My story (Debs)
About...
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The Barrow Bunnies human team is comprised of two generations of family;
Debs & Heather (formerly Izzy making a third generation) We have been collectively exhibiting since 2008. Our consistent breeds have always been miniature lops and shortly after miniature lion lops. Over the years we have also kept Dwarf lops, German lops, Smoke Pearls, Havana's, Satins, Hulstlanders, Miniature Rex and Netherland Dwarfs. |
About Debs and the rabbits
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I started keeping rabbits and guinea pigs when I went away to boarding school aged eight. I enjoyed a natural affinity with animals, one day aspiring to become a vet.
At school I was the person other children came to for advice about their pets. During one of my school holidays in the mid 70's I met a husband and wife team who exhibited Netherland Dwarf rabbits and I bought some of their stock and started to breed and for a short while show. I also acquired a beautiful pair of sooty fawn dwarf lops from a show. These became the foundation of my breeding stock for many years as I eventually progressed in to other colours and patterns. |
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Years later a horrible turn of events left me terribly upset and I decided to take a step back from rabbit keeping. It happened in 1986 when a band of 'travellers' and their pack of dogs got on to my property during the night. I went out in the morning to feed my beloved pets as normal, but to my horror found the babies and most of the guinea pigs slaughtered. All the adult rabbits were missing save one and a few guinea pigs, which had been left untouched but terrified in the top cages. For a few years I only kept those remaining few, burnt or gave away the cages and turned my attention to my dogs and dog agility. |
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Agility was a large part of my life for 15+ years. I was one of the founding members with UpAndover Agilty club and trained at several venues as the club grew, we also did Flyball. All four dogs thoroughly enjoyed it, the training, competition and socialising. Sadly, a badly frozen shoulder and my club losing one of their training venues meant I lost the opportunity to continue once my shoulder improved.
At that time Heather had purchased some mini lops and it rekindled my love of rabbits. The memories I had of that dreadful day of the 'attack' had faded and so I decided to join her in 2006 this lovely hobby.
I feel very lucky to share such a wonderful hobby and love for animals with Heather.
It is such a joy for us as a family to participate in this hobby together.
At that time Heather had purchased some mini lops and it rekindled my love of rabbits. The memories I had of that dreadful day of the 'attack' had faded and so I decided to join her in 2006 this lovely hobby.
I feel very lucky to share such a wonderful hobby and love for animals with Heather.
It is such a joy for us as a family to participate in this hobby together.
The Guinea Pigs
The boarding school had a pets corner and I got my first guinea pig, an Abyssinian black brindle boar that I named David. Within a term I had added Cassidy a pet boar. I am sure my generation will have worked out who my idol was at the time! David and Cassidy got on really well together.
David and I had a wonderful bond. At school I would place him on the front lawn and he would follow me around wheeking. On a couple of occasions other school girls guinea pigs followed David in a line, like a conga dance, as I would weave about so did they. I felt like the Pied Piper!
I lost David a couple of years later during the Summer holidays when he escaped into a huge wheat field next to our garden.
I was so upset that after some time my dad took me to a local pet shop and we brought home Sandy a gold and white Abyssinian cross.
After a month or more my Granddad, who lived next door, called me in to the garden. There amongst the cabbages was an upside down orange bucket. Granddad called me over to the bucket and said there was something under it...
David and he was so fat!
My granddad had seen the wheat rustling every day. However after trying a couple of times to catch David, he just waited for the right opportunity! Luckily we got him back just two days before the field was harvested.
As a 10 year old girl I tried putting David and Cassidy back together, unaware that they would fight now a female was within range of their noses. I still bear the scar on my finger to this day where I put my hand between them to break up the fight! Lesson learnt!
A year later I got another gorgeous little sow called Rusty.. a red brindle with lots of beautiful rosettes.
My dad (pictured amongst the runner beans in the veg garden) made a few more cages!
Along with my rabbits, that came in my mid teens, I bred the same line of guinea pigs until 1986 when the majority got slaughtered by some 'travellers' and their dogs :-(
I had many other types of guinea pigs from the mid 70's to 1986 including; Peruvian, Sheltie, Coronet, American Gold Crested, Satins in a few colours but mostly agouti.
When young my daughter had a few Rex guinea pigs and my son Peruvians.
Once whilst at a National rabbit show back in the early 80's I fell in love with the lilac/blue tan colour (not wanting the breed though) then at another show saw an acquaintance with some lilac tan mice.. I was smitten.
I am happy that I have now similar colours in my teddy's, where I am producing lilac/slate/black/chocolate with gold and white.
Although as with the rabbits coat and type take precedence.
David and I had a wonderful bond. At school I would place him on the front lawn and he would follow me around wheeking. On a couple of occasions other school girls guinea pigs followed David in a line, like a conga dance, as I would weave about so did they. I felt like the Pied Piper!
I lost David a couple of years later during the Summer holidays when he escaped into a huge wheat field next to our garden.
I was so upset that after some time my dad took me to a local pet shop and we brought home Sandy a gold and white Abyssinian cross.
After a month or more my Granddad, who lived next door, called me in to the garden. There amongst the cabbages was an upside down orange bucket. Granddad called me over to the bucket and said there was something under it...
David and he was so fat!
My granddad had seen the wheat rustling every day. However after trying a couple of times to catch David, he just waited for the right opportunity! Luckily we got him back just two days before the field was harvested.
As a 10 year old girl I tried putting David and Cassidy back together, unaware that they would fight now a female was within range of their noses. I still bear the scar on my finger to this day where I put my hand between them to break up the fight! Lesson learnt!
A year later I got another gorgeous little sow called Rusty.. a red brindle with lots of beautiful rosettes.
My dad (pictured amongst the runner beans in the veg garden) made a few more cages!
Along with my rabbits, that came in my mid teens, I bred the same line of guinea pigs until 1986 when the majority got slaughtered by some 'travellers' and their dogs :-(
I had many other types of guinea pigs from the mid 70's to 1986 including; Peruvian, Sheltie, Coronet, American Gold Crested, Satins in a few colours but mostly agouti.
When young my daughter had a few Rex guinea pigs and my son Peruvians.
Once whilst at a National rabbit show back in the early 80's I fell in love with the lilac/blue tan colour (not wanting the breed though) then at another show saw an acquaintance with some lilac tan mice.. I was smitten.
I am happy that I have now similar colours in my teddy's, where I am producing lilac/slate/black/chocolate with gold and white.
Although as with the rabbits coat and type take precedence.
About Heather
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After 'the attack' sadly my memories of rabbit and guinea pig keeping are not many. However as a child and teenager I remember many a summer holiday afternoon sat in the rabbit run playing with the bunnies and cuddling my much loved pets.
To the left is a picture of my favourite rabbit Benny (2nd from left) an orange dwarf lop buck, he was so playful, friendly and affectionate. It was the memory of him that inspired me to start up with rabbits again. |