In Memory of "The Energizer Bunny"

Buttercup Love
October, 1993- March 5, 2008

Yesterday, I made the difficult decision to help the sweetest bunny ever over the Rainbow Bridge to hop free in the big veggie garden that grows there. He lived a good LONG life, 14.5 years is very old for a bunny! I said my sad goodbye last night; there were many tears, as I held him close he relaxed and I think I might have felt him sigh, as if he knew he'd soon be at peace.
This morning, I took him to my sister-in-law's house, she would bring him to work and Dr. Hudson would help him on his journey. Linda told me tonight that he went peacefully, and I had made the right decision. (Thank you for your help, dear Linda) It's never easy, but in this case, animals are luckier than we humans.
Buttercup spent most of his life outside in a big cage, and only was brought in when it was too frigid in the winter and his water would freeze. He'd go back outside in the late winter to enjoy the warmer weather. In his later years, I kept him inside a little longer into the spring. Last January, it wasn't cold, but he was having difficulty, I was sure he was near the end of his life, and brought him in the house to make him comfortable until I could bring him in to the Vet the next morning. But, as they say, the energizer bunny keeps going and going...and he rebounded! He was still fragile, but still managed to get a another good year of life, although indoors.
Over the past month, he began to weaken considerably, and was unable to rise from a prone position more often without my help, but his appetite was fine, and he was drinking water, and was excited to see me when I went in to take care of him. This last week had more bad days than good, and I knew it was his time. We can't tell if they are in pain, and I didn't want him to suffer.
When he lived outside, he was often visited by the neighborhood kids who gave him pieces of hay, or dandelions they'd pick. He was always so happy when I'd come to the cage to give him his veggies; he also loved the broadleaf "pig's ears" weed that grew in my back yard. And yes, bunnies have personalities...if he didn't like a veggie or food, he'd head butt it, or intentionally dump his food dish, to the delight of the squirrels when the foods were mixed with nuts or seeds. My niece Kathryn gave him his name when I got him, she was 3. I have her 3 choices: Caramel Cream, Buttercup, or Latte. (I had a brown bunny previously named Cappuccino). She said, "his name will be, Buttercup Love." Indeed, he was a love.
Buttercup hung on longer than anyone ever expected, and I'm happy he was part of my little fur family, he will be missed.