Derricks Den Rabbit Boarding

17/06/2024

My heart has joined The Thousand for my friend stopped running today 💔

You were my soul mate Findlay, and I loved you so very much.

We didn't get to spend enough time with each other...I wanted to love you until you got old and tired of life 💔 I didn't want to say goodbye today.

It was the kindest thing I could do for you.
You were in so much pain and hid so well, as bunnies do.

Today you stopped eating and stopped enjoying life. You've fought for so long and at times I thought we'd cracked it!

It was time to say goodbye the moment I realised you'd lost your love of life. You wanted to sit quietly in the corner, alone and in pain 💔

Please know that you were loved and cherished and I'll miss you every day.

Goodnight my Prince, please wait for me over the Rainbow Bridge 😪

08/02/2024

Trio bonding 💖

07/10/2023

Sadly I lost my Lilah last week 💔

Heartbroken doesn't even touch how I'm feeling right now.

She was a total trooper and carried on fighting to live and enjoy life until she couldn't fight anymore.

She gave up fighting the day after my birthday.
God bless her ❤️ 💔

This year has been so very hard for me.

I've had to say goodbye to all of my original bunnies that I loved so much and that gave me the strength and passion to do what I do now.

They kept me sane throughout 'lockdown' and always gave me a safe space to run to.

Please, don't get me wrong. I still totally adore the bunnies I have with me now...they all have a special place in my heart ❤️

It's just very hard to say goodbye to the ones that made me who I am ###

16/08/2023

Sleep tight, beautiful boy and know that you were loved.

You always were a scatty cat and spent hours on end, when you were younger, going in and out the house through a different window every time.

I'll never forget the day you decided to jump through the window at the top of the stairs...all we heard was the almighty crash as you landed on the porch roof and shattered it!

You disappeared for hours because you must have given yourself such a fright!
But eventually you came home, remarkably uninjured ❤️ and looking a little sheepish 😆

You were always so loving and I miss you sleeping on my pillow or snuggled next to me 💔
You were here with us for 16 years, years that went far too quickly 💔

You left your paw prints on my heart and a hole in my soul 💔

09/08/2023

❤️

09/08/2023

Hazel with Findlay, Buddy and Maple ❤️

06/08/2023

Now I'm just left with Jason as a single rabbit.
I've bonded him into a group of 4, where everything went well for 12 months.

Jason then started to 'bully' Derrick and gave him some very nasty bites.
Once I was 100% sure it was Jason, I removed him from the group.

I've since tried to bond him with Hazel and then with a bonded pair.

Each and every time Jason is fine for a week or so and then starts to attack and inflict some very nasty bites.

He seems to hate other rabbits and won't interact with them...he also won't interact with humans...he hates me touching him or being anywhere near him 💔

I've thought about rehoming him, but in all honesty I don't think I could do that to him.

He's very complex and would be very misunderstood by most.

06/08/2023

I successfully bonded Hazel with Finlay, Maple and Buddy 😊
Hazel is now finally back where she belongs ...
in the summer house with a large run attached, where she spent so many happy years with her sister and Derrick ❤️
It was so very hard for me to lose Derrick, but then to lose Fiver only days later and to see Hazel suffer from losing her closest friends was even more devastating 💔
It's taken a massive weight off my mind and heart to see her happy and settled x

30/07/2023

Sadly the bond between Hazel and Jason didn't work out and I had to separate them.

Jason started to inflict bites on Hazel, much the same as he did with Derrick.

I honestly thought Jason sensed a weakness in Derrick and that was why he started biting him, but he's done the same with Hazel, only much worse.

She's been living inside with us for the last month.

Jason gave her a very nasty bite on her back, it didn't need vet treatment but I've kept her inside as I was so worried about fly strike!

She's fully healed now and she's struggling on her own after losing Derrick and her sister.

It breaks my heart to see her so sad and needy.
Losing Derrick broke my heart, but as humans we understand loss...

I can cope with my grief but I can't cope with seeing her so lost and sad 💔

Tonight, when I should be be concentrating on bonding other people's bunnies, I'm bonding mine.

I just want Hazel to be happy and feel safe again...she had so much love from Derrick and her sister and to lose all that and be alone is too much to bear ###

02/06/2023

Sadly I lost Fiver yesterday 💔

She stopped eating and drinking after losing Derrick and I struggled to syringe feed her 'critical care' she would just spit it straight back out...

it was almost as if she just didn't want to be here anymore and had given up on life 💔

We ended up taking her to our out of hours vet last night, where despite their best efforts to save her, she passed 😢

Hazel is now all alone and it literally breaks my heart to look at her and see her so lonely 💔

Thankfully she's still eating, she was so much tougher than her sister, Fiver so hopefully she'll get through this.

