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I've always wanted a bunny. From the time I was a baby, rabbit stuffed animals were my very favorite, and I can't remember a time that rabbits weren't my favorite animal. But when I'd ask my mom for one, she'd say no, saying they were destructive and would eat the wires in your walls and cause fires. So, growing up, that's what I always thought was true.
When I turned 18, I decided to start doing my research and learned so much more about the animal. I knew I'd make a great rabbit mom! Unfortunately, I asked my apartment staff if rabbits were allowed and they said no. So instead, I got a dog that I seriously considered naming "bunny" or "rabbit."
Three years later, in a new place with new staff, I found out that rabbits were allowed and had already supervised my Shih-Tzu with small animals (he runs and hides from ferrets and hamsters, and he cuddles with cats) and started my research again. This was when I knew it was time for a rabbit and found Brambley Hedge.
There were so many rabbits to choose from, I didn't even know where to start. I did careful reading about each of them over about two weeks and made a short list of who I thought would be good for me, a first time rabbit owner. I also asked the very helpful BH staff for suggestions and set up a time to go meet them.
Over the next few days, anxiously awaiting the adoption event, I kept going back to the BH site and kept finding myself looking at one rabbit in particular. Barry White. He was the only "special needs bunny" listed, and he had such an expressive face. My heart was just tugged every time I looked at him and read his profile. I really felt like he and I were meant to be! So I talked to my then-fiance-now-husband about it, and got him to agree to drive me two hours to Phoenix to go to the event. The morning of the event, I woke him up very early, saying, "Bunnies! Remember? Bunnies! I want to get there before anyone gets Barry!" And on the way, I just kept saying, "I hope no one got Barry...."
When we arrived, I walked straight up to a woman sitting at a table with a clipboard and said, "My name's Jackie and I'm on your list, you had some rabbits that you wanted me to meet... but I really have my heart set on Barry White...." She smiled brightly and said, "Then he must be the one meant for you." My heart LEAPED! She sat me in a chair and put him on my lap, and I couldn't believe it was really him. After weeks of looking at his picture, having him on my lap was about the equivalent of seeing your favorite movie star in person. I was so happy that no one had taken him yet -- I was really sure someone would see him and want him right away! So I did some paperwork and bought some supplies, and the three of us were on our way home.
Getting home, I put him in his new rabbit home with toys, food and water, and left the room so he could have some peace and quiet -- fully expecting him to be pretty freaked out. But after about two minutes, I could hear him in the other room playing and playing and playing. He didn't stop playing for hours. That night, I let him out into the bunny-proofed area of the house, and couldn't believe how trusting he was. He'd walk right over to me, hop onto my lap -- and he even tried cuddling with my Shih-Tzu (who was terrified and begged me to hold him). He was the most adventurous animal, and we immediately became great friends. It was like we'd known each other for years.
And I have to tell you guys, at the time that I adopted Barry (St. Patrick's Day '07!), my mom was in the hospital with a recurrence of stage 4 cancer. She was very sick and died two months later. Barry has really kept me sane and happy, in times when I thought it would be impossible to smile. I married my fiance and drove from Arizona to Ohio with Barry in the backseat, and he traveled very well. He ate and drank when we'd stop at hotels -- but he did thump his foot pretty much all night, letting us know that he wasn't exactly pleased with the situation. But he's adjusted very well here in Ohio and I feel very lucky to have him.
Attached is a picture of him hanging out on our bed after a nap, giving me a "why do you keep flashing that thing at me?" look.
Sidney & Jackie
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