… with the tail being that of our bunny, named Bugsy by my son, Arthur.
I’m to blame for the episode required to return Bugs to his usual residence. We have five pets, including a small dog. I was taking the rabbit out for some individual attention when our small yet feisty dog, Leo, ran at us. That required me to open a second door of Bugsy’s palatial home so that I could take her out without mishap. Unfortunately, amid the hubbub, I only properly re-locked one door. And so begins the miraculous story of Bugsy.
Apparently, Bugsy has a strong curious streak and wanted to see the rest of our neighborhood. As you might guess, for an eight-month-old rabbit, a domesticated one at that, our world is a dangerous place. There are multiple miracles here, a major one being that this rabbit survived — unscathed — for about five days in an area abundant with dogs, cats, owls and hawks (not to mention the occasional speeding car).
Our intrepid rabbit somehow made it all the way over to the sculpture park behind Joe’s Cafe. While that’s only three blocks in human terms, it’s quite far for a small rabbit sans street savvy.
Several days after Bugsy’s breakout, Mary Christman spotted a rabbit in the sculpture park. Mary exclaimed to herself, “Wait a minute – that’s not a wild rabbit.” (She is somewhat of a rabbit expert, having had them since she was 6 years old.)
Mary approached the rabbit and it hopped away. She approached it again and in short order was able to cuddle Bugsy in her arms. How lucky is the rabbit — another miracle! — to be enfolded in the arms of a rabbit expert! Mary Number 1 took Bugs to her abode a couple miles away. Mary 1 also posted her find on NextDoor. I do not use that app, so I did not see her very germane announcement.
Time for Mary Number 2 to step into the story. Mary Powell, a common sight on our streets and a long-term resident of Westminster Place, saw the NextDoor post several days after it was shared online. Mary 2 immediately called me in an excited voice.
Mary 2 connected me with Mary 1, to whose house I swiftly hopped to claim our incredibly soft pet. Mary 1 insisted on giving me some rabbit bedding and food which she had purchased for Bugsy’s two-day residency at her home, where he mingled without mishap with a good-sized, well-mannered dog.
After a pleasant reunion, I placed Bugs inside the curl of a soft blanket in my car. She immediately started eating, which seems to be the response of rabbits to almost any situation.
Once back in our home at 6054 Westminster, the rabbit was enthusiastically — perhaps too enthusiastically — greeted by our small dog, Leo. The humans in our family retreated with Bugs into the bathroom, where we hung out with her for quite a while.
Today, Bugs is back inside her palatial estate, with intermittent sessions in her spacious outdoor enclosure.
Thanks to both Mary’s and Fahad and Laurel and Heather and everybody else who showed a lot of concern and gave us help in the successful repatriation of Bugsy.
All HAIL Bugsy! All HAIL BUGSY!
