Bunny Guy's Blog...and Bunny Girl too!

Cell phones and bunnies and tails, oh my!

2012-01-12T21:49:00.000-08:00

Quirky ideas, slick design, and bunnies... three things that'll get me every time. Put them together and...

This is a rather ridiculous product... ridiculously cute, is it not!?

Check out the Rabito. I love the little logo in the lower right corner. It took me a moment to realize it's a bunny, hopping away, as seen from the back.

The case is protective, AND the tail acts as a stand so you can sit your phone down and have it propped up so you can watch your favorite YouTube video of bunnies... like this one. It's so sweet and adorable it will make you laugh!

Bunnies everywhere; and let me carry your artsy bunny item!

2011-12-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

Fab is one of my favorite places to find quirky things -- sometimes great mod design of useful products I never knew I just HAD to have, and other times... some really out there stuff that I'm sure no one needs. But that stuff is sometimes awesome, too. :)

Here we have little caddies made from recycle/reconstituted/nifty-eco-friendly-green-words leather scraps and ends. That looks like bunnies. Sorta. Cute?

On a similar note, I am seeking bunny themed gift ware of a unique fashion for the Petwerks Boutique. If you are an artist or craftsperson with a unique, American made item available for wholesale (small purchases, in the dozens and not the thousands), please drop me a line -- we might be able to help each other out.

Cilantro recall? Seriously? Yes!

2011-12-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

This is from http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/12/cilantro-recalled-due-to-possible-salmonella/ . Important news. Please pass it on!

Cilantro Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella

BY JULIA THOMAS | DEC 11, 2011

A California produce distributor, Pacific International Marketing, or Pacific, is recalling 6,141 cartons of cilantro due to potential Salmonella contamination.

A sample of the cilantro tested positive for Salmonella, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

No illnesses have been reported.

Source of the contamination is unknown, the Salinas-based distributor said in a news release. The cilantro came from Salt River farming, located in Phoenix, AZ and was distributed through retailers in California, Arizona, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana, South Carolina and Missouri.

The California Department of Public Health, FDA and Pacific are coordinating the recall.

The recalled cilantro is distributed in Pacific International Marketing cartons of 60 bunches, 30 bunches and 20 3-bunched sleeves. The bunched cilantro has a twist tie labeled "Pacific" and the UPC code 33383 80104. The UPC code for sleeves is 40695 80104.

The carton codes are:

- 19 78

111411

- 19 78

111811

- 19 84

111811

- 19 94

111811

- 19 78

112111

- 19 78

111911

- 19 84

111911

- 19 94

111911

Walmart and Giant Eagle advised their customers that the recalled cilantro bunches were sold in some of their stores. The FDA does not routinely provide lists of retailers that sold recalled products, but suggests consumers ask stores if they sold recalled products. Some retailers notify their customers about recalls.

Customers who purchased the cilantro after Nov. 16 but before Dec. 10 can return to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For more information, contact Pacific International Marketing at 831-755-1398, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST or by mail at: P.O. Box 3737, Salinas, CA 93912-3737.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

2011-12-02T13:40:00.000-08:00

by Amy Young-Leith with editorial assistance provided by Bonzi the Bitchin' Rex and Lizzie the Stone Cold Boxer

Through the media we see holidays as bright, happy, and filled with joy. Let's be honest, though; it can also contain some hassle, stress and crazy times. Luckily, we only have to sit down with our rabbits (and other companion animals), take a deep breath, and focus on what's really important to get a little reprieve from the craziness.

Amidst the hustle, however, there are some important things to watch out for!

Increased household hazzards

Powered decorations mean more powder cords
Plastic, chemically or cosmetically treated Christmas trees
Plastic tinsel and other decorations

Bunnies are like children; a great deal of their experience with the world comes through their mouth! It's up to us to make sure we keep dangers out of their reach. Nudging, biting and chewing are how inquisitive buns get the 411 on what's going on. Be sure to carefully consider if a bun's home range needs to be restricted or altered if you have new, temporary dangers present in the home. A baby gate or x-pen blocking off the room with a Christmas tree, a strategic decorating approach, and vigilant attention to what gets left on the floor can save a bun from an emergency trip to the vet, or worse!

The good news is that NATURAL Christmas trees are safe -- as Dinkum made perfectly clear as he'd hop up onto the couch, race up my chest and nudge my nose and I'd smell the unmistakable scent of a bun who'd been chowing on the pine for a while. But be sure to ask before you buy a tree; a "natural" looking tree may still have been treated with pesticides, fire retardent, even paint! (Yes, some lots will spray their trees with a paint! So much for natural... )

Natural pinecones are safe as well; again, many sources of pinecones, however, will not be natural, if if they look it! (You can be totally safe with Billy's Bag of Pinecones, one of our favorite products (and clearly, it was Billy the Wonder Rex's favorite, too). Pinecones purchased at craft stores will usually be coated with a scent, some type of sealant, or other chemical process which makes them unsafe for bunny consumption.

In general, keep holiday and house plants (such as poinsettia) out of reach of pets. Most aren't toxic, but some can lead to stomach upset, and some ARE toxic... so just play it safe. Setting out a little pot of herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro) that you find in your holiday shopping rounds would always be appreciated by your buns, of course. (I was forced at bun-point to include that.)

If your bun has access to your natural tree, keep in mind the placement of lights and other decorations that may also fall within reach. For years our Christmas tree was somewhat "naked" at the bottom. We stopped about a foot from the bottom, leaving plenty of "periscope room" so buns could enjoy the tree, too, without risk.

Increased social or emotional stress

New people
People who are unfamiliar with rabbits and their "signs" and who are overly eager to interact with your bun as if s/he were a stuffed animal
Those who don't have much respect for people's personal space, much less an animals
Changes in routine

Every bun is different; some are the belle of a rowdy ball, while others are wallflowers or outright shrinking violets. Take your bun's social and emotional needs into consideration during the holiday time, too.

I'm a strong believer that our buns are products of their environment over time; I've socialized frightened, wild, and abused buns into confident, outgoing social butterflies... but some aren't and never will be. If your bun likes a party, then be sure to include them in festivities. Set up an x-pen in your living room so they can be a part of the holiday festivities. Place a bowl of bunny safe treats nearby so guests can treat your bun and make a great first impression on them (veggie sticks in their favorite selections are great for this, or any of our fun and healthy treats).

But if your bun is clearly distracted, worried, and stressed by new people or boisterous activity, be sure to create a space just for them. Relocating their usual home to a quiet space is preferable; so much will remain familiar it will be a comfort to them. If they are free range, create an x-pen area for them somewhere calm, putting their familiar items in it (like a used litter box, toys, any blankies or what not). Be sure to return to that space often to soothe them, and bring plenty of treats.

OK, THAT'S IT, GUYS. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE SOLUTION TO EVERY THING IS A BUNNY TREAT!

Ok, where was I?

In your home, your guests are looking to you for direction. Lay clear groundrules. If your bun doesn't like to be picked up, state people are NOT to attempt to pick up your rabbit, and if someone starts to, directly and gently say, "Please, as I said, do not pick Buster up." This is your home, and your bun's safety and sanity depend upon you! Children should always be supervised with animals, and you will know well what adults should be supervised with them too! :) And if their area is off limits, make that clear, perhaps even with a sign, or even a locked door.

If other family members bring over pets such as dogs, secure your rabbit in an area that dog will not ever, no-how no-way get access to. There are many wonderful companion dogs who are not familiar with companion rabbits, and if they are of a breed with a strong hunting instinct... things can go VERY wrong, VERY quickly. Stop that from even being a remote possibility.

In the midst of busy routines, keep your bunny's day to day the same, if possible. Feeding times, what you feed, etc. being routine can help avoid stomach upset that may be compounded by stress, or vice versa.

^&aNd moore (*&^treets. feed mour treits. nom nom nom.

GET OFF THE KEYBOARD!

Rabbit agility becoming more popular.

2011-10-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

Let's start with the fun stuff; this article on Rabbit Hopping in the UK has some incredible photos. You go, little rabbit rocket! (You'll note the copyright on the photo. It's not mine. I have not asked permission. I'm not making money off of this, but I AM saying that this is some of the best photography I've seen of rabbits in this agility sport!)

As a person who views rabbits as intelligent companion animals, I've long had an issue with 4-H and their treatment of rabbits as primarily show animals or livestock. Being from the midwest, the philosophical and realistic quandries of animal husbandry, vegetarian/vegan lifestyles and general humaneness towards all life are often in my heart or on my mind.

I can't say that I support 4-H (although as a child growing up in the Midwest, I was an active member -- in things like photography). And county and state fairs with their large rabbit shows are both a draw and a depression. BUT... I can say that over the years, I have seen a sea change, and more youngsters in 4H are seeing rabbits as intelligent animals deserving of respect as individuals, not just livestock. And with Rabbit Hopping (or any other way to say competitive rabbit agility) becoming more popular, this is only increasing.

Back in the day, many people felt rabbits were dull, dumb creatures. Of course, their only exposure was to a scared, unsocialized, depressed rabbit sitting in the corner of a cage or hutch outside all day. (As I like to say for illustation, "Take a child and place him into a cage barely large enough for him to move, leave him in there for many months and then tell me how likely you are to know his true personality if you stand in front of the cage for 5 minutes." It amazes me how many times I see a lightbulb go on in people's heads and they say, "Oh, I get it..." to that statement.)

Seeing rabbits out and about, doing skilled tasks and being social will help people understand how intelligent these animals are.

(Rabbit hopping isn't for everybunny. Some buns simply don't have -- and won't have, even with concerted development -- the outgoing personality that this activity requires. That's okay -- that's all part of respecting the animal as an individual.)

I missed this rabbit hopping article when it came out earlier this year.

Bunnies take over the keyboard!

2011-10-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

As you saw in the October issue of the BunFun newsletter**, Jennifer's adorable Turnip and Salem were our winners this month. They'll receive a FREE fun gift basket with some things for buns and people, as a way of saying thanks for sharing their adorable mugs with us!

Turnip and Salem apparently commandeered the keyboard when they learned of their triumph.

Dear Amy and Scott,

Thank you soooooooooooo much for our treat basket! Our mom forces
us....I mean, encourages us to take these silly pictures. "you'll
win one day" she says......I guess she was right!

