Looking for ideas on how to honor a bunny who passed suddenly (Gus)

[Raelinn & Gus]

It’s been one day, and I am still crying a lot. Anytime I stop actively doing something, I begin crying over him.

He was like a child to me, I raised him up since he was a baby. I used to put him on the desk and hand feed him veggies when he was a tiny boy.

This forum, and the people on it, did a lot for Gustavo over the years. You guys taught me how to be the best bunny parent possible – diet, care, enrichment, and even help in crisis. He had a bout of stasis when he was one and almost died, but someone here suggested using baby gas drops and within an hour of administering them – he made a complete turn around. This was after numerous days of waking every four hours to give either meds or syringe feed critical care, to massage his belly, and push him to move. After vets turned us away saying there was nothing to be done, and to call them if he made it through the night.

His death was sudden. The vet had always regarded him as a healthy rabbit, one vet even called him the healthiest rabbit she had ever seen in her entire career. I fed him strictly organic veggies, pellets with the best nutritional content, and his favorite hay. He had a water fountain, and lots of toys. He was freeroam, and liked to hang out on my bed and do zoomies/binkies a lot.

I dropped Gus off to be cremated today. So far I have gotten a small chunk of his fur, a necklace to hold some of the ashes, a box with a heart-shaped picture window for his ashes, and saved his pellet dish (pellets were his favorite item in his diet). For Christmas I was given a ceramic lop bunny that today I spent hours painting to look somewhat like Gus.

I want to create some kind of memorial, something to honor him, and as you can see have been collecting things in order to accomplish this. But I just don’t know what to do with all of them. I don’t want a shrine, but something to remember him with.

To never forget my beautiful boy, Gustavo.

~ Raelinn (and once, Gus)

[BrunosMama]

Oh my gosh, I am so so sorry to hear about Gus!! I know how much you loved him and it must be devastating. <3 I have lost bunnies suddenly when they seemed otherwise healthy. Its heartbreaking and confusing and maybe hurts a little more than losing a bun that has been chronically ill. My heart goes out to you, Raelinn. I know you were an awesome bunny mama.

What about something like a scrapbook or shadow box to put all of your keepsakes in? The ceramic lop bunny could set on your desk (if there’s room). Or, perhaps you could decorate a small box with bunny paper or fabric and keep everything tucked inside, and you could look through it when you miss him.

Again, I’m so very sorry about Gus ~hugs~

[LBJ10]

That’s so very true Brunosmama. When they are very sick, it is more expected. When it comes out of nowhere, it is much more confusing. This is the price we pay for loving bunnies so much.

Raelinn – I commented in your other post, but wanted to comment here too. I’m very sorry for your loss of Gus. He was such a handsome boy and I know you did everything you could for him and then some. I like the suggestion of a shadow box. It would hold all your keepsakes without looking like a shrine. I’ve also seen some very lovely urns on Etsy shaped like a bunny and painted to look like your bunny. I actually thought about ordering one for my boys, but wanted something they could both fit in together instead.

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