I had to learn that.
And then for older adult.
(18:16):
Bunnies, they shouldbe eating Timothy hay.
And a little bit of pellets.
About a tablespoon to a fourth.
A cup of pellets is a day.
A day is okay.
And then baby bunnies shouldnever have access to vegetables
until about four months.
Adults can have it really anytime.
Dixie (18:37):
Are there certain vegetables that are better than others?
Hannah (18:41):
The one vegetable.
I always tell people, 'causethey're surprised when I tell
them that bunny should not haveis actually iceberg lettuce.
It is poisonous to rabbits.
And a lot of people don't know that'cause they think of, that the bunnies
can eat all kinds of vegetables.
But yeah, no carrots also sugary.
So if you give a carrot to a bunny.
(19:02):
The misconception of Bugs Bunny,you should really only give
them like a pea-sized amount.
Same goes for fruit and stuff.
It really should be smallamounts 'cause it's so sugary.
But they can eat things like my bunny'sreally like cilantro and parsley.
They also like dill and I give minea lot of romaine lettuce as well.
Dixie (19:25):
So romaine lettuce is
okay, just not
iceberg.
Hannah (19:29):
So romaine lettuce is okay.
I guess iceberg is not goodbecause of the high water content.
It really has no nutrients.
I don't know exactly what makesit poisonous, but I just know
people that have fed their rabbitsbefore they knew iceberg lettuce
and the rabbit would just die.
And I'm like, what?
I didn't know that either.
(19:50):
And I did a lot of research,when I, every vegetable I fed
my rabbits when I first started
. Dixie (19:55):
Yeah.
I didn't know that, that's,I would've thought that they
could have could've eaten that.
I did not know that at all.
Hannah (20:00):
Yeah, I mean I've gone to like the park before we rescued the rabbits
and there would just be carrot sticks andiceberg lettuce one time and broccoli.
And I'm like, oh my gosh.
All those broccoli causes likegas build up in bunnies, which
can also lead to GI stasis.
So I'm like, all the improperveggies were on the ground and those
bunnies were like, they survived.
(20:22):
And it's crazy to me because Iguess they were so used to eating.
Such random food that their gut justtolerated at much more than a rabbit that
lives in your home, if that makes sense.
Dixie (20:34):
Yeah, definitely.
So now when you adopt the rabbits out,of course you're gonna spay a neuter.
What other kind ofvetting do they have done?
Hannah (20:43):
Regular, normal checkups.
They should be getting yearly examsjust because rabbit hide illness.
And we also have beenvaccinating for RHDV2.
It's just like this thing that eruptedlike in the eighties, I believe.
And it's finally made its wayto the United States, but it's
(21:04):
basically contracted from deceasedanimals, but can be carried on human
clothing, human shoes into your home.
And it's, doesn't go awayjust by washing your clothes.
And it lasts about, likethe germs will last 40 days.
On your items.
(21:24):
And basically if a rabbit contracts it.
There's no warning signs, they just die.
So I recommend it, peopleget them vaccinated.
We haven't had too manycases in Louisiana.
I think there's maybe been like onebut somebody recently told me that it's
starting to move into our area more soI'm like kinda recommending it way more.
(21:46):
But yeah, so I do recommendthat I get mine vaccinated.
Because I work around otherrabbits and you just never know.
But I do
Dixie (21:55):
What kind of post-adoption support do you offer to adopters?
. Hannah (22:01):
I always give my adopters for rabbits, at least my phone number,
because I want them to be able to text me.
If they have a question or a concern,because I wish there was that support
for me when I adopted my bunny.
And I know it's helpful because, for dogsand cats, obviously you can totally reach
(22:22):
out to the rescues and ask questions.
Rabbits are a little bitmore on a time basis.
Like for example, a GI stasis.
It's such a timely, area where youneed to get the bunny to a vet.
You wanna make sure.
Things.
I also don't have a lot of adoptersthat are first time rabbit owners
and have never owned a small animal.
(22:43):
And I want them obviously I educateall my adopters before they adopt.
We always have a meet and greet.
We talk about the care, wetalk about, common illnesses
how rabbits should be living.
I want them to be able to, becausethat's a lot of information at once.
