Rosie beat me to posting - so I'll just copy and paste my post here...
[line]As many of you may know, last spring Rosie (maherwoman) fell in love with a litter of rabbits that we had born here. Plans were made for her family to adopt Drew, Bun Bun & Dusty and add them to their family in California. A few months ago, we lost Drew very suddenly to what we suspected could be heart failure. Bun Bun passed away a little over a month ago. I discussed with some of the moderators the possiblity of genetic issues and having Dusty tested for them - but we all felt like as long as he seemed in good health, it would not do well to stress him out with a vet visit - particularly since we don't have rabbit-savy vets within 70+ miles and it would mean a long trip. It was decided that it was in Dusty's best interests to stay with me because we were not sure he could survive a trip on the plane.
Earlier today, Rosie asked about Dusty and about 10:45 pm I sent her a PM sharing some of how funny he was and how much I enjoyed him. About 11:25 pm, Robin came into my office with Dusty in her arms - he was in distress. I called Rosie immediately but we knew that we were going to lose him.
Dusty spent the last two hours of his life either in our arms, on our lap, or on the couch. At one point, I called Rosie and asked her to let him know it was ok for him to pass on....because he was fighting so hard to stay with us and yet we could tell he was losing the fight. He needed to know he had permission to leave.
As I told Rosie, perhaps it was the way he held his head - but there were times when it almost looked like he was staring off at something in particular - as if he saw something we were unable to see. I wondered if Drew and Bun Bun were coming back and he could see them - I don't know.
I called Rosie shortly after 1:20 am - and Dusty passed away a couple of moments later in Robin's arms. He knew he was loved and had pets and human comfort all the way during the final part of his life.
Dusty was a talker - he loved to talk to us - and during the last 20 minutes or so - as we would talk to him and pet him - he'd sort of chirp back at us in his own way. I'm going to miss his chatter when I go to feed bunnies.
Pictures and more stories are going to come later - I hope to make this thread a celebration of his life....I'll probably pull some stories from a thread about the three of them (Letters to our New Mama) and I'll tell some more things here.
My hope is - that together - we can honor his memory - and the memory of his siblings who we suspect all had genetic issues that laid hidden till the end of their lives.
Unlike other threads I've done for Rainbow Bridge - I am going to ask something here...something that I would like you to do in honor or in memory of Dusty.
So many times we lose beloved pets suddenly. Rabbits are so good at hiding illnesses. I was just thinking today how I wanted to spend some time w/ Dusty and take some pictures of him....now he's gone and I don't have that chance.
Would you please...take a photo of your bunny or bunnies and share ONE photo in this thread - a NEW photo - that you took since reading this....
Edited to add: Please do the photos within 72 hours or so of reading this thread if possible....mainly because I'd like his passing to encourage others to take photos of their buns ASAP....
You see - if Dusty's sudden passing can encourage people to remember to take pictures of their bunnies NOW - while they are still with us....then perhaps it will help to ease the pain we bear. If nothing else - it will mean you'll have at least one new photo of your bunnies to remember them by.
I think that would please Dusty.....
I know Rosie is pretty broken up about this....so she may post later - but I'm posting this now so the forum can know about this.
And for those who want to know more about this special litter - you can read about them here:
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=20859&forum_id=28
Peg
