(Not to be confused with Bonnie has a Bentley named Bunny)
What a cutie!
I made a note on my phone to write a post about my bunny a couple weeks ago, and I finally sat down to write it on Thursday last week. My sweet, precious bunny... chose that afternoon to bite clean through my ring light cord.
I was furious. (But I’ll prob forgive him anyways)
In April of 2020 amid lockdown protocols, finishing up my final semester of college, and teaching on zoom, I decided I really wanted a bunny. But I wasn’t sure where to begin or whether I could even get one during a global pandemic! I started doing a lot of research and asking questions. Learned that thousands of bunnies every year get discarded by their owners. Many of these are bought from breeders or unhealthy chain stores where the bunnies aren’t cared for. Then the families bring these bunnies home unprepared for the responsibility so they give up.
Flash forward to August I found a trusted rescue organization and went to meet my little bun for the first time! His name was Chipmunk when I rescued him. He was not owner surrendered like many others at the rescue, but instead was found with his brothers and sisters, in a cardboard box on the side of the road. They were infected with fleas and ticks and definitely love starved. It’s certainly been an adjustment, but despite the chewing of almost all the cords in my bedroom, I’m pretty obsessed with him.
I’m going to introduce you to Bentley with a few stories. First of all you should know that my sweet boy has a little bit of what’s called “cage aggression.” When I first brought him home he lived 24/7 in a pen on the side of my bed, I didn’t give him any roam time at first but thought it might be fun to crawl in with him to get snuggles. But all I got instead was nibbles and growls. And of course Bentley’s barks (yes, bunny’s bark…or at least mine does!) He’s gotten a lot better, especially now that he free roams my bedroom during the day. There was one day only a month after he came that I walked in after work one night to him not running to my feet. That’s strange. I thought, then I see two little ears stretch out from the side of a few pillows on my bed! He was hiding between a pillow and a stuffed animal hoping I wouldn’t see him there. I still smile when I remember seeing those over sized “helicopter” ears peeking out!
What does Bentley love? Well eating pellets of course, he prefers full treat not the skimpy 1/2 ones mom gives him, #gimmemoveggies, he loves pushing his puzzle ball around, waking mom up at 6 am but jumping around his XL dog kennel, running between mom’s feet in the morning and nudging her to give me more pets instead of getting ready. As my little emotional support animal, I love putting my phone away and lying down on the floor with him for long stretches of time just spending time with him. He’s snuggly until you try to pick him up. Never a good idea if you can help it!! He loves to explore every inch of my (really HIS) bedroom almost to his endangerment. The funniest moments for me is when he scampers behind his kennel or dresser but then can’t get back out of the narrow space. So he “booty bumps” back out by shaking his butt...It’s quite hilarious! Link to reel here!
Not to get too sappy, but I’ve also learned some things I didn’t expect to on this journey. I’ve thought a little about what it takes to protect the little guy. Like how there are a lot of times I have to pull him away or blockade him from getting to something that may be harmful. He gets mad at me and usually thumps-you know like “They call me Thumper” from Bambi. It can be pretty cute but also aggravating when you know he would be safer if he stopped fighting me. Sometimes i wonder if that’s how God is with us.
He constantly is redirecting us and leading us toward him and way from what may hurt us. Instead of responding in gratitude, how many times do I respond in frustration that he didn’t give me what I wanted as if he owed me? He doesn’t owe us anything, in fact, we don’t deserve any of the grace he offers. That’s why the author of Proverbs urges us to not rely on our own understanding.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.”
-Proverbs 3:5-6
While I am far from the perfect bun mom (or mom in general when the time comes I’m sure!) it was pretty humbling to realize how often I find myself like Bentley. Doubting that God is good because of my circumstances, or doubting that His love is all I need. Sounds silly to compare to my bunny, but maybe we can all learn a bit from this lesson.
Want to adopt a bun pal of your own? Check out local shelters or domestic bunny surrender organizations. Like The Bunny Burrow Rabbit Rescue.