Tag Archives: animals

May27

Bunny Love

Posted on by
Standard
Bunny Love

Hello!! Johnny and I have been proud bunny parents to our mother and son duo, Melvin and Penelope, for the past two and a half years and it has been an absolute gift. They have brought an indescribable amount of joy and laughter into our lives and we just love them so much! Ever since adopting them and bringing them home, Melvin has always been our little adventurer. He loves to play and explore and never shies away from cuddles as he was handled by humans since birth. Penelope, on the other hand, is shy and timid. She clearly did not have a lot of human contact in her life and can be quite skittish.

It has been a long process to get Nelly Girl fully comfortable with pets and love and I am pleased to report that she has been making great strides. In fact, it’s almost as if she’s a completely different bunny than the one we brought home. It took a lot of patience and innovation for my bunny girl to not shy away from affection and it was worth every minute. We have been enjoying several times daily cuddles and it has been fantastic! If you have a skittish bunny, here are some of the techniques that worked for me:

Patience Is A Virtue:

I have always believed that Penelope would open up when she was ready and that meant doing everything on her own timeline. If she would run away in an attempt to pet her, I wouldn’t push it. If she was accepting of pets and love, I would utilize that time fully until she was ready to be done. If you continue to push your bunny into a level of contact they aren’t comfortable with, you are just going to terrorize them and they will consider you an unsafe person. I never wanted this to be the case so slow and steady will always win the race. And it did!!

Love Equally:

My two pet bunnies have polar opposite personalities and if you have two buns, it’s so important to not compare them. Whenever Melvin is ready for some love, I always ALWAYS attempt to give love to Penelope too. If she was not accepting of it, that was okay. Instead, I would talk to her in a soft, calm voice and look her in the eyes. That way, she was still receiving affection in a way that was comfortable for her. And, eventually, this coaxing resulted in her coming to me for pets rather than running away. This was one of the most beneficial techniques I used daily and I am so happy that my voice has turned into something that is soothing for them.

Favorite Things:

The way to Penelope’s heart has always been through her stomach lol. That girl can eat and one of her favorite things is an apple treat! If you have a food motivated bun, use it to your advantage when you try to pet them. That way, they will associate your touch with something pleasant while they are munching away on their favorite snack. Another great way to bond is by feeding them by hand. This is something I do with the bunnies daily. If they don’t come to you right away with treat in hand, that’s okay. Give them the option to do so and then place the snack down after a few minutes so they can have it on their own. Once again, patience is a virtue!

Get On Their Level:

Cats and dogs will typically come to you when they are ready for affection. For bunnies, you need to go to them if they are in their hutch. Tread lightly when you are on your way to avoid startling them, speak to them, and get on their level rather than hover over them. Bunnies are prey animals and a looming presence over top of them can be intimidating. If the bunnies are having free roam time, sit on the floor for a while and see what happens! Every morning, I spend some time on the floor doing paperwork. Eventually, my bunnies would come visit me as I was working and it is always a highlight of my morning. ❤

If you have a skittish bunny, be patient, kind, and don’t come on too strong. It took time for Penelope and we have such an amazing bond now!!

Do you have any pets? What kind of personality do they have? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May9

We’re Going To The Zoo!

Posted on by
Standard
We’re Going To The Zoo!

Howdy!! The Akron Zoo simply blows my mind. It is the most wonderful place right in the heart of downtown Akron and every year it just gets better and better. It’s wild to think that this park and all of the amazing animals are literally right in the middle of the city lol. Every visit to the Akron Zoo is a fun one and it’s the perfect size because you can do and see everything in one afternoon. I recently took a trip to the zoo with a friend and I had no idea that I was going to be walking into Jurassic Park! Check it out:

When we approached the entrance to the zoo, we were greeted by a gigantic T-Rex and it was like “Wait, what?” lol. Little did we know, the zoo was setting up for an animatronic dinosaur adventure. Unfortunately, the dinosaurs weren’t moving when we visited but there were an abundance of them in all of their massive glory scattered throughout the park. It was definitely a different experience to be greeted by a Brontosaurus at the turn of a corner! Our visit turned into a scavenger hunt to find all of the dinos and it turned our outing into a unique adventure.