Thanks for including last year and this years fall pics too.....she
puts us thru the ringer I tell ya! She dosen't even let us eat the
flowers.....geez!
We can't wait to get our delivery! Thank you again! We love what you
do for us bunnies...and our owners!

( \/ )
(o.o) Turnip and Salem
(> <)

** What? You don't get the BunFun newsletter? Then sign up right now! We will not share your information with anyone else, and we send out our newsletter about once a month.

Volunteers deal with a rabbit problem.

2011-10-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

Some areas find themselves with large populations of feral rabbits that were previously domesticated. Pacific City, OR used to have this issue; when we started visiting the area about 14 years ago, the town was overrun with adorable bunnies of all domesticated stripe. (Development and control since then have curbed the populations.) While they may look cute, there's a problem for the buns -- who often suffer from a variety of problems -- and the people they live around.

Long Beach City College had such a problem... and here's a great article on what volunteers are doing to combat it.

The problem isn't new or rare, either; My House Rabbit's blog talked about a Canadian instance of this issue some time ago.

Rabbits in the wild disappearing?

2011-10-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

The growth and movement of human populations can have incredible impacts on animal populations. If this is news to you, well... I just don't know what schools are teaching kids these days. :) The New England Cottontail has made the news rounds recently due to its difficulty. While similar, but different, to the common cottontail, these wild rabbits (which are relatives, but not the same as domesticated rabbits) are disappearing thanks to habitat disruption.

There's a good news article on them, and a little web site that promotes information as well.

Clint Eastwood has a lagomorph son, August!

2011-10-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Scot found this video on You Tube, a promo for an ASPCA.

Awww... I love a tough guy with a soft heart.

Oh boy. Feel like writing a letter today?

2011-10-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

Rabbits occupy an odd position in American culture, seen as incrediby intelligent companion animals by some, and live stock as others. The book Stories Rabbits Tell, A Natural and Cultural History of a Misunderstood Creature by Susan E. Davis and Margo DeMello explored this in depth.

Bunnies are the 3rd most popular pets in the US, just behind cats and dogs (birds, fish, other small animals etc. are all behind the bunnies, most industry experts agree).

So how on earth could an otherwise well educated company make such a huge blunder? Zuke's, a well regarded home grown, bootstrapping success story in the world of dog energy snacks and training treats, made the interesting decision to use sustainably harvested wild rabbit from New Zealand (which has a rabbit overpopulation problem that ranks as a significant issue in that country).

While that's bothersome, the method in which they chose to market the product is... nothing short of stunning in its insensitivity. The tagline of the big colorful ad is, "Bunny IS better!"

Seriously? Dog is eaten in some Asian countries; would they make cat treats out of feral dogs from another country and then market them in the US by saying "Fido is finger licking good!"

No, I don't think so.

I have written them a letter. If this issue strikes a cord in you, I urge you to do the same. (However I beg you to do so with a calm and respectful professionalism, because anything else can easily be written off.) Click on the image below to read my letter to them.

Contact information for the company:

www.zukes.com
1.866.985.3364
PO Box 3210
Durango, CO 81302-3210

Bunny EMT Skills: How to Help a Choking Rabbit

2011-10-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

Usually I do not repost material that is published in the BunFun newsletter. However, the piece on helping a choking rabbit in our September issue received so many thank you's that it seemed like a good things to spread far and wide! So here you go.

While all our our bunnies are certainly dainty little creatures with impeccable social habits and would never snarf their food like heathens (I can't hardly type that without bursting into laughter), rabbits can indeed choke. Items being consumed can block the trachea, causing a potentially life threatening situation.

This is rare, however it does occur, and knowing how to help may mean the difference between life and death.

Did you know that bunnies don't have a gag reflex, or the ability to vomit? It's true! Bunnies can cough, so a partially obstructed airway is probably something the bun can deal with themselves through coughing, shaking of the head, etc. But if the bun becomes distressed or cannot breathe, the airway may be completely blocked.

A rabbit with a blocked airway may exhibit a variety of behaviors; first they may shake their heads or walk backwards trying to "back up"; they may stretch up with their nose high in the air, mouth agape, trying to get oxygen. Their eyes may bulge. While this may distress you, it's important to remain calm, know what to do and to act fast.

By employing the same concept as the Heimlich Maneuver in humans, you can assist the rabbit by forcing air out the trachea and hopefully dislodging the offending item blocking the airway.

There are two ways to do this:

Hold the rabbit firmly, providing ample support for head and neck. With their nose pointing downward, firmly and gently apply pressure upwards against the diaphragm. Make a smooth movement that starts mid abdomen and sweeps upward toward their ribcage. This will apply pressure against the lungs, and by using the force of that air trying to get out, dislodge the item in the trachea. Having the buns's head pointed down will help it not fall right back into place again.

In a dire emergency, more force may be necessary. This method is more difficult, and you must be very careful to firmly remain hold of the rabbit (for obvious reasons). It also may not be possible on a larger, heavier animal. Place the bun, face down, between your forearms. Use your forearms to immobilize the bun's head, neck and spine so they do not move.

Raise the bun in the air and, nose pointed down, swing your arms gently down (remain in control AND in firm grasp of the bun, obviously). Doing this pushes the bun's internal organs up, against the lungs, and will push air out of the lungs to dislodge the item in the trachea.

You may have to do this more than one time, but stop immediately once the bun begins to breathe.

After any serious choking incident, get to the veterinarian right away. Additional items may have been fully aspirated (drawn into the lungs) and this, along with damage to the trachea caused by the lodged item, can result in pneumonia or infection.

Do your research for veterinary care.

2011-09-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

We all know how important routine veterinary care for your bun is. (And if you don't... well then listen up!) A yearly trip to your veterinarian for a visit, called a "Well Bun Checkup" is really important.

First, it establishes the professional relationship with a veterinarian that will serve you well in the event that you have an emergency or serious health issue to be dealt with. Trust me -- you DON'T want to be trying to find a vet when you know something is wrong, because time is of the essence. You don't want to find out that the new vet you chose is NOT the right one for you. Remember... by the time you are aware that your bun has a health problem, it may be pretty serious. Rabbits are prey animals, and as a result are masters at masking a problem -- a problem that in the wild would bring more peril to themselves and those around them by drawing predators.

In addition, it's very helpful for your veterinarian to see your bun in their healthy state to have a baseline to compare to. And routine health care can often catch problems early, and that's very important!

Also, you'll need to think about it in advance because some research may be necessary. In smaller towns, finding a veterinarian who is well versed in rabbits may be tough; in some areas they are still seen as "exotics." Bunnies are different than dogs and cats and require some special knowledge which a vet needs to obtain through professional training, self guided research, and experience with patients. In a larger area, you may find multiple vets which provide high quality health care, but at vastly different prices.

For instance, in the Portland, OR area, someone recently sought out rates for testing for Pasteurella and E cuniculi. Three veterinarian clinics were contacted:

At vet clinic #1: P $225 and EC $244

At vet clinic #2: P $87 and EC $150

At vet clinic #3: P $42 and EC $42

(I cannot speak to WHY these prices vary so greatly; chances are there ARE some variances in the actual methods and practices used, but in every town I've lived in, you found similar wide ranges in the cost of services that were identical.)

So when was your last Well Bunny visit? Check out rabbit.org for more information about choosing a veteriarian, and what to expect and plan for with your bun's visit.

Petwerks is headed to SuperZoo!

2011-09-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

Petwerks will be closed Tuesday September 13th through Friday September 16th. We'll be in Las Vegas at SuperZoo, the largest pet industry trade show in the US! It's always great fun, and really informative about the direction, trends, and general vibe of the pet industry. It's not open to the public, but we'll be blogging and posting from the event to give you a peek of what it's like. (The written rules say no photography. Are you kidding me? How else am I supposed to remember things when we're talking about HUNDREDS of booths? I'll snap away with my trusty iPhone.)

Of course, you'll miss the overzealous salesmen-and-women who try to pitch us everything from dried bully sticks (a chew for dogs that's made out of a... hilarious and disturbing... part of the bull anatomy) to cat food to aquarium pumps to gerbil hi-rises. They just don't get it when we say, "Oh, I'm sorry, no thanks. We specialize in house rabbits. We don't have a need..." They just launch right into their spiel. We often do look at products that aren't marketed for rabbits, because there could be some opportunity there, however.

Rabbits are STILL overlooked in the marketplace. Look at SuperZoo's own logo! Rabbits are the 4th most popular pet below dogs, cats, and birds... but are they in the logo? NO! We had to put our own little mascot in there. It just didn't feel right otherwise. There was a TURTLE in there for goodness sake! We love turtles, but come on!

Oh, and dog clothes. LOTS and LOTS of dog clothes. You have NO idea how many producers of poochie couture there are out there. OMG.

Whenever we go to industry events like this, we come away with two impressions: a realization that things HAVE improved in the market of products for rabbits in the almost 20 years we've been doing this. But even moreso, we are reminded of how vital it is that Petwerks continue to do just what it always has: offer only the best products that we know and test (or produce ourselves) for your rabbits. Many companies make good products, but some are just out to make a buck, or at best misguided and have thrown products out on the market for pet rabbits just because they saw someone else doing it and are afraid they might miss a buck.

Pssst -- secret is we'll be gone Tuesday through Thursday. We'll try to get things going on Friday, but always like to build in a little buffer in case there are travel delays or other problems. But don't be surprised if you get an email with a shipping notification that your order shipped on Friday. We just can't promise! ;)

Recognition where it is due.

2011-08-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

While most cities will now host at least one vet that "specializes" in exotic animals, including birds and rabbits, there are many areas, and were many days, when that wasn't the case. Many people in rabbit rescue, fostering and care found their way to Dr. Greg Rich through email, phone calls, vet referrals, or requests for help. And help he did. The good doctor has been recognized for that!

Dr. Greg Rich wins Oxbow Exotic Mammal Health award at national conference

Congratulations, Dr. Rich!

2011-08-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Our customers love us. Give us a chance and you will too.

