CFHRS homepage
adoptable rabbits
adopted rabbits
behavior & care articles
contact info
donation info
local vet info

CAPE FEAR HOUSE RABBIT SOCIETY

 
SID'S PLACE



Cape Fear House Rabbit Society
Sid's Place is our page for friends to place memorials to their companion rabbits who have passed over the Rainbow Bridge. This special site just had to be named for Sid, the bunny responsible for the creation of the Cape Fear House Rabbit Society. We invite you to submit a photo along with a memory of your beloved friend, and we will post it here.
Sid

Sid began his life with us just like so many other pet store rabbits do - a not-very-well-thought-out purchase intended as a friend for our son's guinea pig. How hard could a rabbit be? Guinea pigs were easy - give them pellets, water, treats, they were very tame and easily held by our son - this little bunny was the same size - how cute! Our first awakening came about 5 minutes after we got Sid home, and he proceeded to jump out of the cardboard box with the 6 inch high sides we had the guinea pig in - okay, next plan - Sid got his very own lavish indoor condo with three levels, complete with pine chips(9) for litter. To our credit, Sid did get quite a bit of "out time", although much of that was spent hiding under chairs and tables so we would not catch him and hold him. He did come running for candy treats, and we thought that was cute, so we fed him lots of candy, in addition to his rabbit pellets. His favorite person in the family was our college student daughter, who would lie on the living room floor and do her homework. Sid found this fascinating, and was all over her, jumping on her back, chewing up her papers, and having far more interaction with her than the rest of us who kept trying to hold him. After we had him nearly a year, we noticed he seemed to be drooling, but he wasn't acting any differently, so it wasn't until his food consumption was down considerably that we took him to the vet. Probably the smartest thing I did up to that point was take him to the vet school at The Ohio State University where they had a vet experienced in rabbits who examined him, and to my complete shock, told me he had a very serious abscess in his mouth and could not be saved. I was totally unprepared for this news - he had not seemed that sick! So the decision was made to put Sid to sleep, and my feelings of sadness and guilt were so overwhelming I could barely make it out of the waiting room, let alone drive home. The vet kindly gave me a card for someone to call if I wanted to learn more about rabbits - which at that very moment I did not, but within a few days I found myself calling the chapter manager of the Columbus House Rabbit Society. It may have been guilt that led me to make that first call, but all it took was one visit to her house to see how to 'really' live with a rabbit and I was hooked. It was probably lack of proper diet(specifically hay) that killed Sid, and I can't help but believe that each time I tell a potential adopter or a caller on the phone how important proper diet is to the health of their rabbit, Sid is somewhere over that famous Bridge doing a binky of approval. Though his time on earth was short, he left a large legacy behind - just over 100 rabbits rescued, spayed or neutered and placed in loving homes have him to thank. We love you and miss you, Sid.


Roswell
Roswell
Roswell - Wow, I don't even know where to begin. You wormed your way into our hearts 6 years ago in such an unexpected way - we certainly never suspected we would fall in love with a rabbit we first thought was so strange he had been dropped off by aliens! In spite of(or because of) your scrappy attitude, you fell in love with us, as we did with you - our relationship made both more difficult and stronger by your health problems and your determination to deal with them your way not our way. In the end, Ros, it was all "your way" and we are so glad we got to share your life with you - we know it was painful, especially at the end, and as much as we miss you, we are so glad your pain is gone. Rest in peace, little boy.


Toki
Toki
Toki
 
Toki was my bunny companion for only 6 1/2 years but he will remain close to my heart for the rest of my life. He was my furry little "rock" and was always there when I needed some fur therapy. I miss not being able to go nose-to-nose with him and chittering back and forth. Toki went through a lot of life changes with me (many moves, a new baby) and through it all, he never missed a beat. I think he was the most laid-back rabbit on the planet. Very little bothered him, and he could nap through almost anything. Even his daily subcutaneous fluid treatments Toki had to endure his last few months didn't change his loving, laid-back personality. His favorite past times were relaxing while watching hockey, standing guard behind the cat door so the cats couldn't enter the laundry room, and waiting under my son's high chair for dropped food. And, of course, getting his head and ears rubbed. He was a great "bunny-brother" to my 2 year old son and a great "bunny-son" to me. I'll miss him always.


