Celebrating Christmas With Our Pets

Yes, we are one of those people who love to spoil their pets on holidays.  They bring so much joy to our lives, why not bring some into theirs as well?

Comet got spoiled with his favorite smoked chew treats from veganessentials.com.  We ordered about 20 of these vegan pig ears . 




Photo from veganessentials.com

 Comet goes completely nuts for these!  He loves when the package arrives.  I think he knows the scent of the store they ship from because as soon as the delivery person drops it off he is on the box.  And I do mean ON the box--trying to open it.  He loves when we play hide and seek with these treats too.  We hide them around the house and he has to use his nose to find them.  He looks so happy when he's on the hunt.

Here Comet is opening one of the treats:



He made quick work of the wrapping paper to get the treat out and into his mouth.



He thoroughly enjoyed it. 




He also got his favorite people food treat, Gardein Tuscan Breasts.  He always begs for a bite of ours when we have it for dinner.  These are awesome.




Photo from gardein.com



 Look at the excitement in his eyes as he realizes he's getting Gardein: 


After he wolfed it down he had to check the floor to see if he missed any morsels.

His big gift was a new orthopedic dog bed.  He has 4 beds all over the house, but we wanted him to have one for the bedroom where he sleeps most of the time that was good for his aging bones.  After some research we decided on the Quilted Super Deluxe Orthopedic Dog Bed.  We bought the biggest one they had and got it in Tuscan Fawn.  It's pretty: 



Photo from drsfostersmith.com


And the bunnies got a gift basket from us too.  We bought them some new fleece throws to line their habitat.  I also thought this Carrot Cozy Fun Bed would be a favorite for them.  Neither of them have slept in it yet, but Rosalie loves to bat and dig at it.

They got a Critter Kabob Chew Toy with different wooden fruits on it to chew, some dried diced papaya treats, and their favorite--Veggie Puffs.

Moving With Pets

It’s really important to consider the well being of your pets during a move.  As my husband and I are in the process of moving this week we have learned that although we tried to think ahead for the needs of our furry friends, there are still things we wish we had done for them.  Now we can share our new knowledge with others so they can make the transition between homes easier for pets and themselves as well.

The most important thing that we learned:

Plan Ahead

Before the house is consumed with boxes and chaos, it’s really important to evaluate what your pets will need throughout the move.  We thought we did a pretty good job of this, but we realized that it was critical to share our plan with the friends and family who love us enough to help us move.  When you have a lot of people working together, sometimes important things get overlooked. 

Consider Daily Needs/Items

Before the move we set aside several days worth of food for our dog and bunnies.  We also organized our elderly dog’s medications in one place so we would always know where it is. 

Our dog Comet has glaucoma, thyroid disease, and arthritis.  He has about 8 medications that he needs daily, and some of them require multiple doses throughout the day.  If you are anything like me, you know how frustrating it is to spend precious time every day looking for things.  We realized that we needed to get organized to minimize this—and when you are in the arduous process of a move, life automatically becomes even more chaotic.  Just before moving we were happy to find an inexpensive organizer that contains all of Comet’s gear.  We found it at Ikea for $3: 

 

We knew these organizers would come in handy in other parts of the house, so we bought a few.  One is in our “junk” drawer to help corral the everyday clutter in the kitchen (stamps, paperclips, chip clips, tape, batteries, etc.).  $3 is a small price to pay for a more organized life.  We made sure to label this organizer “Do Not Move,” so the critical supplies wouldn’t go missing.  Comet is dependant on drops to keep the intraocular pressure in his one remaining eye down.  We’re trying to preserve his eyesight as much as possible, but it’s getting worse now with the formation of a cataract in the sighted eye.

For our rabbits Rosalie and Humphrey,  we set aside their bunny essentials:  food, box habitats, toys, hay, and litter.  Now, even though we set aside our dog’s and rabbits’ essentials, we didn’t tell all of our wonderful helpers not to move them into the moving truck and unload them at the new house.  That was a BIG problem.  The bunnies’ hay (their main food source) went missing when someone loaded it somewhere on the truck.

After an exhausting day of hard labor and heavy lifting, my poor husband had to travel to the only 24 hour store in the area at 1 am to purchase hay for the bunnies.  That’s when they normally get their second helping of the day since I am definitely a night owl.  So are they;-)  Jeff wasn’t happy about this, but there is nothing we wouldn’t do for our pets.   The bad part is that the bunnies don’t like the kind of hay you can buy in a grocery store.  They are used to the good stuff—Oxbow Western Timothy Hay.  Rosalie was so disenchanted with the poor quality hay that she sorted it and tossed offending pieces of it out of her litter pan.