Greetings --

Just like others have said, the condo arrived promptly and was very easy to put together. We put them in a pen in front of the condo with the door open and within 10 minutes Oliver and Lucy were inside and scampering up and down the ramp. The condo was to be their first home together and we were shocked by how quickly they transitioned to it. They really do love it, and you guys really have figured out what bunnies want! We keep it in my daughter's room and it looks so cute in there. We are new to bunnies (Oliver is 7 months and Lucy 3) but we found pretty quickly that standard cages are not adequate homes. Now, if we're gone all day we don't worry about them because they have plenty of room for activity. They often don't want to come out when offered. If anyone asks me about having bunnies I will say wholeheartedly yes they are the most wonderful pets, but if you get one you must also get a Leith Petwerks condo! Bunnies don't belong in cages!

Thanks so much!

M. and J.

A new twist on the tortoise and the hare?

2011-07-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

One turtle turned a tragedy into a new free-wheeling way of getting around !

Tortoise gets artificial wheel at vet hospital

The artificial limb put on an African tortoise at Washington State University didn't come from a high-tech prosthetics lab. It came from Ace Hardware in Pullman.

Gamera, a 12-year-old, African spur-thighed tortoise, shows off his new front "leg" at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., on Friday.

The caster-style wheel cost around $7, according to the two veterinarians who installed it on the tortoise after amputating the reptile's damaged left front leg.

"We got several sizes to find the right height," said Dr. Nickol Finch, of the WSU veterinary teaching hospital.

The epoxy that attached the wheel to the tortoise's shell was also purchased at Ace, she said.
The 23-pound tortoise, named Gamera, was shown to the public Thursday. The male reptile has become a celebrity since photos of its artificial limb were released Wednesday.

Read more!

A Nail Saga: The value of being prepared!

2011-06-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

The foster buns at Petwerks enjoyed an intensive spring cleaning of their area this morning. Well, I wouldn't say enjoyed; they consider us messing with their stuff not fun. They are so particular. Andy, a gorgeous grey and black angora, had been cleaned and re-set up, but had been moved to the side so vacuuming and wall-wipedowns could be done. He was showing his displeasure with this affront -- he takes his area being moved as a real inconvenience -- by thumping and running around on WALLS. He's kinda like that. Sweet, but... sassy.

I'd checked on him one moment, and just a few moments later Shane says, "OMG Amy come here quick there's blood! Lots of blood! Andy's bleeding!"

Calmly I approach (that's what years of experience with situations has taught me) and sure enough, there are many, MANY specks and smears of blood in Andy's area... which had not been there a few moments ago. "It's a toenail, I bet," I say, remembering the time long ago when Dinkum got a nail caught in the carpeting, ripped it off and went about his business without any indication there was a problem aside from the half-dime sized spots of blood he was leaving on the cream colored berber carpet in the living room.

"There it is!" says Shane, pointing to a completely full nail lying in the middle of Andy's area... with no indication whatsoever of how it was caught and separated from its owner!

The poor guy had lost the nail down to the quick, which clearly explained why he was bleeding.

As Shane held Andy, I quickly located the toe that was nail-less, and applied pressure with a clean paper towel. Looking after about 60 seconds, the bleeding was slowing. In a situation like this, the bun's movements walking around, and the shaking and flicking they will do of their foot removes the clotting blood which would seal the wound and stop the bleeding all on its. As a result, a minor issue can bleed more than you'd expect.

As there wasn't an open wound, direct pressure would likely have stopped the bleeding, but stypic powder would do the job more quickly and for sure. We applied a pinch of that to the toe, applied pressure again, and I was able to bring away a clean paper towel after another 60 seconds. Andy enjoyed some cooing and pampering, then was returned to his space as spring cleaning resumed.

Being prepared with a simple little product -- MediStyp Styptic Powder 1/2 oz -- allowed us to go from something that looked like a murder scene to a problem solved in under 3 minutes! One little tub of it is all you'll need for years, but when you need it, you need it and you're so glad you have it! (Keeping track of it is the challenge; at home and at Petwerks we have a little bin where we toss all the important care items such as nail trimming scissors, styptic powder, first aid supplies, etc.) so they can be found quickly.

15% one of our most popular products: Ultimate Play Center!

2011-05-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Our Bunny Playland series has been one of the most popular items we've developed -- and that's saying a lot! For a limited time, we are offering the Bunny Playland Ultimate Play Center at a discount, making them even more attactive for foster homes, rescue groups, or as a gift for a special bunny-loving friend. And if you don't have one yet... then what are you waiting for!?

Great new treat basket: Triple Treat PLUS!

2011-05-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

Our new fun basket is a triple threat and more to bunny boredom! The Triple Treat PLUS!

There's a LOT of goodness all in one convenient package. You get a 4 ounce tub of Just Veggies all natural snacks, a 2.5 ounce tub of Just Gone Bananas all natural dried banana chips snacks, a 3.5 ounce package of Darford Veggie-Heart Minis baked cookie style treats loaded with all natural goodness. THEN...there's the wonderful willow basket itself for bunny to chew on! That's part of the PLUS, but we didn't stop there...we added a couple of cute items just for YOU! A cute bunny card and topped it all off with one of our magnets.

I told you there was a LOT in this one!

Retail Value is over $20, but you can get it all for only $14.00 !!!

Limited supplies, so get yours now before they're gone.

And just in case you needed clarification...

2011-05-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

THIS is a good way to share healthy dietary habits with your rabbit.

AND THIS IS NOT! ;)

Share the spring, summer and fall bounty!

2011-05-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

Bunnies love vegetables. The differences in textures and tastes are a fun adventure for your rabbit, and the vitamins and minerals natural foods provide are an important part of a well balanced diet. As spring grows into summer, farmer's markets will be filled with fresh leafy greens and vegetables the colors of the rainbow, and buying fresh produce for your bun can be a fun thing for you, too!

[Need help locating a farmer's market or CSA program in your area? Check out this great web site, Local Harvest. A CSA is a subscription like partnership with a local farm where each week they provide you with a box of fresh, in season vegetables. It's a wonderful way to support local, sustainable agriculture, and fill your plate with wonderful, natural goodness!
]
Almost every veggie is safe for your rabbits. Spinach and kale are high in oxalates or goitrogens so should be given more sparingly, and broccoli can cause gas in some buns! As with everything else, you will find your bun has favorites, and may take a few tries before they find they enjoy a new vegetable. Here are just a few veggies to try!

Alfalfa, radish & clover sprouts
Baby bok choy
Basil
Beet greens (tops)*
Bok choy
Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems)*
Brussels sprouts
Carrot & carrot tops*
Celery
Chinese celery
Cilantro
Clover
Collard greens*
Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)*
Dwarf choy sum
Endive*
Escarole
Gai long

Green peppers
Kale (!)*
Mint
Mustard greens*
Parsley*
Pea pods (the flat edible kind: snow pea or sugar snap pea)*
Peppermint leaves
Raddichio
Radish tops
Raspberry leaves
Romaine lettuce (no iceberg or light colored leaf)*
Spinach (!)*
Watercress*
Wheat grass
Yu choy

There's even a handy, helpful guide to basic vegetable selection available from the House Rabbit Society. Save it to your mobile phone and have it handy at all times!

You Know You're a Bunny Parent When...

2011-05-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

Found these cute books on Blurb: You Know You're a Bunny Parent When... and also Volume 2 of the same. They've been up for a bit so maybe it's old news, but I find them adorable. Lots of love and laughter inside, from what I see in the online samples!

Petwerks t-shirts, going fast!

2011-05-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

We've printed up a new batch of Petwerks t-shirts. Get them now, as they are going fast! We always sell out quickly of these fun AND functional items, so grab one in your size, from small to XXL in two beautiful colors!

See them in the Petwerks Boutique!

Show your love of rabbits AND your support of Petwerks!

We love Overnight Prints.

2011-04-22T16:16:00.001-07:00

For Petwerks and other projects, I have been using Overnight Prints for a few years now. Love the company; great service, great output. They made this cute and informative video for Earth Day that talks about their process. And... there's a bunny in it. :)

Updates coming to Petwerks website!

2011-03-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Starting today and through the weekend I'll be making some updates and improvements to the Petwerks web site! First comes a new shopping cart checkout feature. Your familiar checkout experience will look different, but will be more visually appealing, more streamlined, and function better as well.

The switchover is a well tested and supported function of our hosting service, so I do not anticipate any issues. However, if you do experience a problem, please call or email us immediately.

With this upgrade there will be a few features discontinued, such as "Credit card order via fax." If you are unable to or do not wish to place an order online using a credit card, please call us during business hours to place your order.

Let us know how you like the changes!

Bunnies popping up everywhere... including the dish rack.

2011-02-22T18:01:00.001-08:00

A customer shared a curious find with us: a disk drying rack that, for whatever reason, sports a rabbit. :) Offered by the online site ModCloth, it's cute. I'm thankful I have a dishwasher! (We won't be adding this item to the Boutique. But I thought I'd share because it's so cute!)

Newsletter from Bunnies in Baskets

2011-01-23T10:49:00.001-08:00

Our friends at Bunnies in Baskets have published a print newsletter, and it's readable online, too. Check it out!

The rabbit who stole Christmas.

2010-12-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

Proving that yes, rabbits LOVE to chew on chords, is this little news item:

We have a winner!

2010-12-22T21:12:00.000-08:00

FINAL WINNING BID:
THE WINNER BID ONLY $120!!

The winner shared with Scot a very touching story; the rabbit in this painting looked like one of her who passed away in March; they'd been friends for many years. May this wonderful painting bring her happy memories and joy!

We are so happy to be sending $120 to the Rabbit Advocates Medical Fund to help offset the costs for caring for Sylvie, who recently had to have an eye removed.

As it was a silent auction we will not publish the name of the winner, but we will let you know that the painting has already been shipped to her and should arrive before Christmas!

Gone Fishing...sort of

2010-12-07T11:16:00.000-08:00

Woo Hoo, it is official. The UPS pickup for today has happened so we are officially on VACATION. We are taking a vacation to, not so warm, but sunny Florida to visit with the parents and spend some time taking in the aquatic therapy (snorkeling, scuba, swiming...yeah!).

So, what this means is that NO orders placed between right NOW and Dec 16th will ship until at least Dec 17th or 20th. If you need your order to arrive before Christmas, you'll need to select a UPS 1, 2, or 3 day option.

