I saw an article in a magazine that talked about what a person's choice for a pet meant about their personality. It said that rabbits are the pet of choice for people who like mysteries, because rabbits are unpredictable. You never know what a bunny will do next.

This is both the fun and exasperation of having a rabbit. Watching a rabbit is wonderful entertainment but can also be a nail biting fear factor when you realize your rabbit has done something bunny proofing never anticipated.

From the very first time that Tigger and Shadow set paws in our home, they have been determined to go where no bunny has gone before and attempt what no bunny has ever attempted. They have thrilled us, made us laugh, and had us holding our breath hoping their stupidest stunts would work out okay. We've never been able to reach them fast enough when they have appeared to lose their little bunny minds. We keep the vet on speed dial just in case!

Shadow must think that he is part flying squirrel since he launched himself off the back of the sofa with his legs spread out like wings. Fortunately, he was only winded from the four foot drop to the floor. However, it was obviously a thrill for him. We keep catching him up there looking out obviously thinking about trying it again. One night recently he was on the floor and sat up on his hind legs as if he was begging and then launched himself straight up into the air about three feet and came forward into a binky and landed four or five feet from where he started. Oh for a video camera at a time like that!

Tigger loves to do the bunny commando crawl and we call her the hipless wonder because she has such a long snaky body shape. She has wiggled her way under almost everything in the house and seems to be attempting to rescue all the dust bunnies, since she brings so many of them back from her adventures. Tigger has had two truly breathtaking stunts. The first occurred when she was just a two pound baby and decided to scale the wall behind the privacy screen of a desk. I walked into the room to see the tips of her ears peeking above the back of the desk and one tiny paw hanging below the privacy panel. The inevitable fall to the floor before I could reach her took my breath away, but she just took off running to her next adventure. Our first home was an apartment that had sliding closet doors that had a track at the top but hung free at the bottom. Tigger discovered that if she bounced hard enough against the inner door, it would swing back creating a gap between the doors that she could run through and get into the closet. When we first saw this trick, we were terrified she was going to be crushed between the doors. Until we moved, we had to block the front of the closet doors to keep her from trying this again.

After six years with Tigger and Shadow we have learned one thing for certain, we have no idea what they might do next. We have become bunny proofing experts over the years trying to protect our little Evel Knievel rabbits. Our vet tells us that their willingness to do so much is an indication that we have created an environment for them where they feel completely safe and free to explore. We hope to have years ahead to enjoy the cute flops, playful and athletic binkys, and yes even those seemingly death defying stunts. At least at this point they do seem to be able to judge their own abilities and if it is too frightening for us we will just have to bunny proof some more to prevent a retry. We intend to enjoy every moment of the rabbit mysteries that they still have ahead for us!

~ Rebecca Pullin