Put Yourself In Their Paws: 

Make the New House Familiar & Comfortable:

I  made sure to set aside the box habitats that I build for the bunnies to play in.  They love these boxes, and when we finally move the bunnies to the new house I want them to enjoy things that are familiar to them so they feel more comfortable. 

Likewise, I want Comet to be comfy in the new place too.  I washed his beds the week before the move and not during the move.  Why?  I wanted them to be cleaner, but to have familiar scents on them so he feels more secure when the beds are in a new place.  I also made sure to choose the right spot to place the beds and his food and water bowls, too.  It’s important for an animal to know “their territory” in your new home.  Sometimes it helps to put yourself in your pets’ paws to anticipate their physical and emotional needs. 

Love them Through It

Our pets look to us for their emotional needs, and to maintain familiar routines.  We’re still not completely moved.  Our pets will be the last thing that is moved to the new house.  We want to keep everything as familiar to them as possible to minimize their stress.  It’s so important to take breaks while moving to give your pets affection, and feed them at the same times that they are used to eating.  Take them outside for potty breaks at the same times.  Above all, pet and talk to them often during moving day.  It reassures them, and it is a stress reliever for you.  Moving can make humans frazzled, and the warmth of a fuzzy friend can make all the difference in even a brief moment.  Remember,  you understand all the chaos that has overtaken the house, and why you are moving everything in the environment out of place and removing it from the home, but your pets might be anxious and confused about the changes.  They look to you for comfort.  Moving is highly stressful on everyone, but with a few simple preparations before and during the process, it can be made a little kinder for people and pets alike. 

Home Made Bunny Toy

Bunnies love to play, and if you can keep them occupied with some great toys they really love it.  One great idea is to recycle what you already have, and I discovered that my bunnies love to play with a salt box.  Here's what I did.

I took a salt box like this and removed the metal spout carefully.  You don't want to leave this on; bunnies could get hurt.  Then, I made sure that every grain of remaining salt was poured out.  Salt is not good for bunnies.

Then I stuffed a few of myt rabbits' favorite treats inside.  A friend bought me these and they love them.  They only get them once in a while.

I placed the salt box toy inside of the box where the bunnies like to hang out during the day.  Almost immediately my Rosalie pushed it out with her nose and started rolling it around to try to get the treats out.  It was fun watching her!  Humphrey wanted no parts of it yet.

Here is a picture of Rosalie while she's shedding.  She won't let me brush her while she's trying to explore and do bunny things.  She makes me wait until she is tired.  When she looks like this I call her "Rosie Rufflebutt."

Rest In Peace Elena

I had to say goodbye to my Elena on Thansgiving.  It's so hard when they have to leave us.  I hope that we gave her a good life.  She was my little acrobat, wheel racer, smartypants, lover of tangerines. 

She will be missed so much.  We really loved her, as we do all of our pets.  This is the hard part of loving our pet family.  It's so sad when we have to say goodbye.  I know that I have to get used to this if I am going to rescue the sick, elderly, and unadoptables, though.  The way my heart is I know I never will get used to the goodbyes.  I really want to help these animals, however.  They need us, and I look forward to caring for them and loving them through their last days.  Soon the house renovations will be complete and I can help out even more.

Bunny Thief!

I don't know which one did it, but somebunny stole the socks I left on the floor and hid them inside the bunny hideaway box.  Here are the two suspects in their Romeo & Juliette moment:

You can see the hideaway box on the lower right.  Yeah.  My socks are in there.  Bunnies are funny.

My Tony Passed Away

With a heavy heart I have to report that my fat boy Tony has passed.  He was very, very old.  Over 2 years old.  He lived a long life for a rescued feeder mouse.  He was healthy until this week, although he still seemed really happy right up to the end. 

He started to keep one eye half closed and really slowed down.  His breathing got labored and last night he may have had a small seizure.  I knew there was nothing that could be done for him, so I didn't want to put him through any stress of taking him to a vet/unfamiliar environment.  I wanted it to be peaceful for him.  It's not peaceful at all for me.  I loved him so much, and he will be missed so badly.