I want them to be able to askme for advice or whatever.
So I do provide that for them.
Dixie (23:05):
And if it doesn't work out, do you take the bunnies back?
Hannah (23:08):
I do.
My one thing is I, it sounds terrible,but I tell every adopter this, I'm
like, please do not dump the animal.
I'm like, please do not dump the bunny.
I was like, it takes a lot to catch them,and they really don't survive outside.
I was like, I don't think you'regonna do it, but I have to warn you,
I want you to bring it back to me.
(23:29):
If things aren't workingout, bring it back to me.
I don't want you tobring it to the shelter.
I want to come back to my rescue.
'cause I know them and I know I can getthem to adopt it out again eventually,
because I know their personality,
Dixie (23:41):
and that's the good thing with adopting from a rescue.
'cause I know on social media.
I recently just saw a story aboutsomebody giving away a rabbit with their
hutch because their child lost interest.
Yeah.
And that's just so upsetting.
So it's a good thing that rescues do taketheir animals back if it doesn't work out.
Hannah (24:02):
And it's a super common thing too, that people get rabbits
thinking they're starter pets.
It's and I always tell people, I'mlike, you'd be do better getting your
child a fish than any other animal.
Not even a hamster.
Like they even requirea good amount of care.
I always tell people, like theycome in and they'll be like, Hey
(24:22):
does this, do you think a rabbit'sa good pet for a three-year-old?
And I'm like, absolutely not.
If your kid wants a pet, and Ireally don't think you should get
your kid a pet in general becausethey're going to lose interest.
That's just how kids are.
Get them a fish.
It doesn't live as long.
They can live a long life,but they don't live as long.
They're pretty easy,low maintenance animals.
(24:43):
You gotta clean their tank and feedthem, but they're pretty low maintenance,
so I always tell people, I'm like,not a rabbit, not any small animal.
And they're just so fragile,like Guinea pigs and rabbits can
break their backs just so easily.
And kids love to pick up animalsand hold them very close.
And small animals are just not into that.
Dixie (25:02):
Because they're prey animals.
Hannah (25:05):
Like I get scratched even.
I'm used to carrying bunnies,but even I will get scratched
by their back feet sometimes.
And it hurts.
I'm not gonna drop them, but a kid holdinga bunny may drop an animal if it starts
to scratch at them, because that hurts,
Dixie (25:20):
definitely.
Now you've gone over, the challenges withpeople like dumping bunnies, of course.
So do you have any heartwarmingstories about people adopting bunnies
and getting, before and afters?
Hannah (25:35):
There's one, one of my good fosters and adopters, she
loves red-eyed white bunnies.
And so she's adopted a lot of the onesthat have been harder to adopt out.
One of them was a big giant,like 11 pound red-eyed white.
Oh, wow.
Funny.
Before my boss or I evenworked with the J-S-P-C-A.
(26:00):
Was adopted out from us.
So it was microchip to us.
One day somebody texted me,they're like, there's a big
white bunny and LA near park.
Can you go out and see?
So I went out and saw, and somebody haddumped the bunny in the pouring rain
because nobody was in the park, obviously.
So I went out in the pouringrain and I, it took me five
minutes to catch this bunny.
(26:21):
I noticed so she was a big white rabbit.
She had some, I believe,neurological issues, which
were undiagnosed at the time.
But had a little bit oftrouble walking and didn't like
getting off of rugs and stuff.
But she was also dyed pink and she wasoverweight and had sore hocks, which
(26:42):
are basically from improper flooring.
The hocks of a rabbit will get sore.
So they need a lot of cushion.
But anyway, so we checked for amicrochip and she was registered
to us and she was about five yearsold and I just couldn't believe it.
Like somebody, somebody had anattention to adopt a rabbit and then
(27:04):
proceeded to give it all the wrongthings and then eventually dump it.
But she took, Lacey took the bunny fromme because she knew it would be a hard
adoption for me to have, and so sheadopts all of the red eye white bunnies.
She just loves them and I love thatbecause there's not many people that do.
(27:25):
We have four red eye white bunniesright now that are sitting in.
Our enclosures that were born in ourrescue back in December of 2023, the day
we rescued their mom, she gave birth.
So they're very much overlooked.
