04/13/2026
IMPORTANT : Pray for Zelle. Please be aware of this silent but deadly killer that could enter your home without warning. The Brown Recluse Spider is not native to Ohio, infact it is actually uncommon, almost rare to find them in Ohio. BUT that doesn't stop them from traveling state to state via boxes, packages, or our hay and placing everyone in your home at risk, especially those most vulnerable.
As like most rescues, we order hay by the bulk, infact we can go through more than 50pds a month with just our small fluffle of 13. We stock them all, Oxbow, Farmer Dave, Pet Select and TSC. And with each bag, box or bale we pull apart, shake and mix our hay outside to loosen and look for the obvious such as rocks, dirt and anything that just doesnt look right. We then store all our hay in heavy duty Tuff Made containers with tight seal water proof lids in our home. We also then keep 2 large trash size containers with hay on both levels of our home for quick fluffs and refills. This hay has been shaken and sorted a 2nd time. We take every precaution we can to keep our rabbits safe, healthy and protected. BUT how do you protect them from something like this.
A tiny, almost invisible intruder who entered our home most likely through our hay supply undetected and now is the reason Zelle is fighting for her life.
While we cant always see every intruder or prevent every threat that seeks out to hurt our babies, WE CAN BE OBSERVANT!! I noticed something wasn't right with Zelle the moment I woke on Saturday am. Her personality that morning in the way she greeted or shall I say didn't greet me, was an instant clue. Just 7 hours prior she had been fine and by Saturday afternoon, she had been rushed to one vet to then only be rushed again to Medvet with a temperature of 106. We are now over 48 hours since when we believe the initial bite took place, and her temperature has yet to drop below 104. Zelle is fighting for her life right now. While she is receiving the best medical care possible from experts in Rabbit medicine, there is NO quick cure, no antibiotic to fight it, no antidote to counteract the poison. All Zelle can do is fight.
PLEASE SHARE AND BE AWARE