Losing Derrick and then Fiver has made me question if I want to continue bonding and boarding but I guess that's a normal part of grieving.

At the moment I feel totally lost...It's been an awful week and I can’t stop crying 😢

It's so hard to say goodbye when they've taken up such a big part of your life and even harder to watch them greiving x

28/05/2023

Derrick was bonded with Hazel and Fiver and they're taking the loss of him very hard 💔
Fiver, more so than Hazel.
Fiver spent most of the time grooming or being groomed by Derrick, or laying snuggled up with him.
They'd been together for eight years and had such a strong bond.
It's so hard to watch them greiving 💔 and being so subdued when they're usually so full of life.

26/05/2023

"My heart has joined the thousand as my friend stopped running today"

My heart aches to say the words, but today I said my final goodbye to my Derrick 💔

I stroked his head and whispered gently in his ear while he went on his final journey to binky free with his best friend, George ❤️

His last journey was peaceful, dignified and totally stress free for him.

He'd not been right for a while and whilst he was eating as normal, the weight was dropping off him and his muscles were wasting 💔...he was under treatment from the vet, which seemed to help for a while.

This afternoon he went downhill very quickly and was struggling to breathe and then became very floppy 💔

We rushed him to the vets, but at that point I knew what my decision would be 💔

He was 11 years old and had given me a life of love. He was the namesake of my bussiness and I'm where I am now because of him.

He inspired me and gave me the passion I have for looking after and loving other people's bunnies while they're on holiday and for bonding.

Without Derrick being in my life I would never have found my 'niche'

I would have never dreamed of doing something that I love with such passion or even knew that bunnies would become such a major part of my life...I owe so much to him ❤️

I made the kindest decision I could for him, and that was to have him forever sleep 💔

It wasn't a hard decision, he was suffering and it wasn't right to prolong his suffering 💔

Today has been a very sad day but despite that I know I did the right thing for Derrick, it still hurts like hell 💔

He's been a constant in my life for the last in 11 years.

Binky free Derrick, I love you with all of my heart and I know you loved me back.

Thank you for all that you have given me and for being there when I needed you ❤️...if I was sad or upset I'd always come and sit with you and chat...my Derrick you truly were unique and i love you to the moon and back ❤️

10/05/2023

Yesterday was a totally rubbish day 💔

I had to take both Lilah and Derrick to see the vet.

Derrick is mostly white and has always been 100% pristine underneath.

The last few weeks I've noticed that he gets sopping wet with wee underneath and has lost a lot of weight, despite the fact he still has a healthy appetite.

Quite possibly he weighs what he should now and isn't underweight at all. But that doesn't explain his loss of weight when he's being fed the same.

He's nearly 11, and was always in excellent health until just recently and it hurts to see

The vet said that at his age that its inevitable he has arthritis or some form of joint pain and he's on a daily dose of pain relief.

Lilah is Lilah, bless her ❤️ I was told that she'd not got long to live 6 years ago.

Despite being deaf because of the abscesses she has underneath both ears...the reason I was told she had very little time as eventually they would cause pressure on her brain.

Six years later she's still fighting and still enjoying life. She's on palliative care now as she has a 'growth' in her stomach.

I have no idea if it's cancerous or not, but I don't think she'd survive being put through investigating tests or operations...she's had a good life and it would be cruel to do that 💔

She will continue to live life to the full with Jack, who loves her dearly for as long as she is comfortable.

I so wish that there was a magical cure for old age in our beloved family members...the furry, the feathered and the humans that we love ###

23/04/2023

I've had a couple of messages sent through messenger on here. One was sent on Thursday about 5 weeks boarding and the sent 19 hours ago.
I can't access my messages to reply 😔
Please could you either text or WhatsApp me?
My mobile number is 07513140807 or you should be able to WhatsApp me from the link below.
Thank you 😊 x

30/12/2022

I feel so very blessed.
It's very rare to meet, trust and connect with someone so genuine and caring.
Someone who really is 1 in a billion and has been so good to me ❤ ###

25/10/2022

My heart has joined the thousand, for my friend stopped running today 💔
Binky free my beautiful blue eyed princess, you're free of pain now ❤
Run free with my other Rainbow Bridge bunnies and be reunited with the only bunny you ever really adored.
You were such a sweet and gentle soul ###

07/10/2022

Since Facebook updated my page and my personal profile I'm having major problems accessing my messages on both profiles.
If you haven't received a reply from messaging me on here then please feel free to WhatsApp, text or give me a call.
My number is 07513140807.
Julie x

25/09/2022

Bonding a group of four separate bunnies this evening ❤

20/09/2022

https://loox.io/z/V1oYasz1s

Use my personal link to get a discount off your first purchase at Hay Box

11/09/2022

09/09/2022

Derrick's Den would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to The Royal Family as we join the nation in mourning the loss of our beloved Monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Rest in peace, Your Majesty ❤🤍💙 ❤🤍💙

06/09/2022

https://m.facebook.com/groups/235431894344372/permalink/656789525541938/

17/07/2022

My lovely lot will be coming inside for the next few days.
I bought a portable air conditioning unit that came this morning.
Unfortunately it has to stand for 24 hours before I can use it.
I have large indoor cages upstairs set up ready for tomorrow. Not what they're used to but I feel much easier knowing they're going to be upstairs in a room that's kept 20 degrees cooler than outside!