But, to sweeten the deal...all orders from now until 5 pm (PST) Dec 16th that total $50 or more (before shipping costs) will receive a free Vacation Villa ($14.97 value!).

See...we get a vacation, you get a Vacation Villa! I am so clever. ; - )

See you soon!

Problems with www.leithpetwerks.com domain temporary!

2010-11-23T13:12:00.000-08:00

We learned this morning that there was a glitch in the renewal on one of our domain names, leithpetwerks.com. It's down today but service is being restored. You can still find us at petwerks.com, though! Sorry for the inconvenience!

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Darford Treats Back in Stock -- While Supplies Last!

2010-11-18T06:45:00.000-08:00

You know how you find a great product you like, and then... they either change it on you or discontinue it? Well, that's what has happened with the treats from Darford Holistic. As soon as we heard, we contacted the company and bought all the remaining stock. We received 76 cases of treats, but they are going fast! We have all there is within the USofA, so order a few bags now for your furkids now before they are gone! These are very fresh (dated best by June 2011) so you can stock up and enjoy them for almost a whole year!

Darford Holistic Veggie-Heart Minis or Darford Holistic Veggie-Hearts

Clearing Out the Fruitwells

2010-11-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Pure, 100% natural fruit is one of our favorite treats (both for humans AND for our long eared friends). We have a variety of dehydrated fruits from Fruitwells that are perfect for your bunnies (and other small animals, not to mention birds of all types, too). We have a special deal on all of our Fruitwells. This treat keeps very well as long as you keep it in its well sealed bag in a cool, dry place.

Stock up for only $2.99 each!

Apple Snacks • Banana Snacks • Mango Snacks • Papaya Snacks • Pineapple Snacks

Tough times for shelters.

2010-11-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

Recently, our local shelter, Willamette Valley Humane Society, announced a number of changes that were put into place in order for them to stay viable; while the decisions certainly aren't good, when you consider that an alternative was probably closing the doors... you gotta look at the bright side, right?

[I get so angry when I read comments such as some of those which follow the article. People talk about their anger and dislike toward the organization because of these decisions... but I bet donuts to dollars those people have never worked at a shelter, or volunteered at a shelter... probably never even dropped their spare change into a collection can, much less made a sizable donation of support. They just sit back in their chairs, expect that someone else will do that work--and pay for it--and take no thought of the intense amount of resources, from morale to money, that such an endeavor takes. Hence the key issue with animal overpopulation and neglect in our society... MOST people see it as "someone else's problem" to resolve.]

One regrettable change is that our shelter will no longer accept rabbits. This is truly sad for they had a nice small room and some great volunteers that really did a lot of great work to help the rabbits. But the cost of intake, spay/neuter and care for the animals was probably an easy target, given what I imagine are long stays, frequent re-surrender and other issues.

In the back of our minds, Scot and I have always thought of taking our small foster room (currently able to house six buns) and doing something larger. It seems like the time may be right; we are considering creating, next to Petwerks, a still small but expanded fostering facility, perhaps 12 beds. It's just a germ of an idea right now, and the real challenge is building a reliable local volunteer group of people who could help with care, and perhaps a foster home or two that could assist with bunnies that need more intense socializing assistance.

So many questions. Now we start looking for some answers!

Bad hare day.

2010-09-16T12:18:00.001-07:00

see more dog and puppy pictures

You all know much more about hay!

2010-07-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

We grew up in the Midwest, in farm country. Scot had a lot of direct farming experience as a kid, and I knew many friends and family members who were farmers. We took for granted the knowledge that we picked up.

Over the years we encountered many misconceptions and misunderstandings about the product that rabbit caretakers depend upon the most: hay! We've written some articles in previous issues of our BunFun newsletter which sought to educate and demystify the topic. Each have been huge hits, and we've received lots of kudos from friends and customers who are now better informed, more educated consumers, and now more equipped to make smart purchases and planning!

Check out the July 20th BunFun and the article, "It Isn't Easy Being Green" by Scot Leith.

Rabbits in commercials.

2010-05-04T21:27:00.001-07:00

Sometimes when buns appear in commercials you think, "Oh no..." but Telus, one of Canada's leading telecommunication companies, has a string of commercials of all types of animals. The ones with rabbits are, of course, our favorite.

Now how about a little French?

Petwerks is about helping rabbits.

2010-04-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

We started our business in 1997 due to the needs of our own house rabbit, Dinkum. From day one, we've endeavored to help organizations. We do foster and rescue work ourselves, and we donate to other organizations. Even in tough economic times, we continue to support organizations through education, donations and grants.

We love it when organizations tell us how things turned out!

Dear Scot,

I am writing to thank you for participating in NC Rabbit Day 2010. We had a wonderful day on Saturday, with about 250 people coming out to visit us at AniMall’s new location in Cary, NC. Five rescue organizations and shelters participated: Cape Fear House Rabbit Society, Carolina Pet Rescue, All Creatures Rescue and Sanctuary, Dance with the Bunnies Rabbit Rescue, and the Wake County Animal Shelter. We saw more adoptions this year, with seven bunnies being adopted. Two more bunnies had adoption applications turned in, so we hope that they will also find their permanent home after coming to Rabbit Day.

Our activities included an education table staffed with volunteers and free handouts about rabbit care, our beautiful raffle and display tables, and the official kick-off for our spring “Make Mine Chocolate” campaign. Dr. Dan Johnson, a local veterinarian specializing in exotic animal medicine, answered questions and had a free nail-trimming clinic at our veterinarian table. We also had clicker training demonstrations by one of our volunteers and his bunnies.

Our “Bunny Olympics” photo contest was popular with our visitors, and showcased photos of rabbits doing different activities. All the photo entries are on the website gallery at www.rabbitday2010.com. Funny Honey Bunny was the favorite of Rabbit Day voters. Punk was the favorite of our online voters, with over 700 votes!

Your generosity in sending two boxes of Petwerks Vacation Villas and a box of chew toys was wonderful, and we are so grateful. Everyone who came to Rabbit Day was very excited to be able to take home a chew toy for their bunny from Leith Petwerks! We distributed toys to Rabbit Day visitors and to the adoptable bunnies. The rescue groups were also able to take toys and a Vacation Villa to the bunnies that are in rescue, but were not at Rabbit Day. We presented a Vacation Villa to all the bunnies who were adopted on Saturday to get them started in their new homes. Other Vacation Villas were given as raffle prizes. You have made a lot of NC bunnies very happy.

On behalf of the NC Triangle House Rabbits group and all our rescue partners, thank you so much for your sponsorship of NC Rabbit Day. This year we raised $235.00 for rabbit rescue, and the money was donated on Saturday to our participating rescue groups. We appreciate your help in making Rabbit Day 2010 a great success!

Best Wishes,
Jeanette Lyerly
NC Triangle House Rabbits Group
Rabbit Day 2010 Fundraising Chair

Another Playland Review...

2010-04-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Buns love the Playlands! Even if they don't use them in the way we intended. Stinkers.

Dusty, who I bought the playset for, took three steps up the ramp, threw himself down on the ramp and promptly went to sleep. He's my 11 pound angora who desperately needs to lose weight but is reluctant to do more than eat and scratch his left ear for exercise. Baby Buttons and Taylor Wigglesworth love the playset so I will be adding on more pieces in a couple of weeks. Zoe is still reluctant to try it and avoids it at all costs while Tucker thinks of it as a giant chew toy.
Just thought you might like to know.....thanks!

Karen C.

Rave reviews of our new hay.

2010-04-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

The feedback is pouring in about our new hay. We want everyone to give it a try; even if you stick with your existing timothy type, offering timothy from different producers can mean a difference in taste, texture and nutritional makeup as each hay grower is unique thanks to differences in soil, climate, etc.

Beginning Tuesday April 6th, 2010 we will be including a FREE SAMPLE with all orders! It's a big handful of a sample, so you can poke through it and check out the lovely leaves and the yummy seed heads, and your bun can really get a taste of it.

Many buns (I'd say most, by far) are pretty picky, and as a result may not JUMP on new things you place in front of them. (We've told you about Penelope, the foster bun who turned her nose up at hay EVERY SINGLE DAY for an entire year before eating some by "accident" and getting turned on to it. Over 365 refusals and then one day...) It's important that we, as their caretakers, give them variety and encourage them to eat a balanced diet based in hay so they can be as happy and healthy as possible.

Place an order with us now and get a free sample to check it out. And with your next order, we know you'll pick up a mini-bale (~3.5 lb), medium box (~25 lb) or large box (~50 lb) for your bun to enjoy!

Party animals!

2010-03-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

We love the unsolicited feedback we receive. Some bunnies are very adept at using a keyboard!

Hi Scott and Amy,

My mom (Jennifer) received a package yesterday from the UPS driver and was super excited.... like she always is and I just thought, ok here she goes again! She came right in to my room and told me the package was for me. Boy did my ears perk up! I don't know if you guys know this but I am super scared of everything and am a complete momma's girl! So even the opening of the box sent me into hysterics! Well, let me tell you, was it worth it! The new hay holder is AMAZING! I can fit my whole little Dutch body into this thing! WOW!!!! I will be nibbling for days without needing a refill!
Now onto the Party Deck! You guys are so fun! My mom thinks the name is hilarious! She put it on the penthouse level of my amazing condo. I was a little skeptical at first and wouldn't touch it all day yesterday! Well, overnight I thought I would try it out! What a view of the place! I've been napping on it all day! My mom was super excited this morning when she came in to feed me at 6:30 and snapped my picture....I have to say, I look good...even for first thing in the morning!
We just really want to thank you for everything you do for bunnies! We wish we lived closer to you, we'd come and give you chin rubs ourselves! But, for now, pictures will just have to do! Keep an eye out for our annual Easter picture, Salem (my Flemish Giant 'brother') is very uncooperative for pictures, so it may not happen, but mom is still hoping it will! In the mean time, I'm hanging out on the party deck!!!! Check out the pictures I've attached! You guys are super fun!

( \/ )Thanks again,
(o.o) Turnip!
(> <)

Bunny Playlands are a huge hit!

2010-03-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

Whenever we come up with a new product, we test it on ourselves, our friends, and of course with our in-house foster buns who always tell us exactly what they think! But there's always that wonder... we think it's great, but what will Everyone Else think?

