Bunny love!

And the common denominator is ‘Enry. Another crazy fast bond. The boy doesn’t mess about. Three weeks from her arrival and he’s charmed the lovely Esther. A quick recap…

Mon 27 Jan – Picked up Esther (a previous ‘failed bond due to fighting’) from the rescue centre (she’d had Myxi/RVHD1 jab only). She went into the spare room in dog crate and pet gate fencing.
Tue 28 Jan – Esther had RVHD2 jab and check over at vet. Poss spurs on back teeth. Booked in for spay (in a week so that I could assess her behaviours/eating etc.)
Tue 28 Jan – Esther moved to main room with ‘Enry – dog crate and pet gate fencing (splitting room across width).
Wed 29 Jan Pet gate fencing gets moved as her zooming needs even more space than the 10ft she had!
Thu 6 Feb – Esther goes for spay. She has a bit of dental work too. Surgery OK but no eating/drinking. Takes on some syringe feeding. By midnight she’s having no more of that tripe. V little in litter tray overnight.
Fri 7 Feb – Esther interested in ‘Enry through gate but v little eating & drinking through day, pooing or weeing only after 7pm, nothing after v early morning.
Sat 8 Feb – Esther back for post-op check up. Concern over minimal eating. Review overnight. Pooing and weeing after 7pm only again. Crazy Esther. Seemed ok otherwise.
Sun 9 Feb – Although eating bits, contacted vet. More serious gut meds prescribed. Cisapride works within an hour. She eats pellets. Then hay. Then more veg/herbs than before. Then pellets. I’m happy. Pooing and weeing only after 7pm. She’s a weirdo.

Leapfrog to Wed 12 Feb and the 2Es are besotted but still divided by the gate. Running the line, licking each other’s faces, smelling fur, laying down – sometimes facing away from one another (a great sign). No signs of aggression at all from her (never from him, Enry just hasn’t got it in him). She’s still nervous of me but again no aggression, even around food. They’ve been fed on either side of the gate every day – it’s all been fantastic. They spend time apart too – that’s also good. I decide to unlock one of the dividers to give them their evening goodies from either end of the small treat box. They sniff each other more closely and see they have access but too bothered by the treats.

On Thur 13 Feb (1 week after her spay), first thing I decide to unlock the gate in the fence and walk away slightly. Esther pushes it open. Enry’s charms are just too much for her. They act as if they’ve been together forever. They spend an hour or so exploring each other’s areas. The biggest test… Enry goes into her dog crate and gets in her litter tray. Eeek! Worrying for no reason – she just wanders through and back out. She ain’t bothered.

The fence comes down.

And then he realises she has hormones. Yes, she’s gorgeous, ‘Enry.

To say he’d never seen a bunny before a year ago, his behaviour continues to amaze me. A year ago it was Daisy he fell for. She had been long since spayed but had physical issues with her back leg from her previous life. He never ever tried to mount her or lay on her or anything. The more I think back now, the more incredible he was, is. Esther, on the other hand, is fair game. A nubile 12 month old who is nearly as big as him and definitely capable of giving as good as she gets. But there’s no nipping or biting either way. She has the patience of a saint.. He can’t leave her alone. She smells nice.

The fence goes back up. She needs a break (so do I!). He needs to calm his almost 10 year old ticker down. I go out and review things when i’m back. They evidently want to be together. The fence goes back down (what will be for good). They’re going to the bunny hotel on Friday for a few days, so I contact the lovely Anne-Louise and let her know it may be one or 2 dog crates, who knows?

It’s just one. One week on from her spay and they’ve been together all evening and night. ‘Enry is a bit tired in the morning, but they have spent time laying down next to each other and apart. They go to Harlyn Forest in one carry case. They transfer into one dog crate. Anne-Louise texts me on Sat to say she’s taking the other crate down. They’re as good as gold, like they’ve been together for years (and there’s been no humping). It’s bunny love!!! But like the best of couples, they like their own space too. I love bunnies. But our love is no replacement for the love of another bunny. It has to be on their terms, their choice and in their own time. I don’t underestimate how lucky I’ve been. There’s nothing quite like bunny love!