And then recently that, that bunnyunfortunately did pass away the one
(27:46):
that we rescued from Lafreniere Parkbecause of neurological issues, I think.
She recently also took in anotherwhite bunny that has tumors all over.
And she's fostering that onebasically until he crosses over Uhhuh.
So sweet.
She's like falling in love withhim and it makes me so happy
(28:07):
that she can give him that love,
Dixie (28:09):
I hate to see the ones that are overlooked like that
just because of the way they look.
Hannah (28:14):
Yeah, so she's my best foster slash adopter probably because she just,
she does so much for, the ones thatget overlooked and she really cares.
And I love that about her.
Dixie (28:28):
So what are your most pressing needs?
Hannah (28:31):
Probably my pressing needs would be volunteers.
I really need more volunteers.
The bunnies don't get a lot ofsocialization in rescue and it's
hard for me to provide that for them.
And I do have a couple of volunteers,don't get me wrong, but a lot of the
times I need help with other things.
Organizing things, cleaningrabbits just things like that.
(28:55):
Giving meds, clipping nails, whatever.
Just upkeep, right?
But yeah, I really need, morevolunteers to help socialize them and
make them more comfortable with humans.
Because a lot of the times they do comefrom a bad environment where they didn't
get much socialization or interaction.
And so they need to learnlove and interaction with
(29:19):
humans and that it's okay,
Dixie (29:21):
now, would that be at the store?
Is that where people wouldvolunteer to help with that?
Hannah (29:26):
Yes.
So all of our adoptables are inside thestore, so it'd be mostly inside the store.
We recently moved the bunnies upstairs,so it's a little more quiet now.
Like people with carts and stuffwould often scare the bunnies when
they were downstairs 'cause it'sloud, it's like a warehouse building.
Being upstairs, I do find it's quieter andthe bunnies can more relax, which is good.
(29:50):
And I feel like they can interact morewith a human if we had more volunteers.
But like I said, I do have a few I.
And two of them are older.
And I do have one that's still in school,and she does help on Fridays and she'll
groom them and do that kind of stuff.
Dixie (30:08):
And do they get volunteer credit for that?
For school?
Hannah (30:12):
They do, yes.
The only thing with volunteers is Ido have to , be with them at first,
especially if they're on the younger side.
Just so a lot of people, again, they don'tknow about rabbits, so it's just, it's
good to have the hands-on experience.
I usually will sit with them and showthem everything and you know how to handle
the bunnies, and then I'll show themother things so they can help in other
(30:33):
areas, such as helping with the cats orwashing dishes and doing laundry, which
kind of contributes from all the animals,
Dixie (30:40):
Where can listeners learn more about the bunnies that are up for adoption
before they would set up a meet and greet?
Hannah (30:49):
So most of our buns are on petfinder.
You can also sometimes find themon Facebook if we post them, but
most of them are on Petfinder.
You can also just come to theJefferson Feed store that's on
Jefferson Highway in Jefferson.
Mostly we just post on Petfinder, butyou can always email me too as well.
(31:11):
And then we'd also have a websitefor the Jefferson SPCA that I
think links to the Petfinder.
Dixie (31:18):
And what is that website?
Hannah (31:20):
It's jefferson spca.org.
Dixie (31:22):
Okay.
I can include a link to that too in thedescription and I'll go see if I can
pull up the Petfinder and put that inthe description as well, so that way
people will be able to easily find it.
In Jefferson Parish we havesome really good programs to
spay and neuter at low cost.
So is there a specific program forthe rabbits in Jefferson Parish?
Hannah (31:45):
There is, and also for the male Guinea pigs.
Most of our rabbits do getfixed at avian and exotic.
I know there's other vets that also fix,.
Two clinics are on our program andonly one of them fixes both males
and females, and that's avian.
I want to, in the future, get moreclinics to help us because there is a
(32:05):
lot of rabbits, and I know Avian has.
A lot of patients and I'm sureit would be nice to have some
more clinics to help out as well.
But for male rabbits, it's $40 if you livein Jefferson Parish to fix a male rabbit.
And then for females, it's.
60 And then for the male Guinea pigs, Idon't remember the price exactly 'cause
(32:30):
we don't really get that many fixed.
