Worries . . .

There is no fear like that of a mother for a sick child, especially when you don't know what's wrong. I remember the all-encompassing terror I felt when I found out that Alfalfa, my friend and companion of eight years, had a tumor growing in her chest that would eventually cause her death. Now, I'm afraid I'm about to go through it all again.

Last night, my sister discovered a tumor growing on Sebastian's face. It is just to the side and slightly under his jaw, and hidden by his bushy fur. A month ago, when we brought him in to the vet for his regular checkup and teeth filing, it wasn't there. Now, there is a knot of lumpy skin the size of a walnut there. He doesn't seem to be in any pain from it; he's eating and behaving normally. If it hadn't been discovered by chance, I probably wouldn't have known until the next checkup.

He's hopefully going in to the vet today at 4pm to be checked out. I feel this shaky, panicky feeling in the pit of my stomach, radiating out to my fingertips. I just don't think I can go through this again, so soon after losing Alfalfa.

The Bonding Chronicles 4: This Time It's Personal

No humans were harmed by the disapproval in this picture.

So, after nearly two months of worrying, fretting, pulled hair, and nearly-ripped out throats (and that is just from the people involved), the bonding process had a little triumpth this morning.

She was licking his head.

SHE WAS LICKING HIS FRIGGING HEAD.

I know I sound like a lunatic, but this is a very big deal. Yes, it was separated by bars, and yes, grooming is a form of dominance, but it is not aggressive as, say, charging and growling is. Believe me, I was growing very discouraged about whether or not they would ever get along, so this is a monster-sized deal.

I woke up this morning to the usual sounds of Sebastian running around his cage, ready for greens and pets and ready for mommy to get up. It got rather quiet, and I opened my eyes and looked towards the cage to see Viola in front of it; not an unusual site. She usually comes to see him in the morning, does her morning pee next to the bars, and then follows me out to the kitchen for her own breakfast. Except this morning I saw her doing something at the bars, so I grabbed my glasses to get a better look.

They have a habit of sniffing each other through the bars; in the beginning, she would only tolerate this for a few moments before growling at him, and he would hop away. Lately, they have been sitting together more often, sniffing each other through the bars, and she has not growled. This morning, I saw her head moving, and he had his head down to her, and I realized: she's licking his head. She would lick for a few seconds, stop and look at me, then lick a few seconds more. She did this until I got out of bed and went to tell my sister (I was too excited/astonished to keep quiet). When I came back in she was lying against the bars, which she has been doing a lot more lately.

Is it possible she has finally realized he is a permanent fixture, and kinda nice to have around? Believe me, this is not an overnight thing; there is still a lot of danger in their being together without bars. I will put them together this evening in their neutral space and she will probably still be fairly aggressive towards him. But, I am very encouraged by this sign. Maybe by the end of the summer, I can actually let him out of his cage when I'm home and can supervise. I'm not holding my breath for miracles, but maybe there's hope!

After all, she was licking his head.

Bonding Chronicles: Part Deux . . .

My new bunny has officially taken over my bedroom.

If you'll recall, originally, Sebastian had been living in a medium-sized cage, with plenty of room to hop in, but still rather confined and a little frustrating for him. I had massive guilt about this, but as long as Viola still wants to fight with him, in the cage he stays for both their protection.

Yesterday I had to stop at Petco to pick up more Timothy Hay, as Sebastian is like a little Hoover for bunny food , and I decided to look at the metal grating you usually see used for dog kennels and runs. Red Door uses them to do bunny introductions, and it is much more open than the cage. So, I found the tallest one they had and coughed up the extra money for it, then went home and set it up.

It's like he's moved to the Bunny Ritz-Carlton; this thing is bigger than my living space at the old apartment! He wasted no time exploring it and peeing on the fresh newspaper I put down; he is a very messy boy. I hope she can teach him some tidier litter habits, eventually. Maybe he can teach her to chew on the chew toys; he started using the toys I bought him righ away, whereas she disdains them in favor of an obliging table leg;)

As for the bonding process . . . well, not much new to report. She is possibly getting more used to his presence, but she's still not happy about it at all, very threatened and afraid. She charges at him and chases him, and while I always separate them and calm them down immediately, it does not seem to be getting better. I am not sending him back; we have all fallen in love with him now. I will just have to keep working at it until one day she accepts him. In the meantime, he lives in my room, and regularly decides that 4am is the time I should be getting up in the morning . . . .

Bonding Chronicles: New bunny in the house . . .

That's right: there's a new bunny in da house;)

Saturday we took Viola on another bunny date at Red Door; she had just been there two weeks earlier too meet Thumper, a black, fuzzy boy bunny who seemed very mellow and rather charmed by her. This time around, they met, they sniffed, and he came home with us.

