Thinking of getting a rabbit? You’ve come to the right place.
Welcome. I’m introducing a refreshed version of one of my most popular posts.
Rabbit 101
In 2008, my then 13-year-old son talked me into getting a rabbit.
“I’ll look after her, Mom. You won’t have to do a thing.”
Uh huh.
In our experience, acquiring a rabbit is serious business. Bonanza’s adoption through the SPCA was very thorough. The acquisition of a mortgage would have been easier. Yes, we had a dog. But the care of rabbits is altogether different. First off, they require unlimited access to fresh, timothy hay. Trust me. Unless you want to dole out the big bucks for sketchy hay from pet stores, you’re gonna need a dealer. In Vancouver, the golden ticket is the Vancouver Rabbit Rescue and Advocacy (VRRA).
Thinking Of Getting A Rabbit?
Thanks to their dietary requirements, you can’t leave a rabbit alone for long. They whip through the hay with the efficiency of electric pencil sharpeners. While we boarded Bonanza with a devoted caregiver over the longer vacations, we carted her along on the shorter road trips. As one does. And yes, the hay flakes, the bowls, the timothy hay pellets, the litter box etc all had to come along. My packing list was hefty.
Fast forward a year or two …
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll look after Bonanza’s stuff,” my son advised the night before a visit to my sister’s cabin.
I asked him to repeat the extraordinary offer.
“I’ll pack the rabbit stuff. All of it.”
My throat closed as I realized our wee lad was growing up.
With the cabin located two ferries and a water taxi away, timing was crucial. I felt like mother of the year as I locked up the house just after 6AM the next morning.
“Hi! We’ve a reservation for the 7:30 boat. One adult, two students, one dog and one rabbit,” I chirped to the yawning gal in the ticket booth, some 35 minutes later.
“Lane 7, row 83,” she grunted, waving us off with all the interest of a sated sloth.
As we nosed up behind a jam-packed SUV, I turned to smile at my darlings.
“Okay, guys. Coffee time. Who wants to come with me ?”
Both children piled out, with my son skipping towards the back. As he pulled open the hatchback, I suddenly remembered Oscar, our golden retriever.
“Pop the leash on Oscar. He can come, too.”
Dead silence.
“Can you leash Oscar? We’ll take him with us.”
When Silence Isn’t Golden
Again. Nothing. Just crickets.
“Leash. Oscar.”
Time stopped as I caught my daughter’s pinched face.
“Uh, Mom. There’s a problem,” her brother rasped.
I froze. What? Had one of our pets died? Please, no. Not that.
“I forgot to bring Bonanza … ”
Excuse me. What?
Horrified, I rushed to the back. He had to be joking. Surely Bonanza was happily ensconced in her crate next to Oscar, sound asleep atop the thick towel or munching on tufts of sweet timothy hay.
Nope.
Okay, he’d surely wedged her damn crate into the crowded back seat?
No, he had not.
An odd numbness flushed through me as I turned to my son, his face now drained of all colour.
“Where the hell is she?”
Ouch. My throat now burned with red hot, caustic acid.
“On the kitchen table,” he managed.
At Home?
Bye bye 7:30 first ferry. Bye bye 12:25 second ferry. Bye bye 3:30 water taxi. And bye bye 4:00 first glass of chilled crisp Sauvignon Blanc …
It’s fairly safe to assume the ferry terminal employees are still talking about that crazy woman who zigzagged her vehicle backwards out of the crowded lot, somehow skillfully dodging every single car, ignoring their all attempts to verbally stop her …
We made it home in just under 20 minutes.
No longer thinking of getting a rabbit? I’m so sorry. Please know, rabbits are brilliant stress busters. A few minutes of quietly sitting alongside Bonanza, gently rubbing between her eyes and stroking her velvet ears, and we were treated to a most miraculous sound. The bunny version of purring: grinding her teeth. Rest assured: it’s not the fingernails on a chalkboard sound. It’s equally as soul-soothing as a sound bath. I swear.
Still not convinced? Google “bunny binkies and zoomies.” It’ll make your day.
In closing, treat her right and you could have a wonderful companion for years. Sweet Bonanza passed away at 14 in 2020. You can read more about how she survived so long living with us, here.
Until next time, please subscribe to Just TypiKel for more and let’s be pals over on Instagram.
Wishing you and yours a very Hoppy Easter.
16 Responses
Hoppy Easter and RIP Bonanza. You gave so many immense pleasure. ???
Hoppy Easter a few weeks on … thank you.
She was a sweetheart indeed?
Yes, she truly was. Thanks for leaving a comment, Mary. Sorry it took me ages to respond.
Oh, I do love this story !! As another parent of a child with a bunny, I well remember not travelling lightly, as the entire back of our mini van was devoted to George, who was a very large bunny ! They are very sweet though, and very loving ! Bonanza had such a good life with your family ( despite being left on the table ! ?).
George was a very large bunny indeed. I am so glad I met him. I can just picture the back of your minivan, too. Oh, it’s been fun, hasn’t it?
You never fail to bring a smile to my face and an everlasting reminder of life and all its journeys. Now some of those were by our own accord – and some were the insistent begging, no manipulation of our wee ones. Bonanza was a special character in your lives – despite a forgetful moment. But once again you share the magic moments with us despite the stress they may not have been shared.
Thanks ?
Thanks so very much for your kind comments, Janice. And yes, the insistent begging … makes me grin just thinking about it. Sorry for the very late response.
How sweet and how informative! My aunt and uncle have a bunny named Benner. He is so spoiled Has his very own room and the run of the house during the day. He will jump up in your lap to be loved on and sit at your feet during dinner in case you drop anything.
Love the name! Benner. Oh what a lucky Benner to have his own room and the run of the house. That really warms my heart.
“They whip through the hay with the efficiency of electric pencil sharpeners. ” — Nice writing, Kelly!
I am feeling quite guilty about my tardy response but it’s no reflection on your lovely comment. Thank you!
My cat is quite pampered, but it sounds like he has a rough life compared to your bunny.
Hahaha – I’m sure your cat is living a wonderful life.
Oh my word!! What an… adventure?? 🙂 Our youngest daughter won a goldfish at a carnival once. That thing lived for over a year!
Over a year! OH MY. That’s remarkable. My sister had a similar experience with her daughters’ goldfish. They won it at the school fair and it happily tootled about in its bowl for ages …