Hi everybody,

My name is Karine Poels and I am the proud owner of a very special rabbit named SPEEDY.

Speedy is a rare Belgian breed, the Ghent Bearded Rabbit. They are smaller than a Flemish Giant, but a "Beard" is a big rabbit breed.

I was looking for a rabbit like Speedy quiet a long time. And I had a drive of serval hours to get him. I went to his breeder to get a pair of Ghent Bearded Rabbits and came back with 3. Speedy, and 2 females. One of the females was normally not on sale. "She is only 2 years old and she's getting grey hair, I guess I should slaughter her" Was what the breeder told me. I told him "how much do you want for that one as well? And so I came home with three of them instead of 2.

First days overhere, speedy was together with that 2 year old female. But in a sudden, I was in my garden, I heard him screaming like hell. I took a look at his cage and I saw him laying down, screeming, 2 rear legs floppy. As they where not really used to be handled I took him with care on my lap. I thought he had a heart attack and thought... "If he is dying... then... not alone... No... not all by himself all alone" The first thing running through my head was "to show him what LOVE was from an owner to a pet, the way it used to be... Not by grabbing him by his neck or worse, the ears.

It wasnt a heart attack it all, it was something down the spine causing the pain and the problems.

I took him in. A whole different world for him, cause it was the first time in his whole life that he saw "how we humans live"

As I have a handicap myself, I thought nearly immediatly "If he survives this... Then I will do ANYTHING possible to help him further"

I remember those first nights, his cage right nearby my bed on a low table. Turning on the light serval times each time I heard him turn and do.... And after a few days I could nearly read his mind. As I have a lot of experience with rabbits, we started to bound each other within a few days. I found a way to let him know that I could understand him... And he understood me. I saw that he was ashamed to pee in his cage, due to the fact that he was not able to have a proper piss or poo in the corner. That was the moment that I went to buy baby diapers for him. And from that moment, he lived up... I saw a significant changement!

Speedy changed a lot in my own life. As wheelchair user and often in pain myself each and every day, I started to ask myself the question very often like "WHO needs WHO overhere?"

Oh yeah it is true that his name came after he was paralized. Before I was still in doubt what name I should give that boy. But considering the way he found the ability to ADAPT to so many things, I could find no better name than "Speedy"

He had his own handicap wich was new to him, propably the pain and the adaptation to his medication the first days... The changements from "Outdoor rabbit" to indoor pet... EVERYTHING was new... Sounds like vacum cleaner, TV, Microwave... EVERYTHING. Even my lifestyle, my own handicap, my own wheelchair... And he found a way to keep that WILL to LIVE.

Now he has a temporary board. I call it his skateboard. Something on 4 wheels and speed he has!

Right now he is about 6 weeks in this situation and stable. He will never be able to walk again 4 feet. But his torso, upper back and front legs are very good and strong. And so is his will and character.

I never saw a rabbit adapting to such a huge changement in life so quick like Speedy did. And YES therefor, he DESERVES a very good wheelchair.

For those willing to see and learn more about paralympic rabbits like speedy, please add yourself to his fanclub on facebook. He has a fanclub called "Speedy's Fanclub (Disabled Ghent Bearded Rabbit)"

I will accept you.

What can be found overthere?

1. A lot of information about rabbits an diaper change

2. how to prevent diaper rash and decubitus

3. how to build a temporary board on wheels to help a rabbit to have his first wheels (due to the fact that a wheelchair custom made is not build in one day)

4. information about Speedy's life and about his first steps in our therapy rabbit organisation.

5. More about our goal for the future... Because no mather the handicap, Speedy has a message for a lot of people... I can't wait to see him walk in a school for kids with special needs... Jus to show everyone that... Even with a handicap, you can be USEFULL...

I have allready trained quiet a few therapy rabbits... And I know that Speedy is as well, MORE than just a rabbit.

THANK YOU for reading.

Dutch/Flemish part:

Voor mensen zonder kaarten. Er is een speciaal rekeningnummer dat ENKEL voor de therapiekonijnen benut wordt. Er is via ons een officiele aansluiting via een vzw (DcD) en het enige juiste rekeningnummer om giften overschrijving te doen met mededeling "Gift Speedy" is BE95 9731 2512 2758 Hierover zal bij ELKE gift bericht worden op Speedy zijn facebook fanclub. Bedankt