Bellatrix and Voldemort on one of their many dates through the fence. Photo courtesy of Callie L.From the first day they met Bellatrix, Callie and her husband, Dave, knew she was a special bun. They got her when she was a wee little bun and quickly bonded her to a little blond lop named Voldemort. Bellatrix and Voldemort became fast friends and loved each other dearly.
For such a little bun, Bellatrix was unusually strong and had an enormous amount of life and spirit. She loved to chase Callie and Dave so she could groom them and give them bunny kisses. And she still had plenty more affection to offer her bunny companion, Voldemort.
Sadly, Bellatrix developed head tilt and many other medical complications early in life. Callie and Dave did their best to support her with vet trips, syringe feedings, medications, and lots and lots of love. Despite their best efforts, though, Bellatrix passed on when she was only eight months old.
Callie and Bellatrix. Photo by RogueWolf Photography, used with permission.Remarkably, Callie found her way through the pain that always accompanies such a loss and was able to find some inspiration. From the experience of caring for Bellatrix, Callie learned to love a special needs bunny, and she knows how many more of them are out there looking for forever homes. She hopes to open her heart and home to another special needs bun at some point soon.
In the end, Callie says she takes great comfort in knowing Bellatrix is binkying her heart out in the great beyond, free of all the physical limitations that held her back on this earth.
Well, Callie, I also find your story inspiring. Bellatrix was clearly a master of bunniness with a staggering amount of love to offer. Thank you so much for sharing your story. May you continue to heal from your grief and find ways to help the bunnies who need it most.
Bellatrix the bunny. Photo by RogueWolf Photography, used with permission.
Looking for more inspiring bunny stories? Try these:
Fiver the bunny, Photo courtesy of Donna W. Click the pic to follow them on Facebook!With special thanks to Donna W., today we have a heartwarming story and a double dose of bunniness.
Like so many bunny lovers, Donna has experienced the heartbreak of losing a bunny. She had a bunny named Mr. Sparkle, who was “crazy and affectionate and silly.” They had a special bond and spent hours together on the floor. She would talk with him. He would snuggle with her. And often they would sit nose to nose.
Sadly, Mr. Sparkle left this world early and Donna was faced with a difficult and unexpected loss. Through her grief, Donna managed to find a greater appreciation for living each moment to the fullest. When she thinks of Mr. Sparkle now, she thinks, “the light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long, and you have burned so very very brightly.”
Hazel the bunny, Photo courtesy of Donna W. Click the pic to follow their blog!As so many of us know, a bunny never truly leaves your heart and it can be difficult to welcome a new bunny after such a loss. But eight years after losing Mr. Sparkle, Donna welcomed the two adorable buns on this page into her home. She says Hazel and Fiver are “sweet and funny,” and she is enjoying getting to know their special bunny idiosyncrasies.
With deep respect for your loss, Donna, I commend you for finding the courage to open your heart to bunnies again. It takes a great deal of strength to do so, and I am sure you are reaping the rewards on a daily basis. May you, Hazel and Fiver share wonderful moments of bunniness for many years to come!
For more about Donna, Hazel and Fiver, be sure to follow their Facebook page and their Bunny Blog!
Today’s moment of bunniness comes from Kim C. and her angel bun, Nestor, who truly embodied the spirit of Bunny Buddhism by overcoming incredible adversity with a heart full of love.
Nestor the bunny, Photo courtesy of Kim C.Nestor suffered several serious infections over his lifetime and even lost an eye to one of them. He was abandoned in a shelter and ten years old before he was adopted by Kim C.
When she first brought him home, Nestor was depressed, but his new environment gave him a chance to explore his inner bunniness. Soon, he was giving kisses and enjoying the company of humans and animals alike.
Sadly, he later developed leukemia, which he fought for a year before his body could no longer take the side effects from steroids at such an advanced age. His immune system deteriorated and he developed an inner ear infection before passing away.
In life, we encounter a seemingly endless parade of difficult experiences. It is easy to get frustrated and give up. If anyone knows this, I do.
But I also think we can learn from Nestor’s experience. Nestor had to face difficulties for many years. If he had given up, he never would have found the loving home that helped him become the bunny he always had the potential to be.
Rather than focusing on the difficult life Nestor had, I will remember how he found his way into a loving home. I will remember that Kim C. adopted a ten year old bunny with one eye when no one else would. I will remember that every obstacle creates opportunity and that we are more likely to find that opportunity when we open our hearts to love and kindness.
May we all hop in kindness, for kind hops benefit all beings.
Koucha the bunny, Photo courtesy of BrittanyIn the wake of losing her mother to cancer in 2010, Brittany came across a beautiful bunny who was about to be culled for not being “show quality.” Thankfully, Brittany knew this particular bun had a higher purpose: “When I saw her photo, I instantly knew she would be special.”
Brittany saved the poor bunny and named her Koucha—a Japanese name that means “black tea.”
Koucha was eight weeks old when Brittany found her and will be five years old this November. Each year, Koucha has a birthday party. On her last birthday, she had a personalized mini pink birthday hat (thanks to her Aunt Brianne in Pennsylvania) and personalized, edible “Hoppy Birthday!” cookies.
Brittany describes Koucha as a bossy, free-range apartment rabbit who is litter trained and spayed. Koucha especially enjoys nudging her three human slaves in the behind for attention!
Beneath that bossy demeanor, though, is a loving bunny who gives kisses in return for pets. And, in Brittany’s words, she is “my best friend, my bunny, the heartbeat at my feet.”
Koucha the bunny, Photo courtesy of BrittanyKoucha’s love and personality have changed Brittany’s life in a number of ways. As bunnies often do, Koucha opened Brittany’s eyes to the cruel acts done to animals for the sake of cosmetics, household goods, and food.
Herbivore Koucha also inspired Brittany to abstain from animal products. Both Brittany and Koucha consume lots of fresh fruits and veggies on a daily basis (only a small amount for Koucha!) and generally spend their time enjoying each other’s company.
Perhaps the most striking lesson from Koucha was an important one about love. Through nurturing and taking care of Koucha, Brittany has gained a greater understanding of the love her own mother had for her—an unconditional love.
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother, Brittany, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this inspiring story of bunniness. Koucha sounds like an incredible bunny, and I hope she continues to bring bunniness into your life for a long time to come!
