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Rabbit Stories #5: 16 October 2006
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Our Rabbit Family
by Joanne Rosenberg
Editor: Laura L. Barnes

Three years ago,I knew nothing about rabbits. Over the years we had a
lot of animals including cats, turtles and leopard geckos, and a
tank of angel fish. But after our last cat died at the age of 19, we
decided that there would be "no more pets." My husband had suffered
for years with terrible allergies and we had just bought a winter
home in Scottsdale, AZ. to enjoy riding his motorcycle (we live
north of Boston). We thought that pets would never fit into that
lifestyle.

But after our precious "Tabitha" died and our two sons grew up and
moved out, I started to notice that things were really odd in my
house. It was not only empty but also so clean! No fur on the sofa or
floor, no litter boxes to change, no scratching on the furniture. It
was really depressing!

I got an idea -- what about a rabbit? They were small and cute and
how much trouble could it be? I also could fly him back and forth to
Arizona. Everyone thought I was crazy!

Two weeks later, I dragged my dear husband to the Topsfield Fair. We
located the rabbit barn. With hundreds of rabbits under one roof, I
figured that he would either have the worst asthma attack ever or we
would know that he wasn't allergic. Up and down between the bunnies
we walked and not one wheeze, sneeze or sniffle!

As soon as I got home, I started researching on my computer and
discovered the HRS. It was wonderful. I bought 6 books including the
House Rabbit Handbook. I also discovered the Brambley Hedge Rabbit
Rescue (BHRR) in Scottsdale. They had so many cute bunnies up for
adoption that I knew that was the way to go as far as getting our new
family member. I checked out the time and place for their adoptions
and the first week in Arizona that December we got to hold a bunny
for the first time. The people from BHRR were wonderful and before
you could say "hip-hop," we had "Harley." He is an orange and white
Holland Lop with an attitude. They told us that he was "feisty" but
his personality would be good for adjusting to flying to Boston and
back once a year. And so the learning began!

I would pick him up and he would squirm and leap and kick and when I
put him down he would have an actual temper tantrum right at my feet,
complete with growling and lunging. He was never going to be a cuddly
guy but he loved for us to sit on the floor and pet him. He soon came
when called, was never destructive and litter box trained so easily
that within a few weeks he had the run of the house in Arizona. We
were hopelessly in love. The little guy just worked his way right
into our hearts!

Soon it was May and time to fly home to Boston. Harley hated to ride
in the car. He would shiver and shake and act like I do on a roller
coaster. I was worried sick but again my friends at BHRR came
through. Erica sent me a lot of info on flying with rabbits. We
bought a special carrier, packed him with a lot of hay and a frozen
water bottle. His carrier fit right under the seat. He munched on
hay and slept and when we got home he came out, did a big binky and
immediately started checking out his new digs. That's Harley!

The following winter, we adopted Nova. We thought Harley needed a
friend and she was the only female out of about 10 who didn't bite or
growl at him. That bonding thing is sure tough on us Moms. Nova is a
beautiful beige and gray lop mix. She grew fast and we learned the
real meaning to "bunny proofing." She has never suffered any ill
from her misadventures but our house and furniture certainly have.
We have seen her chew right through baby gates (never buy the cheap
ones) and discovered that she had chewed not only the wire protector
but the wire too! I have to make sure she has appropriate chew
things and we use puppy pens and good baby gates to keep her out of
certain areas. My life is back to normal. There are litter boxes and
lots of fur and animal issues to solve.

You would think with all this, I would be happy but we needed one
more bunny to really make it a family so we adopted Naia. She is the
lover of the group. She runs to us like a puppy, sits at my
husband's feet at breakfast and loves to get on the sofa and give
kisses.

These three rabbits fly to Scottsdale every winter and back to Boston
in the summer. Some life! I have the hay they eat in Arizona flown to
Boston because they like it better. We are total bunny slaves. I've
developed great skills with furniture scratch cover-wood filler,
safely gluing carpet fibers back and placing vases. Life is good. We
wouldn't trade our bunnies for anything. With their three totally
different personalities, they have made both of our houses "homes."


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