My name is Tamara, and I have had a soft spot for mini lops since the age of about 10 when my parents bought me my first lop. So when my daughter was born I bought her a white “doe” - we later found out she was a he! Obviously the breeder we had got him off hadn’t sexed him properly. After four years I finally convinced my husband to let me add another two bunnies to our huge “cubby house” sized walk in hutch. I wanted does so that I could also breed them.

After many weeks (and hours) on the internet, searching for a white and a black doe from different litters I finally had what I thought was the start of a little bunny family. I was wrong. Six days after I got them home, one of them started to get swelling around the eyes and became very lethargic. My heart sank. Myxomatosis was my first thought. I took her to the vet and he gave her a shot of antibiotics with the hope it was just a similar strain of Myxo that wasn’t lethal.

I brought little Bella inside and “nursed” her and gave her TLC for the next week, to no avail. It was evident that the strain of Myxo was long and drawn out and was going to cause her a long a painful death so I had her put down. Unfortunately about two days after that, our other new addition started showing signs as well. I had to have snowflake put down as well.

Understandably I brought my buck that I have had for more than 4 years inside in the hope he had escaped the deadly virus. He had. Fortunately for him he was inside another hutch inside the big bunny house so he had no direct contact with the two girls. This contradicts many thoughts that the virus can only be carried by mosquitos. My cage is also completely covered in heavy duty shade cloth for several reasons, so unless a mosquito had come in when I opened the door, direct contact is the only way the second doe could have contracted it. Every rabbit owner knows about Myxo but quite often it’s the attitude of “it won’t happen to me” that catches them by surprise and there’s nothing you can do after they contract the virus. In my case I thought I had done everything I could to protect my bunnies, but never thought that a breeder wouldn’t have the same attitude. My daughter is also highly allergic to mosquito bites, so I am very wary of making sure there is nothing around my house or garden to attract them further.

I, in the meantime was quite upset. I emailed the breeder I purchased “Bella” from, as it was quite evident that she had Myxo when I brought her home, as the strain she had usually takes 7-10 days to show signs of having. The breeder was sympathetic but showed no more interest than that. So I was left with vet bills over $150, two rabbits that cost me over $100 and nothing to show for it.

However I didn’t give up. I came across Vanita and Erinlea. Not only did Vanita give me advice with how to sterilize the hutch, but she also gave me support. I also found little “Mia”, daughter of Nina and Gary. A beautiful little black girl that Vanita kept for me for 3 weeks while I could “clear” the area from Myxo.

I drove 2 and a half hours to get to Vanita’s beautiful property, and every minute was worth it. Mia has such a placid and calm personality however very playful and inquisitive. I have her in our laundry at the moment so we can get to know her and she has used her litter tray from the moment we got home. Her coat shines in the light because she is in such good health and my 16 month old son who is mostly scared of bunnies has also taken a liking to her and pats her with enthusiasm only after 4 days! It’s obvious that she is comfortable with people and relaxed about being around them. This has become very evident in comparison to the bunny that I brought home that had myxo. She would run and hide every time I came near her, let alone tried to pick her up!

I thank Vanita for her dedication to her bunnies and sharing this with others. Considering the nightmare I have had with other breeders I couldn’t recommend Vanita and Erinlea highly enough! I can’t wait to add another girl to my family. In this instance I am happy to wait a few more months for the perfect little girl for my other doe and buck, and know that I am also getting a happy healthy bunny, oh and one that’s the right sex!

All the best,

Tamara