Where Dreams Are Made

Two weeks ago it was Bailey that was sick. Now she's fully recovered, lively and playful than ever (and sometimes annoyingly so), with a mouth that stops at nothing. Almost everyday we mourn over a mangled plant, at times a couple of dead fish in the pond--it seems there's always something that she manages to pull out of somewhere and tear apart. Tsk, tsk. The sly, vicious little devil. ;p

Now, it's Cotton, our dear, adorable rabbit that's incapacitated. She's predominantly white, her ears a combination of brown and black fur as well as her eye mask (like a bandit); the same color runs down her spine. I think it all started as sore hutches which eventually graduated to a severe case of skin disease. Now she's debilitated (and I hope only temporarily) and we're helping her regain her strength. In a span of a week, my Mom and I have learned how to force feed a rabbit, make her take her vitamins and antibiotics, clean her wounds, change her bandages (much like attending to a battle-injured soldier), change her nappies, and give her all the TLC anybody could ever give a pet. She's so cute when she goes to sleep (do they close their eyes?): we would lay her down on her side and tuck her in, covering her up with a blanket so she won't get cold (as the nights have been) as some of her fur was sheared . It's a round-the-clock duty, but I'm not complaining. It was our fault that her condition got worse. We had, unfortunatley, neglected the rabbits when we lost our helpersand the dog got sick and I was out of town for a week. In our home, the animals outnumber the humans so it's quite a task keeping track of each and every one of them, not to mention that they have separate places in/around the house.

The cats enjoy the backyard, one Mad Maxx, however, lives inside the house for he's my Mom's spoiled little brat; the dog has the garage and the side of the house all to herself (including the pond that she has made into a recreational pool despite glaring looks and frustrated shouts from my Dad); and the rabbits and one scarred cat share the balcony with the birds and butterflies. We're a full house, I'd say. And those are just the animals, wait 'til I get started on the humans. Haha. But that would entail a lengthier entry so I'll put it off for next time.

So, in three weeks we've learned more about animals than we did our whole lives prior. Sadly, we had to learn the hard way. I just hope there will be no cause for greater regret.

I guess the most valuable lesson I've learned throughout this whole ordeal, ashamed as I am to admit I've realized it late in life, is that these pets are our responsibility. We got them, we took them under our wing when they could've done well for themselves. And by doing that, we've taken the responsibility of survival from their hands/paws and transferred it to ours. Their innocent lives depend on us and we made it so! So now we should be able to fulfill our end of the commitment. It's but the ethical thing to do. It's but humane. It's but what love should be.