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