Previous Animal Updates: February 5, 2007
Something is always happening in the lives of Home for Life® residents: achievements, visits from sponsors and supporters, and milestones. This page highlights just a few of the many events that residents experience throughout the year.
February 5, 2007
Bliss off the leash, tortoise style
Goliath wearing "strawberry" lipstick.
Goliath is a sulcata tortoise estimated to be at least 20 years old. He is a desert tortoise and his species evolved in the dry regions of Africa.
Goliath wears a flag during his "run" so that the staff can find him at the end of his outing.
He was abandoned and now resides at the sanctuary. For a reptile, he has a lot of personality and seems to recognize the staff.
Goliath loves to graze, and in the nice weather wears a flag on his shell so he can traverse the property exploring and eating the fresh grass.
He takes a soak in a baby pool twice a week where he absorbs water through his skin and shell and drinks a little too.
In the winter, Goliath is a connoisseur of romaine lettuce, carrots and especially strawberries. After a meal of berries, the berry stains on his mouth look like tortoise lipstick!
Meet the bunnies of Home for Life®
Meet Larry, a rex rabbit.
Home for Life is also home to a charming collection of rabbits. The rabbits have their own cages, but use them more as "headquarters" than homes. Rabbits are very athletic and active and ours love to run and play together with their toys, chase each other, get on the futon for a nap, and even climb the cat trees to lie on a hammock or look outside the windows.
The bunnies are very social, gentle, intelligent and fun-loving animals. In fact, many of our rabbits are friends with several of the cats and even some of our smaller dogs. Remarkably, our rabbits and cats coexist peacefully.
It is sad to think of the many pet rabbits who spend their entire lives alone in a small cage, when they are such active and busy creatures if given the chance. They are quiet animals who are unable to express their boredom and sadness at being in a cage. If allowed to integrate with their friends and family, they demonstrate unique and even strong personalities and a great sense of affection and fun.
For hygiene, the rabbits use the cat boxes. Our rabbits have the run of the catteries and each day enjoy a great meal fixed by our staff consisting of Oxbow Timothy pellets, wonderful fragrant hay, and a gourmet salad made from a variety of lettuces and other fresh vegetables. The especially love parsley, basil and apples!
Flopsy is a giant lop-eared rabbit.
More bunnies: Lolly, Larry, and Ursula | brothers Robin and Mucho
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Home for Life's bunnies also visit the battered women's shelters and nursing homes and enjoy being held by gentle children and adults.
In the winter, the rabbits mostly hang out indoors, but come summer time, they hope through the cat doors to enjoy the attached protected cat run.
More about Ashley's house
The townhouse is heated and air conditioned and has smooth linoleum floors and easily cleaned walls. A service door allows the dogs to roll outside in their carts. There is also a dog door to allow access to their attached dog run.
The townhouse features windows and skylights that let in abundant natural light, and piped-in music (classical or jazz) for a little ambience.
A covered porch allows the dogs to be outside for fresh air, yet remain sheltered from hot sun or rain. Currently, we use cattle mats to protect Ashley's and Moppet's feet and legs when they are out of their carts. The girls are in and out of their carts throughout the day on a rotating two-hour schedule.