As we explored the park on the search for dinosaurs, we got to see so much awesome activity and a lot of napping in the exhibits. It was the first super hot day of the year and all of the big cats were snoozing in the sun! The animals that were up and about were moving and grooving, though. The penguins were swimming, the monkeys were swinging, and the Grizzly Bears were taking a dip in the pool. We were lucky enough to see the brother and sister bears, Cheyenne and Jackson, playing in the water. Granted, their playing looked a lot like fighting but as long as they were having fun lol. We could have stayed and watched them all day to see what they were going to do next. 😀

We were the happiest campers after our Zoo Day and have grand plans to return once the animatronics on the dinosaurs are in full swing. It will certainly be a sight to see!

What is your favorite zoo to visit? What is your favorite animal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May5

Bird Watching

Posted on by
Standard
Bird Watching

Hello!! Spring is here in all of its glory and it is so exciting to see my dad’s beautiful yard come back to life. Flowers are blooming, darling bunnies hop about, squirrels run and play, and there is an abundance of birds at every feeder set out. One of mine and my dad’s favorite things to do is watch all of the activity from his “nature window” to see what kind of visitors we have. Recently, our hummingbirds came back as well as a new friend. My dad informed me that a new to our backyard Rose-breasted Grosbeak has been by and I was lucky enough to see it too. I was so happy to have been able to snap these pictures because this is one of the prettiest birds I have ever seen:

This bird fits my go to color palette to the T: Black, white, and red! I was absolutely blown away by the shocking patch of crimson on its chest and told my dad that it looks like a heart. While the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is aptly named, we prefer to call it the Heart Bird and that is what we are going with! This past week was a bit crummy and our new backyard bird couldn’t have come at a better time. This special visitor was such a wonderful reminder of better things to come and bright spring days ahead!

If being an adult means getting really excited about bird watching, then I guess I am okay with that lol. I cannot wait to see the Heart Bird again! ❤

What is your favorite outdoor activity? What is your favorite bird? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr17

Pet Bunnies For Easter – DON’T!

Posted on by
Standard
Pet Bunnies For Easter – DON’T!

Howdy!! Easter is right around the corner and, for some reason, animals seem to be an extremely popular gift to give to kids in their Easter baskets. From bunnies and ducks to chicks and cuddly puppies and kittens, Easter has become synonymous with welcoming a new pet. And, sadly, a majority of these pets will be a favorite plaything for a while until they end up abandoned in the wild or a shelter. Am I the only one who finds this absolutely ridiculous?! As a proud bunny mom of two sweet angels, I am here to talk about all of the reasons why a pet bunny might not be the experience that you think:

A long commitment:

Did you know that a well cared for bunny can live up to ten years? That’s essentially equivalent to a family cat or dog and their care requires multiple daily commitments to allow them to thrive. From constantly cleaning up messes to visits to the vet, regular snack times, and ample time outside of their hutch to roam and play – bunnies are more work than you might have thought. They are not just sedentary creatures that are up for constant cuddles. Bunnies want to be on the go and your schedule must accommodate a lot of free roaming time. Can’t commit? Don’t get them.

A financial investment:

One thing is for sure about pet bunnies – they are not cheap! In a previous post, I did some bunny math and the amount I spend for two rabbits per month is roughly one hundred and fifty dollars. Chewy orders and trips to the grocery store for fresh veggies and the occasional fruit treat are constant and it will be that way for up to a decade. These little sweeties have expensive taste just like their mom lol and they are definitely a financial investment. All of the items needed for their care are essential and cannot be bypassed. Can’t commit to spending over one hundred bucks per month? Don’t get them.

Unique temperaments:

If you are under the impression that your new bunny will want to be constantly held by your kids, prepare for your worldview to be shattered. All bunnies have unique temperaments. My Melvin, for example, loves being pet and doesn’t mind being held but is ready to roam after ten or so minutes. Penelope, however, is incredibly shy. It took a lot of time and patience to get her acclimated to my touch. She adores her pets now (usually) but isn’t interested in being held in the slightest.

This very well could be the case for the bunny you bring home and if you try to force this kind of contact, you are going to end up traumatizing the bunny and it will be miserable. Every bunny’s temperament should be respected. This is something that can be hard for a child to grasp because, at the end of the day, they are going to want to hold them anyways. That can truly impact their pet’s quality of life in a negative way if the bunny is uncomfortable being held and that is unacceptable. If you feel that you or your child can’t accept that, don’t get them.

Safety first:

Safety for your bunny isn’t just trips to the vet. It means bunny proofing their roaming area so they can’t hurt themselves. This means eliminating anything that is dangerous for them to ingest, covering wall sockets, and getting any and all wires out of there. Their roaming area should be totally and completely free from anything that can harm them as well as any items you are attached to. Trust and believe, your bunny will find a way to chew them. Their quality of life and safety is paramount and if you don’t have a space in your house where they can safely roam freely, they are not the pet for you.

A pet as a gift in theory might seem great to you. In practice, it is a totally different thing and I hope this post will make you think twice on your Easter basket selections. Stuffed animals are a much better way to go!

Are you a pet parent? What kind of pets do you have? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr4

Sweet Surprises: Bunny Decor Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Sweet Surprises: Bunny Decor Edition

Hello!! I am incredibly lucky to be able to call my sister, brother-in-law, and three darling nieces my best friends in the whole world. They are simply the best and Johnny and I cherish every second with them. My crew is never far from my mind and I know the feeling is mutual – this was further confirmed by a Sweet Surprise from the bestie squad! When I got to my shift at chez parents this past week, there was a gift waiting for me on the kitchen table compliments of my BFFs and it absolutely delighted me. Check out this perfect prezzie for everyone’s favorite bunny mom:

As you all know, Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Not for religious purposes but because of the fact that bunny decor reigns supreme in stores. I have to get at least one new bunny themed decoration per year to celebrate my sweet pets and it just makes me happy lol. I’m even happier to know that my besties got into the spirit too! After unwrapping my adorable bunny in bow tie present, I could almost picture the shopping scene in my head of my sister and nieces. I am sure that as soon as my eldest niece saw it on a shelf, she told her mom that TT, Melvin, and Penelope, would love it. Even if this vision was imaginary, whoever thought I would love it was spot on!

Do I need more bunny decor? That was a trick question because the answer will always be a resounding YES! My Sweet Surprise is proudly displayed in my bunny corner of the knick knack shelf and it makes me smile every time I see it! ❤

Do you have any pet themed home decor? What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan29

BFF Christmas Gift

Posted on by
Standard
BFF Christmas Gift

Hello!! Every holiday season, I look forward to celebrating with my besties, Lea and Kate. It has been a regular occurrence each year for longer than we all care to admit but the novelty of it will never wear off! Due to extenuating circumstances, my Christmas get together with Lea had to be postponed to this past weekend. I was missing her something FIERCE so it couldn’t have come a moment too soon! We had a divine meal, girl talked the evening away, and finally were able to exchange presents. Honestly, talk about saving one of the best for last because my A1 knocked it out of the park. Check it out:

When I opened my gift from Lea, I clutched my pearls. I have been the proud bunny mom to Melvin and Penelope for over two years now and I don’t think it’s humanly possible to be more obsessed with them than I already am lol. Mel and Pen have made my life so much better from the infinite amount of joy that I get simply by looking at them. Even on the worst days, it is absolutely impossible not to smile at the pure cuteness overload! In fact, as I type this, Melvin and Penelope are binkying all over the room and it is so distracting in the best way. ❤

While I have bunny home decor galore, I am lacking in any type of clothing that symbolizes my love. This does seem ridiculous as I think about it now because Johnny has a shirt that says Bunny Dad! You know what they say about hindsight lol. This hoodie is so perfect in every way. It is soft, comfortable, my favorite color, and just right for these frigid winter days. Coincidentally, it is actually the same brand that we use for Misny Merch hoodies and I could tell as soon as I tore the package open… I have literally been living in my Misny hoodie for the past month because it’s my favorite for all of the same reasons why I love my gift. Just don’t tell my boss that I like my Bunny Mama swag best! 😀 ❤

With that, my holiday hang outs are now complete and I am so happy to have been able to share that belated celebration with my best girl – the best gift of all!

Do you have any clothes related to your pets? What is your favorite hoodie to warm you up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov7

Happy Buniversary!!

Posted on by
Standard
Happy Buniversary!!

Howdy!! Shame on me because I completely forgot that November fourth was Melvin and Penelope’s Gotcha Day!! It has been two whole years since Johnny and I brought our darling mother and son duo home and we truly couldn’t image life without them. I have always wanted pet bunnies for as long as I can remember and I can honestly say that being a bunny mom is everything I have dreamed of and so much more! I am pleased to report that precious Mel and Pen continue to thrive under our care and they just keep getting sweeter and cuter by the day:

buns1buns3buns2

As I was saying, my dream pet has always been to have a small black bunny named Penelope. I don’t know how I settled on that name but probably because it’s adorable lol. I just liked the idea of having a tiny little friend scampering around that I could pet and love on. The sentiments were forever there but my parents’ house was a bunny free zone. When I moved out, my first apartment was much too small for a pet. Then, once Johnny and I were settled into our bigger place, we could entertain the notion of getting bunnies.

