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we sent a photo to the vet

February 20, 2009 l 3 Comments

Along with this note…

To Dr. Geurino and the staff of the Animal Medical Center:

A sincere thank you for your many years of caring for our pets: Martin and Chuck the mice, and Peanut and Rex the rabbits. Rex passed away rather suddenly last September, but he was surrounded by love and by his family, and he’s now laid to rest next to Peanut. Thank you, Dr. Guerino, for taking such great care of Rex and Peanut. We would not have enjoyed their long years with us without your help, and we will forever be grateful.

With love,

The Zookeeper’s Family

adjusting

September 24, 2008 l 3 Comments

The day after Rex died, I cleaned out my room and the pets’ closet. There were the obvious things to get rid of: bags of rabbit food, a bale of hay, and his old bedding. The cardboard castle would have to go, too. The cats didn’t seem to have much use for it without Rex around.

But the closet was still full of items that I not only wasn’t using, but may never use again. An old rabbit cage. A couple of hamster cages. A bin full of mouse wheels and Habitrail tunnels. Dog dishes. Water bottles. Small animal carriers. Who was I kidding? Just as I’d been mentally preparing myself for Rex’s eventual passing, I’d also been preparing myself for the reality that no more pets would be entering this household anytime soon. I need to close that chapter of my life for awhile.

So all of it went. Everything that wasn’t needed for the cats was piled into my car, filling the trunk and the back seat (and the passenger seat, too), and then donated went to the local Humane Society.

The intended purpose of clearing out all that stuff was not to rid myself of reminders of Rex, which is fine, because it really didn’t work out that way. I still look down from my bed every morning, expecting to see a rabbit. I still pause before placing something down on my floor, considering the likelihood that it might get chewed. I still find myself heading in to feed Rex dinner every night, right before I go to feed the cats. I still find it strange to walk into my room without having to shut a baby gate. I still have to remember that I don’t have a rabbit anymore.

Adjusting is hard.

So I guess we’re not much of a domestic ‘zoo’ anymore, though I’m keeping the name. It sounds a lot better than ‘Confessions of a Crazy Cat Lady’.

Goodbye, Rex

September 16, 2008 l 2 Comments

(March 13, 1999 – September 15, 2008)

I took this photo just a few weeks ago. It’s not quite the last one I ever took of you, but I think it works. It’s just…you, Rex. Always on the go. Always doing your own thing. You knew who you were and what you wanted, and you could be both amazingly smart and incredibly persistent. And of course, you usually got your way.

We were wrapped around your tiny bunny paw for almost ten years, Rex. You were king of the household. When Peanut died last year, we worried about you so much. We thought you might not be the same, but there you were, living life to the max as usual. And even on your last day, you seemed to handle things on your own terms. I wish I had known, Rex. One day you were here, you were happy, you were healthy.

Today you were a quickly fading star, gone before I truly realized what was happening. You’ve left a bunny-shaped hole in all of our hearts, Mr. Man, and you know, the cats just aren’t going to know what to do with themselves now that you’re gone. Who will chase them out of your bed? Who will they stalk at three in the morning?

Who will be our bunny king?

Goodbye, Rex. This room is a lonelier place without you, but you and Peanut are together now, and forever. We love you both so much.

Love,

your family

and now we come to the end

September 15, 2008 l 4 Comments

Rex is binkying with Peanut at the Rainbow Bridge.

We love you, little man. And we’ll miss you a lot.

Rex is very sick

l 1 Comment

I found him this morning when I came home from work (I work third shift). He’s laying next to his food dish, still mostly full of last night’s pellets. His breathing is somewhat labored, though he doesn’t appear to be stressed. His whole body is chilled. In less than twelve hours, he’s gone from an eating, drinking, pooping, happy rabbit, to this – he looks as though he’s sunk in on himself. Occasionally, he’ll dip his head into his water dish to drink, but that’s it.

I’m not sure what to do. My gut tells me that this could really, truly be the end. He hasn’t been a 100% healthy rabbit for over nine months. I’m debating whether or not a trip to the vet would be a good idea, or would make things worse (he does NOT handle car rides well).

It’s been almost exactly one year since Peanut died.

I’m back!

September 14, 2008 l Comments Off

And thanks to my wonderful family, the zoo crew did just fine without me…

a gift for Rex the rabbit king (and his feline minions)

September 2, 2008 l 2 Comments

Gotta love the look that Miko’s shooting at the camera.
You could say she’s somewhat possessive of boxes.

But then Stephanie has this deep-rooted desire to be in the heart of the action,
no matter where or what it is, and the two girls tussle over turf.

The wrestling match over, they come to an uneasy agreement.

But wait, girls, there’s more inside the box!

Ooooooooohhhhhh…

And here it is (mostly): a new Cottontail Cottage from Cats & Rabbits & More

Oh…hi, Miko.

This is the ‘before’ shot. The first Cottontail Cottage, or what’s left of it,
has lasted for almost two years and (as you can see) it has been well loved by Rex.