Luckily, Everyone Else thinks the Bunny Playlands are as awesome as we do! From the feedback we've received, perhaps they are even better! Raves, kudos and thanks are rolling in as customers and their buns have spent some time with theirs. Get yours now and join in the fun!

Diane sent us this great photo of her bun, Belle, enjoying the new fun spaces to explore, play and relax.
Don't forget that the Starter Pack is a great basic way to start; you can always add more individual pieces to suit your space and bunny's needs. Want more tunnels? More ramps? More tubes? You can do it! See our Toys section for individual Playland pieces.

New March 2010 BunFun is here!

2010-03-22T23:38:00.001-07:00

I'll admit... it's big. It's filled with tons of adorable cuteness. Check it out!

Petwerks closed Tuesday and Wednesday

2010-03-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

A friend is coming all the way from Indiana to visit, so we're taking the day off to spend time with him. As a result, Petwerks will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday of this week only. Then Thursday, it's back to work!

Place an order while we are closed and keep us busy and bunnies on Thursday! To say thanks for those who do, order now until 8am (PST) on Thursday 3/25 and we'll give you FREE STICKERS to say thanks!

Hay is life!

2010-03-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

For bunnies, copious amounts of high quality grass hay is vital to good health and happiness!
We found a local hay grower that could meet our over-the-top stringent requirements for quality hay for our bunnies. We have some really picky eaters and wanted to find a more environmentally friendly and economical solution... that way EVERYONE wins.

We are now very excited to offer this high quality locally grown hay straight from us to you and your pets. All at a great price. The bunnies just go crazy for this hay!
We will be offering 1st cut timothy as well as other hays as they become available and if they can continue to meet our exacting standards for quality. Nothing but the best will do.

This hay comes in a convenient 24" x 24" x 24" box, approximately 50# +/- of delicious green hay. At this price...what a deal! Only $28.95 (plus shipping)!

And if you are local to our shop in Turner, Oregon, you can drop by and pick up an entire 110# bale!

Shelter Animal Stamps announced today!

2010-03-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

While there aren't any bunnies in the bunch yet, it is still a wonderful series for stamps! Just think, now with every letter you send and every bill you mail in, you are helping those less fortunate pets out there.

http://www.stampstotherescue.com/

If you get really bored, you can send me a note or pictures of your pets. I love getting mail! Just be sure to use a stamp that helps a really great cause that we can all get behind.

Scot

PO Box 13520

Salem, OR 97309

Introducing the exciting new Bunny Playland!

2010-03-02T22:16:00.001-08:00

Marco has some very exciting stuff to show you! Check out the new Bunny Playland, a set of configurable playland parts that are inexpensive, totally safe, and incredible fun for your house rabbit. You can select parts as you wish, or you can get started right away with our Bunny Playland Starter Pack!

See all the pieces in our Fun Toys category!

Animal friendships.

2010-02-27T15:43:00.000-08:00

A friend referenced this CBS news story that talks about a wonderful relationship between two very different animals. It's an amazing story; take less than three minutes to enjoy it!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=105736709453171&ref=nf

Lizzie and Bonzai... friends?

2010-02-03T20:35:00.001-08:00

Lizzie and Bonzai are our "own" buns (as compared to our half dozen foster buns. Wait, make that five, Scot's decided Indy isn't going anywhere). They inhabit separate levels of a triple level Bunny Abode. Bonzai has the upper two levels, and Lizzie has the bottom level and 2/3 of the time out in the "courtyard" in front of the condo I created with an x-pen. This has given the two a lot of exposure to one another. They share play area, and they are often close, but separated by the wire walls.

The play area contains enough to keep them entertained, and for the most part, they didn't seem to care about the other. But recently... I've noticed Lizzie trying to squeeze her face out through the walls, and Bonzai has been spending more time lounging by her, instead of out in the courtyard.

We thought it was time for a little intro. I didn't intend to bond them, but hey, they might be into it.

Scot sat on one end of the futon in my studio with Lizzie, I on the other with Bonzai. This is "neutral territory" for them and a very unique and confined space. At first, neither seemed to care as Scot held Lizzie and I eventually let Bonzai down to roam. Eventually we placed Lizzie in the space between us. They were suddenly like, "Oh! Hi!"
Neither were on the high-tail alert I'd become familiar with. Bonzai, a very active and hyper guy, immediately hopped on Lizzie and tried to show her who was boss. She very patiently settled own and let him do his macho thing. There was no anger, no stress... but the moment he was done she did a jump turn in mid air and, I hate to be rude, landed on top of him and showed him how it was really done. (Both are neutered, Lizzie is a girl and Bonzai is a boy.) Bonzai was rather... stunned.

Once she'd made her point we distracted them and they danced around one another. An odd series of attempts to present, scenting behavior and face rubs emerged. Periodically one or the other would mount, but the other would almost immediately assent, but shortly afterward make their point in return.

It was odd that there was no stress or anger at all. They were just bull headed and well matched, and hell bent on neither of them giving in, but not interested in demolishing the other bun to prove a point.

We got them side by side, both sort of loafed, and we stroked each in the long head to tail full handed pets they love. We'd pet one, then the other, then the first to mix their scents. They loafed out more, lying side by side.

They seemed to enjoy it. After about 20 minutes we decided to end it on that high note, and we'll see what happens in a few more days when we try again.

Huh. Who knew?

February is Adopt A Rabbit Month!

2010-02-01T07:40:00.000-08:00

We like to think that EVERY month is Adopt A Rabbit Month, but in February each year there's a little more gusto put into marketing by shelters and other organizations to help raise awareness about the problem of homeless rabbits. Many people are susprised, believe it or not, that there are shelters and rescue organizations filled with sweet, wonderful bunnies needing a forever home.

If you or someone you know has been contemplating adding a first house rabbit to your home, or is considering getting a new bunny to pair

with a single, or are looking for an already bonded pair, please visit your local humane shelter, your local rabbit rescue...or us! We have six foster buns ourselves, and will be giving them a little more press on these pages this month as well!

2009-12-31T08:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone and every bun!

Our offices are closed until January 4th (the bunnies want to party to welcome the new year), but you can still order your Bunny Abode at 25% off until midnight tonight!

Better hop to it.

See you in 2010. Be safe.

Scot 'the bunnyguy'

The incredible sale is almost over!

2009-12-30T12:42:00.000-08:00

Don't forget that our never-seen-before sale on Bunny Abode House Rabbit Condos ends at midnight Pacific Standard Time on December 31, 2009! Don't let the new year start without getting your order in, and save 25% off the regular price!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T11:33:00.001-08:00

Condo sale continues until the end of the month.

2009-12-21T22:34:00.001-08:00

The condo sale extends through the entire month of December! If Santa left you a gift of green, or if you were rocking the deals as you did your own holiday shopping and have enough left over to treat yourself and your bun to new digs, you can take advantage of the great sale we have on Bunny Abode House Rabbit Condos!

Did you know this about, "The Twelve Days of Christmas?"

2009-12-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

Coincidentally the cost of the REAL 12 Days of Christmas items, purchased only once, would top out at $21,466 and over $87,403 if purchased repeatedly as the song suggests.

Wow!

OUR 12 Days of Petwerks bunny wish list will run you significantly less!

On the twelveth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

2009-12-18T12:12:00.000-08:00

Twelve boxes of timothy hay!

Eleven exercise pens,

Ten wooden toys,
Nine seagrass mats,

Eight types of snacks,

Seven pretty litter pans,

Six bags of bunny food,
Five Bunny Blossom posters,
Four House Rabbit Handbooks,
Three stylish fleece pet beds,
Two Tuscan Bowls,
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

2009-12-17T16:13:00.000-08:00

Eleven exercise pens!

(Now that would make a LOT of space to play.)

Ten wooden toys,
Nine seagrass mats,

Eight types of snacks,

Seven pretty litter pans,

Six bags of bunny food,
Five Bunny Blossom posters,
Four House Rabbit Handbooks,
Three stylish fleece pet beds,
Two Tuscan Bowls,
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode!

On the tenth day of X-mas, my dear one gave to me...

2009-12-16T22:18:00.000-08:00

Ten wooden toys!

(And we have a huge selection of them!)
Nine seagrass mats,

Eight types of snacks,

Seven pretty litter pans,

Six bags of bunny food,
Five Bunny Blossom posters,
Four House Rabbit Handbooks,
Three stylish fleece pet beds,
Two Tuscan Bowls,
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode!

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

2009-12-15T08:35:00.000-08:00

Nine seagrass mats!

(Let's say three of each!)

Eight types of snacks,

Seven pretty litter pans,

Six bags of bunny food,
Five Bunny Blossom posters,
Four House Rabbit Handbooks,
Three stylish fleece pet beds,
Two Tuscan Bowls,
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode!

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

2009-12-14T20:31:00.000-08:00

Eight types of snacks!

Seven pretty litter pans,

Six bags of bunny food,
Five Bunny Blossom posters,
Four House Rabbit Handbooks,
Three stylish fleece pet beds,
Two Tuscan Bowls,
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

2009-12-13T10:19:00.000-08:00

Seven pretty litter pans!

Six bags of bunny food,
Five Bunny Blossom posters,
Four House Rabbit Handbooks,
Three stylish fleece pet beds,
Two Tuscan Bowls,
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my dear Santa Bun gave to me...

2009-12-12T15:45:00.000-08:00

Six bags of bunny food!

Five Bunny Blossom posters,
Four House Rabbit Handbooks,
Three stylish fleece pet beds,
Two Tuscan Bowls,
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode!

On the fifth day of Christmas, dear Petwerks gave to me...

2009-12-11T20:10:00.000-08:00

Five Bunny Blossom posters!

Four House Rabbit Handbooks,
Three stylish fleece pet beds,
Two Tuscan Bowls,
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode!

And don't forget, those Bunny Abodes are 25% off!

And a Happy Hanukkah, as well!

On the fourth day of Christmas, dear Petwerks gave to me...

2009-12-10T21:43:00.000-08:00

On the fourth day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me...

Four copies of the House Rabbit Handbook
[EDITOR: Wait! Scot, this doesn't fit into the song! Let's change that to:]

Four House Rabbit Handbooks,
Three stylish fleece pet beds,
Two Tuscan Bowls,
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode!

♫ On the third day of Petwerks Christmas...

