Of late, we’ve let Hazel have the full run of the first floor (Hugo’s been relocated temporarily upstairs, while we try to find him a friend).
For the most part, she’s comfortable on the carpeted areas but treats the bare floor like laval. However, I happened to catch this today:
You know how, in musicals… things swell to a point where the characters have no choice, are so overcome with the moment that they break out into song? That’s pretty much what is happening for bunnies, except that they just leap up into the air.
It’s a joyous thing to see, because it’s a direct indicator that the bunny rabbit happy, excited, perhaps both. It’s an expression of joy, and not something they do unless they’re really having a good time.
Fast forward to today: we’re at Animal Care League, where our friend and Bunny Expert Liz Rench works. Today, he’s set up to meet two potential bunnies: Penny and LadyFred.
I heard a lot of rumbling from Hazel’s area. I was upstairs at the time, and when I came down the stairs… this is what I saw:
Look at these little ham hocks! As adorable as this looks, it’s even better in person, close-up.
Tonight more or less sealed the deal: Hazel and Hugo, despite what seemed like an incredibly positive first encounter… are not meant to be a pair.
Which leaves us in a challenging position. We now need to figure out two separate spaces for them. And while Hazel seems more of a solo bunny, Hugo is still desperately in need of a friend (he really hasn’t been the same since Daisy passed).
We opened up some gifts that Katie and Tim sent along, for Hugo and Hazel. A bit of an early Christmas, for the two of them. The gifts from Katie/Time are always a hit (Hugo has a small blanket thing that he got last year, that he still absolutely loves). A small little holiday preview…
Snapped this photo with Hazel, chomping on a bit of willow like the 1930’s era gangster that she is. Soon after this, she began booping us with her nose, asking for protection money.
Most nights, when we open the pens up for Hugo and Hazel to roam… Hazel makes a beeline for the Bunny Hut. And while she tends to just hunker down in there, she has this very odd habit of just grooming the crap out of things.
As a side note: it’s tough to be here again, with medication and syringes. Daisy was the last bunny we had that needed meds, due to her age. And with Hugo and Hazel, given how young they are… the idea of either needing medication was something far in the future.
I’m sad to say that Hazel needs these meds now. But hopeful that they will help.
We had an appointment today to see a second vet, for a second opinion. Our primary vet, despite the various tests and scans we’ve done, didn’t have a lot of recommendations for us. And so we’re trying to see if there might be any other options available to Hazel at all.
Sadly, we haven’t been able to continue our bonding sessions while Hazel’s health has declined. So they’re still separated for now. Despite Hugo’s protestations.
Hazel has had a rough time of late. She’s been having difficulty with her balance, and has been falling over on her side more and more.
While I am biased, I also know I am right: Hazel is impossibly cute. Here she is, looking curious – as evidenced by her facial expression, as well as that one ear sticking out to the side.
It sounds like Hazel was a bit of an aggressor at the start. But then Hugo made an aggressive move towards Hazel – and Liz blocked it with her hand.
When this happened though, Hazel had turned around and was in attack mode – and thinking she was going after Hugo, really bit in to Liz’s hand.