Dogs

The Year of the Rabbit

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Today I learned that this year is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit. For our family, it started that way. Our first annual Easter Rabbit Adoptathon was moderately successful and a ton of fun. We tried to educate our readers about the joys and the considerations of rabbits as pets, after which we offered an adoptathon to help homeless bunnies find furever families.

Unfortunately, Robby, our family's rabbit, only lived to see the beginning of this event that was planned in his honor. As the day of the Adoptathon went on, he became lethargic and stopped eating. The rest, as they say, is history.

Robby lived a full 9 years, a good life for a rabbit who has always had a loving home. He came into the world as the adoptee of my son, a college student at the time. Marc enjoyed having a quiet roommate that did not have nightly drunken brawls like many college roommates. They shared a small, but adequate space together, until the new school year placed Marc with a roommate that preferred an animal-free environment. Imagine that!

Robby came to live in our home in 2003. We successfully taught Xena that Robby was off-limits for playing, feeling that she was too large and heavy to play safely. Ever the mother, though, she still attempted to wash his ears and watch after him. It was no surprise to me, as she had done the same with our cat, Patches, when we adopted her in 1998.

With many opportunities, we thought perhaps Patches and Robby might hit it off, but alas, Robby continued his aloof attitude toward this much-too-playful, like-sized housemate. Patches was curious, but not enough to encourage play or even camaraderie. The two simply watched one another from a safe distance, sharing only a modest interest in the other's activities.

When Tanner joined our family in 2006, Robby was a well-established member of the family, and Tanner thought he seemed fair game as a playmate. And I have to give it to Tanner, he made every effort to befriend Robby, learning to get down and play at Robby's level. He learned to be quiet, still and gentle, but never did have the satisfaction of a good romp with Robby. It just was not meant to be. Robby was far too smart to allow it.

If Tanner was not enough of a nuisance, Robby's resolve was really put to the test when Oliver was adopted by my daughter in 2007. Much smaller than Robby when he arrived, Robby finally found himself with a diminutive packmate-wannabe, but nevertheless a much too rambunctious one. Oliver never quite grasped the concept of "The bunny doesn't want to play". He was certain that he could eventually convince Robby to be his bunny-buddy.

Robby remained with us until Marc finished graduate school in 2009 and moved into an apartment of his own. No one could tell him whom he could live with any longer; he paid the bills and chose the roommates. It was at that time that he requested HIS bunny back. Who were we to refuse him?

Robby was a good traveler, venturing north to Virginia in the back of our car, to settle in with his original roommate in a new home. This home turned out to be the perfect place for two young men--plenty of space to hop around exploring, without Xena, Tanner, little Oliver or curious Patches poking around.

Robby lived out the remainder of his 9 years getting daily ear rubs and forming an extremely strong bond with his roommate--something my furry family could not successfully accomplish. Cheers to Marc for making that happen. And to Robby, we hope you and Xena will finally come to terms at the Rainbow Bridge, where we're certain there will be a 24-hour salad bar to suit Robby's insatiable appetite for veggies.

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