From commentor JasonF:
This morning, my wife and I had to say goodbye to our rabbit, William. I wanted to write something about him, but I’m finding it very difficult to put into words just how special he was…
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We first met William in February 1999. Our pet rabbit (Pipkin) had just died unexpectedly and we were looking for another rabbit to fill the void. We were in a small apartment (I was still in school), so we were looking for a miniature breed. Pipkin’s breed had been Rex, so I wanted some breed other than Rex. I called the House Rabbit Society of Chicago and told them we were looking to adopt, and that we were looking for a mini of some other breed than Rex. The woman I spoke to said she had the perfect rabbit for me — William, a standard sized Rex. I was skeptical, but we decided to drive out to where he was being fostered and meet him. Once we met him, we knew he was the right rabbit for us. I spent the next 12 years with him — a full third of my life — and never had a better pet.
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William had been found abandoned in a snowbank; I’m proud to say that he never knew anything even close to that again once we took him home. Throughout his life, I tried to do everything I could to give him the best life a bunny could have.
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William was full of personality. He loved to run around and be the center of attention. Whenever we would have guests, William would be sure to come into the room and demand everybody focus on him. He also loved to play. He liked to dig in a pile of laundry or the bed sheets, or to pick up a pair of shoes I had left on the ground and throw them around. And he was mischievous. You know that game kids play where they tap you on one side, then run around to your other side so you’ll look the wrong way? He liked to play that — if you were sitting in a chair, there was a good chance he’d tap you on your leg with his nose, then run around to your other side.
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William was smart. He was a big fan of Star Trek. He liked the original series, the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and all the other iterations, but he didn’t really care about any other shows. I’ll never know how he could tell the difference between Star Trek Enterprise and Stargate Atlantis or Babylon 5 or some other sci-fi show, but somehow he could. Put on a Star Trek and he’d sit by the TV watching it; put on some other series and he’d go about his business.
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Mostly I remember how he was always there for us. Once my wife got very sick. Even though he never slept in the bed with us (the bed was a place for jumping and playing, not sleeping), on that day, he climbed into bed and sat with her until she fell asleep. Once he was sure she was asleep, he hopped down, used his litter box, and went back to his station on the bed, watching over her.
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I don’t know what happens when we leave this world, but I like to think there’s a heaven, and that William is there, watching over us still.
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By the way, if you turn to the March page of your Balloon Juice calendar, William is the rabbit on the left-hand side of the page.
Viva BrisVegas
Rabbits make such good pets, although you do need to watch out for the tips of your fingers when feeding them carrots.
I had a Giant New Zealand White named Sooty until I was 12, when a couple of dogs dug into his pen and had their way with him.
Of course there is a heaven, where carrots grow as tall as redwoods and the grass is short but sweet. Unfortunately it’s only for rabbits.
Linda Featheringill
Aaahhhhh. William was such a pretty boy!
I have long suspected they play hide-and-seek in Heaven [or wherever] and now they will play poke-you-on-the-opposite-side, too.
My sympathy.
Lysana
Wow, I had no idea rabbits could be that interactive as pets. And what a gorgeous boy he was. I’m sure you miss him immensely.
ErinSiobhan
What a beautiful guy. Condolences on losing him but smiles for all the good years you had with him.
Admiral_Komack
Thank you.
My condolences on your loss.
William is cute.
I wonder how he would vote on Kirk vs. Picard?
Sarah in Brooklyn
Aw. RIP William. What a fine bunny.
jurassicpork
What an adorable little guy. I wish I could keep a rabbit. I’d set up a little warren in our bedroom. Unfortunately, I have a large tomcat who hasn’t lost one bit of his predatory instincts.
Anyway, I just realized this morning that yesterday was my 6th blogoversary. So I thought a retrospective was in order, including the opening words, and a link to, my very first entry six years and 3000 blog posts ago.
mlk
He was a beautiful boy. My condolences on your loss.
Jeez, these posts never fail to make me cry.
WereBear
What an adorable bunny! RIP William. You made him very happy, and there is nothing more cute than a dancing bunny.
We had dogs, so our rabbit lived in a hutch outside, inside a chain link room where he ran free and made friends with the cats. They treated him as a slightly challenged cat (don’t mention the ears!) and he got gray muzzled before expiring in his sleep; I did the best I could for him.
People are surprised at how interactive bunnies can be. They make excellent apartment pets.
And I’m going to think of William watching William (Shatner) all day today.
kdaug
They teach us how to love, and how to grieve.
Humble condolences.
Maude
William was a happy bunny. He was also georgeous.
Maybe a new rescue bunny would be good, following in the William tradition.
gnomedad
So sorry for your loss. My first impression of the top photo was that he was sitting on top of a television. You can fill in the rest. :)
Southern Beale
Wow I had no idea that rabbits were so intelligent. The only rabbits I know are the wild ones that live in our hedge. I really learned a lot about “house bunnies” (wasn’t that a lame Anna Faris movie?). I really didn’t know they could be pets and trained to use a litter box. I feel so ignorant.
