On Sunday, my dwarf Bella went up to Heaven. Of my two buns, I always thought Pippin would go first since she’s the one who has been riddled with health issues the last few years. Also she’s a bit older. But last weekend Bella’s breathing became kind of strange so I kept a close eye on her and by Sunday she had started breathing through her mouth and very quickly declined from there, gasping for breath and having some sort of episode in my arms before she went. I can’t really comprehend what happened to her. She was almost nine years old, so it could have just been old age. But the way she went, all panicked and struggling to breathe makes me think there was something else perhaps I didn’t know about. It was really awful to experience and I’ve been an absolute mess ever since. Her bonded companion Pippin is doing well. Though I can tell she is grieving, I did let her spend time with Bella’s body after, so I think it helped her “know”. I also started “stuffie therapy”, as I’ve dubbed it, just one day later and I think she has responded really well to it grooming the stuffed bunny and laying with it all the time. Her appetite and bathroom habits have remained the same. I’m just hoping to make this as easy for her as I can. Because she’s an elder bun, I will not be introducing a new bunny unless I decide to foster, which I might do.

I just wanted to share, since it’s always nice to be in the company of other bunny lovers and we’ve all been through this loss I’m sure. Bella left a dazzling, spunky, attitude filled impression in my heart and I’ll never forget her little face or the softness of her fur or her tiny little paws. So proud to have been her mama.