Recently we just had a lot of girls.
I think it's also $40to fix male Guinea pigs.
I'll have to double check on that.
But yeah, so we do the male Guineapigs and then male and female rabbits.
The reason we don't do the lowcost for female Guinea pigs is it's
very invasive surgery and they'reso much smaller than rabbits.
(32:53):
And it costs a lot more tospay a female Guinea pig.
We have done it simplybecause they can get cancer
. Dixie: So if you get Guinea pigs, then don't get a male and female
Guinea pig and put 'em togetherunless you neuter the boy first.
Correct.
Yeah.
Yes.
And it's also just easier, to bond.
(33:16):
Small animals are vicious, not gonna lie.
That sounds crazy, but rabbits dowell in pairs and they're, they
really should be in pairs, but.
They will not want to accept that atfirst sometimes and will fight, but I
always tell people it's like humans.
Like we, we're not gonna everysingle person we meet, you just
gotta find that right person.
(33:36):
It's the same for the small animals too.
Like I just think rabbitsneed to find their companion.
Like you can't choose it for them.
They have to choose,
Dixie (33:43):
so is there a way to acclimate 'em?
If you already have a rabbit and you'rethinking of getting a second rabbit.
I know like with cats, what we do is we'llkeep 'em in separate rooms and they smell
each other through the door, and thenafter a while you bring them in one in
a carrier and let 'em sniff each otherthrough the carrier and stuff like that.
So how do you acclimate rabbits?
Hannah (34:03):
So it's different.
So I always say spay and neuteris the most important thing.
If you're gonna start trying to introducerabbits, you need to have them both fixed.
Obviously if it's a male anda female and they're unfixed,
they're going to wanna be together.
But because we don't want any more babies,I always tell people to spay a neuter
'cause we don't need anymore babies.
(34:23):
That's right.
Yeah I usually just set up meet and greet.
So if people have a bunny,I'll set up a meet and greet.
They can bring their bunny andwe'll do what I call speed dating.
So we'll just pull out, some, so usuallyI always recommend male female bond.
Sometimes a female and afemale can work in even a male.
And a male.
It really just depends.
But I usually always start with a maleand a female because that's usually
(34:46):
the easiest way to go about it.
And we'll speed date.
So if it's a female that comes in, thenwe'll do all the eligible males and see
which one, matches the best which one'sthe most interested, that kind of thing.
And then there is a bonding process.
Sometimes you're lucky and they'regonna love each other right off
the bat, and that's gonna be it.
You don't even have to do anything, butother times you have to work on them
(35:10):
to make them want to be friends and.
For example, some of mineI had to work months.
I have two males that are bondedtogether and it took me nine
months to bond them together.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
So it's a lot of sitting watching them.
Seeing how they interact because they willbite each other and scratch at each other.
(35:34):
Another thing they do ishump to show dominance.
So you just want them to , learnto trust each other basically.
Right now, yeah.
So that process it really depends.
What I recommend is starting in a smallspace such as a small X pen just to see.
Okay.
Are they doing okay?
And then gradually making it biggeruntil they can fully get along.
Dixie (35:56):
Yeah, that, that's a lot different from acclimating cats together.
Something that I didn't know.
So tough.
Hannah (36:03):
It's a lot of work.
Dixie (36:05):
So now before we end the call, is there anything else you would like to add?
Hannah (36:10):
I think the one thing I wanna say is adopt, don't shop
and spay and neuter your pets.
That's like the biggest thingwe just don't need anymore.
It just feels many of theanimals we get off of the street
are always in heat or pregnant
Definitely.
Get your animals fixed.
Dixie (36:25):
Absolutely.
I agree with that a hundred percent.
Thank you so much for joining me today.
I learned a lot, . I appreciate it,
Hannah (36:33):
and thank you.
I appreciate you talking with me.
Dixie (36:36):
All right.
Bye.
Hannah (36:37):
All right, bye.
Dixie (36:40):
And that's all the time we have for today's episode.
If you are in animal rescue, or ifyou know someone that has a story that
should be told, please contact us.
We would love to haveyou or them on the show
.Thanks for listening, and please join us next week as we continue to
explore the world of animal rescue.
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