Goodbye to a Pet Bunny

Our domestic rabbit, Tinkle fingers, passed away this morning. Although we expected his death, the reality of the inevitable did decrease our sadness. Fortunately, our pet seemed to die peacefully in his sleep. We buried him in the forest this morning before CB had to go to work.

Tinkle fingers was a Bunny Lionhead small, black. We got him when he was about six weeks of life. CB went shopping for new glasses and the pet shop was right next door. Litter of rabbits was simply too tempting and we both returned the following day to add another pet rabbit to our family.

We had hoped that Tinkle fingers was a girl, as we have already had a male rabbit and two males did not get along (unless they are from the same litter). We looked through the legs of Tinkle to determine its gender. We asked people in the pet store too, but it was a mystery to everyone. However, when we brought him home our Bunny, Romeo, knew instantly we brought home a boy and wanted to bite him.

This behavior was unusual for Romeo as he was a very good natured rabbit, but instincts are instincts. We had rabbits in separate cages, but once you poked your nose Tinkles a little too close to Romeo and got a quick nip in schnozola. However, CB patiently introduced rabbits each other a bit at a time and eventually they not only tolerated each other, became best friends. When Romeo disappeared, Tinkle was right by his side.

Tinkle fingers Menorca traveled more than the average. He loved to go camping. He had a cage in the back of the RV which rested on a shelf, but when we were driving had a "bin bunny" and sat among us in the cabin. Every time that we stopped at stop or campsites, we had a special trip bin (a mesh bag-like laundry) with two large holes-dinner plate cut out so Tinkles might be in a safe, fenced, but could still chomp on the grass. And chomp. Eat green grass was one of his favorite past times. Loved the small white flowers from clover. As sick as it was, still managed to eat a couple of flowers, before he disappeared. I brought in a few more tasty tidbits, but those lay untouched in his cage that I cleaned this morning. But at least died among his favorite things.

Losing a pet is a sad thing, even when you know that death is near. Tinkle fingers don't seem to be affected and I am grateful for this. He brought a lot of happiness to our lives and we have many wonderful memories. Feeling the joy and the pain of loving someone is part of what makes us human. Reminds me of a quote by Anatole France, "until one has loved an animal, a part of the soul is asleep".

After we buried our Bunny, the morning light filtered through the trees and created a bright spot on the ground very near where Tinkles was placed at rest. There are many times when bumble about and forget to notice the beauty of the world around me. It has brought this quote from St. Francis of Assisi in mind.

"Ask the beasts and teach you the beauty of this land."

I felt that the discharge was a sign that the spirit of our little bunny was a better place and if I moved my consciousness, I might be in a better place as well.

I can't say honestly that this moment in the Sun deleted my sadness. I'll miss our little pet. Remember how he would stand on its hind legs to eat a treat, so he would sneak out and make me chase him through the House, and how happy was plop in the grass and eating dandelions and clover. Okay that I am sad. Okay I'll take this nostalgic trip down the last five years of life of our fur child. I agree with Lacie Petitto said,

"A pet is never really forgotten until pointed out."

And I'm going to remember the toes Tinkle and all the wonderful pets who have shared their lives with me. It is ironic that is love and devotion of animals that teach us how to be human.

I do not have the funds to add a wing of a hospital pet or create a haven for animals. However, I can do what I always did respect the Earth and its creatures, make environmentally sound choices, support "no kill" shelters, humane society and PETA.

One day, I'm not sure when we will take another rabbit or two. Although I feel the loss of our rabbit, would be sadder still punish ourselves further by refusing to allow another pet to enter our lives. Believe Gary Kowalski, author of The Souls of Animals, said best.

"Not only is that animals make it the world's most scenic and picturesque. Animal life is woven into our very closest-our breathing-and our soul will suffer when they are gone ".

Goodbye Tinkle toes. Will be missed but never forgotten.

Sally Marks
Co-author of forthcoming book, delete negativity and embrace the magic inside. Check out his website http://www.erasenegativity.com/.