I'm not a bunny wrangler, breeder or a hobbyist. I'm just a girl that went to a barbeque and unexpectedly crossed paths with a bunny that looked like she might need a hand. I don't have any particular affection towards rabbits in general. In fact, I was allergic to them as a kid so I hadn't been up close and personal with one of those fuzz bombs in years. But sometimes happenstance can bring about new friendships when one least expects it.

So I'm at this barbeque, hanging out, having fun, milling around. I ask for a soda mixer and got directed to the fridge in the garage. I walk in, first thing that catches my attention...this big huge Harley Davidson. 'WOW' that's a pretty bike, I thought. I don't know much about motorcycles and I don't ride or anything but you couldn't help but stop and look at this metal monster. I take a 360 tour, admiring the paint and chrome and as I round the corner, I hear a rustle coming from the back of the garage. I'm curious, thinking it's a cat and I call out, "kitty kitty".... and head on back toward the source of the sound.

What I came across was a rabbit. A single little rabbit....in the back of the garage in one of those cramped rabbit motels sold at the local chain store pet-o-rama. Yes, there was a water bottle, but it's SoCal summer time baby. That water was WARM...nasty. I got down to this creature's eye level and said hello. She did a short spin around the box and wiggled her nose. Too cute, I thought!! After a short conversation, a quick water change and a handful of pellets that were nearby i went and grabbed my soda and headed back to the party.

An inquiry led me to find out that the bunny belonged to 7 year old daughter of the guy throwing the soiree. Easter gift he said. It's pretty easy for me to remember what it's like to be 7 and at 7, a girl can get more interested in laying in the grass, reading stories and running around with her friends than caring for an animal. The kicker, sadly the little girl was only at her dad's two weekends a month. I calculated that time with her father was precious and my guess is that it was filled with soccer practice, going to the movies and spending quality time together...the rabbit didn't seem to be a part of the plan and unsurprisingly, the novelty had worn off. And that's OK in my opinion. We all go through different phases in life and try things on for size. Some things stick, some don't. It was time for the bunny to move on.

I didn't seek this out, I doubt she knew I was coming.....we simply crossed paths and my philosophy is, if it looks like you may need a helping hand, I'll offer. That's what's been done for me. Everytime I've been stuck in a proverbial box, I've had someone open the door, dust me off and help me on my way. I could tell, this bunny needed some serious dusting.

I dropped a subtle hint to the girlfriend of the guy having the party.. letting her know I was interested in becoming a bunny owner (fully convinced in my mind that this was a Rescue Operation Only) Extract, Flee and Find New Home. She almost knocked me over with a Happy Hug. Evidently, she had been encouraging him to find a new home for the rabbit. Cool. This ought to work out fine.

Lots of credit goes to the original owner and how he handled all this. It was important for him to talk to his daughter and let her know about my offer. Predictably, she was upset and didn't want her bunny to go to a new home. She loves her rabbit. With this revelation, Dad, being the level headed guy he is, decided that she ought to step up the responsibility a bit and each weekend she visits she will be in charge of cleaning the cage, feeding and exercising the bunny appropriately. He also bought a bunny care book for her to read. I like his style. A month later, I got an email....

"Hey, you still interested in that rabbit? My daughter's decided that she'd be happy if the bunny got a home where she would get more attention." It was July by now and I had heard the garage got Stuffy. I imagined the rabbit, panting in that heat and I agreed to drive North the next day to launch Operation Rescue Rabbit.

That is how Paulie Walnut's became part of the family. Paulie used to be "Snowball" but the new moniker is more fitting. Paulie Walnut's is a Soprano's character that would hit you in the back of the head with a shovel and his only concern would be that a hair was out of place or his suit may have been marred. The shock of the move and the new found freedom from the mini prison wigged this rabbit out. To her credit, this name is an honor. She's smooth like silk, always immaculate in appearance and quick to react...do NOT cross Paulie Walnuts. Capatosta!

Ok, so now here I am, with a rabbit. I gave her the patio as her new lair, sprung her from that mini cage and went on a hunt for information. First thing I found was the House Rabbit Society's website:

www.rabbit.org

You can find all the basic information to ensure any rabbit could have a good home.

Things that stuck out right away...

1. no cedar shavings as bedding

2. go light on the cabbage (WHAT?? I remember reading Peter Rabbit and weren't some of those illustrations of the rabbits chomping on cabbage? But it's true, cabbage holds too much water than is good for a pet bunny)

3. no iceburg lettuce...none at all.

4. you can litterbox train a bunny relatively easily. (REALLY you can)

5. rabbits prefer hay as the main staple...Not those manufactured green pellets. Those are a treat, not a mainstay of the diet.

6. bananas are good.

7. there are a lot of enthusiastic rabbit owners out there.

Armed with just enough to get started, I felt I could offer this rabbit respite from the lackluster surroundings of her past. It's been a year now and I've learned a lot. This is a rascally rabbit. She doesn't like to be held, she's extremely territorial, she can and does bite, she LOVES dogs, she twirls and jumps in the air, she's inquisitive, she'll eat through computer wires in a single chomp, she will defend her territory with no regard for her opponents size or strength. She does not back down to anyone and I admire the hell out of that. I swear if it was Paulie vs. a bald eagle, I'm laying my money on the rabbit. Do Not Mess with the Rabinator! Dispell false notions that all rabbits are snuggle bunnies. Can someone tell me where that term even originated??? You will find yourself on the short end of the stick if you attempt to cross her. Strive to achieve mutal respect. See things from your bunnies point of view and meet in the middle.

I also learned that bunnies cost cash. This is not a cheap pet like a hermit crab. I found some cost saving techniques and good general information that was given to me that I'd like to share.

