Thursday, May 17, 2007

The price of bliss

The idea to adopt another bunny has been kicking around in my head for the last week since Cricket passed away. The self-protective part of me wants to swear off any more bunnies, but I have Boomer to consider. I’ve been concentrating on trying to understand the impact Cricket’s death is having on him. I’m giving him lots of extra attention and even offered a stuffed animal for him to snuggle beside during the day while I’m away at work.

So far, he’s mostly ignored my overtures. He’s doing okay and eating well, but seems lonely. He’s sleeping in odd places and seems out-of-sorts. Cricket was always the more affectionate bunny towards me; Boomer never sought me out for pets, instead he wanted all of his affection to come from Cricket. You might have gotten a sense of the depth of their friendship from the photos I post here, but needless to say the two of them were joined at the hip and were very happy with nothing but each other. I’m feeling like a very poor substitute for the companionship they had as brother and sister.

My other bunnies live alone and are fine with it. Missy and Freckles used to live together, but now just share playtime; anything more than that and they’ll fight. Peeper lives alone and hasn’t ever known the joy of a bunny friend. Ideally, I could put the four of them together to live happily ever after as a group, but that’s just not possible given the realities of health issues and personality quirks. So I’ve decided, in consultation with Boomer, to find him a new friend.

KGMom recently shared her opinion that our past animal companions may return to us in the form of another animal. I’ve not had that experience, but do believe that we are often led along the path to adopting another by the spirit or memory of a deceased pet.

"It may seem like an odd comfort, but I really do take personal comfort in the fact that matter cannot be destroyed--it can be converted into energy, but is never lost. I think of this as a way that animals achieve immortality. They die and are born in new animals. Of this, I am personally convinced--and sometimes I go looking for past loved animals in the new animals coming into my life."

KGMom’s comment rings true to me in that I often feel like I’m trying to correct past mistakes when taking in a new pet. Especially with beings as sensitive and fragile as rabbits, the time spent loving and caring for them is a long learning process. I made a promise to Boomer and Cricket when I brought them here; one that I’ve kept and can continue to honor by adopting another bunny in need.

As coincidence would have it, there is another bunny. She is also a Flemish Giant and was just spayed this week and she's living with the rescue that I adopt from. Like Boomer and Cricket, and Mr. Bean before them, she was rescued from the local slaughterhouse where she was left by the person who bred her. Whether she was meant for show or bred for the few bucks a slaughterhouse pays for *meat rabbits* doesn’t matter – her need and ours is the same. Love and safety. That is my promise to them.

Have a peek at her petfinder page here.

14 comments:

Mary said...

I remember KGMom's comment and I agree. It's great for you to offer Boomer someone to nuzzle, Laura. I had no idea a rabbit could weigh up to 18 pounds!

For your sake and Boomer's, I hope this new family member works out well!

LauraHinNJ said...

Me too, Mary.

Flemmies are called giants for a reason! Boomer weighs about 17 pounds, so I can't really consider adopting a little dwarf rabbit for him, especially considering how he likes to flop on top of them!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Laura, I've been thinking about you and Boomer every time I talk to Buddy. You have the biggest heart and I'm so happy you've found room in it for a new companion for Boomer. I checked the link and she's beautiful.

Dave Dorsey said...

17 lbs? SHEESH! Ghost would love it! :)

Mary said...

So they flop on top of each other? Oh, my. One of these days, I need to see this.

KGMom said...

Doing a little happy dance here--what a joy that my words can help rescue a bunny! Can't wait for the end of this story, and for pics of happy bunny in new home.

Susan Gets Native said...

She's pretty! And young, and fixed, and needy.
Faso Latido? Sounds like someone is a "Static Lullaby" fan at that rescue!
I know exactly what you mean about righting past wrongs by adopting a new pet.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

I hope this idea works out. Bunny personalities don't always mesh. But I've found a lot of consolation from the loss of a pet in saving another. It's a sign of respect to your departed friend. Love expands as needed, so you don't love Cricket less. But material welfare is finite. You can do nothing more for Cricket but there's someone out there who really needs you right now.

Good luck!

Unknown said...

Yay for all of you! Can't wait to hear more about your new family member!

dguzman said...

Good luck, Laura! to you and to Boomer. I hope this works out.

Dorothy said...

Laura, I have been remiss on keeping up with my favorite blogs and I just now read about your sweet Cricket. I'm so very sorry. I love the garden spot you planted for her.
I hope the new bunny will find her way into your home and your heart!
Sending peace and love to you and all your bunnies...

Cathy said...

OK. I'm all teary again. Your words," . . . her need and ours is the same. Love and safety. That is my promise to them."

Laura - you are beautiful. Lucky bunny that finds it's way to you.

Michelle said...

Aw Laura - she's beautiful. It think it shows just how much you love your bunnies when you can do this for Boomer depite your own grief.

You are in my thoughts. I look forward to more pics of her after she comes *home*

burning silo said...

Laura - this sounds like a good idea to me (for many reasons). In 1994, I lost 2 beautiful young Collies (5 and 3) to a very aggressive form of lymphosarcoma. We took them to the best vet oncologist in the city and she could not do much for them -- she said she'd never seen a case like this one before, but I have since read of a couple of similar cases where 2 dogs in the same household developed this cancer. Anyhow, we lost both of our dogs within the space of 8 weeks. I was quite devastated by the whole thing. We decided not to get another dog for at least a few months in case there was "something" lurking around our house or the environment that had brought this on. Anyhow, in autumn of that year, we saw an ad for a 3 year old Collie. We ended up buying her and bringing her home. She was with us for 10 years before passing on in 2004. We know she had been abused by a previous owner, so it was a good thing offering her a safe place to live out her life, and her coming to the farm was a postive thing for her and for us. I think being able to turn something sad or bad into something positive is about the best we can ask for in life. Good luck with the new rabbit. I'm sure she'll fit in well at your place.