After 11 years, it was time to say goodbye to our first furry friend, Billy. This was a picture of her in 2002 when she was in her prime. I'm surprised she let me hold her, she only liked to be pet on the floor or in her cage. I think she let me here because I was standing and she knew it would be a long way down.
Mike got her from a friend who was moving when she was about a year old. She was so funny! Back then, she would even jump up on the couch and lay on Mike's stomach while he would pet her (the couch was pretty low).
Every few months for the last year she started to struggle. Each time she seemed to bounce back, even in her old age. But it was finally her time. The day before Mike had said she didn't look good, so that night, I wrapped her up in a towel and snuggled with her (which she never lets you do). As soon as I got up for work the next morning, I went and hung out by her cage. Mike was already at the shop. I was trying to make some toast for breakfast and whenever I would walk away from the cage, Bear would cry. He knew she wasn't doing well and he kept crying and pacing back and forth.
I spent about 45 minutes with her and the dogs and I watched her take her last breath. I'm so glad I was there, I would have felt bad if she was alone. She lived a long bunny life, but it was still hard to see her go. I called Mike and he came home for a bit and took her out of the cage so the dogs could smell her and know she was gone. Bear cried and cried. He would lay on his side and roll around and cry some more. Then he would bark at her and try to get her to play. He had such a hard time with it! He's the sensitive one as you can tell. He has been her big furry brother since Ali (the other bunny) died a year and a half ago.
We will miss her, but it was good timing since the baby is on his way. Our "Shu Zoo" is growing smaller but the balance is back to the human side again. Two labs, a baby and a business will be plenty to keep us busy.
