Chester, the Lop-Eared Rabbit
The first three years of his life were spent in a wire cage in a basement, separated from others. Oh, he had some of the necessary requirements to sustain life: food, water, and shelter. And now and then he was allowed a taste of what lay beyond his confines, if only for a short while. Days, weeks, and finally months secluded from the world beget lethargy, boredom, and depression.
Yes — even in an animal.
Upon entering the murky basement my eyes began to burn from the stench of ammonia that had built in the air from an unclean cage. Lonely, isolated, cold, huddled on wire — this was not how any being should be forced to live.
No — not even an animal.
After he was relinquished to Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary, he went, as all those in our care do, straight to the vet for an exam. He was in our foster program only a short time before elementary-school-aged Mackenzie and Shelby heard about him. They spent time, along with their parents, doing research about the care he would need: what food, supplies, and other equipment would be necessary and the amount of time and commitment it takes to add a pet to the household.
Finally, it was time for them to meet this nameless little guy and see if things might work out. The entire family came to our home, spending time to get to know him. As he sat in their laps, shy and motionless, he slowly won the hearts of this special family. The girls were prepared, knowledgeable…and gentle. Just one more family meeting and a neuter at the vet’s office were necessary before a commitment could be made. Did the family members really want to be responsible for this animal for his lifetime?
Having a pet in the home must be a long-term commitment, otherwise we have animals dying painful and agonizing deaths on the streets and in the wild or filling shelters and humane societies beyond capacity.
This beautiful creature, you see, is a beautiful black-and-white lop-eared rabbit. Marie Mead, rabbit expert, writes “Rabbits are exceptionally social creatures, expressing friendship and love in joyous and heartwarming ways. A rabbit’s need and desire to be part of a couple or a group may result in the bunny’s bonding with a human, dog, cat, and/or guinea pig.”
I have known this family personally for many years and knew that if the bunny went to live with them he would have the wonderful home he deserved. It was now up to the family to make certain that they were ready for the commitment. Were they willing to include him in their family, making him a part of their daily activities and embracing his individual needs for the duration of his life?
The answer came with a resounding “yes” from all four members, and so he became a part of this caring, rabbit-educated family. And now he had a name: Chester. Mackenzie decided on that name simply because she loved it.
Follow-up visits confirm that Chester is, indeed, a vital member of the family and living a life completely opposite that from which he was rescued. The home has been “rabbit-proofed” and he has supervised freedom in the family room. Each morning he spends time with the girls before they go to school, and he spends each evening with the entire family. He is closed in his private den only when the family is out of the house and, therefore, cannot supervise his safety.
I receive regular updates on Chester and how he is doing in his new home. Mackenzie and Shelby love their new buddy and care for him diligently. In fact, he is so loved by the family that he, along with the girls, was the subject of this year’s Christmas card. But perhaps the best news came from Mackenzie this morning when I asked how Chester was doing and whether he was as shy and withdrawn as when he first arrived.
She replied, “He’s happy!”
Chester, the house rabbit, is happy. What wonderful words to hear!
Warm thanks to Jim Johnson for contributing this story and afterword to www.celebratingrabbits.com.
© 2009 Jim H. Johnson. This story and afterword were adapted from Jim's article, “Even rabbits deserve love and commitment,” which appeared in his column Happy Tails Tips, in the September 28, 2008, issue of the Columbia Daily Tribune (Columbia, MO). Used with permission.