So sorry for your loss. It’s so sad to lose an animal friend; and I DO believe that we reunite with these friends on the other side. It wouldn’t be heaven without them.
wonkie
What an adorable rabbit.Thank you for your story.
JPL
The wild bunnies in my yard play a game with the dog called try and catch me if you can. The dog doesn’t try any more and although they don’t exactly co-exist, they tolerate each other. When I’m outside today, I’ll look at them differently.
I’m sorry to hear about William.
OT Al Jazeera in Cairo was shut down by the government. That is not a good sign.
Michael D.
@Lysana:
This is news to me as well. And even though I didn’t know that, I DO know that all people feel the same way about their pets, no matter what kind of pet it is** so my condolences to you guys.
Find another rabbit!
**Ok, maybe not fish.
Michael D.
And, oh yeah, “William” FTW. I love it when people name pets “people names.”
Gina
Aw, William was a cutie, and add me to the list of amazed people who were ignorant of how companionable rabbits really can be. Sympathies to you for this loss, but thank you for sharing the LOLs too. And I’m wondering how he felt about Janeway…
Sko Hayes
Wonderful story and a great education on what great pets rabbits can be. William was beautiful.
BruceFromOhio
You have pretty well described my older daughter’s mini-Rex. He was just like you describe William, given to behavior that bespoke a bright little mind in action, not just reaction. Rabbits aren’t the brightest stars in the pet sky, but they can shine in their own way.
And Michael D, you got it – we were all standing together sobbing in the garden the day we had to bury our little guy.
My condolences to you, JasonF, and your family on your loss.
Gina
Just saw this on BoingBoing, Kitty Midnight Madness!
Bella
I inherited an unwanted bunny last year when her owners were going to turn her loose, in the woods, in winter. I’d never had one and never wanted one, thinking like others here that they are boring pets.
So wrong! She is affectionate, sweet and smart. She’s quite entertaining. I think what I most like about her is the way she holds her own with my cats. She considers herself one of the gang and that’s just how they treat her. They’ll get in her cage with her or play chase, and she loves it!
Sorry about William, he was a beautiful boy.
harlana
awww, beautiful bunny, sweet story
J.
RIP William. He sounds and looks like a very fine rabbit, JasonF. (FYI, check out http://www.disapprovingrabbits.com if you are unfamiliar with the site. I think William would have enjoyed it.)
ChrisS
Very pretty bunny. We had bunnies growing up until bunnies do what bunnies do and then we had lots of bunnies.
My gf would like a house rabbit, but with the two cats and brittany, I don’t think the bunny would live a very enjoyable existence.
My condolences on your loss and your story brought a tear to my eye.
lamh34
Ughh…lamestream media is too timid a name for our “political” media. So ya’ll know there was a “firestorm” of criticism over Michelle O wearing an “non-American” designer for the State Dinner for China people who were mad she wasn’t wearing their dress (I see you Oscar De La Renta & Dianne Von Fonstengburg or these designers even considered “American” designers?).
So then of course the NYTimes fashion editor writes a piece saying Michelle O was a victim of a “fashion witch hunt”. I read that article BTW. The article was a back-handed complement if I’ve ever heard one. The attempt to “defend” FLOTUS fashion choices was just an excuse to criticize her “image” as only being due to fashion.
Ah… Michelle O could wear a freakin’ burlap sack, and she would look fabulous, and people would write about it. Besides, in the non-fashion mags, the focus is NOT on FLOTUS fashion, but on her deeds and projects. Stop writing about her fashion and focus on her projects…duh.
Anyway, now FLOTUS responded in an interview on GMA. Sadlyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/29/michelle-obama-responds-t_n_815867.html, it shouldn’t even had been necessary, but whatever.
Wise words…ah yeah. This whole thing was ridiculour. Personally, I hope to never see FLOTUS in anything by Oscar De La Renta. he’s been a douchebag over FLOTUS since the “cardigan to see the queen” bizness.
JasonF
Thank you all for the kind words about William. It was hard waking up this morning and knowing he wouldn’t be there, but reading this thread made things a little bit easier.
JCT
Awesome bunny and great story — what a wonderful way to start a long day!
You sure gave him a great life!
Ash Can
William was obviously an outstanding bunny. Thanks for sharing this great story, and deepest condolences on your loss.
Violet
What a sweet bunny. The photo with the bookshelf is just priceless. He looks like he’s picking out a bedtime story. Awww…RIP William. I hope he’s in a wonderful heaven, hopping about and watching “Star Trek” to relax.
Hillary Rettig
@Michael D.:
Apparently koi (big outdoor goldfish) will come up to you not just to be fed but patted. People grow incredibly bonded to them and will spend thousands on medical care on them. The WSJ had an article on this a few years back.
Mollies will zoom back and forth with your finger, of course.
And years ago, we had an aquarium that was down to one zebrafish, plus some other fish. It took us a while to get around to buying more zebras, but when we introduced them to the tank, Zebra #1 got incredibly crazy and started zooming around, circling them, etc., before finally settling in to school with them. He looked like he was literally dancing for joy. My husband and I watched, dumbfounded, and then we both turned to each other and said, simultaneously, “He was lonely.”