With temperatures set to soar tomorrow and Tuesday, please remember to keep your rabbits cool 😎

Rabbits don't tend to cope as well in the heat as they do in the cold. They aren’t able to regulate their own temperature as we do, they can’t pant or sweat. This means they can overheat but you can help prevent this by doing the following:

💦 Provide plenty of fresh water preferably in a bowl placed in a shaded area.

🥵 Ensure their accommodation isn’t in direct sunlight. You can place sheets around it to give plenty of shade but remember to allow ventilation.

😎 Provide ice pods or frozen bottles for them to lie near. Wrap them in a towel before giving them to them.

🆒 If possible give them a fan but ensure wires are out of their way!!

🐰 Groom them regularly as this will help remove dead fur.

👀 Check on them regularly and monitor any changes in their behaviour.

If at any stage your rabbit stops eating or you are concerned they may have heat stroke, do not delay contact your rabbit savvy vet immediately.

Signs of heat stroke:

🥵 Wetness around the nose or mouth
🥵 Lethargic
🥵 Fast shallow breathing
🥵 Hot ears

Please keep your rabbits as cool as possible 😎

17/06/2022

I hope all your bunnies have coped well with the heat the last few days...especially today!
It's been so very hot today! There was a bit of a breeze, which helped a little but then it turned into a very warm breeze and no help at all!
I've been run off my feet making sure every one is okay which is no mean feat with 25 bunnies to take care of.
Needles to say I'm absolutely shattered and very thankful it's going to be much cooler tomorrow!

10/05/2022

We're all camping out tonight in the front room bonding 5 single bunnies into a group x

11/04/2022

That one amazing moment when everything starts to fall into place ❤
Makes everything worthwhile ❤

09/02/2022

https://www.change.org/p/football-kurt-zouma-should-be-sacked-from-west-ham-and-not-allowed-to-own-animals?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=eb8bcda0-8911-11ec-8176-63b3a81008ce&utm_content=fht-32305080-en-gb%3A0

Kurt Zouma should be sacked from West Ham and not allowed to own animals

09/02/2022

Let us hope that the Metropolitan police make an example of Kurt Zouma for his treatment of his 'much loved family cat' in front of his very impressionable young son... I very much doubt they will given their track record lately!

His son that worships and adores his father and will most likely want to follow in his father's footsteps and be a professional footballer.

He will think his father is amazing.

Kurt Zouma is abusing his position of trust with his son, he's teaching him that animals are there to be abused.

It happens in every day life and most of us remain unaware of the cruelty inflicted on innocent family pets.

He gets paid £120,000 a week to kick a football about. To some youngsters he's an inspiration.

For someone in that position of trust and power he should be punished for what he has done and made an example of!

This privileged man and his family thought it was hilarious to slap, kick and terrorise an innocent family pet in front of their young child and it won't be the first or last time this happens!!

Let's make this viral and make sure he never does this again!

I'm not going to post a video, it's very distressing to watch and once seen can't be unseen.
I've recently shared a post with a petition you can sign.

Please sign and hopefully together we can speak out for those who have no voice 💔

26/01/2022

So much love in the room tonight 💕

24/01/2022

I'm currently looking for either a male or female neutered and fully vaccinated elderly bunny around the age of 7 to 9 years plus to bond with my Lilah.

She currently resides in our spare bedroom where she has plenty of space to run free during the day.

In the evenings, if I have bonding bunnies that I can safely leave in the middle room without the need for constant supervision, Lilah will spend the evening with us.

At no point is she allowed any contact with my bonding bunnies...she's a complete and utter madame and takes great delight in winding my own groups up and creating mayhem when she has free run time outside 🙈

She's totally deaf, and has what I was told an 'inoperable' abcesses under both ears.

I was told by a vet I trusted that her life would be very short because of this.
She's now outlived 5 of my other bunnies!

She's fighter and despite all she's been through she has every intention of living life to the max 💖 and I have every intention of letting her do just that.

I don't want her to spend her final years, months, weeks alone without company from another bunny.

However much time, love and attention I give her it's simply not the same 😪 as having a bunny friend xx