I always fear for the live bunnies of Easter. And with reason. Sadly- people oftentimes are unconcerned when the Easter season is over and the novelty wears off. Too many of these unfortunate impulsive buys are chuck outside to fend for themselves. In my opinion -so contrary to the spirit and love of the Risen Christ. Monica and her children found one of them in their yard.
Obviously, "Jack/Jackie" belongs to this group of unwanted rejects. I don't know if it would be quite so traumatic for them if there was a nice woods nearby where they could survive on their own and build a hutch or whatever their homes are called. But a small backyard? However, somehow "Jack" whom I decided to call since I don't know the gender of this poor rabbit- did survive his spring and summer in Monica's small backyard. Neither she or I has a luxurious backyard but happily, she had a vegetable garden in hers from which he copiously helped himself. He has become one fat bunny rabbit. I'm almost sorry that we have to relocate him, but we both decided a cold winter without refuge is no place for a domestic rabbit.
Two weeks ago after taking the poor dead cat I found on my street to be cremated at the wonderfully inexpensive cost of $20 at the APL, we decided that I should call them about accepting Jack. Even though he had thrived in the Spring and Summer, it was now Winter. He needed shelter and a constant food supply. So I called them regarding their policies on homeless pet rabbits. The lady who answered the phone went to check if there was room for him, and returning to the phone, said yes to our wished-for response. We should bring him in on Thursday, December 2nd. Only one problem- today is Saturday, December 4th. Monica and her animal-loving kids - Phillip, Martin, Mary, and Isabella had no luck in trapping him until Saturday the 4th when tall and strapping Martin managed to snag him. His older brother Phillip was visiting grandmother in Slovakia. What a lucky kid!
They soon came to my house where I asked myself -should I put him in with my 5 cats in the basement? Not knowing how either Jack or the cats would react, I pulled out a spacious cage from the cats' place and put it on the other side of the basement with a litter box. When we tried to extricate him from Monica's carrier- not surprisingly, he didn't want to leave the comfort of his new home, and we had to unceremoniously dump him from the cage. This reminded me of some of my cats who also employed this tactic on the occasions we visited the vets.
This Sunday morning I took an internet "course" on the care of rabbits. Thank God for the internet! As much as I want to keep Jack because he would be my first rabbit ever- unfortunately, I would rather hope that someone else would provide him with more spacious and comfortable "digs." I will ask Monica and her children to join me in prayer for a happier outcome for Jack.
I saw Monica and the girls after Sunday liturgy this morning. I told them some of what I found on the internet re the feeding of rabbits. Of course, one can't go wrong using rabbit pellets but since I couldn't keep Jack, I would have to follow the other prescriptions on the feeding of rabbits. They like grains, fruits and veggies - though not all of these are equal. One should not feed them green beans or any veggie of the bulb variety. If you wanted to give them a piece of fruit - a small chunk of banana or a few raisins would be fine. Also a spoonful of grain would suffice. Well, Jack didn't like the oatmeal grain, banana chunk or one dried apricot I gave him.
On the way home from church I bought broccoli which was recommended. I put a small portion of the broccoli in a small pyrex cup which he promptly tipped over. It may well be because he only has one eye and obviously the smell wasn't enticing to him. Last resort- Monica said he liked bread. So I tore off the top of the grain bread which had sprinkles of grain on the top. And yes, he went for that with abandon. Hopefully, I will find other foods good for him as well, but I think if he gets really hungry he may try the other foods I put in his cage with a container of water.
Well Jack, with the brindled coat - I am glad to have made your acquaintance. Yet another innocent creature of God who deserves better - much better. Hopefully, there will be a better home awaiting you through the auspices of the APL. This is my fervent prayer as well as I'm sure of Monica and her children.
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