Greta
Greta
Greta was half of the duo who ruled our office for nearly nine years. Greta and her littermate Dean lived in the office and happily loved and groomed each other and never paid any attention to any of the rescue rabbits who came and went. Greta was the quiet one, preferring the company of Dean to humans, until she got out on our screened in porch, where she turned into Greta the Explorer - jumping on tables, bookshelves, window sills - anywhere she thought she could jump she would try. We would often laugh at her antics, and her binkies were extraordinary! Kidney disease took her from Dean, and us this past fall, but she had long since given up her dancing, most likely due to e. cunniculi. We remember the good times, and try to give Dean extra attention, as he misses her very much. Greta we love you, and know you are free from pain, and look forward to being with your Dean again someday.


Otis
Otis
Otis was the oldest of our personal rescue rabbits, and although he had been ill with adrenal disease in his later years, we miss him very much. His mild manner and sweet personality endeared him to the ladies and he had two adoring female friends during his lifetime - Thumper and Dottie. They doted on him, as did he on them, and you could always find him snuggling up next to his lady friend for some attention, yet he was also always available for some human affection also. Otis, we love you and miss you, and are happy knowing you are once again with your Thumper and Dottie.

Sarge
Sarge
Never in the history of our rescue has a bunny been more deserving of a forever home than Sarge, and although he came close, he never quite made it. When he was rescued in 2007 it was believed that he was around 4 years old, and had lived his entire life in a small, outdoor hutch with no human interaction. No rabbit was more loved than Sarge, and no rabbit thrived in human attention more than Sarge. You could not meet Sarge without falling in love with him, and we are just very glad he had two good years in loving homes before dying suddenly this past fall. Sarge, we miss you very much, and wish we could have found you that permanent home you so deserved.

Rambo
Bubba,  2000 - 2009
With a heart bigger than his 15 lbs - we recently lost Bubba after a year-long fight with cancer. While we don't know much about his first 6 years his last few have been filled with love and attention. From a wobbly, scared bun that would get the shakes to the handsome boy that loved to sit on the couch with his parents, Judy & Charlie, he made quite the transformation. When he was diagnosed with cancer in May, 2008 Bubba never stopped being a happy, outgoing bun through the two surgeries and even chemotherapy that was attempted to stop the progress of the soft-tissue sarcoma. When it aggressively reoccurred in January we were able buy him some more quality time through the use of herbal medicines and lots of TLC. Special thanks to Dr. Eckermann-Ross and the other Dr's and staff at Avian & Exotic for their wonderful care. It was truly a privilege to have shared our home with you these last few months Bubba - you touched our lives in ways that you will never know. You will be missed! Chad & Jeanette Stansbury

Bubba - 2000 - 2009

Rambo
Rambo,  Unknown - September 9, 2008
It is with a heavy heart that I write of Rambo's passing this week. He was with us for just over eight months, the best eight months of his life, I'm pretty sure. From his appearance at rescue when he did not even resemble a rabbit to the day of his passing he was just grateful to be here, to have a safe place to lay his head, and lots of good food to eat. He came to love his pen as his haven and had no desire to venture out anywhere else, but would spend hours furiously digging in his cardboard box for exercise. He would shy away from any kind of interaction with people, unless he knew you and you had a treat in your hand - then you were his friend! He let it be plainly known he did not want to be touched by humans, but would occasionally allow me to gently stroke his nose. More than any other bunny I've rescued I had the greatest feeling of happiness when I would see Rambo napping contentedly in his pen, because somehow it seemed to mean the most to him. Rest in peace, sweet bun.

Rambo - Unknown - Sept 10, 2008



Sinbad
Sinbad,  June, 2008
Sinbad was the young bunny we rescued from outside before the imminent hot summer and heat wave shortly afterwards. He was caramel and so sweet and calm that we agreed he was a "keeper". We bought a book, shed, hay, pellets, litterbox and toys and prepared a home inside, putting him on our deck for exercise early mornings and in the indoor play area evenings and weekends. We cuddled with him on the sofa while watching TV as he would lie with us. Sinbad was a licker, always lavishing affection. One morning he seemed slower and that evening laid more than he sat, then during the night he had a convulsion and we held him in our arms as he died. Sinbad looked happy outside yet was in danger and once brought in, seemed content, but his life was short, and we feel his loss deeply as he was so special, teaching us that bunnies like him can be saved and loved. We miss and love you, Sinbad, and believe you now rest with St. Francis of Assis amid our beloved pets.

