Ian Gagnon
New Kit
My name is Ian. My wife Shannon and I love rabbits.
In 2004, we came across Louie. We had recently lost out previous bunny Oliver to kidney failure and were not ready to love again, but we couldn't say no!
Louie was approximately 3 months old when we found him and we were told he was a French Lop (I'm 100% sure he is a mix probably French and Holland).
He was being kept in a 15 gallon aquarium with cedar chip bedding. He was sneezing and his nose was running. I knew immediately that he had an upper respiratory infection and needed urgent medical care right away. The people who had him insisted he only "had a cold" and didn't need to see a vet. I refused to leave without taking him with me because I knew he was I'll. They sold Louie to me for $30 and I made a bee-line to our vet.
We found out immediately that he had a major pasturella infection that was already to the stage of being chronic (I'm certain his mother had it and passed it along to him as a baby. Down with bunny mills!!!). That didn't stop us from doing everything we could try to help him. In the first year and a half alone we spent $3000 on trips to specialists, etc. Everyone told us he would probably only live a year or two due to how bad his infection was, but we weren't going to give up. Louie was way too full of life and love!
Well, Louie went from oral medication to a nebulizer (he would patiently sit with the little mask on for 10 minutes each day!) and around 2009 we switched to injected medicine that I administered sub-Q twice a week. He never completely got better and always sneezed from time to time, but was so full of life and energy that everyone who met him loved him instantly.
Every night before bed he would follow us into the kitchen and pick out what veggies he wanted for his bedtime salad.
And besides binkies and playing his favorite thing to do was to snuggle. He especially liked to wedge himself between your feet and sleep.
He also loved to take naps together.
At the ripe age of 9 years and 8 months he developed cancer of the lymph nodes. From the moment that the first lump appeared to the day we had to say goodbye was 2 short weeks.
Our vets office sent us a card with their condolences, but our vet personally sent us an amazing flower arrangement and a hand written letter.
But even days before we would have to say goodbye, he still wanted to be close. He wanted love (and to give it).
He was an amazing little soul that changed our lives forever and we will always miss him deeply.
I hope this story didn't make anyone too sad. That wasn't the point. My hope was to share a story of how the proper care and unlimited love and compassion can be just as important if not more so than medications. As people who have bunnies in our lives a lot of people don't understand how powerful the bond is, and how amazing they are. I'm just glad I found this place where so many people feel like we do!
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to seeing pictures from everyone and reading everyone else's stories as well.
Also... in July there will be bunnies entering our home again for the first time in many months. The time for grieving is coming to a close. It's time to love again!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In 2004, we came across Louie. We had recently lost out previous bunny Oliver to kidney failure and were not ready to love again, but we couldn't say no!
Louie was approximately 3 months old when we found him and we were told he was a French Lop (I'm 100% sure he is a mix probably French and Holland).
He was being kept in a 15 gallon aquarium with cedar chip bedding. He was sneezing and his nose was running. I knew immediately that he had an upper respiratory infection and needed urgent medical care right away. The people who had him insisted he only "had a cold" and didn't need to see a vet. I refused to leave without taking him with me because I knew he was I'll. They sold Louie to me for $30 and I made a bee-line to our vet.
We found out immediately that he had a major pasturella infection that was already to the stage of being chronic (I'm certain his mother had it and passed it along to him as a baby. Down with bunny mills!!!). That didn't stop us from doing everything we could try to help him. In the first year and a half alone we spent $3000 on trips to specialists, etc. Everyone told us he would probably only live a year or two due to how bad his infection was, but we weren't going to give up. Louie was way too full of life and love!
Well, Louie went from oral medication to a nebulizer (he would patiently sit with the little mask on for 10 minutes each day!) and around 2009 we switched to injected medicine that I administered sub-Q twice a week. He never completely got better and always sneezed from time to time, but was so full of life and energy that everyone who met him loved him instantly.
Every night before bed he would follow us into the kitchen and pick out what veggies he wanted for his bedtime salad.
And besides binkies and playing his favorite thing to do was to snuggle. He especially liked to wedge himself between your feet and sleep.
He also loved to take naps together.
At the ripe age of 9 years and 8 months he developed cancer of the lymph nodes. From the moment that the first lump appeared to the day we had to say goodbye was 2 short weeks.
Our vets office sent us a card with their condolences, but our vet personally sent us an amazing flower arrangement and a hand written letter.
But even days before we would have to say goodbye, he still wanted to be close. He wanted love (and to give it).
He was an amazing little soul that changed our lives forever and we will always miss him deeply.
I hope this story didn't make anyone too sad. That wasn't the point. My hope was to share a story of how the proper care and unlimited love and compassion can be just as important if not more so than medications. As people who have bunnies in our lives a lot of people don't understand how powerful the bond is, and how amazing they are. I'm just glad I found this place where so many people feel like we do!
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to seeing pictures from everyone and reading everyone else's stories as well.
Also... in July there will be bunnies entering our home again for the first time in many months. The time for grieving is coming to a close. It's time to love again!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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