An Unlucky Rabbit's Foot
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VOLUME , NUMBER THE PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL HOUSE RABBIT SOCIETY SUMMER An Unlucky Rabbit’s Foot BY WILLY TARVER Editor : B W , and to make people grin. Perhaps it is be - I’m an English Angora. cause of all the people we’ve made After being unceremo - smile that so many people stepped up Mniously abandoned b y nationwide to save my life the second our first human family, my brother time I almost died. As it turned out, I (Shakespeare) and I were rescued had an unlucky rabbit’s foot. and adopted from the Baltimore Last August, my bouncy bunny chapter of House Rabbit Society in bink became broken. There was “stop 2008. Most people know the two of us in my hop” because my foot hurt. At as “Willy and Shakes.” We have be - the onset, I just had a little limp. Al - come somewhat famous nationwide though Shakespeare and I are because we are constantly chauf - cuddled and brushed every single day feured around in our baby stroller (FYI: we get ear and tummy mas - and we offer free pet therapy visits in sages every night at bedtime, too), my the nation’s capital (thus, we tend to Angora fluffiness initially concealed get a bunch of publicity). Maybe you the fact that an inexplicable tumor even read last year’s feature story had grown near the tarsal joint on about us in the national magazine, my right hind leg. After a few days, I Rabbits USA? Or glimpsed us sitting “I will admit that being discarded started to bite at the spot, and it in our red wagon when the Humane bled. That sunny afternoon, Shake - Society of the United States wrote and abandoned in our early lives was speare and I were outside playing in about us on its website? We definitely puzzling to us, because (lets face it) our backyard so when my mom saw get around. we are so ridiculously cute.” the blood, she thought that I might I will admit that being discarded need stitches from cutting my foot and abandoned in our early lives was foster homes, plus never stopped working somehow. She scooped me up and took puzzling to us, because (let’s face it) we to find us our forever home. me to the doctor. With the Angora fluffi - are so ridiculously cute. That terrible ex - Our PTBSD (post-traumatic bunny ness shaved away, he examined my perience was the first time I came close to shock disorder) was finally replaced by liv - condition. My mom sobbed incon - dying. It was proclaimed by a vet that ing a very charmed life, and nowadays we solably when he said the “C” word. There Shakespeare and I wouldn’t have survived often eavesdrop as our human mommy needed to be more tests, but he believed much longer than another week if we whispers to people— who are astonished it was cancer. After second opinions at hadn’t been immediately discovered and to see us riding everywhere in our blue two vets, the verdict was in. A decision to nursed back to health. HRS saved our two stroller—and informs them that we don’t amputate my leg would need to be made lives and eventually found us temporary know we are r-a-b-b-i-t-s. This never fails (quickly) if choosing to try and save my Photograph By Sherri Tarver H R J: Summer 2012 1 An Unlucky Rabbit’s Foot “ So, she spent hours waiting (like humans do for each other when someone has surgery) until my ordeal was over and then requested to see me.” life. My mommy’s agonizing began. All I through the procedure fine. The veteri - up and move closer to her, but to my dis - could do was trust her. nary staff told my mommy that she could tress and surprise, I fell over clumsily. I did The second vet had performed an ini - not hold me so soon, and she understood not realize that her eyes had filled with tial (less complicated) surgery designed it was for my own good. She explained to tears or that she was smiling through to spare my leg by entirely removing the them that she just wanted to sit with me them because I was responding to her tumor, or debulking it, as much as possi - and talk to me, so that I could hear her voice. All I knew was that she was with ble. We were informed, thereafter, me, petting me. For a long time, she that the malignant tumor (a high- sat by me and talked baby talk. (Well, grade, poorly differentiated, sar - of course, I understand baby talk, coma) had aggressively attached duh.) She promised to faithfully itself to my ankle bone. Marinell come