One year ago today, we lost Radish. Radish lived in a hutch next door for the first year and a half of her life. She could take only three or steps in any direction. She got very little attention. She rarely was let out, and when she was, it was because I lent the neighbors a puppy training pen that could be used outdoors. To see her in the hutch, day after day, was upsetting. Every day, I told her, silently or out loud, Well get you out of there, Radish. Friends told me I should just steal her. But that could have failed miserably in a dozen ways, and the neighbors would probably have quickly gotten another rabbit, since a nearby relative bred them. Worse, they would have known (or assumed) I was the taker, and probably never listened to anything I had to say from that point on. I knew my only chance was through dialog, and getting them to voluntarily change her environment. It was excruciatingly difficult and slow-going. If I talked too much about rabbit care, they would tune me out or get defensive. I was able to ensure that during the hottest days, with the sun beating down on the wooden hutch, that Radish had a cold water bottle next to her. The neighbors accepted my gifts of toys and mats for her to stand on, so she wouldnt have to spend so much time on wire grating. As the months went by, nothing much changed. Actually it got worse; she was let into the yard inside the borrowed pen less and less, and was neglected more and more. The kids would play outside on gorgeous days and Radish would be stuck in this box. I still told her every day that I would get her out somehow. She had been in the hutch since May, 2012. In September of 2013, I had a long talk with the mom and dad. One conversation got particularly heated - the first time that happened. I went over the next day and apologized. Not for my thoughts on Radish or rabbit care. But for my tone. I hoped this would be conducive to renewed constructive dialog. It was. They also apologized, and a week later they said they would give Radish to us. All they wanted in return was for me to attend a church service with them. I never said yes more quickly in my life. I was overjoyed. By this point, the most I expected was that theyd let Radish come over for a couple hours each weekend. We quickly got a room ready for her. Ill never forget the day I went next door with the carrier and brought her home. Radish finally had a real home. She was delightful. She settled in quickly. She got the hang of the litter box within a week. She loved to come up along side us and put her nose down for petting - which we always did. She loved her Cottontail Cottage; when anyone came in her room, shed greet them at the front door of her cottage. Her cute little grunting sound was actually a symptom of a virus. We didnt know that when we first got her. After two months, it suddenly got worse. Vet visits and medications didnt help. She died while at the vets. She had been with us a little over two months. I wrote about my last visit with her, after she died, in a Facebook note, which you can read if youd like. It was tragic that she died so young. Had she lived, her personality would have continued to blossom and she would have a had a long happy life. We are forever grateful that we were able to provide her with a loving home for the last two months of her life. We will never forget her. We still have her Cottontail Cottage. When I walk out in the back yard, I often remember all those days when I said, Radish, well get you out of there. And we did. Radish, perhaps well meet again some day. We still have lots more nose-petting and playing to do. You were a beautiful bunny and you graced our home, if only for a short time. We miss you.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:06:52 +0000
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