This is the story of how I came to adopt Baby my first pet rabbit.

So we had some wild  cats in our neighborhood that were trying to kill the squirrels (yes I love and feed the squirrels too). So after some vicious attacks I thought that was enough and I called our local village hall and spoke to the wildlife expert. She said catch the cats and take them over to Animal Welfare - Chicago Ridge IL and they will rehab them if possible. So we did. On a Sunday we caught a cat that seemed to be a little on the tame side, so over we took it. While there I noticed all the bunnies - I mean they had like 30 but there was this little gray one just sitting in it's cage looking out with a blank stare.  I commented to my husband, "gosh that little rabbit is cute" and off home we went.

The next day we caught another cat and I was looking forward to seeing what that little gray bunny was up to. Well she was there, sitting staring into space again. Looking bored and lonely. So while we waited to do paperwork, I approached her and said "Hey little bunny, you are a cute one". Over she hopped to my side of the cage, looking up at me with big, dark eyes. "You are a pretty girl" I commented and her ears sorta perked up.  I talked to her and she sat listening to me almost like she was hanging on my every word (if only my husband would).  Now she really had me, but home again we went that night without her.

On the third night we caught another cat (whoo hoo I'm three for three nights now and get to see that gray bunny again). Back we go.  There is she. So now I'm totally over by her cage trying to figure out what she is eating, how would I pick her up and gosh she is soooo cute. "Time to go" my husband says because I've spent all the time just talking to her.  So we leave and on the way home, I ask my husband "Hmm wonder how hard it is to have a pet rabbit". 

Now you must know that I love wild outdoor rabbits. In my area outside of Chicago we have Eastern cottontails - you know the brown wild rabbits. I love them and feed them and had a few generations of rabbits born right in my backyard. I have enough stories from that to fill another website so I do have a thing for bunnies - wild bunnies - not domesticated bunnies. But that little gray rabbit....can't stop thinking about her all the time now.

The next night we had no luck catching a cat and I had to stay home and wonder what was that little gray bunny up to. Was she adopted, was she still there?   The following day, the suspense just about killed me. Had to go over to the Animal Shelter and see was she there. Yes she was and a nice volunteer answered a bunch of questions for me. The little gray rabbit had been there for a few weeks - she was the dirtiest rabbit they'd ever seen. Could not even tell what color she was when she came in they had said.So I went home all happy to tell my husband all about her - the little gray rabbit. He said "you should adopt her. You've never had a pet before. Go for it if you want, I'll help you." Oh nice it was all falling into place to get that little gray rabbit.  "But what about your allergies he said and my heart hit the ground.  Oh yes, the dreaded allergies to all living furry or feathered things and most things that grow in the ground too. But that rabbit was so cute, I had to figure out a way to adopt her. So I went to the allergist, got tested and I was testing okay at the time. But, "If you start to suffer any symptoms you'll have to get rid of that rabbit - you are already on heavy duty drugs to control your allergies and we can't really give you anything stronger" the doctor had scolded. So now I'm really wound up and want that little gray rabbit -- really, really, really want her and already love her too!

So the next day we go to the shelter and she is there but with a 'yellow hold sign'  on her cage. "What is this for" I asked. "She is being adopted" the lady told me. I said "wait a minute, I was told you can't put an animal on hold. I've been here almost every day for a week, I just got tested for allergies to make sure I could adopt her and you tell me she is being adopted but she is still here with a hold sign on her!". She explained "well we normally don't hold them but someone marked her as a hold so we need to wait until the end of day to see if they come back".  Now I'm a little mad and my husband is getting a little nervous and figures he'd better get me out of there before the police are called because he knows how badly I want that little gray rabbit. So I have to leave and come back tomorrow morning. Leave my little gray rabbit and someone might adopt her away from me. So home I go with my heart feeling very heavy with worry over losing her to another family. I have to wait like 17 hours before I can get back over there when they open. It was the longest 17 hours in my life I think.

So the next morning right after church, with my church clothes still on, over we race. So my heart is really pounding fast now.  - Is she gone? - Is she adopted?  I could hardly stand the suspense.  I burst in through the doors and the she is there with the 'yellow hold' sign still taped to her cage. You remember the hold sign on an animal when they don't ever do holds. Yeah, right.  So I go up to the counter and say "I'm here to adopt the little gray rabbit". The lady replies "Oh yes you have her on hold?"  "No" I respond. She looks back at me puzzled. "I came yesterday to adopt her, but she was on hold by someone else. I was informed you don't do holds, but since you did, I had to wait to see if they came back for her, and if they don't come back, she would be mine and they didn't come back for her and I'm here now and I want my little gray rabbit please" I blurted out all in one breath. "Well, what do I do now" the lady asks her co-worker. "Not sure - this has never happened before" the other volunteer responds.So now I'm starting to get irritated. The rabbit is still there - the day after they told me I could have her. What is up with this. So I say "I've come here every day this week to see her, I had medical tests performed and everything. Now that little rabbit was on hold all day yesterday and I waited as I was told to and I don't understand what the problem is. Why I can't I adopt her?" I say.  "The other people might come back" the lady says.  I bark out "They had their turn and didn't come back so I want her now and I'm here now".  The  second lady says " lets call the family" and they agree to make the call. I'm not happy about this but they call. And guess what...turns out the lady who brought her dog in for surgery saw the rabbit and thought maybe I'll get her for my daughter - went home - and forgot about the little gray rabbit. How awful that an animal was being held for someone who never intended to adopt it  -- but in hind sight it worked out for me because I got to adopt the little gray rabbit. The women in charge of small animals (Sue) was there and told me so much information about care and feeding - it was really priceless information. She loaned me a book on rabbit care that I returned after reading it twice.I became friendly with Sue and would take donations of items and money in from time to time. But home with us, she came that day -- my little gray rabbit.

So home we went with her in a cardboard box and we left her in the box to go to the pet store to get everything good bunny parents needed. Cage, dishes, water bottle, hay, pellets, toys, hair brush, shampoo, nail clippers, poop dish, crumbled paper for the poop dish and treats -- oh that pet shop owner loved us that day.We didn't really need all of this stuff but we didn't know that at the time. So we got home and set up our little girls cage. In she went. She sniffed around ate some pellets and then just sorta settled in. She was home with her family and now the 3 of us were a complete family.

What should we name her? I thought and thought and thought about it. They called her Silver at the shelter but that didn't fit.  I would call her Baby as I talked to her and she learned her name really quickly - Baby. So Baby fits her very well, my little girl, Baby the bunny - the best daughter ever, bunny or human!

I would like to say my local Animal Shelter does a really good job with the volunteers they have and limited budget. They place many animals every day from there and I really do respect the people there and appreciate what they do for the area and the animals.

Got a question? I'll try and help. Email info@bunnymama.com.