I held him for the last time this evening and fed him his last meal.  I made him some lasagna noodles because I knew it wouldn't be long.  He didn't seem interested in any other food.  But the lasagna--he ate that with gusto.  He seemed so genuinely happy to be chewing on that noodle that it almost gave me hope that he would pull through.  When I checked on him at 4:30 am I saw him in his final sleep inside one of the tubes I made for him.  And then the tears started. 

Tony was just a nice mouse who I believed loved me.  He was happy-go-lucky and always seemed glad to see me.  I'll never forget the day we met and he looked at me quizzically with his little jewel-red eyes and tentatively sniffed the air as if to ask, "Are you my new mom?" 

I never will forget him.  I couldn't have loved that sweet boy more.

Making Pet Mice Happy

For me it is one of life's greatest joys to bring joy to the creatures in my care.  My mice are such great pets, and they really appreciate the efforts.

One of the simplest ways to keep them entertained is to create fun habitats for them each time you clean their cage.  The enjoy climbing, exploring, and varied textures, toys, and treats.  I accomplish this by building habitats out of recycled food boxes and paper towel cores.  To clean the cages I find a mini dustpan and brush to be very helpful to clean quickly.



I clean the aquariums with vinegar because it is safe for the pets.  I also use Care Fresh bedding. 

The mice love it and it is safe for them.  Wood chips cause respiratory problems for pets and people.  I am very allergic to cedar chips.  The Care Fresh performs well and controls odor the best.  And the mice love to climb around on it and dig through it.

I gather my supplies:  saved up boxes, a utility knife, and scissors:

The knife is great for cutting climbing or connecting holes in the boxes without hurting your hands.  Scissors work well for cardboard tubes.

I just keep a large box in the mouse room (yes, they have their own room;-)  and fill it with the empty containers that I save for building their habitats.  I try to get different shapes and sizes so I can build different configurations to keep things exciting for the mice.



Once the cage is clean and dry and the bedding is down I look at what I have and try to think of inventive ways to use it.  My mice love pasta boxes.  I cut ladders on the side for them to climb.

This time I put paper towel cores (with several holes for sclimbing through) around the perimeter of the cage.  My mice Tony & Elena love racing through the tunnel and climbing out of the holes to run on top of the cores too.

I also like to give my mice a great place to sleep.  I cut up old t-shirts or sheets into strips and tuck them inside smaller boxes so the mice have someplace really soft to sleep where they feel protected.  I wouldn't use towels or anything terrycloth because their tiny nails get caught in the material.  Usually an aspirin box or other medicine box is a perfect size for a mouse house.

I like to add Oxbow Timothy Hay to the habitat for texture, fiber, and something for the mice to dig through and eat.  Willow balls, chew sticks, and a tail-protecting wheel are also a must.  The mice really need things to chew and a way to exercise.  I also have a freedom ball that they love to get in and explore the rest of the house (just block your staircases).

Now for the really fun part:  watch your mice enjoy what you have created for them to enjoy.  Sometimes mine will "popcorn," or jump for joy, because they are so excited about their new digs.  This is my big boy Tony right after I put him in his new habitat:

Tony is the sweetest mouse.  He just loves attention and to be held.  He knows his name and loves when I talk to him.  He loves to rubbed on his forehead and neck.  He also gets visibly happy if I give him a piece of pasta for a treat.

And here is Elena my girl exploring her new habitat, too:

Elena is my spirited acrobat who loves climbing high.  She is one smart mouse!  She likes to cover up her food dish to hide it, and her favorite thing to eat is pecans, tomato, and watermelon.  She likes to grab the pecan from my fingers and eats them with such gusto.  She loves fruit, and she enjoys watermelon so much that she squints her eyes in joy when she eats it.

They definitely have their own personalities, and they are a joy to watch and care for.

Two-Ended Bunny!

Doesn't it look like one rabbit with two heads on opposite ends?  Bunnies are funny.  And they are also easy to please--just give them something yummy to destroy.  This edible Oxbow Bungalow is definitely a favorite.  

Now, my buns love it for different reasons.  The dwarf, Humphrey, loves it to hide in and hang out.  Rosalie (the big white one) on the other hand got mad because she couldn't fit inside of it, so she decided to destroy it.  Over the course of several days, layer by layer, she chewed it apart.  Poor Humphrey could be seen still inside looking perplexed as to why she would do this to his new home.  

