About Amathamdir Rabbitry
Amathamdir Rabbitry got its name from the two Sindarin Elvish (one of J. R. R. Tolkien's languages) root words Amath and Amdir. Combined they mean "Uplooking/Looking up to my shield." I liked the way this allowed me to combine my faith and my love for languages, with my life-long love of rabbits.
Over the years while I was trying to find the perfect name for my rabbitry, I showed rabbits under the rabbitry names: Debra's Bunnies and Bunny Love Rabbitry. Yet, I soon found out there were other breeders already using these rabbitry names. So, I then began searching for a unique rabbitry name that would allow me to have my own identity as a reputable rabbit breeder.
I started raising and showing Mini Lops as a youth in 1990. In the years since, I have raised and shown: Californians, Dutch, Dwarf Hotots, English Angoras, English Lops, English Spots, Flemish Giants, Florida Whites, French Angoras, French Lops, Harlequins, Havanas, Himalayans, Mini Lops, Mini Rex, Netherland Dwarfs, and New Zealand Whites. Yet, my favorites have always been my Mini Lops.
Over the years while I was trying to find the perfect name for my rabbitry, I showed rabbits under the rabbitry names: Debra's Bunnies and Bunny Love Rabbitry. Yet, I soon found out there were other breeders already using these rabbitry names. So, I then began searching for a unique rabbitry name that would allow me to have my own identity as a reputable rabbit breeder.
I started raising and showing Mini Lops as a youth in 1990. In the years since, I have raised and shown: Californians, Dutch, Dwarf Hotots, English Angoras, English Lops, English Spots, Flemish Giants, Florida Whites, French Angoras, French Lops, Harlequins, Havanas, Himalayans, Mini Lops, Mini Rex, Netherland Dwarfs, and New Zealand Whites. Yet, my favorites have always been my Mini Lops.
How It All Started
My adventure into the rabbit world began as a youth asking my parents for a white rabbit with pink eyes for Easter. (If my parents knew then what they were going to be getting themselves in for, I most likely would never have gotten that first bunny.) It just happened that one of my Dad's co-workers was selling her male pet-quality Netherland Dwarf. "Chuckles" went above and beyond my expectations as a rabbit. Not only was he a white rabbit with pink eyes, but he also had gray ears, nose, feet and tail. He was a very patient Himalayan Netherland Dwarf and the perfect pet for me. I still cannot believe how much that little rabbit put up with as he was constantly being dressed in doll's clothes and carried all over the house.
Later that year, during the summer, my family was visiting relatives in Pennsylvania and lo and behold Beverly Zimmer, one of my cousins, raised and showed Mini Lops! I fell in love with the breed instantly and daily helped feed and water the rabbits while we were up there. I begged my parents to let me bring one home with us and they finally agreed to a Broken Lilac Mini Lop Junior Doe. "Zimmer's Second To Me" or "Bev," as I called her after my cousin, made the trip from Pennsylvania to South Carolina.
My parents and I joined Southern Pride Rabbit and Cavy club that year and I started showing rabbits. We learned a lot from this great group and still do! They are very willing to share information about breeding and showing rabbits and are a wonderful group of people who have helped me with everything rabbit related.
"Bev" took BOS and got her first leg at that first youth show. She took BOB and got her second leg in her next youth show and a 2nd place in the Open Mini Lop Specialty Broken Sr. Doe class. I also bred her to Beverly Thompson's Mini Lop Squirrel buck, "Nitro," at that show. "Bev" then took BOB and BIS and earned her third leg at her third show. I got her registered then and then sent off for her Grand Champion certificate. My cousin could not believe that I had grand championed my first rabbit in only her first three shows (and neither can I)! This started my Mini Lop herd and I was hooked on raising and showing rabbits from that point on.
Special thanks to Beverly Zimmer, Jim and Sandy Bennett, Beverly Thompson, Cathy Coffey, Ray and Margie Brewer, David Thomas, Nora Anderson, Amy Terry, Sara Marshall, Lana Mellentine, Lisa Davis, Pam Celesnik, Tracy Harmon, Debbie McCormick, Tina Reif, and countless others for helping me with my rabbits over the years.
I am a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Lop Rabbit Club of America, Mini Lop Rabbit Club of America, American Mini Lop Rabbit Club, Harlequin Rabbit Breeders Club, National Angora Rabbit Breeders Association, American Thrianta Rabbit Breeders Association, American Sable Rabbit Society, Southern Pride Rabbit and Cavy Club, South Carolina Rabbit Breeders Association, Southern Lop Club, and am the 4-H Leader of Rompin' Rabbits and Cuddly Cavy 4-H Club.
Later that year, during the summer, my family was visiting relatives in Pennsylvania and lo and behold Beverly Zimmer, one of my cousins, raised and showed Mini Lops! I fell in love with the breed instantly and daily helped feed and water the rabbits while we were up there. I begged my parents to let me bring one home with us and they finally agreed to a Broken Lilac Mini Lop Junior Doe. "Zimmer's Second To Me" or "Bev," as I called her after my cousin, made the trip from Pennsylvania to South Carolina.
My parents and I joined Southern Pride Rabbit and Cavy club that year and I started showing rabbits. We learned a lot from this great group and still do! They are very willing to share information about breeding and showing rabbits and are a wonderful group of people who have helped me with everything rabbit related.
"Bev" took BOS and got her first leg at that first youth show. She took BOB and got her second leg in her next youth show and a 2nd place in the Open Mini Lop Specialty Broken Sr. Doe class. I also bred her to Beverly Thompson's Mini Lop Squirrel buck, "Nitro," at that show. "Bev" then took BOB and BIS and earned her third leg at her third show. I got her registered then and then sent off for her Grand Champion certificate. My cousin could not believe that I had grand championed my first rabbit in only her first three shows (and neither can I)! This started my Mini Lop herd and I was hooked on raising and showing rabbits from that point on.
Special thanks to Beverly Zimmer, Jim and Sandy Bennett, Beverly Thompson, Cathy Coffey, Ray and Margie Brewer, David Thomas, Nora Anderson, Amy Terry, Sara Marshall, Lana Mellentine, Lisa Davis, Pam Celesnik, Tracy Harmon, Debbie McCormick, Tina Reif, and countless others for helping me with my rabbits over the years.
I am a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Lop Rabbit Club of America, Mini Lop Rabbit Club of America, American Mini Lop Rabbit Club, Harlequin Rabbit Breeders Club, National Angora Rabbit Breeders Association, American Thrianta Rabbit Breeders Association, American Sable Rabbit Society, Southern Pride Rabbit and Cavy Club, South Carolina Rabbit Breeders Association, Southern Lop Club, and am the 4-H Leader of Rompin' Rabbits and Cuddly Cavy 4-H Club.
