Dopey 1- 25-06-2006 - 13-03-2019
Reply With QuoteOn 8th November 2012, the unthinkable happened, and after many years of battling for her life, we lost Dopey 2. I was so worried about how you would be, having lost your other half. Only, you carried on. In later years we joked that you must have absorbed the other Dopey into you, given your life span.
Lightning remained your friend and you and he were then a solid couple. It turned out that as long as you had a bunny friend, you were happy. You were both getting on, but you bobbed about. You enjoyed life outside until your arthritis was too much to manage outside, and we moved you inside. You gathered some health problems along the way (the arthritis, dental abscesses, kidney issues, digestive issues) and your sight and hearing declined- or so we thought. In later years we thought this was a tactical movement from you- you seemed to be able to see and hear when you wanted, and to your benefit- the rest of the time- nope.
It was great fun having you in my room. You were such a spritely old lady. VERY tidy too. Out of everyone, you and Lighters were trusted to have the biggest area to roam, and you roamed into the spare room and anywhere else, really. It seemed to keep you young, to have more spaces to explore. Your body was failing, but your mind was so strong, and so alert. You had such a zest for life.
You and Lighters were both getting older, and both of your bodies were failing, and we weren’t really sure who would leave first, but, on 22nd April 2018, after fighting to save him for a week, Lightning’s body gave up on him. Leaving you alone. At nearly 12 years old- for the first time in your life, you were properly alone.
But not for long. Dawn was a single soul, and had been for a long time- nearly three years by that point. Within a week we had to try. I didn’t want either of you to be alone, and so it made sense.
Once he had decided that the small furry white thing (you) wasn’t something to be scared of, you bonded so quickly, and easily. Two elderly bunnies, in their very twilight years- you were nearly 12, he was nearly 11.
You were one of my favourite bonds and pairs ever- because you gave each other what everyone deserves as they age- company, companionship and care. You taught him some naughty habits, showing him how to escape (as he had used to, when he lived with Sunny), showed him the spare room- taught him how to groom again. He came to life and just enjoyed things so much more than when he was alone. I’m so grateful to you for that. You’ll never know.
You guys had several good months together, and really were just simply adorable, but Dawn was then claimed. At that point, I only had three thumping big lops and you couldn’t be bonded with them.
You were ok enough, and your mind was willing, but your body aged and failed quickly. We gave you a stuffed bunny friend, and you adored him, but a stuffed friend is not the same as a real life friend. That said, you would cuddle with him, groom him, and stay with him- to you, he was your friend. (I hope this works).
In those remaining months you slept, a lot, and you were very cute (and it was very stressful to us, trying to work out if you were dead or just sleeping).
You would sleep and dream and fall over, because of your arthritis, and then not be able to right yourself. We did a lot of putting you up the right way- but you always carried on. Thankfully, you never did this when we weren’t around (or, if you did, you managed to get yourself up)- at night, your scrabbling would wake me up, and during the day you were coming down into the living room for company with us. But you still carried on, full of life, when you were awake.
Until 13th March 2019, when my dad got home and found you on your side, and it seemed like you had been there a long time. You were weak and weren’t easily stabilised, and were covered in caecs. Once you were upright and staying that way, you were still your normal popping self, but I had a choice to make.
We could bath you, and risk this happening again- we knew you were failing, and I never, ever wanted to let you down. Or we called it a day, one day to early. And we went for the latter. You weren’t psychologically ready, but your body was. It was frail and old and it had wound down. But, with some help, you left us, peacefully, being cuddled.
It’s taken me a long, long time to write this lady. I couldn’t deal with it back then, and I’m not much better now, but I promised you I’d post on your 13th birthday, and that’s today.
You were the sweetest, nicest, funniest rabbit we’ve had. To live the life you did, and to outlive, not one, not two, but three husbands, and your sister, says a lot for the rabbit that you were.
After you’d gone, for a long time, I’d still roll over in bed to look at you, and you wouldn’t be there. Now that the cage has come down, I see you in my minds eye, always, just coming over for food and jumping around without a care in the world.
You were the last of the ‘original’ bunnies, and, when you died, the end of an era occurred, and that’s been hard to process. We had you for the privilege of nearly 13 years. That’s an amazing gift you gave us. I will always wish we had you for longer, but that’s true for all of you- it’s always too early.
Lady, thank you. Thank you so much for being my friend, and sharing my room, and just being you. I truly hope that Rainbow Bridge exists and that you have found your other half, and all your husbunnies, and that they aren’t fighting over you. I hope that you are now back in your healthy body, not the frail body that wouldn’t let you do what your mind wanted you to do.
I miss you every day. I miss my sweet, gentle, delicate little friend. But I’m grateful everyday I had you for as long as I did.
Love always.
Xxx
Dopey 1
25-06-2006 – 03-15-2019
The second half has found the first.
it’s a beautiful tribute to an amazing bunny 
Bookmarks