Before that, I think I thought of zebras as a kind of decorative pebble, incapable of emotion. This incident helped me expand my circle of compassion to include all animals – and also reminds me never to underestimate the intelligence, sociability, etc., of any animal.
tim serbo
JasonF, i mourn with you. as write this i’m sipping coffee and Hoppipolla (middle of the December page of your B-J calendar) has his nose in a pile of greens. when he’s had his fill he’ll come over and nibble on the cuff of my pants until he gets my attention. i can attest to JasonF;s observations about bunny playfulness and need for the limelight. little divas, they are. i suspect a phantom William will be pulling the ol’ misdirection play on you for some time to come. so happy to know he sweetened your life.
tim serbo
p.s. William was obviously a Shatner man. and i have it on good authority he was fanatically loyal to the Mac. they’re very intelligent little beasties, you know.
Another Commenter at Balloon Juice (fka Bella Q)
What a lovely bunny William was – RIP sweet one. I’m sorry for your loss; they leave such big paw prints on our hearts.
JasonF
Oh, and to answer the question: Sisko was his favorite.
Jane2
William was such a handsome boy! Thanks for sharing this story of your amazing time together.
Gina
@JasonF: Mine too!
Mnemosyne
I had no idea that domestic rabbits could live to 12 years old! It sounds like you gave him a long and happy life, but I know that doesn’t ease the pain of right now.
You Don't Say
William was beautiful! And a sweetheart, too. I’m sorry for your loss.
asiangrrlMN
@JasonF: I’m so sorry for the loss of your William. I, too, am surprised by how interactive a bunny can be. You gave him a wonderful life, and I hope he pokes you from time to time from the other side. My deepest condolences.
Jeanne ringland
Dear JasonF,
Thank you for sharing William with us. He was a beautiful boy. We had a lovely mini-rex named Phoebe that we bought as a tiny bunny from a 4H student at a county fair, and she was a wonderful house rabbit. She played the same games with us and one of my husband’s favorite parts of the day was at breakfast when she would hop into his lap and snuggle while he ate. Reading the newspaper was nearly impossible if she was in your lap, though.
We had her for seven years and it wasn’t long enough.
ruemara
William is a lovely Rex and has the best of all house bunny qualities. I had a family of them in NYC. They were Manhattanites, sophisticates all who adored chinese pot noodle and nibbling on the apartment trim. The Sire of this family was Thunderball BunBun (shut up it’s my bunny) who was so cool, we would put him in a military bread bag and walk him around the upper west side. He’d go out for pancakes in that bag, ride the Big Apple market shopping cart and was in a Peta Catalog with the big sister from the Cosby show. He was smart, loved to play chase and tag with the cat and took no guff from dogs even though he was actually a mini. I think we had a mutual adoration thing going on. He’d follow me to bath and make sure I was ok from the hallway. Sadly, he passed way too early because he had a spinal injury from my stupid, clumsy now completely ex. Rabbits are big personality in little fuzzy packages. Just like Thunder, William will never be forgotten and is probably keeping an eye on you until you show up where he is so the tag game will commence.
CindyD
If there is a heaven, and I hope there is, it’s certainly inhabited by people and animals. ( If there are no animals, then I don’t want to go!) I certainly feel your loss of William. It’s a loss all of us who have pets share. May tomorrow be a better day.
Katie5
I completely get it. I had two toy Dutches and loved them like crazy. The second one lived till 12 and had a happy last year munching on bananas (it was about all he could eat at that stage. He also could smell them from a floor away and would thump loudly when I started to unpeel one). He was never intimidated, especially not by cats. If any of our cats tried to attack him, he’d first hunker down so they couldn’t get a grip on him. When he got tired of that, he took off and sprayed them. He had uncanny aim, which I discovered to my dismay if I attempted to intervene.
It’s been many years and I miss them still. It gets better, though. Take care.
Rihilism
What an exquisitely beautiful boy! Thank you for sharing your pictures and reflections of William, and I am deeply sorry for your loss.
Having had to say goodbye to two cats (one 15 yro, one 1 yro), I know how difficult their passing can be. Be sure to surround yourself with friends and family and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to take care of yourself.
Tim
Many flop eared angels sing thee to they rest, William.
I am sorry for your loss, buy joyful for his life and love with you.
Anne Laurie
DeForest Kelley (‘Bones’ McCoy). NIGHT OF THE LEPUS. Nuff said.
tk
I run a dog rescue in Colorado. I have lost many dogs over the years to old age, illness, bad genetics, etc. The solace I take when they pass is the fact that whatever their past, when they made it to me, their lives became safe, warm and fun. However long that lasted, when they left me they new what it was to be cared for and loved. Many animals never know that feeling before they pass. So thank you on Williams behalf, for making his life so much better than it might have been.
cher
What a beautiful bunny, his fur looks like plush velvet! I enjoyed reading about him…what a personality he must have had.
I’m so sorry for your loss….there’s another rabbit out there ready to be loved whenever you’re ready.
Comrade Nikolita
RIP William.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. :)