Volume 3, Issue 4 - November 2003

Tristan’s "Happily Ever After" Story
by Sandy Roberts

Hello, I am Tristan, one of the infamous "Pueblo Bunnies." I don’t remember much about the Pueblo house, I was pretty young, but I do know that it was not a safe place and I did not learn how to be with other bunnies. Everybody fought endlessly and it was survival of the toughest.

Adjusting to a New Place and New People
When some people came to take us out I was afraid of them. I had never seen a Tristan & Bambiperson before! They caught me and sent me to the Colorado House Rabbit Society. It was all very bewildering and very scary, and I felt so alone. Nancy and all the volunteers took really good care of me, and I had plenty of food, gentle handling and lots of other rabbits around, but nobody to really be my friend. When Nancy tried to pair me with girl bunns I did not know how to act and I was very rough with them. Nancy was afraid I would hurt them so I never got to go home with anyone to be her hus-bunn.

The years passed and I stayed in my cage, alone, even though there were many other bunns around. Nice volunteers held me and talked to me, but it’s not the same as having a bunny friend, you know? I saw the other bunnies going to homes, but I was still afraid of people and I would turn my back on them when they walked by my cage. I got more and more depressed and after a while I thought I would just die in that cage, never having a bunny relationship. It was like that for a long time.

Then the Colorado House Rabbit Society moved to a new place. Oh, it was so nice there! We had lots of light and lots of room and lots of hope that more bunnies would go to homes. Nancy was so excited about the place that she wrote a long letter in the newsletter. She wrote about us “special needs” rabbits who would require a little extra care (my mom first read about me there).

Tristan Finds His "Mom"
In June, Nancy invited all the Colorado House Rabbit Society members to the Spring Fling. That’s when I met my new mom, Sandy. She and her husband Clint came to the Spring Fling and I overheard her telling Clint she really wanted to adopt me. She said I deserved a nice home for the rest of my life, even if I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, really interact with them. She said I could be adopted and just be me, no demands, no expectations. She thought I should have a chance to live a real bunny life, and I could share her office with her, no more cages, and maybe get to know the other bunnies in the family, later on. Well this really scared me, but I was intrigued too. I could see that Clint was very kind when he said to Sandy “if we could give Tristan a better life, we should”. I could feel Sandy asking me if that would be okay. I was afraid, but said I would be willing to try it. I think she heard me!

I could hear Sandy talking to me the whole next week, telling me how excited she was that I was coming to live with her. She told me about the other two rabbits, and even said maybe someday we could think about a mate for me. Now that really intrigued me! But when she finally came to get me, I was very afraid, and I turned my back and would not look at her. Sandy took me to a bunny run and sat there with me while I ran around. It was fun! She talked to me a lot and told me how happy she was that I said I would come home with her. I even ran up to her and nuzzled her a couple times. I was feeling less afraid.

She put me in my very own, brand-new carrier and put me in the car. She lives in the mountains so we had a long drive but she talked to me the whole time. She said her local shelter had called her two days ago about a girl bunny who was homeless. Sandy (I think I’ll call her Mom now) did not think she should bring another bunny home because I was pretty overwhelmed already, and I was her priority. Still, she wanted to stop and meet the girl bunn before we went home. Well, it must have been love at first sight because Mom brought the girl rabbit into the car with me, and we all went home together.

Bambi, the Most Wonderful Bunny in the World!
I could see her through my carrier. I had never seen such a beautiful girl! Her ears were huge, and she had a gorgeous fluffy white tail, and a beautiful blonde coat and pure white underbelly. She was long and lean and oh, did I mention the ears? The most beautiful, expressive bunny ears in the world. I am sure she liked me right away!

My mom would not let us be together at first because she was afraid we would hurt each other. Mom and Clint (Dad) named her Bambi for her ears and tail. We stayed in Mom’s office with a wire fence between us. Mom would let us spend a little more time together each day until she could see we were going to be fine.

Oh, happy days! A wife, and a sweet, beautiful one at that! My mom says my Bambi is an angel. She thinks she was sent from heaven to make my life wonderful. I think so too! These days my eyes sparkle, my coat shines, I am curious about everything, and I even love my people! I run up to them for treats and let them pet me. But best of all, I not only have a bunny friend now; I have a bonded partner who loves me very much. We get to spend time together outside in the bunny yard every day, and we have a very happy home and lots of room in Mom’s office. We spend every night cuddled together. Oh, I do SO love my Bambi.

A truly happy ending . . .
I’m still working on making friends with the other bunnies, but I will work hard at that because I know my Mom wants me to. I am so glad she brought Bambi and me home. Life started out a little rough, but from now on, it’s strictly happily ever after!