4th of July Miracle
By Kathy Smith
Fourth of July isn’t a holiday normally associated with miracles, but last year it was for me. For the first time ever, I received bunny kisses from Murray! I had just put him on the washer for fluids and was plucking the loose fur from his cute little bunny-butt, and out of the blue he started kissing me. Not just one or two kisses, but many, many kisses. I called for my husband, George, to come in and witness the miracle… and it actually lasted long enough for him to get in and observe (another miracle, because he moves slowly). Since then, Murray has graced me with kisses several times – I believe I’ve even found the spot to scratch to trigger the kisses! Sometime during June, I remember having the conscious thought that it would mean so much to me to someday get a kiss from Murray, but I never actually believed it would happen.
To understand why Murray’s kisses are such a miracle, you have to understand both his history and his personality. Murray is the only surviving member of the Trio I adopted when Smokey died. The trio was rescued from filthy outdoor conditions. Their original foster mom named them Frankie, Goldie, and Murray for frankincense, gold, and myrrh. I first met the Trio shortly after they were returned to the local HRS Chapter Manager. I was drawn to Murray the moment I saw him because he was a gray lop like Smokey. The next time I saw the Trio I heard a voice say, “Maybe I could take them” – and was surprised to discover that voice was mine! I am convinced that Smokey’s spirit guided me to adopt them – both because I needed them and because Murray needed me.
I quickly discovered that Frankie, Goldie, and Murray had distinct personalities and that Murray was very different from Smokey. Frankie was timid and had to be coaxed to explore new territory (which he enjoyed thoroughly once he realized it was safe). Goldie was the mothering type, always giving affection to her two companions. Murray definitely had a “don’t touch me” attitude. I have always felt he really loved the woman who first fostered the group and was deeply hurt when she abandoned them.
Although he didn’t want humans to initiate physical contact, Murray did want to be where we were and would frequently come up and head-butt us on the leg. He is also an adventurer. I’ll never forget the first time he came to join me in the study – a room Smokey had been allowed in because his malocclusion kept him from doing damage. I was working at the computer, saw a gray shadow out of the corner of my eye, said “Oh, hi!” – then I thought I must be seeing a ghost because the Trio was (I thought) securely locked in the kitchen. When I realized it was Murray I said, “Wait a minute, you’re not supposed to be here.” Murray raced back to the kitchen where I discovered that the bottom supports of the gate had been chewed loose and what was once a barrier was now a revolving door for Murray and his companions. We now keep “spare” gates on hand since Murray periodically chews his way through the gate and surprises us by joining us in the bedroom in the middle of the night (we are always relieved to find out it was Murray and not an intruder).
After the Trio had been with us only five months, Murray suddenly stopped eating – the first of many episodes of GI stasis which, for Murray, are caused by molar spurs (requiring filing under anesthesia every 6-8 weeks), recurrent ear infections, bladder sludge, recurrent urinary tract infections, or some combination of the above. He has seen two top rabbit veterinarians (one of whom has consulted with several top rabbit vets across the country) as well as a wonderful holistic vet. The root cause of Murray’s problems has everyone stumped. We manage his chronic problems with regular check-up visits, tooth filings and antibiotics as needed, long-term use of Propulsid(r), and monthly acupuncture. Needless to say, I have to handle Murray more frequently than most bunnies – and a lot more often than he would like. He’s actually very good about taking medicine, but for a long time catching him was a real challenge. In his younger days, I sometimes spent 15 minutes chasing him around the dining room or kitchen before managing to catch him. Sometimes I felt guilty about having to do this, although most of the time he acted more like it was a game of “Outrun/Outsmart the Human!” Whenever I pick him up for medicine, I take a few minutes to kiss and cuddle him and tell him I love him. His reaction always reminds me of the embarrassed little boy who says in disgust “Aw, mom…” whenever his mother shows affection in front of his friends.
Everyone who has nursed a sick bunny knows the deep attachment we humans develop while giving long-term nursing care. With Smokey I knew the bond was mutual, but with Murray I always feared that perhaps, from his perspective, I really was torturing him. I have always wondered whether he truly knows how much I love him and that all the vet visits and medical care are meant to help. The first ray of hope Murray gave me was in December 1999 when he tooth-purred for the first time – during an acupuncture treatment! It was another year and a half – more than three years after Murray first touched my heart so deeply – before I would be rewarded with the ultimate gift of bunny kisses.
During 20 years of sharing my life with rabbits, I have learned that each rabbit has a unique personality. No matter how much a rabbit physically resembles someone from our past, we must accept him – and love him – for who he is. This is the first step toward gaining his trust and his love.
Every rescued rabbit also comes to us with a past history that, along with his personality, will determine how he responds to our love. Some who have been neglected and/or abused respond almost immediately to our love, while others may take years to overcome past hurts and understand that not all humans are “the enemy.” Some who have been loved and have bonded with a human will easily transfer their affection to a new caretaker while others may be deeply hurt by being “abandoned” and take months or years to begin to trust a human again.
Regardless of your rabbit’s history and personality, patience, persistence, and consistent love and acceptance are the keys to gaining his love and trust. Murray is proof that this approach can pay off even when you have given up all hope. Bunny kisses and other signs of affection and trust are always special, but they mean even more when they come from one you thought would never give them. It is well worth the effort and the wait.