2009-12-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me...

Three stylish fleece pet beds!


Cream	Hunter Green	Burgundy

Two Tuscan Bowls
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode.

♫

♫ On the second day of Petwerks Christmas...

2009-12-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

♫ On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Two Tuscan Bowls
and a bunny in a Bunny Abode.

Everyone sing along, now! ♫

(We realize not everyone celebrates Christmas. Personally, we celebrate a season of hope and good will under any name, and welcome others to do the same. We believe it's the intent of the heart that counts!)

25% off Bunny Abode Condos? Happy Holidays indeed!

2009-12-07T20:16:00.000-08:00

During the holidays, one of the songs that sticks in my head is The 12 Days of Christmas. Coincidentally, the real cost of the original 12 Days of Christmas items, purchased only once, would top out at $21,466 and over $87,403 if purchased repeatedly as the song suggests. Not in this economy! Plus, some of the items are a bit dated, donchathink? Time for a remix.

Our 12 Days of Petwerks: The Bunny Wish List will run you significantly less!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A bunny in a Bunny Abode.

Now might be a good time to mention that all Bunny Abodes are 25% off! Better hop to it, because this offer only lasts until December 31st, 2009! You'll see the discounted prices displayed and active on our web site. Tell your friends!

Check back each day for the next verse.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T08:49:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving and a whole lot more!

At Petwerks we always feel especially thankful this time of year, because we sort of have a two-fer. On Sunday (Nov. 22nd) Petwerks turned twelve! Additionally we are so very thankful for all our human and pet friends and family. I want to thank you all for being my customers. I am grateful that you buy your pet supplies from me. I am thankful that you have given me this opportunity to be the BunnyGuy and that you share your thoughts and stories with me. I am here because of you and I THANK YOU for that opportunity.

Sure, this year has been difficult, it has been difficult for everyone. It has been difficult for the pets that no longer have places to call home. We received more requests for and donated more Bunny Abodes and merchandise to pets in need than ever before. This year has been the greatest struggle that many of us have been through in our lifetime. Yet it also reminds us of the decency and compassion that people can exhibit when times get tough. I have seen family and friends pull together more this year than any other time I can remember. Neighbors stepping in to help each other. Even our suppliers have offered a helping hand in case it was needed. There is indeed so much to be thankful for.

As our way of saying thank you for giving us the chance to be twelve years old; Petwerks is giving YOU the presents. Every day from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve (Nov 26th - Dec 23th) we will be randomly picking one customer that ordered that day to receive a free gift. It may be a gift basket of toys and treats, it may be a new exciting item we just got in, it may be a bunny travel home, or it may be a Bunny Abode condo. It will be 28 days of fun, giving, and merriment!

Thank you for being my friends and allowing me to be the BunnyGuy.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Get Envirosax and benefit the ASPCA.

2009-11-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

For over two years now I've carried an Envirosax around in my purse. It's the perfect size for shopping, it is durable, wears well (still looks brand new), washes easily and looks cool. Often I'm asked what it is or where I got it. Mine came from Powell's Bookstore in Portland.

Envirosax has a great price on their 5 bag sets, and for each set purchased they will donate $1 to the ASPCA. Whether you buy the set for yourself, or keep one and give the others as gifts, this is a great deal doing a good thing on a cool and functional product. These cute little things make great stocking stuffers, or a simple gift for a coworker or to go along with holiday tips to various professionals you want to recognize with a little tip.

The price on these bags have come down quite a bit. I shelled out $12 for mine back when I nabbed it. I hope that means they are popular!

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week!

2009-11-02T21:50:00.000-08:00

Animal shelters of all types provide compassionate services in almost every community. Humane Society of the United States has a program and suggestions with great ways to show your shelter your thanks for the great work they do. You can pitch in to help out, or just drop by to say, "Thank you!" Learn more at the Humane Society of the United States web site.

Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends!

2009-10-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

In a957, the Canadian Parliment said:

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October."

And so it is!

From what I've heard, there are many similarities to the USofA version: images of harvest, bounty, and the giving of thanks for that!

And there's also football.

Sounds pretty good to me!

New buns taste test.

2009-09-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

Each bun is a unique individual. In addition to their backgrounds setting them up for success (or difficulty), their individual tastes are never to be taken for granted, either. When a bun is new to our fostering unit or our home, as is the case with Lizzie and Bonzai, the process of exploring together is an important element of building a bond together.

It's also a never ending source of amusement.
Lizzie loved cilantro from the first sniff, having gently approached my outstretched hand. Bonzai aggressively approached it, sniffed it with suspicion, took one bite and then leapt straight into the air in surprise, as if he'd been shocked. In time, both ate the small bit I'd left for them.

A sprig of a small leaf basil was devoured by Lizzie, and sniffed by Bonzai who nibbled it with little zeal.

Lizzie took a demure nibble from a strawberry and then hopped away, not interested. After a distant sniff, Bonzai's eyes got large and he went straight from small nibble to wide mouthed, gluttonous gorging when presented with a strawberry. Juicy and ripe from the back yard, his little bunny lips were covered in dark pink juice, he looked maniacal. I was lucky to pull my fingers away in time.

You just never know!

Marco is picture perfect.

2009-09-02T10:41:00.000-07:00

This photo is like the senior class hellion who gets dressed up in a suit for his senior pictures. Marco looks so cute, so adorable, so prim and proper. The truth is that there were untold legions of photos of him pushing the bowls around, lying down on the job, eating the light tent, nibbling the camera, periscoping up to see what else might be of interest because I was clearly boring him, etc.

We love him just the way he is: mess, mischievousness and all. But for a bit I'll just act like this is how he normally acts.

He's modeling the Tuscan Dish; the colors were right up my alley and it didn't dawn on me until he was in the picture that his black and white self was just what the picture needed. He seemed to prefer the blue dish as he kept sticking his head in it, and preferred to push the green dish off to the side. Repeatedly.

Follow Petwerks on Twitter.

2009-08-31T21:38:00.000-07:00

As a big geek, I've IM'd, blogged, and whatever for some time about all manner of things. Petwerks is now tweeting, and we'll keep it to things mostly-bunny-related. Follow us, and we'll follow you back!

A rabbit's form is naturally OMG THAT'S SO CUTE!

2009-08-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

What is it about the rabbit's natural form that is just so adorable? It's hard to make anything even remotely rabbit-like without it eliciting squeals of joy.

And come on, now, I KNOW I'm not alone. To make my case, look at this picture and tell me you don't ball your hands into fists, hold them up near your face, stamp your feet and say, "Weeeeeeeee!"

Uh-huh, I thought so.

I stumbled upon a blog post talking about these adorable confections of sweet dough filled with sweetened beans. They are the product of Piyonaya in Kyoto which can be found in Marukai Pacific Market in Gardena, CA. Their website is entirely in Japanese, but a quick peek makes it clear even to this Yankee that mail order is available.

The box alone makes me want to hop on a plane to the South Bay area and get some.

The box notes, "Yumeki-Usagi," or In Kyoto the rabbit is legendary.

Not just in Kyoto, my friend!

Be sure to check out the blog where I found the post, The Food Librarian, and also Piyonya in Kyoto. While their site is in Japanese, if you see a cute picture, click on it. :-) Or, the use of Google Translate makes it navigable.

I really must end this post now, lest I go into kawaii overload, and go mad and just try to order something, regardless of the fact that I can't read the pages. :-)

Taking a little vaca August 20-24th.

2009-08-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

Petwerks is taking Mama Leith camping! I'm lucky to say that I'm actually pleased without reservation when the mother-in-law visits.

Our offices will be closed Thursday August 20th thru Monday August 24th. Mama Leith is visting Oregon from the midwest, and we're going to spend some time together, including camping! You can still order online 24 hours a day while we are gone. (And, please do! We love coming back to a pile of work to rev us up!)

Check out the exciting new products or our very own hand picked favorites, not to mention some very special deals!

No worries, the foster buns are being tended to by a caretaker, of course.

(Yeah, that's us camping just a few weeks ago just an hour away on the coast. Scot's setting up to make some yummy camp grub. His Mama taught him to cook well!)

Even I learned something about hay this year.

2009-07-31T20:52:00.000-07:00

Last night we meandered along a country road as we returned from a friend's house. Rounding a corner, the sunset sky was barely visible in a thick cloud of dust. Looking into the expansive field to my left--which I recalled held hay--I saw many large disks of light scattered in the dirt fog. For a moment I had no idea what was going on; I'm talking 16 lights perhaps, scattered amongst the field in pairs. It was really quite stunning. Aliens? It almost seemed surreal enough!

I wish I could have stopped to take a picture, for my words do not do it justice.

Almost speechless, Scot explained that for many owners of large farms, there's no way they can do the harvesting with only their equipment and staff on hand; it would take them too long and the crops would go bad. Sometimes neighboring farmers will band together and help one another, running their multiple combines together, but there is also a business of "custom harvesting" which is where a group maintains and operates the machinery, swooping in with machines and crew, does the job, and then moves on down the road to the next farm scheduled for a visit. He recalled seeing as many as a dozen combines attacking a field, moving along in lockstep together, cutting wide swaths down at a time.

It was simply amazing. I wish I could have captured it. While this is nowhere close, this pic found at a harvester's web site illustrates how the crew works together to make quick work of a large field. Don't let this picture fool you; each combine is HUGE. In the little gray box in the top right corner is the driver! (This picture depics a drop such as wheat, and not hay.)

This, along with our own very small personal harvest of potatoes from our own bed this year, reminded me that so much of what we are used to wanting and getting right on the spot still comes at Mother Nature's own schedule, or a Herculean task of modernity. Hay is harvested but twice a year (on rare occasions and climates, you might get a third cut), and is stored and distributed as demand whittles down the stored supply.

It's only natural. Our ancestors grew all their own food, and knew what stored well, and canned or preserved what didn't. This year we grew two small hills of potatoes, just for fun. I was amazed at how after harvest, our potatoes have remained rock hard for months, while those I'd pick up in the stores were always somewhat soft. That's because the harvest could have been many months ago, and storage and travel has occurred since then.

In our age of disconnect from the reality of production, it's easy to forget that having everything we want exactly when we want it comes at a cost. That asparagus you can find in the wintertime may be shipped up from Peru! Imagine the costs involved: labor, fossil fuel resources. Kind of makes your head spin when you really connect with the reality of it.

Losing a Loved Animal: The Eternal Gift of Love in Salem, Oregon on July 10th, 2009

2009-06-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Lauren McCall is a teacher of animal communication and TTouch. She's an Oregon local and is going to be presenting a class here in Salem soon. I haven't met Lauren (yet), but the material sounds interesting, and it's always good to promote such unique offerings here in our area!

Losing a Loved Animal:

The Eternal Gift of Love

July 10th, 6 - 9 pm

Journey’s @ 456 Court St NE Salem, OR 97301

Cost is $40

This class is an introduction to how animals view the end of life's cycle, and life after death. Drawing on her work as an internationally known animal communicator, Lauren will discuss experiences that animals have related to her about the transition process, leaving loved ones behind, the purpose of their journey in life, reincarnation and the eternal gift of love. Though spiritual in nature, the class is not based on any religious belief, rather the animal's point of view.

Losing a Loved Animal is ideally suited to anyone who loves animals and has experienced, or is about to experience, the loss of a beloved animal companion. While not intended to focus on 'grief and loss', participants should benefit from a clear understanding of where animals believe they go when they pass on, and how they can be contacted by those left behind. A guided imagery exercise will be conducted to help participants initiate the animal communication process.

For further information, download the PDF about the course, or see Lauren's website.

A memorial to friends past: Save 15% off of 48" Double Level Condos!

2009-05-20T23:56:00.000-07:00

Guess what big surprise BunFun readers heard about a few days ago? In a very moving memorial piece written by Scot, he paid honor to those long eared friends that have left us. And in their memory, he offers a 15% discount off of 48" Double Level Condos! There's no coupon code or special task required; the discounted price is right there in the online catalog!

Check out the latest issue of BunFun here! And don't forget to sign up so you can always be the first to get the good news.

In more good news, we are also offering a special SIX PACK of Oxbow papaya tablets. While they are a wildly popular product, there was a little ordering mistake and we received many more bottles than we intended to order. Help us move them for a very special price, Stock-Up Sale style! A six pack of Oxbow papaya tablets for only $5.19 per bottle. That’s 540 tablets to keep them happy for a good long time!

Visiting with Rabbit Meadows (the organization formerly knows as Best Little Rabbit, Rodent and Ferret House)

2009-05-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend we enjoyed some time away from the warren. We visited friends (human and long eared alike) at Rabbit Meadows in the Seattle area. We dropped off some products at their store (they carry a few of our items... check them out if you are local!) and then attended their fundraising dinner held at the Rusty Pelican. From the thank you plaques on the walls, it would seem that this diner is very helpful to animal related organizations, so give the fine folks there your business if you are in the area.

It's always great to go to an event at another organization and meet new people, swap stories, and just basque in the glow of good people.

The event was well attended, and the silent auction was quite active. While we'd donated an item to be a part of it, we also helped out by bidding on a number of items. Mostly I was OUTbid, but I tried, I really did, on a number of awesome pieces of art, ranging from the light and whimsical to the dramatic. I was going after a Kozyndan print, a bunn-y-fied version of the famous Japanese woodblock print done by Katsushika Hokusai in the 1830's called The Great Wave. I went back and forth with another bidder on the silent page until she upped the ante in one big smackdown, and I bowed out.

I'd first seen this image on the cover of Giant Robot magazine, and found them on the web as a result. But for some reason I never made a connection, and at the event Tamara, the lovely woman who had donated those items promised to give me the hookup. Awesome! So look for prints of their bunny related work to come to the Boutique. Hang tight; we all might be able to get one, after all!

There was a small framed piece by artist Joseph Larkin, a striking fellow who displays quite a range. He does lovingly realistic drawings of his own furry friends, but a lot of his work is of a vastly different style (some nude, others very visceral and grotesque imagery [but not in relation to bunnies, of course!], so beware before clicking links to the rest of his gallery on DevientArt.com if such material would offend you).

This is not the piece that was available, but check this one out: the detail is astounding.

Also snatched from my reach by more monied members was a print from CakeSpy.com that is similar to the design found on this tshirt.

Drat!

While we lost those, we DID score big in other areas! My favorite win was a wonderful hand stitched bag by Kristin Fraser, The Neurotic Knitter. She has some items aimed at knitters in her Etsy shop, but the bag I won is a very well made over the shoulder purse with inside pockets, a mag clasp and an adorable pop chic fabric in bright colors with a design that holds a hidden rabbit... I won that one in part because I kept hovering around the table, ready to strike the bid sheet again if someone tried to scoop me!

We rounded out our time in Seattle with some more work, and a little play to boot. It's nice to visit, but it's also nice to be back here in the warren with the pack.

New issue of the BunFun newsletter!

2009-04-29T21:44:00.001-07:00

The April issue of the BunFun newsletter is out this evening, in email inboxes of our friends everywhere. What? You aren't a member!? You don't know what you're missing! You can check it out online, and if you like it, be sure to sign up! We do not share your personal information, or send anything other than our own little communications, and that's only about once a month.

You'll hear about our new products and specials, but also adorable stories of foster bunnies, people and their rabbits, and the favorite feature, our Gallery of Beautiful Buns. We have a winner of a free prize with every issue! And, on the rare occasion that we do coupons or sales, it's the BunFun readers who hear about them!

May 1st is Buy Indie Day!

2009-04-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

This doesn't have to do with bunnies, but rather books. Buy Indie Day is May 1st. I admit I'm not sure who declared it such, but I strongly support the idea, so who cares!? :-) The idea is to visit your nearby independent bookstore and purchase one paperback, hardcover, audiobook, magazine... whatever you want!

Supporting responsible and worthy independent businesses is vital to the strength of local economies and everyone's fiscal health. When you vote with your dollars, never forget that each purchase you make in effect supports the company's philosophies, ethics, and priorities. Buying from those who are local and/or independent is a great investment in your community, for the money you spend there remains flowing in the nearby areas, unlike large corporate profits which are whisked away to the pockets of those far away, sometimes even in other countries.

(Modern times and globalization has brought us many wonders; we do, after all, offer products to the world via our online catalog! We serve up unique products of quality and value, and back them with unparalleled customer service, and very personal responsibility to our customers. When you support us, you support sustainable, environmentally conscious and responsible business practices, ethical treatment of employees, and give back to the communities and concerns for which you care about--bunnies! Plus, supporting more small businesses provides more diversity in the fiscal world, which, just like in biology, provides for more stability!)

So take a moment on your lunch break, way home, or whenever to check out your local Indie store. Don't know where one is? Use this handy finder! Learn more about Buy Indie Day at Indie Bound.

Happy Earth Day from Petwerks!

2009-04-21T20:54:00.001-07:00

Each year as spring approaches, I can’t help but get excited about nature’s annual rebirth. Easter is as good a reminder of this as any day could be, but it is a bit of a mixed blessing for those involved in rabbit rescue, fostering and adoption.

You see, each Easter bunnies are given as gifts to and by families that—while good hearted and good intentioned—are just not well versed into what they are getting into with the raising of a pet rabbit. Often these pet rabbits end up in shelters or abandoned a mere month or two later as they grow from their cute little “of course this bunny is a mini or dwarf” into a mature and active yet much larger adult.

So we don’t make much of a fuss over Easter because of what it means to bunnies everywhere, while this often comes as a surprise to our customers. Earth Day, on the other hand, is a day I can really get behind. As blossoms spring forth and I eagerly await planting goodies in the garden (as do the bunnies!), what could be better than a day that focuses on the planet for the good of all her inhabitants?

At Petwerks, we make a conscious effort every day to do what we can to help the environment. This means reusing packaging materials when possible, recycling or donating our manufacturing scraps, reducing our utility needs, using recycled materials for our office and shop, and supporting alternative energy systems.

After all, making great homes for bunnies doesn’t make sense if we don’t make our home, Earth, a better place too!

Thank you for your support, and have a wonderful Earth Day. Make every day an Earth Day!

Scot Leith
CEO and Chief Litter Box Changer
Petwerks Inc.

Last chance to get Oxbow Xtra C tablets (200 count)!

2009-03-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

As guinea pig owners know, Oxbow has reformulated the vitamin c tablets. Don't get me wrong, they are great, but of course some people are missing the older formula, if for no reason other than it was a larger size bottle!

Well, here's your chance to snag a few more for your cabinet! We were able to get a few boxes from another distributor, so the older formula is now back in stock, while supplies last! Of course the tablets are well within their freshness date. Of course you can also order the new formulation as well!

A kawaii moment in buns.

2009-03-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

For giggles this morning I went to Etsy (the ultra cool crafter's selling site; I can say I knew it back when) and simply searched on "kawaii," which is a word for the Japanese cute-sy aesthetic. The likes of Hello Kitty, Tare Panda, etc. just thrill me. This is what popped up!

Now before you run over there, they are NOT selling the toy itself, but rather the crochet pattern so you can make your own Buny Gurumi.

I can't crochet.

Bummer.

We are the first to have new Oxbow Papaya Fruit Plus!

2009-02-22T15:36:00.000-08:00

Our shipment of the newly reformulated Oxbow Papaya Fruit Plus tablets, the replacement for their previous papaya tablet, will arrive this week. You may place your orders now!

Orders including this new product will begin shipping on Thursday. Our friends at Oxbow informed us that we would have them before anyone else! Oxbow's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $7.86; our price is a low $6.99!

Papaya tablets are a great way to not only treat your bunny, but encourage healthy gut function! Bunnies ingest hair as they groom. Unlike cats, they cannot gather and expel hairballs. Papaya contains an enzyme that deconstructs proteins, breaking down the strands of hair in the bunny's digestive system so it can pass easily without gathering together with other stomach contents to contribute to blockages. Buns love the taste of the tablets, and will quickly learn to come running when they hears the shake of the bottle.

This product comes in one size, a 90 tablet count bottle. (We've already asked Oxbow to please also make a larger count bottle available.)

Shipping options update.

2009-01-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

As you may have read, we were exploring additional shipping options in order to improve the service our customers receive. Over the years we have at times used FedEx Ground and Express services. We've had some difficulties with both UPS and FedEx, and at the same time each service has it's bright spots as well.

