Charlie.

[PaaigeyBearr]

Charlie was a New Zealand Rabbit. Years ago, I begged my mom for a bunny, and my neighbor gave me Charlie sense they where moving and couldn’t take him. But he had to be outside in a hutch. For months I’d set up a tent outside and sit in the middle of it as he hopped around me. Then Winter came, and in Ohio it gets harsh. So I didn’t really visit Charlie, I feel horrible about it to this day. (I live on a farm, it was a bit of a walk to him). So my older sister, took him home to where he can be warm in the house, and so her daughter could play with Charlie. He went in the basement, a very neglected rabbit. His cage smelt, so they put it outside… and one night, two dogs that the neighborhood behind her house got loose and scared Charlie literally to death. His heart stopped beating… My sisters Fiance tried to scare the dogs away, but they where vicious, huge, and it was too late…. Charlie died a horrible death. & I feel horrible for it.

I read an article a year ago about a man who was in a Mexico Prison and sat in solitary for I think a year, it made me sick. The man got mental issues and physical from all the neglect. Imagine being in the dark for a year of your life with no one to talk to or nothing to do? That was cruelity. But how many people do that to animals just because they mainly get caged? Why is that okay to do that to animals but not okay to do it to a person? That changed my perspective forever… Truly.

Today, I have two more rabbits. They’re living a life like every rabbit should, I’d like to think that Charlie is hopping around the floor with them nibbling on the cardboard and playing. Charlie made a difference in two rabbits lives, and oneday I hope I can rescue and help many other rabbits and find them loving homes, all in memory of Charlie.

RIP Charlie… By the way the filthy thing he’s in, was just a crate I’d use to put him in and carry him to the tent.

[RabbitPam]

Many of us have learned about caring for rabbits through difficult trial and error. Some of our members had sad experiences like yours, while others are fortunate enough to come to share life with a rabbit after using the gifts available via information on the internet and in books. Research and education has come a long way. It’s a sign of growth as a human to be able to come to terms with our past, and improve ourselves, while improving the lives of others. Your story clearly shows that is true. I’m glad you are now providing a happy, healthy home for your two bunnies. Charlie’s life has meaning beyond his short time with you as a result. Thank you for the tribute to him.

[Deleted User]

Sending you and Charlie my thoughts and prayers. I really do have a good idea of how you feel. I took in a rabbit because it had had a hard life and was being emotionally neglected. I trusted the advice I was given, and did not do my own research (I will add this was close to nine years ago and I had a hard time using a computer then, and was mainly ignorant of the terrific resources available to me online so I think my initial omission was understandable, maybe even forgiveable, what wasn’t was my never looking into things in later years), so I accepted all sorts of inaccurate information as fact. My rabbit’s life wasn’t all bad, but it wasn’t anything close to what it should or could have been. Horribly I learnt about rabbits in the last few days of his life and the weeks immediately after. I brought Quantum home and buried him three weeks ago, … doubt I’ll ever forgive myself for not doing better, especially in the last months of his life, but Blackberry and Silver are two rabbits enjoying a very good life as a result of all I learned.

I hope your Charlie and my Quantum are off in the long grass hopping and playing together somewhere Wonderful, and that four little rabbits have some idea of who to thank wen they munch their hay and dream their bunny dreams.

[PaaigeyBearr]

I feel horrible, I was raised thinking anything that goes in a cage… just well, stays in a cage. Of course I took him out to a tent or my room to look at him and pet him… but I had NO idea what rabbits where really capable of. I was shocked that they could play ball, be litter trained, be even like a small dog hopping around your house. Who needs a yappy annoying ankle biter Chihuahua when you can have a bunny that hops and does all these funny little things & just brightens up your day?

I remember him dying I called my friend “Do you think he’s in heaven? I really hope there’s herbivores up there, I bet he’s chilling with a herbivore dinosaur”. I’ve always had such a strange view on death, even though I was depressed about it, I was happy for him thinking of all those wonderful things Charlie & Quantum could be doing.

[MoJingly]

Your story is making me tear up because I had a bunny like that too. I was really young and didn’t know better, and my parents grew up on farms so rabbits were “outside creatures.” When I think about her I feel so horrible. I should have played with her more and given her toys. But that was a long time ago and I’m taking all of that energy and putting it into making great lives for my current buns. (Also, joining forums like this and posting pictures online and introducing our bunnies to friends will help educate people about how awesome these things are so fewer end up like the rabbits we had in childhood)

Chin up. We all learn.

[Deleted User]

Try not to feel so bad about the cage thing. There are so many misconceptions about animal care, … progress is being made but it is slow, still every bit counts. You did your best for Charlie and simply didn’t know better. I wish I could claim it was that simple for me and Quantum. I had read of rabbits using litter boxes before I adopted him, but I’d gotten the impression that was only for free range rabbits, and with a Labrador and a Yorky in the house a two pound rabbit running around on his own just wasn’t an option. I didn’t realize there were compromises. I did take him out to play, but he was so frightened and timid it wasn’t a great success. Fortunately he liked lying in my lap and adored being brushed, so I did do that with him, … but that’s about it. I knew rabbits are delicate and that influenced some of the choices I made, … but he lived on pine chips, and mainly ate pellets, and, … well you get the general picture. It wasn’t as bad as it might have been (poor baby started life as a class project in an elementary school), but it sure wasn’t close to what it should have been.

I do not have the slightest doubt that Charlie and Quantum are digging and hopping somewhere right now (probably teasing my darling Lab who loved Everyone, two and four legged), and knowing what I expect they knew at the time too, that while we may not have done all we should we cared, and still do. A very hard way to learn, but a memorable one, and it does keep them in a very special place in our hearts.

And yes, the lack of yapping is DEFINITELY in Every Rabbits Favour!

[Author]

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