Ginger and Rocky are a mother and son pair of Netherland Dwarf rabbits who became too much for their owner to care for as family responsibilities grew.

 

Netherland Dwarf rabbits, when bred, can be born with various genetic disorders. So called “peanuts” are too small at birth to survive; “hippos” are malformed and do not live; and “faders” fail to eat solid food and last only a few weeks.

 

“Max Factor” is a recessive defect named after "Max," a Netherland Dwarf buck known to sire kits with this defect. Max Factor babies are born with bent and deformed hind legs and their eyes are often open at birth, as though their eyelids were nonfunctional. They may also have other defects of varying severity.
 

Rocky is a Max Factor rabbit. His mom, Ginger, was born with significant, painful malformations of her spine. In both cases, the result of overbreeding.

 

It sounds terribly sad. But life is good for Rocky and Ginger because they have tremendous will, fortitude and good attitudes.

 

Rocky’s back legs are folded up and not used for hopping. But he sure can scoot around his house and indoor area. He gets to his food and water with no problem and pulls himself up on the haybox (created using a dish drainer and a cut out box) for a good munch of his favorite mix of timothy and oat hay. He is active, playful and loves his mom.

 

Ginger’s spine curls like an “s” just beyond the neck instead of being flat. It also rotates to one side making it difficult to jump or hop very quickly. She manages by moving a bit slower and sitting on comfortable piles of hay, warm blankets or towels. She is constantly grooming Rocky and the two of them sit together quite happily throughout the day and night. Ginger has a warm and sweet personality and is happy for a pet and content being picked up.