Recently we tried FedEx again. Unfortunately, the same issues remain, issues which cause problems for the reliable pickup and delivery of packages for our customers. And we simply cannot abide that, as having the best experience for our customers is one of the reasons we are here (the other is to help bunnies, of course)!

So as of today, we have removed the FedEx shipping option from the web site.

Okay now, enough of that boring business stuff. Here's something hilarious from lolbunnies.com. I had a foster, Silver, who used to escape her x-pen all the time. We couldn't figure out how, until I took her to an adoption event, set her up, turned around and... someone pointed and said, "OMG Amy, she is climbing the x-pen like a seasoned rock hound!"

Sure enough...

Petwerks closed December 22nd due to winter weather.

2008-12-22T10:59:00.000-08:00

Due to the winter weather that has hit the Pacific Northwest, there are many closings. Petwerks is closed today (we couldn't get packages out via UPS or FedEx). We are playing it by ear for tomorrow.

Please be aware that due to things such as airport closings, packages shipped from anywhere in areas affected by winter weather may be delayed.

A papaya tablet mystery... SOLVED!

2008-12-15T20:28:00.001-08:00

Here at the Petwerks World Headquarters, located in snowy/icy Salem, Oregon, we have been fielding many questions and concerns. Rabbits and humans alike love, and I mean LOVE, their papaya tablets from Oxbow.

The product's apparent demise has rattled many.

But do not fear. Here's more information which should hopefully allow you to sleep at night.

Oxbow endeavors to be at the forefront of animal health developments. Their papaya tablets were one of the first to be formulated without added sugars. As time has passed, and new developments in animal nutrition have come along, Oxbow has identified ways to improve the beloved product.

Now, here is the business reality: if you have a product that you wish to reformulate, you'll have to empty the supply chain of the old product before releasing the new version. If you don't, you'll end up with a lot of stock of the old product on hand that no one wants, because there's a snappy new version available. That would be a horrible waste of money and resources.

So... what you do, is you stop producing the old formula, you allow the supply chain to empty, and then you release the new version, and everyone is happy.

Oxbow anticipates their newly formulated papaya tablets will be available late January 2009.

If you are in need of papaya tablets NOW, we suggest Papaya Supreme from Swanson; they are also a no-sugar added formula. We sold these for some time in the past, and used them with our own house rabbits.

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SW279/ItemDetail?n=4294967187

We would carry these for you, however Swanson does not wholesale their products and will only now only allow the purchase of up to three bottles. Currently, they are running a "buy one get one free" special, so you can stock up and save.

We hope that you'll visit us end of January 2009 for the new Oxbow formulation! (That assumes of course that they are available as Oxbow plans.)

Check out the holiday BunFun!

2008-12-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

A new issue of the BunFun newsletter is out. Some holiday fun. I forgot to mention that we have the adorable 2009 calendars from House Rabbit Network. Proceeds benefit that wonderful fostering/rescue/education organization.

Check out the new BunFun!

Fantastic stocking stuffer @ Petwerks.

2008-11-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

A friend sent us some paperwork in the mail, and attached to it was a darling rabbit shaped paper clip. I immediately went nuts looking for them. It's no surprise they are from a Japanese company, and through an import company I was able to source them. Every little thing about these little metal cuties is just adorable, from the well designed and slick case to the simple, clean design of the rabbit itself. I'm a card maker / paper crafter, too, and I can think of many, many uses for these!

Makes a great unique, inexpensive stocking stuffer! I ordered a large amount, but I think these will go quickly, so get yours now for holiday gift giving to those rabbit people in your life! And that includes yourself!

A bun's passing: Rest in peace, my darling.

2008-11-19T20:20:00.000-08:00

It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of one of our team. Billy, a feisty Mini Rex who came into our family almost ten years ago.

Oddly enough, he was in Oregon, in the hands of someone about to do him and his brother Bailey some serious harm when a friend of rabbits happened on the scene and saved them, bringing them into her home which already contained foster rabbits. She cared for them for some time; she relocated to the midwest where I met her (and Billy). Shortly thereafter, in 1998-99, Billy came to live with us--he was supposed to be a foster, but you know how that sometimes goes. :-)

We loved him for many reasons, in part due to his crankiness; he usually disliked women, preferring my husband! He was bold and huffy, and we enjoyed his strict decisions about the keeping of his house. He loved our dogs, and vice versa. Over the years he'd made a friend of or two in other bunnies, but never any relationship that stuck. He seemed happy with this. He would give us his invaluable input about new ideas and products.

He was a great buddy.

Today he left us; we noticed very recently that he seemed to be slowing down. He left us peacefully, and is with Dinkum, Joey and his other friends at the Rainbow Bridge. He was laid to rest in our yard, with a statue of a peaceful resting rabbit watching over him.

Warm thoughts for his travels, and please give your own little ones an extra hug tonight, for we can no longer hold one of our own.

Great videos of Bunny Hopping!

2008-11-19T08:54:00.001-08:00

I admit, the sport of rabbit hopping amazes me. I can see why some buns would love it -- attention, JUMPING, reward and adoration... sounds like a no brainer! Thanks to my friend Denise for linking me to these great videos of athletic buns in action.

We have a very outgoing and athletic foster right now, Marco, and seeing videos like these makes me want to give it a try with him!

It all started in Sweden!

Cool stuffed bun at Target.

2008-11-18T22:15:00.001-08:00

Quite by accident, I happened to find this adorable colorful mod deco stuffed rabbit at Target!

Props for Zappos.com

2008-11-05T06:43:00.000-08:00

Zappos.com carries shoes... a lot of shoes. They've been known for carrying may leather-free shoes, too. Until recently, however, they carried shoe designs that contained elements of fur. Often, trim and detail fur comes from rabbits.*

Recently, however, they did some research, and the result is a now fur-free web site and a promise to stay that way.

"Good news for our animal-loving customers out there! Following discussions with PETA regarding the fur industry, and after hearing from our customers and members of the public about the issue, Zappos.com has officially become fur-friendly! . . . The Zappos.com website is now completely free of all products containing animals' fur, and Zappos.com is committed to staying that way."

So next time you need some shoes, consider Zappos.com! I've been a customer of theirs once or twice, and have been very happy with their selection and service. Sometimes they might be a buck or two more than some other guy, but their selection and service is well worth it. Vote carefully with your dollars!

* Ignorance is not bliss; recently, I spoke with an educated adult who thought that the use of fur was not cruel. They thought fur could be "obtained" without harming the animal, similar to shearing a sheep. Unfortunately, that's not so. Fur--from seal to rabbit to fox to chinchilla--comes at the ultimate cost to the animal. Not only that, but the fur industry is known to be the most brutal, in part due to lack of regulation or overseas production locations. And if all that information wasn't hellish enough, a lot of low-cost fur from overseas is actually from dogs and cats. I won't go into details. If you want to know more information, do some web searching, educate yourself, and make careful decisions.

Petwerks has your Oxbow products... including papaya tablets!

2008-11-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

Petwerks is pleased to announce that we are one of Oxbow Animal Health's preferred online retailers (previously known as Oxbow Hay). Oxbow products helped us care for our very first house rabbit, Dinkum, way back in 1992. Petwerks has carried Oxbow products since its early days. Our relationship with Oxbow is long and varied; we have worked with a number of hard working staff on issues, such as Brandon and Jeremy in sales, and also founder John Miller. This long connection has been one of our most enjoyable relationships. Their dedication to quality makes their product line a perfect fit for the exceptional demands that Petwerks requires of the products we carry!

You will find many of Oxbow's foods, hays, supplements and other products on our web site. If there is an Oxbow product you need that we do not have listed, simply email us and we will get it for you!

P.S - WE HAVE OXBOW PAPAYA TABLETS! While most outlets are out of stock, we have plenty!

Bunny yawns

2008-10-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

BunSpace is a great online community for bunny people (and by bunny people, which as you no doubt know is a concept near and dear to my heart). Their current photo contest is on bunny yawns...

Red rabbit at the airport?

2008-10-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Users of a new terminal in Sacramento might find themselves in the presence of a very large 56 ft red rabbit. It's one of three proposals on the table for putting a little art into the terminal. Check it out.

Rabbits show up everywhere...

2008-10-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

Even in controversial books. In 2003 Andy Riley published "Book of Bunny Suicides: Little Fluffy Rabbits Who Just Don't Want To Live Anymore." A book of comics, simple pen and ink drawings showing preposterous clever and inventive ways to end it all. If you have a dark sense of humor, you would probably chuckle.

But dark humor often backfires, for those who do not appreciate it are often gravely offended. Some five years later, this has happened.

One Mom here in Oregon wants to burn it.

The book isn't about rabbits, nor it really about suicide. Those are both serious issues. The issue here is the concept of duality; pairing something cute with something macabe, for a string of visual gags that appeal to those with a sense of gallows humor--and in tough times, who doesn't? The book doesn't suggest violence against rabbits, or against anyone else. There are a number of silly cultural references, my favorite being the bunny showing up in the Space Invaders video game.

Sometimes the humor is in the sheer lengths taken... such as the multi-frame cartoon showing a bunny at a computer ordering a hardback copy of Harry Potter's new 700 page book, paying with credit card, then waiting patiently below the mail slot until the mailman delivers it, bonking him on the head.

(A quick Google on the book title will take you to page with some of the pages, which are simple pen and ink drawings; there is no graphic gore, the images are cartoons, and not realistic. I grew up watching Tom and Jerry cartoons and I can't say this even registered with me as something of concern, as an adult.)

I would have always assumed the book was for and aimed at adults, however. It would NEVER dawn on me that a school librarian would allow a book into the collection, even in a high school.

The book has raised the ire of some parents who have found it within high school libraries, and also amongst those who adore rabbits. China has banned the book, and a parent in Portland, OR was incenced to find the book in the library of her child's high school. I can't say I'd find it appropriate for a school library, either, thinking adults would be the proper market target.

But it goes to show that strong cultural icons bunnies are, the epitome of sweet, innocent and cute.

New BunFun newsletter available!

2008-09-30T23:16:00.000-07:00

If you aren't on the mailing list, you are really missing out. This issue of the BunFun newsletter had the biggest Gallery of Beautiful Buns EVER. Join now so you won't miss another great issue!