Anyone who shares their home with a bunny knows how they are endless sources of laughter.  They have such personality.  Rosalie is incredibly demanding of Humphrey's affection.  She will beeline across the room at warp speed toward him and stuff her face under his chin to demand "Groom me!"  Sometimes he will.  Sometimes he won't.  If he won't she gets offended and gives him a little nip.  Sometimes he will just let her lay under his chin like this:

Rabbits Can Learn Voice Commands

Humphrey & Rosali in "their spot" under  the end table.

Rabbits are smarter creatures than most people would give them credit for.  Spending time with rabbits gives you a better idea of just how intelligent they are.

I have trained my buns to listen to voice commands.  Rosalie and Humphrey spend most of their time outside of their pen, and they don't like to go back into the cage when it is time for them (and me) to go to bed.  I was having trouble getting two of them into their pen.  It was like playing musical bunnnies--I would put one of them in and the other would jump out.  It wasn't easy, so I thought there must be a better way.  I started thinking about how smart these two are, and I figured I could train them the way you would train a dog:  with voice commands.

I decided on a plan.  I started to walk up to them when it was time for them to go to their pen and I would say repeatedly, "Go to bed" while walking slowly toward them and guiding them into the pen.  Then, I would praise them with "Good bunnies.  You went to bed!'  Then I offer them a favorite vegetable.  Over 2 weeks I did this every night, and now all I have to do is say the command and they automatically go into their pen.  I am so proud of my bunnies:-)

A Bunny Breakthrough!

 

January 8, 2011

It's been over 2 months since we adopted Rosalie. We've been really careful to research ways to help her overcome her anxiety, and it has been a series of progression and regressions. Lately, it has been more progression:-)

She has a problem with cage aggression and will not allow anyone to pick her up without thrashing around and leaving the person with blood on their arm and hands. I'm worried about this because it will be time for her pedicure soon. She reacts to noise a lot. If she hears something she doesn't like, she stamps her feet repeatedly. She has particular antipathy toward rap music. I think the beat and bass combination frighten her. They feel vibrations.

Lately she has been comfortable enough to sleep at my feet while I work on the computer, and she responds to my voice. She even seems happy to see me in the morning and paces excitedly waiting for her daily treat. I give Comet a Mr. Barkey vegan dog treat, and Rosalie gets offended if she doesn't also get to partake. She has even nudged Comet's nose away from the treat and stolen his! She gets her very own now, and when she is finished she will go to Comet and see if he has any leftovers (he never does).

A few minutes ago while I was buried in my laptop and sitting on the sofa, she jumped up and cautiously climbed next to me. She climbed on my arm for some affection and I talked to her softly. I didn't want to chase her away with a petting, so I just talked to her and looked into her soulful purple eyes and told her what a brave bunny she is. Little victories are sweet.

Look What My Husband Rescued

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Jeff got home from being at the new house and brought me these itty bitty baby mice:

He was at the house selling our flat top stove, and isn't sure if the babies were in the stove or the guy's truck who bought it. They searched everywhere for any more babies and the mama, but couldn't find any more. I hope the rest are ok, if there are any. He thought it was best to bring them home for me to evaluate and get them into the right hands. They eat very often and they need nourishment. They are about 12 days old. They are so tiny! They are barely the size of a nickel!

They still need mama's milk, and I am not set up with supplies to nurse them right now, so he took them to the emergency vet. They have everything to keep these little cuties fed and happy until they can send them to the appropriate wildlife rehabilitation specialist pick them up. I would love to care for them and wish I could.

They are adorable!

Bunny Bulletin

March 11, 2011

  

Humphrey enjoying the Crinkle Chute cat toy.

It’s a great joy caring for my bunnies Rosalie and Humphrey. Rabbits are such dynamic and smart creatures. I was hoping they would bond and be able to live in harmony together, but that isn’t looking promising. I had hoped they would be able to have their own room together when we move to the new house because I really don’t like the limitation of a cage. They get free run of the house several times each day, but I would still like them to have their own large space.

We’ve been proceeding slowly, but Rosalie being the bossy bunny that she is, has to be the boss and Humphrey is submissive. There have been times that Rosalie seems to want to be friends, but always reverts to aggression. Every room in the house has to be hers. Humphrey really wants a friend, and I feel bad that she’s dismissing him and bullying him. She scratched him on the eyelid last week and that scared us from continuing bonding since we didn’t want to put Humphrey through any more scary situations.