Thus begins the Bonding Chronicles. Anyone who has ever tried bonding two rabbits can probably attest to this: rabbits do not usually fall in love at first sight. They can fight and scratch and charge and growl until finally the home bunny accepts the visitor. Ultimately, bonded rabbits are healthier, mentally and physically; rabbits are social creatures, and they do better in pairs and groups. You just have to get them there;)

Viola, usually pretty mild and nervous, has become a little warrior rabbit, charging at him, growling and stamping, territorial and pissy. Thumper, however, who we have renamed Sebastian (after Viola's brother in Twelfth Night), is mellow and easy-going, and hopefully his gentleness will eventually persuade her to like him. Until then, the gloves stay on, and he has to live in a cage for a bit.

I'll keep you all posted on the progress . . .

Favorite Site Tuesdays!

I know I have talked about these guys before, but I wanted to take the time to write a feature post on them, so they're my favorite site for the week!

Most of you know that I found my rabbit, Viola, through Red Door; after losing Alfalfa, the little white fluff-ball I had had in my life for eight years, I was devastated, and unsure whether or not I could handle adopting another rabbit. But, after a few months, I remembered the flyers and posters my vet, Chicago Exotics, always had posted around the office advertising the animals for adoption over at Red Door. So I found them online and filled out a form, and after a few phone calls I headed over to meet the bunnies.

Toni Greetis and all the devoted folks over at Red Door are truly fabulous at what they do; I have rarely met a more dedicated group of individuals. Red Door houses abandoned, abused and homeless rabbits, cats, dogs, and even occasionally ducks and other animals who find themselves in need. They exist completely on donations and thrive on people who care enough to give of themselves to the animals, whether it be as a foster, a new parent, or simply with gifts of money, food, blankets, empty pet carriers, etc. They are one of the only truly no-kill animal shelters in the city; they will routinely get calls from places like the Anti-Cruelty Society (which is a great shelter, but is not no-kill), to see if they have room to take their over-flow of bunnies and save the animals from euthanization due to over-crowding.

If you are considering adding a new member to your family, please stop by and visit the animals so in need of loving forever-homes. Also, consider fostering animals who might need a little extra help, whether because they are recovering from an illness, need some socialization, or just need a change of scenery. You can also be a buddy, and sponsor an animal at the shelter.

And, if you're up for a little fun in the sun, stop by the 2009 Gimme Shelter Walk on June 7th; there will be food, games, and lots of other fun stuff, as well as a walk to raise funds to benefit Red Door. If you like, you can click here to donate to my page for the Walk. Also, read their blog to keep up-to-date on the goings-on Behind the Red Door.

Enjoy the video of my bunny below: Viola just being, well, Viola;)

An Easter-time request . . .

As Easter gets closer, lots of people are going top go into pet shops and see the cutest little bundles of fluff they've ever seen. They will be laying in groups, running and jumping about, grooming each other and making pieces of hay and lettuce disappear between incredibly precious little mouths. Parents will feel their children tug on their arms, crying, "Mommy! Mommy, look! It's the Easter bunny!" "Mommy, it's just like my stuffed bunny at home, except for real!" The parents will relent when they see the low prices of these tiny creatures, many taken from breeding mills when far too young and barely weaned, sold for as low as $10 or $15 each. They will take them home, and expect to have a cute little toy whose nose twitches.

Imagine the shock when they suddenly realize:

a) This creature is not a doll

b) It chews everything it can reach in order to file its teeth and process information about the object, ie: taste, texture, smell, etc.

c) It can be very anxious and high strung, especially around loud noises, new stimulus, being picked up and handled roughly, etc.

d) It poops and pees a lot (as a healthy rabbit should), and will not always have the tidiest litter habits if not trained properly.

These bunnies, brought home on a whim by people expecting a sedate, cute bundle of fur or a toy for their children, face a dreadful fate each year after the Easter novelty has worn off: if lucky, they are abandoned at shelters in droves, and if unlucky, they are simply released into the wild to a terror-filled existence.

People, if you find yourself gazing adoringly at that cute little bunny in the pet shop window, please be smart and get informed before you consider actually adding a rabbit to your family:

Binky Bunny Info

The House Rabbit Society

Rabbits are wonderful, loving animals, but they are not as easy and low-maintenance as owning a cat. They are not stuffed animals, and I recommend you educate yourself before bringing one home to you, your children, or your other pets.

If you do decide you want a rabbit, I highly recommend you get a bunny who needs a home, from a shelter.

List of some shelters, by state

Red Door Animal Shelter in Chicago, where I got my Viola

Read Birdchick's blog on the subject

I will always be glad I made the decision to get a rabbit in 2000; Alfalfa was my little sweetheart, in spite of the fact that she chewed and pooped on my world;) She left a hole in my heart when she passed away last year, and I went to Red Door a few months later and found Viola. I cannot live without rabbits in my life now: they are Advanced Pet-Ownership, but they are worth it!

Viola, in one of her more sedate moments

Isn't this mine? Alfalfa, near the end of her life, still chewing on everything;)