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