me, Hunny , Senior Bun

Hunny left for the Bridge 5 January 2005

This is Hunny, at age 13. Like Belinda, he was pretty sure that he was Hed-Bunny-In-Charge-Ob-Ebberyfing, but was pleased enough to settle for the title of Senior Bun - so long as he was the FIRST to have whatever was going!

13 year-old bunnies are unusual, even in HouseRabbit circles. Hunny suffered from age-related disorders and was on medications for the last three years of his life. His habitat was adapted as mobility issues, with a low-clearance litter-box, and a hay-pile in which to play, increase his traction, and enhance his sense of balance. His tin measuring-cup toy remained his favourite for tossing.

His main enjoyment, however, came from playing in his water crock! Hunny took a keen interest in his treats and in being groomed by Poet, his bondmate. When she passed on to the Rainbow Bridge, he gently took the juvenile bunny, George, under his wing and spent time, just sitting beside him.

Hunny passed quietly on to the Rainbow Bridge on 5 January, 2005 just as Our Warren moved into a new house. The New Bun Room looks out on to Hunny's Our Warren Memorial Garden, where the Ivory Prince tea-rose blooms, just for him.

Beebe-Bunny!!

Beebe-Bunny!! was tormented school-bunny, then he was a terrified dorm-bunny, then he was a fearful homeless-bunny - and then he was finally RESCUED! Bebe-Bunny!! is our resident Furshark - can you blame him? He doesn't trust hands coming into his habitat, but through patient perseverence he has learned to trust his Dadda, and we've found that beneath that fierce exterior there is a sweet marshmellow-hearted bunny.

Beebe has a chronic pseudanomad infection that reassertes itself when he is under stress. His treatment options are few now that he is a Senior Bunny, and it is impossible to us to even consider finding him another bondmate, since that he has lost his beloved Clover. Yes, bunnies DO mourn. They are social creatures who live within sophistocated social hierarchies. They should NEVER be condemned to suffer to solitary confinement inside classrooms!

Beebe lives with his well-loved "Stuffie", a plush toy that he has decided is his Clover-substitute. He cluddles with it, shares hay with it, pushes it toward the pellet-bowl and presents it with the occasional raisin. We help Stuffie move from here to there inside the habitat, assist her in ear-wiggling and in gentle "grooming" of "her" Beebe. It's not a perfect life, but it works for our Li'l Senior Guy.

Pretty Poet passed on to the Rainbow Bridge 2004

This is Poet, a 12 year-old Dutch/Standard Rex cross. She was a very much what has come to be known as a "Big Beautiful Bunny-Gurl ob Gen'rus P'porshuns" at 14 lbs. - but, then Our Hunny always seemed to prefer luxurious bondmates. In this picture taken in 2003, she is busily occupying Hunny's pootie box whilst keeping an eye on her own pootie box in the other corner. Poet was always our "Prozac Bunny" of the delicate nerves. Her great heart gave out suddenly and she passed away swiftly to the Bridge in my arms on a cold November night in 2004...

Beautiful Ms CloverBun

Ms CloverBun was adopted from Auntie Grace G.'s "Herd" and was Bundergrounded all the way from Bis-Con-Sin! - a constant reminder to Phil-inna-Navy that Army beat Navy in 2000! (And that's the LAST time that's happened for awhile, too!)

Sweet Clover was at least part Mini-Rex, and as calm and domestic as anybunny in the world. Even if the habitat door was left wide open, she preferred the calm and quiet order of her own place to the hurly-burly of Our Warren's playtime. So how she came to accept Beebe-Bunny!! as her mate is anyone's guess - but she accept him! And they adored each other.

Then one day in the Late Summer of 2006, she showed signs of bladder sludge, and was whisked away to see Dr Sharin Skolnik. Dr Sharin had Clover scheduled for surgery for a bladder-stone. Bloodwork was done, her vitals established, all of the pre-surgery checks done so that she would have as easy a time as possible on her surgery day. She was sent home, bright and apparently happy, eating her greens and hay, and snuggling for pets.

Just what happened next is known only to the bunnies. What we humans did was to put Clover back into her habitat with Beebe. Brian made tea, our neighbour came for a short visit, and I let the Border Collie out On Patrol. Then the phone rang. It was Grace, asking about Clover's vet-visit, and I was telling her about the surgery and letting in the dog - and then as I turned from closing the door, I saw Clover stretched out on the floor of the habitat with Beebe standing over her.

Later on, after I stopped screaming and had time to think it through, it seemed to me it as if Clover had gone to the vet's, gone through the pre-op, thought it through and then come back to Our Warren to tell to Beebe, "Wookit, I can't be habbin' wif dis. I'm gonna go on, find Belinda and ebberybunny beyond Bridge and you can come whin it's Time, hokay? Now I'm leeving you heer to hextplain it to Maman and Dadda because ob course they won't unnerstand onna'count obba Fakt they're hoomins - and Maman is gonna be 'speshully stoopit abouddit just onna'count obba Fakt dat she is Maman..."