(that's Pippin like the musical - not the basketball player)

Pippin entered my life on September 12, 1997. He had been dropped at a local pet store because the "owners" didn't want him any more. The store was hoping to find him a home even though he wasn't a "cute baby bunny" and not a pure breed. I came in to pick up some bunny supplies with my mom. I had been planning my new arrival for about three months and was all ready... all I needed was to fall in love.  I saw him and thought he was too cute... big brown eyes lost in a compact, dark brown body with flecks of gold. And I can never resist the lops... they just look so sweet.  So within half an hour I was on my way home with a darling baby bunny. The rest is history in the making. I hope to get some pictures of him up as soon as I can but at the rate I move... it'll be a while.

Oct. 1st, 2003 10:16 am Obituary - Pippin, My Bunny

My furry companion for six years, Pippin, passed away during the night. I got up today to take him to the vet but it was too late, my bunny was already gone. I've made arrangements for him to be cremated - they will pick him up today & he'll be returned next week in an oak urn that will display his picture.

For those of you who didn't know Pippin (who was named after the musical "Pippin" - not the basketball player "Pippen") he was the biggest mush - a 9lb mini-lop (I decided long ago that the "mini" only described his ear length) who would behave as if he'd never seen food or affection whenever anyone approached his cage. He simply loved to be petted or combed - particularly by men, he didn't seem to like women nearly as much. I was crushed to find out that he'd nuzzle & lick the hands of my brother when he & Mom would bunnysit.

Pippin was found at a local pet store, where he had been dumped by his first owners so we never knew how he was treated for his first year or so of life. I always thought that might explain his preference for men... either that or I just had a gay bun. This is not to say he didn't show me any affection - it was just doled out in small doses. My favorite memory of his loving was the night I prepared to lead my first book discussion at a conference. I had opened the futon & was stretched out working, Pippin was hopping all over... occasionally hopping up and visiting me. At one point he had hopped over near my head and started grooming my hair... the very front of my hairline. I just about burst with excitement & joy because it was the first major display of affection he had ever shown me... so I settled in to enjoy the experience until the thought occurred to me that he might not be grooming, he could be chewing a bald spot into the front of my head! Normally this wouldn't be that big of an issue but it was the day before a big, public, work-related event... as gently as I could, I pulled away & ran to the mirror... all was well but by the time I got back to the futon, he had hopped away & was happily nuzzling the fireplace hearth.

Pippin was not the healthiest animal I've ever known... he had a continual "poop problem" that made his back end a real mess sometimes & he had an eye condition which caused his eyes to leak. The moisture in the fur created a "crud" that I tried my best to keep under control but with "crap" sometimes found at both ends, I often (jokingly) called him my "cruddy bunny." The vets never found anything to get rid of either problem (though some of the treatments did hold it at bay for a while) but the crud never seemed to bother him (unless I was trying to clean it) and over time I just got used to it too. I decided I'd rather have him cruddy & happy than poked, prodded & miserable.

For the first year or so, I let him roam my apartment free - only caging him at night - but after he managed to get behind my entertainment center & chewed through all of my cable, stereo, TV & VRC wires (only after managing to kick the surge protector/power strip cord out from the outlet), he became a caged bun who only had supervised romps in the outside world. To make his life on the inside a bit more comfortable, I found a great cat cage that had a 2nd level shelf. He'd spend hours stretched out on that shelf... he could just perfectly fit his wide body on the shelf - stretched out in the wonderful bunny pose. And after moving into the house three years ago, I decided he should move too... so I found a bigger cat cage that had more shelves! I put two shelves together, side by side so he'd have a wider perch to sprawl on... and then added another two shelves side-by-side so he had three levels to enjoy.

Pippin Bunny enjoyed food most of all - with human love and attention running a close second. I will miss him terribly but I hope on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge all of his crud is left behind & when we meet again I'll be able to spend time with him where I won't have to do more than love & hold him. No more baths & flea comb cleanings for him!

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