Issue 20
March 2013 Newsletter
www.fatfluffs.com
Registered charity no 1124870
Snow what's been happening?
It’s been cold this year so far!! Some of the bunnies have been somewhat reserved in their approach
to the snow, whereas others have thrown themselves into it with much enthusiasm leaving us paws
and various other parts of bunny to dry off!! The same can be said for us volunteers! Some of us have
embraced the snow and even built our own snow bunnies others have stayed well hidden in the barn
trying to keep warm. A massive “Thank you” to everyone who kept coming during the cold months
when it would have been so much more appealing to stay snuggled up in bed!!
Sadly our waiting list remains long and, what seems to be, never ending and the number of emergency
situations we have had to deal with have had to take priority and made it difficult for us to be in a
position to tackle this.
We have seen some of our bunnies go to great new homes and the most exciting news is that our long
term bun Kiki, who has been with us for over two years, has finally found his perfect home. Some
homes take a while to come around but the right one always does eventually!
Thank you to everyone who supported our emergency fundraiser for the two blind girls who came in.
We were really touched by your generosity and as a result Velvet and Jovan are doing really well. Jovan
came through the op to remove her eye really well and we are continuing to keep a careful watch over
them. For a more detailed update of their progress please check out our facebook page!
Other exciting news is that Jo Jen (our eBay star) has been offered the position of
ESM alongside our board of trustees and we are really delighted to announce
that she has accepted! Welcome on board Jo and Thank You for all the hard work
and dedication you have put into Fat Fluffs so far and we are really looking
forward to continuing to work together in the future!
Chloe Fluff
Fat Fluffs is a rabbit rescue and sanctuary based in Solihull in the West Midlands. We take in all sorts of rabbits and, as far as possible, we find them
loving forever homes. For those with more challenging personalities, or continuing health problems, we provide sanctuary for them here and they
stay as part of our family.
Fat Fluffs Newsletter
Foster News
The main reason people give as to why they could never foster rabbits is that
they are worried about being able to surrender them to their new forever
homes. Of course everyone falls in love with the rabbits because they’re all so
lovely! One of our experienced fosterers, Evelyn, has explained how she deals
with this challenge;
“I have a very simple way of looking at it which has meant that when a bun
leaves my foster hutch I am pleased to see them go; think about it… if a foster
bun is leaving it means that they have found a wonderful, permanent, loving
home to go to – that’s the best you can hope for. As a foster mum, my home is
a pit stop where buns can learn to love people, feel safe and have fun.
The families that will have these buns have been
home-checked so you know they’re going to
homes with enough space and time to look after
them and it also means I get another great new
bun to look after!”
Our fosterers are amazing people with big hearts
and they are a vital link in the rehoming process,
as a result we value their help immensely. If you
think you could bunny foster then please let me
know ([email protected]) and I can talk
through what is involved in being a foster parent
or family.
Sarah Foster Fluff
Foster Co-ordinator
Unwanted Gifts Always
Gratefully Received!
Please think about donating any of your
unwanted gifts or other items to the Fat Fluffs
tombola as this is a very successful fundraiser
for us. If you have anything you can donate
please e-mail [email protected]
Thank you!
Can you spare a little time?
We have lots of events planned. If you could
spare us an hour or two to rattle a tin or help
support the team, please email
[email protected] and we’ll be sure to put
you to good use!
Raise funds as you search
Use easysearch every time
you search the web and Fat
Fluffs will get 50% of the fees
paid by sponsors.
fatfluffsrr.easysearch.org.uk
If you know or hear of any events we could
attend we’d love to hear from you. Please
contact [email protected]
www.fatfluffs.com
Please remember to
check out our website
and blog for regular
news and updates. We
also have an online shop
Recycle your Mobiles & Cartridges
As well as helping the environment,
Fat Fluffs can benefit from recycling
your mobiles and printer cartridges.
Contact [email protected] for more details
Please support Fat Fluffs on ebay
ebay sellers can support us by donating a
percentage of the item sale to support FF. We now
have official charity status through ‘Mission Fish’
www.twitter.com/fatfluffs
If you’ve adopted and wouldn’t mind
sharing your story, we’d love to hear from
you. Please send your story and, if possible,
a photo to [email protected]. It
would be great to hear how your buns are
doing. More stories can be found at
fatfluffs.com/articles.
