Thanks everybody. You know when someone says something like binky free or carrots galore about a rabbit that passed, how you can just sort of cringe? that is still happening. It is probably good that it is too.
Just thinking about Blizzard in those terms, binking or eating carrots or whatever is just awful.Seven weeks.
I have lost bunnies before who have died in their sleep at a much much older age. And it hurts. But not like this one. This one I lost due to very bad breeding. Her parents should never have been bred as they had a history of severe dental problems over and beyond what you normally see. I didn't know that. So I had to put their baby down young.
There are so so many bunnies in the world deserving of good homes. So many rescues that need homes.
I have two in my barn right now. A little blind chin helicopter eared holland lop with a split penis- God dealt him a triple whammy- and a little thrianta who is getting older than the hills. When I rescue, I keep them for life. When these two go, I will probably get more.
These were both drop offs by breeders to pet stores who could not sell them cause they were messes.
This is why I spend so so much time at the vet. And so so much money on the vet. Having every single litter tested for disease, parasites, bad teeth, bad ears, bad eyes.
Because as breeders of show rabbits, we have a real responsibility to make sure we do nothing to add to the rescue rabbit population. A responsibility to not breed bad teeth, eyes, bones, etc. The onus is on the show breeder more than anyone else in the world to not produce rabbits that will be abandoned by their new owners later on.
blizzard was so young, and so perfect in all respects. She won BOV in her first show 20 minutes after I bought her. She won BOB in her second ten minutes later. three months later she was sooooooo sick, so abscessed, and half her jaw would have had to have been removed. A beautiful, beautiful rabbit who quite frankly and this may sound harsh- she should never have been born. Never. As a breeder, a deliberate breeder of show rabbits in a rescue rabbit world, I carry this around with me. Just can't help it.
Sorry if I depressed you guys.
ink iris: