Dogs of the North The Pack Moses

In Memoriam

Rabbits have a lot of personality! Moses came from the Humane Society, one of a number of bunnies bought as Easter presents and then abandoned when they proved to be a chore to care to for, or when they grew too big to be considered "cute." He was somewhat shy at first, an indication that he probably hadn't had much human attention at his previous place of residence. (I hesitate to call it a home.) But he warmed up with a bit of patience and developed into quite a character.

Moses was a big bunny! In fact, he was nearly as big as my cats, and he took a bizarre pleasure out of harassing them. He would hop up behind a cat, give a low grunt, then kick the cat in the rump and chase it through the house! The cats, Isaac and Mordecai, didn't quite know how to take this. I think they ran from him more out of a sense of befuddlement than fear. Moses' cat-chasing frenzy met its match in Archie, however. Arch would have none of this nonsense. The first time Moses tried to chase him, he wheeled about, boxed Moses across his big lop ears, calmly strolled across the room, hopped up in Moses' cage and blocked the door that led to his food dish!!! Moses never chased Archie again.

Moses' best friend among the critters was Kierkegaard. To her dying day, she believed that all rabbits were named "Moses," and when visiting with me at the home of friends who had rabbits, would sniff them out when I asked her where Moses was.

In case you wonder, Moses was litter box trained, and lived in a large cage when I wasn't home. Rabbits are generally not good house pets if left to their own devices. They are rodents, and will gnaw on furniture and electric cords.

In his later years of life, Moses went blind. He managed quite well, as long as I kept the furniture in the same position. In the last few months of his life, he seemed to be deaf as well, and relied on his sense of smell to identify me, and when picked up, would cuddle close beneath my chin.

Moses lived to be over nine years old, exceeding his life expectancy. He was a unique, affectionate, and intriguing friend.