Our Mini Plush Lop Story

What Motivates Us
When we were setting up our herd we noticed that there was a really big difference between the bunnies that came from breeders who hand raise and expose the buns to dogs and children versus the bunnies that came from rabbitries where they had no interaction with pets and children.  We couldn’t find any rabbitries that didn’t use cages. (We are not judging breeders who use cages.).  We have responsible friends who are farmers who have hundreds of rabbits and we completely agree that cages are acceptable and safe for breeding).  However, we wanted to be a different kind of rabbitry - we wanted to experiment with being the only local rabbitry that didn’t use cages.  We did a lot of research and we were able to find other small rabbitries in the United States in which the breeders allowed the animals to free roam, indoors uncaged (except for quarantine).  Our goal was to provide a bunny that was very comfortable in the home setting and was familiar with pets, children and loud noises and being snuggled.  We choose the healthiest, gentlest babies to stay here and become future breeders.  This free-roam method takes a lot more effort and in part we failed.  Rabbits who aren’t fixed are territorial and so now we have a modified free-roam rabbitry.  We have to charge more because we put so much effort and time into our bunnies and we only do 4 breeding cycles per year.  It’s a full-time job 6-8 hrs per day, seven days a week).  Also, many people have allergies to pets. One of our children breaks out into rashes when he comes into contact with certain types of fur - that is part of the reason that we were motivated to raise mini plush lops. They are mostly hypoallergenic and they don’t shed, they molt twice a year!  As the first and only Mini Plush Lop Breeder in MA, RI, VT, ME and NH, it is really vital to us that we protect and maintain the standards of the breed.  With help from international breeders we have written a breed standard.  In an effort to be fully transparent, we do own 12 cages - they are necessary for quarantine (and a host of other reasons) but, most of them are attached to pens.  If you want to buy a rabbit in New England (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut and New York) please email us at (LustersLops@gmail.com).
We also rescue and foster bunnies a couple times a year.  If you prefer to adopt a bunny rabbit from a rescue group, we are happy to give you a list of local rescues.  The rescue groups rarely have hypoallergenic rabbits and some families need a hypoallergenic rabbit which is the reason we breed them.
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I was raising Mini Lops and Holland Lops in Florida around 2010, 2011….and I saw an ad on line for “Mini Plush Lops”….the ad mentioned that there were only 4 breeders in the US with true original Devie D’Annaballe plushies.  At the price of $600 each it seemed rather expensive but, I was very intrigued.  On the day that I was transferring the money to the breeder I learned that she had simply crossed a Rex and a Holland lop and called them “Mini Plush Lops”…….If you know anything about the breed, you know that it’s actually an unequal mix of 4 breeds which takes many generations to perfect.  Needless to say I was extremely disappointed.  At that point I tried to buy them from the real breeders but they all insisted on spay/neuter contracts- so, I temporarily stalled my efforts (I hoped I’d get them someday).  One day the phone rang and one of the original breeders explained that she was ill and she’d agree to sell part of her herd.  After flying them down to Florida (at an outrageous cost), I finally owned part of the original line.  Those 3 bunnies were everything I had hoped for- sweet, gentle, gorgeous and hypoallergenic…..but, I had a new problem.  My husband’s father (who lived in France) was ill and he needed our help.  Back then passengers were allowed to travel with their pets in the cabin so, of course I brought my show mini lops and my plushies.
Over the course of the next five years I worked on their type, I wanted them to have consistent head size, crown width, ear length, weight and so on.  I just kept the best kits and matched their features as I line bred.  By 2019 unfortunately my Father-In-Law had passed on but we were ready to move back to the states and re-open our Rabbitry (along with my cousin).  I had just transferred two of my favorite plushies when Covid hit.   All of the rules changed and it became impossible to travel with my animals.  Luckily, Billy was born in the US but he’s part of my line breeding program and he’s one of the bunnies who makes me feel so proud..  I’d advise anyone looking for a bunny to get a Mini Plush Lop.  I’ve worked with five different breeds over the years and this is one of my favorite🐰💜👍🏻.   If you choose to get a plushie from another MPL breeder, ask to see the dam or sire or a past litter, ask the weight, and do your research.  Unfortunately there are breeders out there who will claim they have original MPLs but they’ve just mixed a Rex and a Holland lop…..that’s not a true Mini Plush Lop.  As far as I know there are only approximately 14 breeders in the US who have true original Devie D’Annaballe Mini Plush Lops.  As of 2021 and 2022 we are the first and only breeder in Massachusetts, RI, NH, VT and ME.  Signed,  Brie Voleil

If you would like to adopt a bunny please email us.  If you are not located in beautiful New England, weather permitting- we can air ship or use transportation companies to the lower 48 states.🐇.  We can also refer you to a good breeder near you.  We are ARBA and USDA registered and we can be found on www.ARBA.com and on www.usrabbitbreeders.org.Email us at - LustersLops@gmail.com to join the waitlist.