Fat Fluffs Newsletter
Ebay Update
Just a short update on Fat Fluffs on Ebay. Since I began my role as Ebay volunteer back in October 2011 the Ebay listings
have become incredibly successful. We have sold so many different kinds of donated items and this has meant that we
reach all different kinds of people all over the country and even abroad. Recently we sold a wedding dress to someone in
Denmark!
Ebay has helped to raise people’s awareness of Fat Fluffs and rabbit neglect in general and we now even have some Ebay
customers that have become regular buyers of our items. We have also had emails from buyers saying how much they like
the website and how they will continue to support us which is fantastic. If Ebay can drive people to the main Fat Fluffs
website that can only be good.
Not only do we sell the items that are donated to us we also have a selection of Fat Fluffs merchandise, we have a listing for
the “Sponsor a Bun Scheme” and “Buy a Brick” to help with the building of the bunny barn and also “Support Huey &
Hugo”, the two EC suffering buns who cannot be re-homed and are living in full time foster care. These listings have also
been incredibly successful and hopefully will continue to be so.
So a big thank you to everyone who has donated anything to us and please, please keep the donations coming! Every penny
helps to continue to support the bunnies!
Jo
Home Vetters
One of the vital parts of Fat Fluffs is offering homechecks to our potential adopters. This ensures they know what is
involved in rabbit care and we know our rabbits are going to a suitable home. Although we have lots of details from
adopters about their situation, the homechecks give us the chance to see things for ourselves and also offer support and
advice.
We have met some lovely people and never had any problems during our homechecks although we have met the
occasional interesting character (ask me about the fireman and orange stripey pyjama incident!!). However, we always
recommend following basic safety advice as we should in our day to day life which we give details of in our information
sheet for homecheckers. Our advice includes planning your route to know where you going so you can feel confident,
sticking to well lit, main routes and also leaving details about where you are going and what time you will be back with
someone at Fat Fluffs.
If you are interested in doing homechecks, please contact me at [email protected]. If you have volunteered to do
homechecks and haven’t heard from us, don’t worry as the areas they come up in can be unpredictable so you will be
called on if one comes up!
Jackie
Fat Fluffs Newsletter
Rabbit Runs
Rabbits need as much exercise as a small dog or cat and in the wild they can run for 5 miles a day! In their captivity this is
not always often possible but by attaching their run to their accommodation it helps enable them to get the exercise they
need. In our changeable weather, rabbits have access to their accommodation if they want to shelter although some
rabbits are happy to sit in the rain for a nice shower. If you are worried about the weather, you can cover the run with
something like tarpaulin.
There are several ways of attaching the run to the accommodation. The
most common way is to attach it to the front of the hutch but this can
mean accessing it for cleaning is more difficult. You can attach it to the
side or back of the accommodation either by making a little bunny door or
using a cat-flap. Some adopters have used a tunnel system such as the
runaround or created a DIY version.
The run should be weldmesh (chicken wire is not fox or bunny proof) with
a top to stop the rabbits jumping out and predators getting in – it is now
more and more common to have foxes around during the day and birds of
prey visit many areas. Bolts are a good way of keeping the run secure as
catches can be undone by predators.
No run can be too big – the recommended minimum size for 2 medium
sized rabbit is 8 ft long x 4 ft wide x 2 ft high but bigger is better. If you
want to extend your existing run, there are companies who will make an
extension to fit on to your existing run – your rabbits will love the extra
space and you will enjoy seeing them have fun and binky.
If you have any questions about bunny accommodation, please contact
[email protected] and we will be happy to give you advice.
Jackie
Sponsor a Bun
Over the last few months we have sadly lost three of our special, sponsor bunnies. Firstly Arnold, then Nosey and, most
recently, Dawn. Although the loss of these bunnies is extremely sad and they are sorely missed at HQ, we know that they
had the best lives and veterinary care possible, thanks to their generous sponsors.