back to see me tomorrow.On Harriman at HRS telephoned with the second day, when my mommy encouragement for my mommy— arrived to visit me,we went into a asking her not to rush to judgment private lounge and she held me all about euthanasia. She offered a gen - day long. We sank into the big com - tle much-needed reminder that fortable sofa, and I was lying against every day is a gift—even after such a her chest and cradled in her arms. I diagnosis, and that our little lives are slept several hours that way. Later, still worth saving. I sat on my mommy told me that she was grin - mommy’s lap, and her tears were ning as she watched me sleep, be - falling onto my face. Mommy held cause I was dreaming and snoring! me tightly and asked me what I Before she went home, I demon - wanted to do. I cuddled, as my reply. strated for her that I could already do Maybe it’s an unusual request at a an “improvisational hop” on the car - veterinary hospital, but my mommy pet It wasn’t quite as graceful as bal - was determined to be there at my let, but I was doing it and could cross ”bedside” and comfort me when the the entire room. Later that same anesthesia wore off from amputa - night, the hospital suddenly called tion. She didn’t want me to awaken my mommy—which definitely made in the unfamiliar confinement of a her panic. But it was good news. I cage, missing a limb, smelling other ani - Dr. Lisa Carr of VCA Veterinary Referral Associates was doing so well that I could go home al - mals all around, and feeling understand - and “Wonder Willy”after his quick recovery. ready if she wanted to drive back to get ably frightened and alone. So, she spent voice. It made me happy. Although heav - me. Of course, she did! My extraordinary hours waiting (like humans do for each ily sedated, I heard her say, “Hi Willy, surgeon, Dr. Lisa Carr of state-of-the-art other when someone has surgery) until mommy’s here. Mommy loves you.” The medical VCA Veterinary Referral Associ - my ordeal was over and then requested to metal door of my cage had been left ajar ates, exclaimed that she had never seen a see me. She was informed that the first for her. I felt mommy reach in and rub my bunny recover so quickly or well before. 24-48 hours would be critical but also ears. She was careful. My right ear still had My mommy swears I am such an inspira - given some reassurance that I cam e the IV tube attached. I tried to lift myself tion, and calls me (continued on page 9) 2 HOUSE RABBIT JOURNA L : Summer 2012 InBox Editor: BETH WOOLBRIGHT Bunny Truisms: If it doesn’t smell good, Wisdom collected by watching don’t waste your time on it. wise rabbits from Journal editors How others classify me (i.e., and Rabbit Center staff lop/agouti/handicapped/etc. ) RITA RICHARDSON : has absolutely no bearing on who *I* choose to be! The past and the future are not nearly as important as One of the best cures for a FEATURE /1 frown is the sight of a bunny An Unlucky Rabbit’s Foot what’s right in front of our IN BOX / 3 noses. binkying. Incorporating Letters and Q&A I’m not chubby; I haven’t BEHAVIOR / 4 There is no space too small Rabbit Scents shed my winter coat yet! for a bunny to fit. INSIGHT/ 6 BETH WOOLBRIGHT My $2,000 Bunny MARINELL HARRIMAN The most beautiful sight SIDEBAR/ 7 Preparing for Medical Situations in the world is a bonded pair The caregiver’s greatest HEALTH / 8 of rabbits. relief is the first nibble, by an Channeling Sherlock Holmes anorectic bunny, on a DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE / 10 The Endless Circle of the 3 Hares dandelion leaf. WARRENWISE / 12 Nibble holes and hay bits The happiest music is the HRS Primary Goals are perfectly acceptable “Carrot Symphony” (that is, fashion accessories. multiple rabbits chomping House Rabbit Journal EDITOR -IN -CHIEF It’s important to pay carrots). Marinell Harriman attention to every little detail. The freshest smell is a EDITORS THIS ISSUE Shana Ab e A well-placed nip can take bunny’s parsley breath (or Beth Woolbright care of the problem way Nancy Montgomery, PhD Rita Richardson better than a bunch of Dana Krempels hemming and hawing. Susan Brown, DVM The closest distance Kathleen Wilsbach, PhD Every day is a brand new between two points is out of Nancy Lerner, DVM adventure! Linda Cook another bunny’s mouth. Amy Bremers Strangers are just friends I Julie Smith, PhD LINDA COOK House Rabbit Society haven’t marked yet.