Chapter 131 - 10 Years Down the Rabbit Hole
Hi, it’s Merlot. I’m the Resident Novelist for Small Pet Select. This chapter is a little different. This month marks ten years since my Bun Dad got involved with rabbits. I’m lucky, because I came along after his first rabbit, Abigail, trained him. He’s come a long way in ten years. I want to tell you about his journey.
Ten years ago, a little chestnut Dwarf rabbit named Abigail stole his heart. She never gave it back. Although he never had rabbits before, he promised to love her unconditionally for the rest of her life and proceeded to learn all he could about rabbits. Thus began his ten year trip down the rabbit hole.
The trip got off to a rough start when she developed head tilt only a few months after she arrived. Dad sought whatever medical care he could find and for over a month, he kept her by his side to comfort her. Fortunately, she got better. He says words can’t describe how happy he felt that day. Going through that process, he discovered he had infinite patience for rabbits. He also realized how much he loved this tiny creature. The time they spent together bonded them for life.
Abigail patiently taught him the ways of rabbits. Like how long it takes to earn our love and trust – and how rewarding it feels when you do. To help other hoomans understand rabbits, Belinda hired Abigail to be the “Resident Novelist” at Small Pet Select hay company. She wrote a weekly blog about her life as a house rabbit. Abigail had a big heart for helping other rabbits. She and Dad created fundraisers – selling chocolates and T-shirts to support rescues.
When Auntie Heather from The Rabbit Haven rescue asked Dad to take portraits for rabbits in need of adoption, Dad discovered that every rabbit has a different personality. He learned how to capture that in a photo. After photographing nearly 2000 rabbits, he’s learned how to handle rabbits in different situations and communicate with them better. I’ve heard some people even call him the “rabbit whisperer.” Taking rabbit photography a step further, Dad created an annual rabbit holiday portrait session to give rabbit parents a permanent memento of their rabbits while raising money for the rescue. Then he created rabbit calendars to raise more money.
The “House of Buns” started when Dad and Abigail took in Bentley, who was on “the list” because of his need for medical attention. It’s not the kind of list you want to be on. But it turned into a good thing for Bentley because he came to live at the House of Buns. That was Dad’s first foster fail. Then came Mocha and Hobo, when their first “dad” died and they needed a home. Mocha and Hobo had lived in a hutch outdoors, but Dad believes that all rabbits deserve to live free roam indoors. He converted a large room into the Starship Bunnyprise, where they began their six year mission. He accepted that chewing carpet, bedding, baseboards, and door frames was part of being a free roam house rabbit.
Then came Enzo, another foster fail. (Dad is good at foster fails!) Dad saved him from a precarious situation at a shelter. They were going to cut off his leg! Dad developed his bonding technique with Enzo and Abigail, so when I came to visit for one night and stole Dad’s and Enzo’s hearts, he knew just what to do. Enzo showed Dad the wonders of having a rabbit who was trusting, easy going, and loving. Enzo and I fell in love and became bond mates.
Dad’s rabbit education wasn’t limited to inside the House of Buns. He discovered that some of our wild cousins were using the space under the House of Buns as a nursery. When predators threatened the baby rabbits, Dad turned our yard into a sanctuary to protect them and give them a fair chance at life. Now they thrive out there. And all the wild rabbits in the neighborhood know to come here to have their babies.
Dad’s reputation for caring for wild rabbits was known in the community. When someone rescued a two week old wild baby rabbit, they brought him to the House of Buns. Dad named him Turbo because he was SO fast. He was too young to turn loose outside, so he kept him indoors until he was ready to go outside. Dad thought it might be a few weeks, but for 14 months, Turbo thought of himself as one of the house rabbits until one day, he heard the call of the wild and left to explore the world. Getting to watch wild rabbit behavior close up helped Dad understand us domesticated rabbits better. He says we are like “watered down versions” of wild rabbits.
Dental issues, lung infections, eye infections, fly strikes, GI stasis, head tilt, RHDV2 virus – Dad learned to deal with the medical conditions that make rabbits seem so fragile at times. He also learned that rabbits are NOT cheap pets if you take care of them properly. When Abigail developed thymoma, he moved heaven and earth to get her the best medical treatment available, regardless of cost.
Abigail and Enzo taught him the excruciating pain of heartbreak when they crossed the rainbow bridge. He said the pain he felt was unlike any other in his life. I think it was just a reflection of the depth of the love he had for them. To help fill the hole in Dad’s heart, rabbit angels Enzo and Abigail sent Dino us. We’ve both fallen in love with Dino.
After ten years, Dad is too far down the rabbit hole to turn back. There’s always more to learn. Right now, Dino is teaching him the needs of a high maintenance angora rabbit. Dad is up to the challenge.
Ten years before Abigail, Dad never even considered rabbits as a house pet. Now he can’t imagine life without them. Bentley, Dino, and I feel lucky to have him for a Bun Dad. Thanks, Dad. Happy 10th anniversary! 🎉
- Merlot
It's been 10 years since Dad started down the rabbit hole with little Abigail.
Would you like to read more of Abigail's blogs? See them all HERE.
Maurice lives with two rabbits, and does most to of the typing for Merlot, our novelist.