Some positive things are happening too. Rosalie has really warmed up to me in the last month. She eats food from my hand and begs for particular favorites (she knows how to manipulate her way, and she’s taught Humphrey the same). It’s taken over four months of patience and learning about who she is for her to allow me to pet her, and for her to enjoy it. She doesn’t attack my arm when I add food or hay to her cage. She actually seeks out my affection now and follows me around the house. If I ignore her she lets me know with a firm nudge. I also received this week the highest compliment from the bunny world—she groomed me. A few timesJ That’s amazing progress for her. She also allowed me to give her a pedicure. I was so worried about that. She wouldn’t allow me to handle her at all in the beginning, and I was ok with that. I just know there will be times that she needs to be held for examinations, regular grooming. It’s going to take more time for Humphrey. He is still trying to figure out his place here and get used to living with us. He’s quite timid, but he’s starting to allow us to pet him. He bites though.

Bunnies never cease to make me laugh. Rosalie prides herself on her intelligence and uncanny ability to break through any barrier we set up, disregard any rule we have, and generally prove her mental superiority. One day I couldn’t find her. I looked all around the house (she’s usually where she’s not supposed to be). When I finally found her she was laying inside my amethyst geode looking mighty proud of herself. She looked at me with as smirky of a smile as a bunny can muster as if to say “I’m in your geode! I’m not supposed to be here. But I am.” I wish I had been able to snap a picture because she looked so funny in there.



Comet romping around in his favorite weather--snow!

 Both bunnies have an affinity for Mr. Barkey’s vegan dog biscuits. When I give one to Comet--they know. They start pacing and standing on their hind legs to beg. If they are running about they will run up to me and try to climb my leg to get my attention. If I’m not quick enough they will steal it from Comet. He just lets them. Good thing he’s so patient and gentle and willing to share.



Rosalie on the arm of her favorite chair

Humphrey has a nickname of “Thumphrey.” He likes to stomp his feet when he isn’t pleased about something; usually it’s Jeff doing something around his cage. Rosalie stomps too. Apparently she has a huge dislike of rap music and anything new that comes into the house. We bought a new chair, and when she discovered it, she looked at us intently and stomped her feet as if to say “Look at this! This didn’t used to be here! I don’t like it!” She’s like her mama and doesn’t like change.

My Critters:-)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The weather is gorgeous! I wish it could be like this every day. I am enjoying the day with my critters and thought I would share some photos.

Comet enjoying the gorgeous Spring weather & Buttercups



My two favorite guys.



Humphrey in his favorite spot--the critter cuddly cup.



All 3 buns getting along wonderfully. I love Humphrey's feet in this photo. Kayla is the stuffed security bunny on the left. Rosalie on the right.



My Rosie girl. Don't tell Jeff she jumped on his laptop!

Bunny Bonding

March 19, 2011

Well bonding hasn't gone well at home, and due to my inexperience I decided it was best to take The House Rabbit Society's kind offer to help. Today we took Rosalie and Humphrey to Laurie's home for bonding. A neutral environment with someone with lots of experience is just what they need. At least we will know for sure if they can ever be best buddies after this.

I have to say that I miss them terribly already. Even Comet was looking for them when we came home without them. I'm such a sap--I had a lump in my throat when I was saying goodbye, and I was pretty good at fighting the tears until I got into the car. I wish I wasn't so sensitive. If this has a good outcome in the next two weeks it will all be worth it. I want my bunnies to be happy together. I'm hoping Rosalie learns her manners. I wish I had been able to do this myself. I feel sad that I wasn't capable. I feel like I let them down. I hated to uproot them, but I am trying to stay positive. I know they are in good hands, so I am looking forward to bringing them home again.

Our Growing Family:-)

Monday, January 17, 2011

 

 

We took a day trip to meet some needy bunnies in hopes of finding Miss Rosalie a companion. It was like buny speed-dating LOL.

We went to meet a Flemish Giant mix, but it didn't work out. The rescue network we were working with helped us try about 17-20 buns to see if they were compatible, but Rosalie wasn't having any of that. She hated them all! Well, except for the tiniest bun of all--a Himalayan dwarf rabbit. We went to see the largest bunny and ended up rescuing the littlest one. It was love at first sight for them both. They snuggled up together and looked quite content. He really relaxed her, which was nice because the trip was long and stressful for Rosalie with all of her anxieties. He calmed her and they looked so cute together. How could I say no? She found a sweet little friend who is all white with grey/black ears, nose, and tail. He also has pink eyes.