Sadly,

Christian and Julia

Sinbad - June, 2008



Tipsy
Tipsy, 2004 - 2008
On August 23, 2008 our mini-lop, Tipsy unexpectedly crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
We had not had a pet in decades. In a short time Tipsy went from being a hand-me-down pet from our daughter to a much-loved member of our family. He taught us once again the value and joy of a companion animal. Most people who met him were surprised that a rabbit could be house-trained and live happily indoors and were delighted by his outgoing personality. He is sorely missed.
In memory of our little man we would like to make a donation to the Cape Fear House Rabbit Society, to help in some small way the good work you do rescuing and sheltering rabbits, as well as providing valuable information about rabbit care.
Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Art and Karen

Tipsy - 2004 - 2008



Dottie
Dottie,  2001 - 2008
Dottie arrived into the Watkins family in January of 2002 to be a friend to our bunny, Otis, who had just lost his beloved Thumper, and what a friend she was to him! From the minute she met him she was smitten, and her love never wavered. She did not care much for anyone else, human or rabbit - granting us who fed her daily only the rarest of pets and even then she acted as if she was doing us a huge favor. She became a valuable teaching tool - as an educator for the House Rabbit Society I often hear from people that they want to adopt a lop-eared rabbit because they are friendly - all I had to do was point to Dottie to dispel that myth. She also took it as her mission to run off any stray foster rabbits to dared set foot into "her" room that she shared with Otis, as if to say that Otis was hers and that room was off limits! We were content to keep our distance from Dottie because she took such good care of Otis - grooming him, laying beside him, sharing her life with him. Otis developed a pituitary tumor several years ago which has caused him to act as if he is no longer neutered - this put a strain on their relationship because he became relentless in chasing and trying to mount her. We were able to control him somewhat with medication, but their last few years together were stressful for Dottie. In spite of it all, Dottie never rejected him, or wanted to be apart from him - when we tried to separate them she dug at the bars of the separation until we put them back together. We loved you Dottie, for the spirited girl you were, and the great love you showed to Otis, who surely misses you most of all. Save a place for him over the Rainbow Bridge.


Thumper
Thumper,  1993 - 2001
Thumper was our first rescue rabbit, adopted from the Columbus House Rabbit Society. She was older when we adopted her - between six and seven years old - her hearing and sight weren't so good, but what a loverbun she was! She was mostly a couch potato, enjoying "her spot" under the dining room table, and was always happy to provide lots of de-stressing to us after a hard day's work by presenting herself for head rubs and ear rubs. The last year she was with us, she was bonded with Otis, who provided her with the happiest time of her life, until she never recovered from an infected foot. I don't know much about the first years of her life, but for the last few she was pampered and spoiled and loved very much. We miss her.



Rosey was such a sweet girl that we instantly fell in love with when we saw her picture on Cape Fear Rabbit Rescue. We currently shared our home with Razzy a cute, loveable, Mama's boy and we thought he should have a friend. We also felt it was important to rescue a rabbit instead of make a pet store purchase as we have always been fond of "unwanted" pets.
    Rosey came home with us and we went through the learning process (with help from Paula) of bonding bunnies. Razzy and Rosey quickly became best friends and played together and acted silly and crazy running around my studio.

Rosey
Rosey

She didn't like to be petted in the beginning, but soon came to trust and love us as we showered her with affection. She brought us so much joy and many smiles and blessed our lives every day with her bratty and spunky attitude. 
       We never knew how old she was or what her previous life entailed. She became sick with GI tract issues and we tried for months to make her well. We are thankful for all that the Dr.'s at Avian and Exotic Animal Care in Raleigh did for her, but in the end, only 7 months after we adopted her, she died in my arms. Even though this time with her was very short, it was a time that we will remember and carry in our hearts forever.

We love you and miss you, our little "Rosebud",
Mama, Daddy and Razzy

Website and Contents Copyright Paula Watkins 2003 - 2010 
Page Updated March 28, 2010