Departed and very loved pet rabbit

Phil_F_NM

Phil_F_NM

Camera hacker
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Jun 14, 2004
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I came up to Jersey City on the 3rd of April to stay for two weeks and
"bunnysit" while my friend Katelyn was away on vacation in Florida.
Kate and I have been lovers of rabbits for years and we both volunteer
at the NYC Animal Care and Control center in east Harlem to assist with
rabbit rescue when we can.

Katelyn adopted Maya in the fall of 2008. She was from a litter of four
or five other rabbits who had been abused, neglected and abandoned in
NYC. Maya came to the shelter very skittish and had quite a temper not
hesitating to paw or bite a person.

Maya
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After a few months Maya calmed down a bit but she was still very
temperamental until her friend Ollie came along in the fall of 2009.

Ollie
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Katelyn adopted Ollie to give Maya a companion and after their
introduction, they bonded well over a few months and have been inseparable since.
Ollie was a big force in Maya's life and after they became companions, her temper got even better.

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Last month Maya was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy
which caused pressure on her already weakened heart (from a previously unknown cardiac episode)
due to fluid build-up around it. Her lungs were filling with fluid as well and she was having difficulty breathing.
She was put on medication these last three weeks and her health got much better.
Within a week of her diagnosis, she was again the spry little bun that we knew and loved.

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These last two weeks I've gotten to get closer to Maya than ever
before, having to administer her medication and generally dote upon
her. She showed a lot of interesting things about her personality in
these last few weeks that endeared her more to us and made her passing
that much harder. Kate returned from vacation on Saturday and had a few
days to spend with Maya.

She died this morning and Kate and myself are very sad about losing
her. The anxiety of her possibly being in pain is over though and we know
that she had the best life possible these last several years.
Ollie is probably still processing it. He said his goodbyes and groomed her
and we think he knows what happened. He's been a little down today too.
Apologies for rambling.

Thanks all,
Phil Forrest
 
No apology needed- we lost our two wonderful little dogs the end of last year, unexpectedly in a period of 5 weeks. Believe me, I understand, and God bless.
 
I know exactly how you feel, and I am very sad to read your story.
I am sure that Maya had the best life available to her, being Katelyn's pet.
 
Phil,

I am deeply moved by your story and sorry for your loss, because I too have rescued animals (cats) even though I'm allergic to them. At one point I had three of them: one a rescue, another an old cat that would of otherwise been destroyed because of a baby, and another just a stray.

Also there is my girlfriend's daughters dog that is a rescue, who initially had bouts of aggression, but he is deeply loved and now secure.

Cal
 
No apologies necessary, perfectly natural to feel sad at the loss of a family member which pets are. Thanks for sharing a touching story of care and compassion and I am sure it was much appreciated by Maya.

Bob
 
I'm just thankful that there are people like you and Katelyn who are prepared to take in abused/stray animals. A stray cat adopted us a few years ago and he has the biggest personality that I have ever seen in a cat. He makes every day brighter with his antics and companionship.
 
i am sorry for your loss.

it sounds like maya and ollie were very fortunate having two loving people create a caring and good place in the world for them.

wonderful photographs of them and their abode.

maybe a companion for ollie a bit down the road?

breath, relax and enjoy.
smiling gecko, aka kenneth
www.neverforgetbeslan.org
 
awhhhh...I LOVE the Photos of Maya & Ollie
very Sorry to hear
but Feel Quite Blessed in reading your story
and knowing You & Katelyn shared a Wonderful Moment in Time with the Bunny Family ;)
 
Phil, I am sorry to hear about the loss of a loved pet. Your rambling was amazingly well done with the photos and the story was much appreciated.
 
never had much contact with rabbits...but i know the loss of a friend and pet and there is no other pain quite like it.
very sorry for your loss...
 
Thank you all for your kind words. Katelyn isn't a member of RFF but I'll pass the link on to her.
Last time I lost a pet was 18 years ago, so I had forgotten how hard it can be. Since then I've been witness to some heartbreaking and horrific scenes as a photographer but this is a different kind of grief. I had the shield of work to help guard me from emotions when shooting. I know some would say that she's just a rabbit but she had such an amazing, feisty personality and like others have said, she was a member of the family. I didn't even live with her but I've been around so much from when she was brought in to the shelter all the way to this morning, that she created a very important little place in my life. It's just a significant loss that I'll have to come to terms with and move on but we'll never forget her, of course.

I got on a train back to Philly just after 2 p.m. and arrived around 4:30. I've been kind of walking in a haze just unmotivated and so very tired.
It was a truly taxing day. (pun intended)

Again, thank you all so very much.

Phil Forrest
 
Very sorry about your loss... And quite comforted by the community reaction. Now I know this is the best place to let your hair down and be yourself: I never imagined that rabbits could be such wonderful pets until my wife spoke to me about the one she had growing up, who would be chased by their dog for a while until they switched places and then she'd chase the dog.

I have to get ready with a 16-year old cat in the house. Best of luck recovering!
 
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