We're looking forward to bonding them and welcoming this little guy named Humphrey into the family. He was rescued in the cruelty confiscation in Fairfax county. A horrible breeder moved and left about 40 bunnies for dead out in the extreme heat without food or water for a week. I wish people would stop breeding all animals while so many are in need of loving homes. Why create more of a problem? The problem will never go away as long as people are paying breeders/pet stores for what could be rescued. There are some truly awful people in the world, but all is good for Humphrey now. His mother and brother also got adopted yesterday.

Another Bunny Blog

Friday, November 12, 2010
Rosalie has been with us for a week now. She's one smart bunny! She has figured out how to open her cage if it is not latched properly, and she loves running laps around the sofa--she makes it around in 2 seconds. She still will not allow me to pick her up and seems quite scared when I try, but she doesn't seem to mind me petting her when she is out of the cage. Today she even slept comfortably at my feet while I worked on the computer. I think she is starting to get comfortable with our routines now and she doesn't seem terrified of us anymore. She desperately wants to be friends with Comet, but he would rather just sleep.

She figured out that underneath of the sofa is a fun place for her, but since it isn't a safe place for a bunny I packed it with boxes. She got so mad when she saw what I had done! She actually started trying to dig them out. I have figured out that if I whistle when she's doing something wrong she will stop.

She doesn't like green peppers, but she loves all different types of greens and an occassional carrot or pear slice. She still fights sleep. She gets pretty tired running around the house (which has been bunny-proofed). When she gets sleepy she rolls suddenly on her back and cuddles up with her stuffed Kayla. That is precious! Another thing I think is so cute about her is this little pointed tuft of hair in the center of her forhead that sticks up like a little horn. Sometimes it is there and other times it isn't, but she reminds me of a little white unicorn. She's really been a joy. I want to hold her so bad, but it will have to be in her time.

Meet Rosalie

From 11/9/10

 

This is Rosalie. Jeff & I adopted her last Thursday from Luna's House. After losing our beloved Piggy (guinea pig) the house felt very lonely so we opened our hearts to this gorgeous purple-eyed gal. Since we are planning to rescue a lot of animals we want to specialize in animals with special needs and Rosalie has a lot of anxiety and needs to be socialized. I've worked with abused bunnies before, so I hope that she will learn that we love her and won't hurt her the way someone in her past did.

She was found as a stray and spent a long time at the humane society. I guess when her time was up there Luna's House rescued her and she stayed with a foster family for five months after that. They told me that she used to cry when people reached into her cage. That just breaks my heart:-( She's been spayed (all people should spay and neuter their pets!). I heard that she had a little lipo done with the spay as she used to be overweight.

She was adopted with Kayla her stuffed "security" bunny that she snuggles with and grooms all day. I think I got too close to Kayla when tidying the litter pan and Rosalie attacked my arm. She drew blood, but it surprised me more than anything. I only clean her cage when she is having her hop time around the house. She's perfectly litter trained:-) I'm going to work with her and help her to trust us. We love her already. It's going to take a lot of time and patience, but she's worth it. If she never comes around we will just accept and love her for who she is.

We've enjoyed her already and have learned that she loves to tear apart willow balls, toss toys around, and run laps around the couch while leaping and twisting. She really wants to be friends with Comet. He's so sweet with her and steps gently when she's around. He doesn't always want her to be hopping around him so he gently climbs onto the couch where she can't get to him. It's cute how careful of her he is. He was the same way with Piggy. He's such a sensitive dog. The first night Rosalie was with us he wouldn't come to bed with Jeff & I the way he usually does. He saw us to bed and then went back to the living room to sleep next to her cage. I think he could sense how anxious she was and wanted to comfort her. She seems to like him more than she likes us right now.

She's fearful of us. She tenses up when we pet her, but not as much when she's out of the cage. I haven't been able to pick her up yet. It upsets her and I don't want to stress her out with too much too soon. I have to work slowly on that. She fights sleep. I think she may be too scared to sleep. I hope that our love and care will bring her around so she will be happy with us.

In the meantime I will allow her to slowly get comfortable being around us and getting used to the new sounds and routines we have.