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May 15, 2008
What Does Forever Mean?
I got a typical email from Karalee today. Typical in that it consisted of the usual combination of good and bad news. The good: the remaining three babies were successfully spayed yesterday. A tremendous relief for us all. The bad: a second barn bunny is coming back.
To refresh your memory, back in late 2005/early 2006, 17 rabbits were rescued from a barn in Cardington. No surprise, Karalee was instrumental in getting them placed.
Maggie was returned a few weeks ago. I met her last Saturday and my first reaction was a gasp. She is a gorgeous black and white mini-lop, which immediately made me think of my beloved Oreo, who left this world several years ago. Not only is she gorgeous but she is very sweet and was residing quite happily in the Curry home while foster mom Eileen is out of town.
I have yet to meet Teddy but he has been described as very sweet and highly adoptable.
The timing on this latest bad news is not great. I have to admit to being in a bit of a funk when it comes to people and animals. I did not watch the Kentucky Derby but still managed to experience a profound sadness over Eight Belles's demise. Two compound fractures is extraordinary even by horse racing standards. A week earlier, two other horses were euthanized after falling during the cross-country phase of the Rolex Three-Day Event. And polar bears have now been classified as endangered.
So, with all this bad news, I was prepared for a full-blown rant on the topic of whether people are worthy of being in the same world as rabbits, horses, and polar bears.
As I was washing greens tonight, I got to thinking about our chapter. It's hard to ignore the fact that CHRS is nothing more than a group of people united in our love for long-eared hoppers. Our volunteers manage to make room in their overly busy lives for activities that unquestionably improve the lives of Central Ohio rabbits. We spend endless hours caring for the lagomorph members of our families, socializing our fosters, and trying to regain the trust of rabbits who have been dumped at Capital Area Humane Society.
We rescue, we educate. Most of all, we are always there to greet returnees with open homes and open hearts. Like Maggie, we remain optimistic that a forever home is out there for every rabbit that passes through our lives.
So what does "forever" mean? For me, it means that all of our chapter rabbits have a safety net. Should that forever home be short-lived, these rabbits will always have a safe sanctuary with a chapter volunteer. Maggie is right to be confident that she will always have a home in our chapter, until her real forever home is finally found.
Which makes me feel very proud to be a part of this group of people called the Columbus House Rabbit Society.
Posted by Sue at May 15, 2008 5:22 PM