Around October of 2022, I put the feelers out on Facebook for suggestions on bunny rescue organizations in the area. One day later, I got a comment on the post from my brother-in-law’s brother saying that his neighbor had bunnies available for adoption. I ended up contacting her that very afternoon. Penelope’s original owners rescued her from an animal auction and did not know that Pen was pregnant at the time. She then gave birth to six (I think!) babies. The owners made a tireless effort to get the buns spayed, neutered, and to loving homes and I am so thankful they did. As soon as I got off the phone, I called Johnny, confirmed with him, and called her back to say we would take two!

Originally, I was supposed to bring home Penelope and one of her other male babies that was white with black patches. That baby had since found another home and they swapped him out with Melvin. It was like he was made to come home with us because he definitely fit our elder emo aesthetic! After all of the bunny supplies arrived, the hutch was built, and the apartment was bunny proofed, we got to bring them home. It was one of the best days ever and such a fulfilling feeling to have something I have wanted since I was a kid: Two little gremlins to call our own!

It’s hard to believe it has been two whole years of bunny bliss but here we are and I am so happy!! Melvin and Penelope bring Johnny and I endless joy every day and life is all the better with them in it! ❤

What is your dream pet? How long have you had your pet for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep16

Bunny Math

Posted on by
Standard
Bunny Math

Hello!!! On November first of 2022, Johnny and I became proud bunny parents to Melvin and Penelope. They are our beloved mother and son duo and they bring so much joy into our lives. Since adding “bunny mom” to my resume, I couldn’t resist following a ton of fairly local bunny rescue organizations on Facebook. This is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing comes from the obvious – any bunny is cute as can be. The curse? 1) Johnny won’t let me adopt any of them. And 2) It makes me so incredibly sad to see the stories of bunnies that have been dumped by their owners.

I think a lot of people bring bunnies home with the assumption that they require little care as well as little monetary investment. This is the farthest thing from true and I have to admit that I was even a bit shocked after bringing the buns home and that was after doing tons of research. They are so much more than adorable balls of fluff and have a significant amount of daily needs to keep them happy and healthy. On the owner’s part, this means giving them both the time and all of the supplies they need to thrive.

If you are considering adding bunnies to your brood, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about Bunny Math. Bunnies can live for up to ten plus years, which means a decade of never ending Chewy orders and trips to the grocery store. Don’t forget visits to the vet as well! If these numbers seem like something you can’t accommodate, bunnies might not be the best pet for you…

Chewy Orders:

I place an order on Chewy roughly every four to five weeks and every order totals to one hundred dollars give or take (Mostly give unless a promotion is being ran!). My order includes two different kinds of bedding, pellet food, hay, and a few new toys. However, an extra twenty-five dollars can be tacked on whenever new cage cleaner is needed. We go through one bottle every two months. These are not optional purchases whatsoever!! They are one thousand percent necessary for your rabbit’s care and it demands your commitment.

Grocery Store:

But wait! There’s more! Johnny or I go to the grocery store once every week and a half for leafy greens, additional veggies, herbs, and the occasional fruit treat for Melvin and Penelope. On top of that, we get a new box of gloves for when we clean their litter boxes and go through a ton of paper towel to clean said boxes, their hutch, and any accidents. The grand grocery store total for the month is typically around fifty dollars and, once again, are not optional. A well balanced diet for a bun includes these fresh veggies and should never, ever be skimped on. And, of course, cleaning without gloves is just gross lol.

Between both forms of shopping, your bunny’s needs will allot to one hundred and fifty dollars per month. Like I said, they are certainly an investment in time and money and this should not be overlooked when making a decision to bring one home. If you can fully commit to this, then you are in luck! Bunnies are the absolute best and Johnny and I love having these little gremlins more than we can say. Melvin and Penelope helped get me out of a really dark place when we adopted them and, for that, they deserve the world. We fully intend on giving them that!

I think it is so important to go into adopting a pet with full knowledge of what you are getting into. Bunnies might seem like low key pets, but they are far from it. The numbers speak for themselves!

What kind of pet do you have? What kind of pet would you love to have? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug14

What To Do If You’re Worried About Your Dog’s Health

Posted on by
Standard
What To Do If You’re Worried About Your Dog’s Health

Are you worried about the health of your dog? If you are, then you should address it ASAP. You need to see if you can work out what the problem is first, unless you think that they need medical attention, at which point, get it right now. If you don’t think it’s serious but you are concerned about their health overall, then you need to do something, and that something includes making changes that are simple for you to do. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the changes that you can make to your dog’s health to see if it improves:

Change Up Their Diet:

First, have you considered changing up their diet? What kind of foods are they eating right now? What dog food do you give them? What human food do you give them? Make a list of all of these things, and then see if anything immediately jumps out as wrong, and double check online that all of these foods are safe for your furry friend. If there is something that isn’t safe for them, removing it from their diet will help.

