Bunny Bereavement

Some might find it surprising to list bunny bereavement as joy #3.

Today is the first anniversary of the passing of our beloved Clover. Why is this bereavement a joy? Well among the many things humans learn living with buns one of the joys is the mark they leave on your life, family, home and other 'critters'. Typical human behavior is to be sad when a beloved passes on but a bun leaves a legacy and when the first shock of passing subsides the human is left with a joyful energy, joyful memories and the ability to live and love another bun.

I think the bun's agree to this beforetime- a kind of collective bonding. I do not find it unusual that our current bun was placed in a shelter at the same time our Clover passed. It took awhile but eventually we 'got it' and checked out House Rabbit Society adoption pages and serendipitously Petfinders.com and not only did we find HRHEP but learned about shelter buns who don't make it into foster care or bunny rescue housing.

So it is a joy, to love and live with a bun again and now to learn we can take small and big steps to embrace many more buns. So thank you Clover- living with you has been and continues to be a joy.

Why a Rabbit?

If you are planning to bring a rabbit into your home it is important to know that without boundaries and good human smarts, they are destructive creatures.

Rabbits love to chew, and don’t distinguish between the cute little chew toy you bought for them and your wooden furniture. Power cords for many buns are a delicacy! (which is not only annoying, but hazardous), and they enjoy carpeting, clothes, shoes, paper… anything their bunny teeth can wrap around. Then, of course, there’s the digging most rabbits like to do. All can add up to a human’s ruined home.

Yes for me these traits are joyful—the buns keep me balanced, reminding me what is important in this incarnation and I’m fortunate that my rabbits have not been that destructive. Polka ate the vacuum hose, but hey it was not plugged in and now we keep them out of her way. Both Polka and Clover have liked to dig (as has a 40 year history of bloodhounds) so we’ve come up with strategies that neither dog nor bunny can totally destroy the home—and at this time the dog slobber trumps bunny nibbles.

So another joy is knowing my extra effort at vigilance has provided a safe haven for bunny and hound.

Here's another adoption link: HugABunny Rabbit Rescue

The Bunny Joy List

First on my list of the joy of living with a house rabbit is our bun is a wonderful knitting companion.

For winter I'd moved a wood adirondack chair into the kitchen so 'The Polkster' oops Her Royal Highness the Empress Polka- (HRHEP) and I could bond comfortably. As cold weather settled into this draughty room of the house, the chair was piled with cushions and old woolen sweaters to provide a comfortable nest. And there we'd bond and knit.

Little did I know savvy human that I am that when thinking humans are not looking HRHEP uses the chair as a jumping off point to explore the top of her crate, the kitchen counters and most recently the angle of the chair back for a precipitous self-propelled toboggan ride.

Although joy #1 for the human is knitting companionship and joy #1 for the rabbit is gymnastics; I've been concerned the bun will injure herself. So enter the trusty x-pen! There a several makes and models of x-pens out there appropriate for rabbits and in a range of prices. We ordered ours (actually two) from RabbitStop.com Checking the website today I noted the xpen (playpen) is on sale- perhaps joy #1 for the person thinking of getting a rabbit-- for us the joy has passed.

So what's your joy #1?

Thinking of Getting a Rabbit?

Easter '08 is right around the corner. That’s the time when bunnies are bought by the hundreds, well thousands, by perhaps well meaning humans who wish add to the Easter Bunny myth and keep the magic alive for children. By summer the vast majority of these rabbits are discarded and most in inhumane ways. House rabbits are high maintenance companions; and although the rewards are great, there’s a lot of work and sometimes expense involved to provide optimum care.
Right now we have one lovely house rabbit, rescued from a shelter. Our previous bun who came to us through the House Rabbit Society adoption network still lives with us in spirit. These buns have truly benefited, as have we, from all we’ve learned about living with these marvelous creatures.
So if you are thinking of getting a rabbit step #1—visit and study the House Rabbit Society website and step #2 adopt a rabbit from a reputable rescue organization or shelter.

Bunny's Rule!

And to rule safely and happily the need human subjects who are willing to devote the time, attention and yes, money, needed to support the bunny's realm