To sponsor a long-term bunny we ask for a £24 donation for the year – this can be a one-off payment or £2/month. You
will receive a welcome pack including details of your chosen sponsor bun, a coaster, a keyring, a mousemat and a FF
badge plus your bunny won’t forget you on your birthday and at Christmas. Throughout the year your chosen bunny will
then e-mail you new photographs and updates of what they have been up to. Sponsoring a Bunny makes an unusual gift
for someone who has everything!
HQ buns Charlie Too, Stripe and Peggy
Sue are looking for new sponsors, as
are Laurel, Beckham and Odey who live
in long-term foster care. To find out
more about each of these bunnies click
on ‘Sponsor a Bun’ on the website
menu
or
go
to:
www.fatfluffs.com/donate/sponsor
Fat Fluffs Newsletter
Volunteer Update!
We are delighted to welcome some new people to the FF team in various positions!
Dan Hans (SuperDan!) in a graphics & social media role supporting Kat, Caroline Malis is now our assistant bookkeeper
keeping Andy on his toes! Anika Buerckel has the responsibility of driving our new initiative to have as many collection
tins in various places around the Midlands as possible, Nkiru is giving us some much valued legal assistance, Lizzie Jesson
has joined our Sat Barn Team, Cat Harris is our new Tues student placement and Jo Moore is with us on a Weds also on a
student placement.
Thank you all for your help and support you are all very valuable to the Fat Fluffs team!
We are still looking for volunteer help in the following areas:
Receptionist & meet/greet
Site handyman/woman
Bunny health checker
Teatime/bedtime team (April onwards)
Street collection team
RabbitEar Co-ordinator
RabbitEar & party organiser
Fundraising party evenings organiser
Fundraiser (to submit grant applications & source sponsors)
Sales negotiator
Advertising & Marketing
PR
Social Media
Bunny bonding supervisor
Accountant
Graphic design
If you have an hour or two a week and would like to help we’d love to hear from you. If you have a speciality not
mentioned above or would just like to come in and cuddle a bun and have a cup of tea with us then please do get in
touch! [email protected]
HUGE congratulations to our nominated VOM's for the start of 2013 . . .
Jo Jen (Ebay Jo) Jan 2013 - fantabulous fundraising of £800+ in Dec
and
Stuart Grice (Fri Barn Team) – who has shown amazing dedication having joined the team 3 years ago in Feb 2010!!!
Debbie Fluff
Fat Fluffs Newsletter
Street collection update
Fat Fluffs are running Street collections though out 2013 to help raise some valuable funds for the fluffs!! Unfortunately
this is a very lengthy process so we only get around 10 opportunities a year to do so.
It has been very successful so far and we have raised almost £200 since November 2012!
I am looking for some willing volunteers to stand and shake a tin for our fluffy friends just for a few hours in your local
area! If you would like to join out street collection team then please email [email protected] – we would love to
hear from you. Bunny ears will be provided!!
Future Street collection dates and locations:
16/3/13 OLDBURY
20/04/2013 DUDLEY
18/05/2013 LEAMINGTON SPA
25/05/2013 COVENTRY
26/05/2013 COVENTRY
01/06/2013 WARWICK
15/06/2013 KENILWORTH
06/07/2013 STOURBRIDGE
27/07/13 WEST BROM
Sarah Fluff
Spring has (nearly) Sprung!
We are currently asking for donations of unwanted CDs and DVDs which we can sell to raise bunny money. Have the
children outgrown their DVDs, have you finally outgrown your 80’s Classics albums?
Have a spring clean, make some space for you and help us raise some cash for the bunnies. Please bring any donations
along to HQ or drop them in at the next Fat Fluffs event. All donations (even Peter Andre albums!!) are gratefully
received
Get your bun professionally photographed and
support Fat Fluffs!
Christabel Photography (www.christabelphotography.co.uk) will be attending the North Worcestershire Rabbit Show on
Saturday 23rd doing professional photographs of your bun. For only £5.00 you can get a 7"x5" print (all profit will go to
FF's and photos to be collected from Fat Fluffs HQ or posted at a later date) as well as offering a fun range of photo gifts
such as mugs, smart phone covers and ipad covers. Come
along and join in the fun! For more information see their
website:
www.http://northworcestershirerabbitshow.com