My Best Friend Lilac: 2/26/2006-12/12/2008

[Miss Pigeon]

Hello everyone,

I know this is for birds but I have lost something that has meant the world to me and I cannot replace.

I started raising rabbits about 10 years ago when I was a little girl. I started out with one rabbit which was attacked by a dog and then acquired my rabbit I had for 5 years; Snickers. She died of a spinal injury from my own dog. I let them run and frolick in my fenced in backyard in case your wondering.

I show and breed rabbits and have become very good at what I do even with limited space.

But one day was different.

I was at a show here in Minnesota in my hometown and there was the most beautiful broken (patches of color) blue chinchilla colored rabbit (blue tint and if you have ever seen chinchilla fur). He caught my eye and I knew I had to have him.

Of course my mother said no and I begged and begged and finally she said yes. We paid for him and brought him home. Little did I know my pet (we all have our just pet and not show animal right?) would teach me lessons I would never forget.

A breeder suggested to show him due to his body type and coloring. We won ever class with ease and he even took me to the Minnesota State Fair for two consecutive years in a row. He was in his prime and he was just supposed to be my pet.

But one day I was prepping for another show and noticed he was a little "off." I had just clipped toenails on all my rabbits and fed them (they are on full feed and no rations due to them being outside year round). I went over to examine him and I gasped in horror. He had been hiding something from me. His jaw has been displaced and his teeth were not wearing down properly. He had a condition called maloclusion. His teeth were 2 inches long and in ram horns.

We began treatment and I cut his teeth down to size and he was just fine. But once rabbits have this condition it is something they must live with for the rest of their life. We clipped every other week and he kept weight on nicely. I couldn't show him anymore because his condition was a disqualification. So the treatment continued until this year...

Just a month ago I noticed he wasn't eating. His beautiful white and chinchilla coat was stained due to not being able to take care of himself. He wasn't grooming because I could tell his teeth were causing him pain now. He wasn't even eating his favorite treats. I put it off but finally knew I had to do it....

I brought him into the vet and was in shock..I couldn't grasp emotion..here my baby was on the table looking at me and it was killing me...I've never been so attached to anything in my entire life...

The vet finally came in and gave him the shot..I decided to stay in the room because I have heard others say they wish they would have been there when it happened. She wrapped him up in a blanket and handed him to me...His eyes got wide and he looked at me with panic..he was breathing heavy and I held him as close as I could..

He didn't put up any fight for the shot..she came in a couple minutes later when he should have been gone and he was still holding on..I finally told him just to go and I would be okay and Lilac left at 8:43 a.m. on December 12th 2008..just shy of his third birthday...

I miss him terribly and the vet gave me a clay pawprint with his name in it...

In case you were wondering Lilac was supposed to be a girl but has always responded to his name and we kept it that. He came when called...

He is now wrapped up in his favorite blanket while the snow is falling..he always loved the snow...he is planning to be buried this spring under the big oak tree that he loved to lay by..

He taught me to love unconditionally no matter what the price..he taught me to love life and that we should all play and bounce like bunnies..

But most of all he gave me a will to go on with my life..I now am a better person knowing I have helped an animal so special in this world..he never minded children no matter how awkward he was carried..he always was the fur I could cry to when a day went horribly wrong..he was the animal who should have been human..a forgiving and trusting gentle creature..never offering to bite or scratch..my beautiful sweet Lilac..

His cage is untouched and I miss him dearly...I apologize for the long story but I will never forget him and I am crying as I write this..I really miss him and he was my boy...

Lilac I love you...
2/26/2006-12/12/2008

[TAWhatley]

Lilac, you were a very fine bunny and very much loved! I'm very sorry for your passing, but you must know that you were one of the lucky ones. Bunnies are the third most abandoned pets in the U.S., and you were most well loved and well cared for. Rest in peace sweet rabbit!

Terry

[justin4pcd]

Awww.. You made me cry

im so sorry.

[Reti]

I am so sorry for your loss. Rabbits are such sweet and gentle creatures.

Reti

[Skyeking]

I'm so sorry to hear about Lilac. Sending you a big hug for comfort!

[Miss Pigeon]

I have taken in so many abandoned bunnies..I love all of my animals! My rabbits and horses, pigeons and dog..and the cat. But Lilac was special to me...he was a rabbit but he never offered to bite or kick out or dig his claws in. I never received one scratch from him...I could even hand him to little kids and they would carry him around in weird ways (you know how kids are) and he would just take it and not care.

I will miss him and I never got any babies out of him...I wanted his personality and color to be passed on...but I sadly gave him up to the big carrot patch beyond this world. He just passed recently and I think of him everyday..a rabbit who came when called and who would lick you and jump into your arms..he even liked eating cereal with me in the mornings and watched tv. He was almost human...

[spirit wings]

thats a shame.......one thing that pet rabbit owners need to know is to get their bunnies teeth checked and filed down if you have too. sorry you lost your rabbit this way, must of been a hard thing to go through.

[Maggie-NC]

Well, I'm in tears too. I'm so very sorry.

[j_birds]

Originally Posted by Trees Gray

I'm so sorry to hear about Lilac. Sending you a big hug for comfort!

I know that words don't help relieve the hurt much at a time like this. I know you will miss him for a long time. I am so glad you gave him the good life as long as you could. Rest in Peace Lilac.

[Charis]

I'm so sorry. It just doesn't seem fair. Thank you for telling us about him so we will remember too.

[Miss Pigeon]

Thanks...I had checked his teeth regularly and they seemed fine but I guess something just happened ya know?

[Hambone]

My condolences Miss Pigeon ,

Your story brings a tear to my eye too ..... that one special pet really captures our heart and it hurts so bad when they pass . You never forget or replace them , but one day when you least expect it another special little critter will adopt you as their friend . It takes time to heal .

Hambone

[maryjane]

I'm so sorry you lost Lilac. Bunnies are such special pets and companions.

[Ivor]

Now think about all the good things that you had together, and you were with him until the end, I know is hard and don't have words for this, I'm also crying and I'm sure Lilac is with god now.

Ivette

[Miss Pigeon]

He loved the snow...I am healing but not very fast..as breeders of any animal we think of some as just your stock for show or breeding but there is always that one animal that captures your heart and you know then that your world will change because of it..