A Little bit About Me 

I have always been an animal lover since I was a child. My first pet was a guinea pig called Rusty which I bought myself with my birthday money when I was 8 yrs old. There was a pet show at the little local church hall and I was so proud when he was awarded first prize for the Best Guinea Pig. This was followed shortly by my first ever rabbit - a Dutch doe which I bought off a friends brother. Two weeks later I had eleven rabbits !!!! My doe was obviously pregnant when I brought her home. Much to my amazement there was suddenly 5 little Dutch babies and 5 little English babies. Quite a shock when you are 8yrs old.

Over the years I had many pets including mice, rats, guinea pigs, cockatiels, budgies, hamsters, gerbils, canaries,  dogs and cats. It was about 10 years ago when this all started again. A neighbour asked me would I take on 2 guinea pigs as she no longer had time for them. A few weeks later I had 8 guinea pigs - caught out again !! One of these baby guinea pigs seemed particularly weak so I more or less hand reared her. She always had a sticky nose and was very snuffly. One day she actually collapsed in my hand and stopped breathing, I gave her mouth to mouth resuscitation - I wasn't going to let her die !!! She suddenly sneezed and out shot a grass seed from her nose - the cause of all her problems.

I then decided she was lonely on her own so went in search of a Netherland Dwarf doe rabbit as a companion for her. I managed to get one from a local breeder who happened to show rabbits. I tagged along one day to a show and that was it I was totally hooked. I came home with a little red-eyed-white Netherland doe.

THEN I went to another show and that is when I saw my first French Lop rabbit - I was flabbergasted and it was then a case of 'I have GOT to have a pair of them!!!' My friend saying - ' Think of the food bills !!'

I got my first two French lop does, an agouti and an agouti butterfly from York - picked up on the way to the Bradford Show at Doncaster Race Course. My first buck a blue butterfly from an allotment in Doncaster itself. While at the Telford 2000 show I saw and fell in love with a 14 weeks old black butterfly buck in the sale pens. (Sold by David Dobbs) . This was my pride and joy Guiness.

Then I came across the British giants, Continental giants etc... etc.....

From there my hobby just grew and grew and I enjoy my rabbits to the full. There are the heartbreaks when a rabbit dies or a litter of babies is born dead - but the pleasure they bring outweighs the heartache. I love every one of them.

I did show rabbits for a while and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. I met a lot of lovely people and saw some beautiful rabbits. Everybody was always more than willing to pass on any advice and help. My friend then emigrated to Australia so I then stopped going to the shows as I have no transport myself. I have made a lot of good friends because of the rabbits.

As well as my rabbits I have 2 cats , Willow and Pumpkin, an African Grey parrot, Smokie, who was bald when I took her in but is now growing feathers again, 3 sow guinea pigs and I have a little black bantam hen, Masala, and a lavender cockerel, Harry, who certainly rules the roost and of whom the cats are terrified. Also some visitors have felt the same way about him.

It can be hard work but is very rewarding. The water bottles in the Winter is the worst !!! The keeping flies at bay the worst thing in the Summer !!!

                                  Pumpkin                                 Willow

                 Despite several cat beds in the house they each have own favourite place to sleep !!

                                                 Smokie the parrot                              Harry with Masala and

                                                                                                       the late Tikka

Regarding selling rabbits I sell the rabbits to the adults of the family !! If a child wants a rabbit and the parents are hesitant then I persuade them not to commit themselves. A child should not be expected to take on the responsibility of looking after a pet rabbit. They are a 7 day a week, 365 days a year responsibility in all weathers - not just on a sunny day. They also have to understand there could be vets bills etc in the future which the adults would be expected to pay. Also of course bear in mind the winters!!

            Summer in my garden                               Winter in my garden!!