Well let's start by introducing ourselves. I am Sam and my husbands name is Jim. We have 4 children, 23, 22, 19, and 18 yrs old. We ADORE our Grandson to bits. We have raised pigs, cows, chickens, dogs, cats, horses and rabbits. Right now most of our focus is on our Rabbitry and with lots of help and support from each other, we are getting things done around here. We thoroughly enjoying coming home from our full time jobs and spending time in the Rabbitry grooming and playing with the rabbits. It's more of a retreat and time to unwind when you enjoy it this much. I highly recommend a bunny for some stress relief. Watching their personality come out, jump around, play and stomp make me just laugh. So keep your eyes peeled for up and coming litters of Velveteen lops and Holland Lops. We frequent lot's of shows and enjoy showing to the max. We travel anywhere in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, NY, Mass, Pennsylvania and more. I will say I am hopeful that the Velveteen lop will be passed through the ARBA and become a recognized breed. Here is a little something about how the breed became which I am sure you all have heard of it. Credit of this article goes to the former VLRCA which is no longer.
The Toy that Became Real The story of the Velveteen Lop is one of love and endurance. This wonderful breed was named for the charming storybook character and it is only befitting that without the love and patience of all the wonderful breeders out there this breed cannot become real. What is REAL?" asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day... "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?" "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When someone loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt." "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand... once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always." Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit The Breed that Became Real Past COD Holders In 1990 Virginia Menden, of California thought to develop a unique rabbit with mini rex fur and a mandolin body type derived from the English Lop.. This rabbit would ideally have lop ears and be 4 and a half pounds in Virginia's COD standard. It was unfortunate that she never presented under her Certificate of Development. Pawl Lewis, of New Mexico was the next certificate of Development holder. Again, none of these developing animals were ever shown. Mary Crawford of Texas took over the COD from there. She totally rewrote the standard increasing the weight and ear length. She also worked very hard to get the English Lop personality to present itself in the Velveteens. . She had several successful passing alone then as well as with David Kabella of Texas. Between David and Mary it seemed a passing would come for sure on the breed. But it was not so. The American Rabbit Breeders Judges Never gave more than two passings . Never getting the third pass needed to become REAL. Current COD Holders The torch is now passed to the next certificate of Development holder, Lorrie Stillo, of Ohio. She carried both the solid and broken COD's for the Velveteens. She is working towards the same friendly personality and awesome fur while striving to balance the body types. Her first presentation was in 2014 with five years of attempts allotted to her under ARBA rules. There is a backup group Certificate of Development pulled by Megan Matthys of Indiana, Kathy Rairden of California, and Laura Bonnet of Colorado. These three ladies will present in 2017 if Lorrie cannot accomplish the task of making this rabbit real. Lorrie came close to getting them passed also. Megan Matthys took over the cod and her father pulled the backup COD. Her first presentation in 2017 failed due to paperwork issues. Her next presentation was in October 2018 at the National convention in Massachusetts which now has 1 pass for solids and she currently holds the COD for brokens and hasn't presented them yet but can still be shown. Brokens cannot compete for BOB and BOS. Next presentation is in Reno NV. Then onto Harrisburg PA for hopefully what will be the final pass we need to become a breed once and for all.
In the mean time the Velveteen Lop IS a show-able rabbit. In both the solid and broken varieties. Take them to all your local shows with a copy of a working standard and have a great time supporting the rabbit we all love: a six to six and a half pound rabbit. Beautiful dense, springy Rex fur in all of the traditional English Lop colors. A sweeping mandolin body with wide set shoulders and mid sections leading to a full rise and hind quarter. A gorgeous roman head set off by 14 inch ears. These wide ears while still holding their folds hang to the sides of the head showing no noticeable crown. A full of himself personality spunky but loving. Wanting to be held and craving the human companion: the perfect bunny for the child of any age. "I am REAL!" said the rabbit.