Chief had no name. It's the one we gave him as head of his band which was left to fend for themselves under a porch with some scattered feed.  He started out as a pet, but was then tossed outside when he nibbled on the couch. Then they got the idea of using him and a female as meat breeders, but interest was soon lost.  Nevertheless, the bunnies were left together so for over a year litter  after litter was born, dying from weather, predators, dehydration and illness. All told told there were only 7 remaining rabbits; Chief, his bondmate, and 5 offspring from previous litters.  The oldest girl is about 8 months old while the two youngest are only about 6 weeks old.  They are large rabbits; Flemish Giants.  Shown here are two of Chief's beautiful daughters:

The amazing part for Chief was that he was somehow surviving with a broken leg. When a police officer was alerted to the problem MO HRS was called in to help round them up.  A volunteer immediately noted Chief's splayed back leg and inability to move quickly. Once at the vet's office he was found to have a completely broken left back leg.  The femur is the heaviest bone in a rabbit body and the leg did not show damage from a predator so it's likely that at some point Chief received a heavy kick and was simply left in pain with his untreated broken leg.  His x-ray is shown here. You can see on the right side of the xray the severe break he suffered.

Last year we were extremely fortunate to receive help in caring for Easter, a baby Rex who was thrown away a few days before Easter and injured so severely by a predator that his leg had to be amputated.  His picture is here, too.  He's doing amazingly well in a home where he is loved. 

Now we are hoping to receive help in caring for Chief and his remaining family. Fortunately, the break in Chief's leg can be healed, but surgery to repair the break and hold the bones together with a metal plate is $1200 and then there are the spays and neuters for him and his family and extensive parasite treatment.

Already these buns are responding to love, good food, and indoor living. Chief's surgery is doing well, but rehab for the atrophied leg will be long.  You can see his photo from after the surgery.

If you can help with the medical bills for Chief and his family, please donate via our PayPal Donate button or send a check to our P.O. Box: 

Missouri HRS, P.O. Box 6362,

Chesterfield, MO 63006-6362

( Indicate "For Chief." )

Hopefully, with your help, we'll have another good ending and homes for this lovely group of bunnies.

Baby Easter - Then

Baby Easter - Now

  <  Broken femur

UPDATE:

Unfortunately, the surgery to repair Chief's leg did not work.  The bone shattered away from the metal plate and pins leaving the only options as euthanasia or amputation.  Chief's valiant spirit would not even let us consider euthanasia so the leg was removed. 

Having already learned how to exist on three legs, he is doing great and still pops up to run over for petting and nose rubs (and treats, of course.)  Both he and his bondmate have now been altered and will soon be reunited so they can snuggle together once

more.  Both are extremely friendly and are available for adoption to the right loving home.