Thursday, January 15, 2009

Hershey's Raisin Dance is over

Two days ago, our raisin dancing, feet circling, incisor-less bunny made the trip to the Rainbow Bridge. His battle with head-tilt (severe inner ear infection) hit the point where antibiotics and prednisone could not touch it. He became so disoriented and dizzy that he could not right himself, and the stress on his body and mind was causing heart and breathing problems. We chose to end his suffering.



What am I going to do without him? He was such a joy!

Hershey came into our house about 4 years ago from our vet's office, where another patron had relinquished ownership. He kept us in stitches from day one, grunting in excitement over food and company, nudging our feet for attention, untieing our shoelaces, lop ears flopping up and down.... and then flopping with happy feet out the back and front in what we affectionately called "super bunny position". He quickly became free-range, taking over the living room.

He had no front teeth (removed due to maloclusion) but he didn't know that, and gummed everything in sight. Hersh also had overactive wax glands under his ears, causing lumps to form at the base of the ears. He had his first bout with head tilt about a year after he arrived, but despite being laid low, he bounced back with only slight nerve damage to his face.
Hershey's eye Macro 365/3
I've never met a more forgiving creature - I'd pick him up to administer medication or to clean a poopy butt, and after flipping his feet at me a couple of times, he'd be back, nudging my foot, accepting pets. All is forgiven, forgotten, here I am, pet me and love me.

I can still see him in my mind's eye as I walk into the living room. Goofy, endearing, messy, loving, crazy, raisin and banana loving, never to be equaled Hershey. Farewell, my sweet bunny. Frolic at the rainbow bridge with bunnies Inky, Brigette, Patches, Sneakers, Albus, Missy, Crandall and Patty; Olivia and all the other ratties; and all the other sweet creatures that have touched our lives. We'll miss you.

8 comments:

Lenox Knits said...

I really am sorry for your loss. He sounds like a very sweet bunny. My favorite poodle is also named Hershey.

Orion Designs said...

I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of Hershey.
Vicki

Kate said...

Jael, my condolences, our pets ( babies) bring such love and pleasure into our lives, it's hard to accept their years are so much shorter than ours. I am glad you did have four wonderful years with him, full of memories and hope the pain of missing him won't be too hard. Kate

Anonymous said...

{{{Jael}}}! So sorry to hear about Hersey.

KAT said...

Jael,

I am so sorry for your loss. We love our pets so much, that when they pass, they leave such a hole in our hearts!
Just remember all the good times with Hershey and keep him in your heart.
Take care,
Kat

Candy Apple said...

Heartbreaking. Our 12 year-old bonded pair passed within six months of each other a year ago. It's amazing how close you can become to the love bugs. When they would have backend twitches while eating a banana or binky (leap in the air) while frolicing we would just laugh and laugh. So sorry for your loss. He looks such a love.

Jael said...

Thank you... I know all about binky behavior - although Hershey rarely exhibited it. Seems that ear problem was there from the beginning, and he preferred to stay rooted to the ground whenever possible...

Anonymous said...

Hey, Jael. I am so sorry to hear about Hershey. I'm sending you a big hug from SC.

We've missed you at the forum. Hope everything else is going well for you. :)