1. Costco boxes are the BEST!! If you have a Costco nearby, they give out boxes to carry out groceries/items in. The Foster Farms Frozen Chicken boxes ROCK. It can be stuffed with hay and provides at least a month of enjoyment for her as she rips and tears her way through the siding to make her own entrance. While you're there, pick up a box of Earthbound Farm Organic Spring Mix. 1 lbs. of all things good for us both. Red and Green Oak Leaf, Red Leaf, Mizuna, Arugala, Radicchio and Chard are some of the ingredients included. Earthbound Farm Organic brand can be found in your local store also.

2. Buy your pellets and hay at a Mom and Pop feed store. Support the private business owners in America. This is a way of life that is slipping further and further from our city centers. Make that extra drive to get to the feed store. Kaytee hay (what you get from any pet conglomeration), in my opinion, is way over priced for the quality and amount you receive. You'll pay over $20 for just 96 oz. of hay. At this rate, you'll have a feed bill larger than your grocery bill. Did you know you can buy a whole BALE of Supreme Quality Eastern Washington Hay for less than $18? That will last her a Year..maybe more. Your local Farm Supply store may also sell you a Bunny Bale for $2 !!! Yes, $2. This lasts Paulie a month easy. Buy a 5 lbs. bag of High Protien Rabbit Pellets for $4.99. You heard right. This will last her a year. Store it in the fridge or freezer.

3. Field Greens. Rabbits love dandilions. If they grow naturally in your yard and you don't use pesticides or fertilize, let bunny go for a romp on the lawn to get her fix of goodies. They love the flowers and the stalks/leaves.

4. Buy a Baby Pen off of Craigslist. I found a Pack N Play for $15. This is a great way for Paulie to be in the house and be happy. I put a small cat litter box at one end and she has the rest of the space to hop around. I put a bunch of newspaper sheets in there and she has fun tearing them into little pieces and making tents.

5. Go to Cost Plus and get a jute rug. They're inexpensive and will provide a healthy outlet for digging. Rabbits must dig. Better the jute rug than your living room carpet.

6. Buy veggies you like and Share! I like beets, she gets the tops, I get the root. Same with carrots, they can't have too much carrot but do well with carrot tops.

7. In a pinch, dump the contents of your shredder into the litter box. It doesn't absorb as well as CareFresh or bedding pellets, but it'll do.

8. Toys: save your money - don't buy them. Paulie didn't like any of the professionally made toys I bought. She didn't like lid cans or plastic spoons or measuring cups, like I'd seen suggested before. She likes a plain old school straw broom, less than $5 if you look. She likes newspaper, big sheets of it so she can arrange it the way she wants. Egg cartons - those offer good times.

9. Treats: birdseed not a lot, just a smidge. I have parakeets and she goes nutty over any seed that has found its way to the floor.

10. Salt licks - why didn't the vet mention that? A rabbit would really benefit by putting a salt lick into her living space.

Special Considerations:

Spaying/Neutering - it's a personal decision. There's lot's of people on opposite sides of the fence on this. What I have to say is that the Exotic Pet Vet that is charging $210 to examine and spay a rabbit is Lame. It's what makes the process so unappealing. I heard about ovarian cancer being a strong possibility and I also heard that territorial aggression may lessen with a spay, so I went for it. But if I could roll back the clock, I wouldn't. I have talked to a woman who was in 4H growing up and she raised rabbits. When I told her I spayed my bunny, she burst out laughing and said I'd been had. She told me her favorite rabbit lived to be 10 years old and that wasn't an unusual thing for her to see. Her 2 pennies "Feed them the right diet and give them room to roam and keep the boys away from the girls". No Spaying. Plus, there hasn't been any change in the FIERCENESS of Paulie Walnuts, post spay. For a rabbit spay / neuter to exceed the cost of the same operation for a cat is ludicrous. On top of that, it was a very stressful and painful operation for her. Exotic Bunny Vets, cut a rescue bunny a break. I did find a $30 rebate voucher from the County which was wonderful! I filled out the form, sent them a copy of my invoice and they mailed me a check for $30. Look online and Ask Your Vet if any rebate programs are available for you.

Exercise: It's a Rabbit!! You see those wild rabbits in your neighborhood? They are running, darting, digging and chewing at dawn and dusk. Your house rabbit deserves the same amount of free roam exercise as a wild bunny does. You do not have to give up your entire house, it can be an hour here and there in a specified location. Bunnies expel their energy in bursts and then want to rest. After some hotrodding, you'll see when your bunny is ready to take a nap. Make the space light and bright, be creative in how you fence them in - it can be as simple as blocking off the walk in closet or pantry with a baby gate - give them some room to rev their engines and lay some rubber. You can actually see smoke coming off the rug when the wheels get spinning. Remember, litter box training is simple and there won't be too much of a mess. Then sit back and prepare to be entertained.

By now, you may have figured out that I threw out any idea of re-homing the rabbit. She's part of the crew, harness trained, she's a show stopper on the trail. She's a traveler also, going up and down the West Coast - San Diego to Seattle - enjoying the new sights and smells along the way - many hotels do accept bunnies as guests.

Yes, there has been a learning curve and it's true I'm not thrilled about cleaning a litter box (that's why I have a dog and not cats) and we're not exactly chillin' on the couch together after dinner but the big personality in this little furry creature has won me over, she is a joy to be around everyday. I hope you get a chance, just one time in your life, to rescue a rabbit.

Where to find a Rescued Rabbit:

www.SaveABunny.com

www.PetFinders.org

www.BestFriends.org

www.rabbit.org

Check your local animal shelters, Craigslist and the Nickel Ads. Or maybe, you'll be at a party one day and cross paths with a rabbit that might be pleased to make your acquaintance.