You may also want to change the brand of dog food that you are using, as this may help you to see a difference. Sometimes, some dog food brands don’t react well with some pups, but that’s okay because it happens to humans too. Give it a switch and see if that works.

Get Them More Exercise:

Perhaps you are worried about them because they are not that active. If they used to be active and now they are not, then this is a definite cause for concern and you should also be looking out for other signs and symptoms that your dog isn’t feeling good. Or, if the reason they don’t exercise much is because you don’t have that much time, you need to make time. Dogs need to be able to run around and exercise for at least half an hour a day, more if you can give it to them. In the same vein though, you don’t want to go too far and go overboard, so keep that in mind.

Take Them To The Vet:

If you think that there is something that’s not right, and it’s something that you are not going to be able to fix yourself, or you simply cannot identify the issue, then take them to the vet. The vet will be able to check them out, let you know if anything is wrong and then work on what happens next. Keep in mind that there are alternatives to surgery in some cases, and it’s worth looking into them if this is where you are right now. For example, you can contact a company such as Go Hero Go if your dog is limping, potentially looking into braces for certain conditions rather than surgery.

Ensure They Have Love And Affection:

The final thing that we’re going to say is that you should ensure that they have all of the love and affection in the world. Sometimes, your dog picks up on your moods, or they are sad because they are left alone a lot and don’t feel loved. Nobody wants to feel unloved or as though the one they love doesn’t have time for them, and your dog is no different. It should not be a difficult thing to sit and cuddle your dog, or to give them some pets and let them know that you love them. That dog is part of your family, and deserves to be treated as such if you want their health to improve.

Your dogs’ health is your responsibility, and it’s one that you have got to take seriously. If you are worried about their health and you think that something is wrong, then you have got to do something about it sooner rather than later so it doesn’t turn into a bigger issue.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jul23

Asian Lantern Festival

Posted on by
Standard
Asian Lantern Festival

Hello!!! This past Friday evening was an absolutely magical one because my entire family went to the Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Zoo. This is an extremely popular event that happens every summer and we have wanted to go for years. We finally made it with all of my siblings, nieces, and nephew in tow and that alone made it worth the wait. During our time at the zoo we saw the most incredible inflatable and light displays, acrobatic performances, and of course some animals too. Everything was glorious and I couldn’t stop taking pictures if my life depended on it lol. I wanted all of my darling readers to be able to see everything and even this massive photo dump doesn’t cover it all. Check it out:

IMG_8456IMG_8453IMG_8469IMG_8468IMG_8451IMG_8452IMG_8449IMG_8482IMG_8490IMG_8501IMG_8503IMG_8504IMG_8541IMG_8555IMG_8612IMG_8561IMG_8556IMG_8629IMG_8644

I knew we were all in for a huge treat on Friday based on all of the pictures I have seen from other attendees on social media. However, after experiencing the Asian Lantern Festival for myself, I can say that pictures don’t do it any justice. From the moment we walked into the zoo there were spectacular wonders at every turn. From glowing gems in the trees to delicate light up flowers, the displays big and small were beautiful and even the most camera-happy guest (Like me!) couldn’t capture all of it. Every single fixture filled me with delight to the point that it was kid on Christmas Day level. Each moment was joyous and being with my whole family made it even more so. Cameras capture images, but not necessarily the atmosphere of the event and I wish I could bottle it up. The zoo was completely buzzing with families, friends, and partners making their own special memories too.

While every display was gorgeous, I definitely still had my favorites. I loved the unicorn and dragon, the gemstone trees, and the pagoda surrounded by cherry blossoms. Strolling through the light up tunnels also harbored a sense of adventure because you didn’t know what beautiful sight was there to greet you on the other side. Some of the displays like the dragon in the egg, butterflies, and monkeys surrounding the Tree of Life even moved! This was way cool because there were wands that the kiddos could wave to activate the motions – kind of like at Harry Potter world at Universal Studios. These surprises made the night even more magical and I will never, ever forget it!

By the time we were leaving the zoo it was getting fully dark out and my niece claimed that the displays looked even better at night night time lol. She was so right, but we were exhausted after our big evening out and ready to head home all happy as can be!

Does the zoo in your area host events like this? What is a yearly event that happens in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah