My Only Sunshine
I first met Sunshine while completing internship hours for animal massage training through Doggone U at the Bancroft School of Massage in Worcester. Over the summer and fall of 2015, I went to the shelter three times to massage some of the bunnies there. When I asked which bunnies needed the comfort and attention the most, volunteers always mentioned Sunshine.
Sunshine lived in a big dog crate, the same crate in which two of our other bunnies, Topsi and Bambi, lived while at the shelter for three years until we adopted them at age five. Sunshine likewise was five and had been with HRN for two years.
Sunshine reminded me of how Topsi had behaved toward me when we first brought her home. Topsi was nervous about being touched and for many weeks would lunge, bat, and growl at me if I stroked her sides or her backend, approached her too quickly, or in some other way made her nervous. By the time I met Sunshine, Topsi had softened from a feisty cat-bun into a gentle and curious kitten-bun, and she loved to be cuddled and kissed.
During those three visits with Sunshine, she enjoyed her massages, and I ended each session by holding her close, snuggling her, whispering into her soft ears that she was loved, and wishing her happy blessings and a forever home.
An HRN volunteer, Beth, brought Sunshine to Bunny Spa Day this past April. I was so excited to see Sunshine again and gave her a massage. I didn’t want her to have to go back to the shelter at the end of the day, but I gave her the biggest apple stick we had – a whole branch! – and well wishes.
Within two weeks, my husband Marc and I decided to open our home to Sunshine so she could have all the massages she wanted. We have since moved into our first home, and Sunshine has the living room to herself, where she has a lovely view of the trees and gardens outside. She enjoys snuggling with her little stuffed bunny, who she sneaks kisses to when she thinks we aren’t watching, and she loves to be snuggled and massaged.
When I massage Sunshine, I focus on the places she most enjoys being touched – her face, ears, and the top of her head. Once she is relaxed, I work on her back, where she holds some tightness along her spine. As I sink in deeper into the muscles, Sunshine shifts and further relaxes, like pancake batter stretching out across the pan. Sometimes she chatters her teeth contentedly, and other times she falls asleep and starts to snore. I sing softly to her, “You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine…”
— Jess Riel