Seven weeks ago today, I rescued a terrified, starving, dehydrated Lionhead from a busy road. We’ve had quite a struggle. I wasn’t ready or set up to have a bunny in my home or in my life. In fact, I’d been thinking for some time about getting a dog again. I’ve always been a dog person. My family has always had them. I’ve trained dogs for myself and others, shown them, rescued and rehabbed for decades.
As traumatized animals are, Borys is mistrustful. Being a bunny, he’s suspicious and quick to take offense. I’ve made mistakes with him, not understanding exactly what he was trying to say. As he’s still unneutered, his territorial sense is fierce. There’s been a lot of struggle with cleaning up his markers. I have to be extremely mindful about how and when I clean his litter boxes, and in making sure I move them back to precisely the same spots.
Though his lunging at me has lessened from 20X a day to maybe once, it’s still present and unexpected. Allowing himself to be petted has increased from once a day to several, depending upon how long I’m willing to play tag. His pissiness factor when I put him in his crate, is off the scale. Today he was so mad, he stayed in the crate with his back turned for a good 10 minutes after I opened the door again. He then ignored my offers of treats.
Today I saw a lovely, familiar Spaniel tied outside the community centre. She and I have met many times, and I always take time to sit and talk to her, rub her ears and tummy. Her owner takes her “everywhere,” and leaves her tied for short periods of time outside the library, the store, etc. Always in the shade. She whimpers and jumps up and down when she sees me. She has been my dog fix many times.
Today, as usual, I sat on the bench. She jumped up, and I began stroking her ears. Something strange happened. The eagerness to be with me after a long separation, bothered me. The absence of dignity in the way she asked for affection, was offputting. Her doggy smell was suddenly, just too much. I thought, “You’re not at all like a bunny. You’re…overly familiar.” I began to worry that the dog smell would upset Borys. I went home.
Sure enough, Borys had spent his time in his crate chewing another portal in his semi-detached, 2 bedroom condo. When I walked in, he had his neck twisted so he was actually chewing upside down (can’t miss a spot near the roof!). I burst out laughing and got his evening veggies from the fridge. I was so happy to be with my crazy bunny, I didn’t care that he ignored me for a while. It was a pleasure just watching him enjoy the food, and listening to him munch.
Is this a phase, or have I been a closeted Bunny Person all along?