LOVE|PSYCHOLOGY
He Is The Biggest And Cutest Distraction In A Long Time
Little did I know what was in store
Meet Gloin — the dwarf bunny that I am caring for while his caretakers take on a major move.
I offered to care for him or any of his 4 bunny companions when I first met my partner’s brother and that brother’s girlfriend.
Ever since I left my cat in Philly two summers ago with another big-hearted cat lover who was in love with him, I have been missing the presence of an animal (insects don’t count) in my home.
In fact, the cat (Gael) that I adored from the time he was born on my living room floor moved on to Kitty Heaven last month.
The news came from out of nowhere and I was heart-broken, but satisfied that he had lived 14 1/2 years with 2 different women who adored him and treated him very well.
After writing a story that detailed my Christmas fantasy that featured a basket full of kittens, my partner wondered if I did, in fact, want a kitten for Christmas.
I told him that I didn’t. It wasn’t practical. It didn’t make sense to get a cat with so much up in the air about where we would live or for how.
Then there’s the:
- responsibility
- fur/hair
- food costs
- health costs
- smell
- planning
- maintenance: feeding, changing litter, cleaning
Gloin has been trained to use a litter box. He does leave his little poop pellets outside of the litter box, but they’re always in his little bunny condo.
I’d never seen such a thing.
He is so low maintenance and he enjoys being around other humans more than other bunnies.
Rabbits usually like to be around other rabbits, but that is not the case with Gloin.
By the way, for those who do not know, Gloin is the name of one of the dwarves in the book and movie, The Hobbit.
He’s a dwarf rabbit, thus the name of a dwarf.
I also love The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
And now I love Gloin.
I have a feeling that this was the plan all along.
When I asked my partner’s brother how long he and his girlfriend wanted us to keep him, he said,
“For 2 weeks…or for however long you want him.”
It’s only been 3 days and I already feel loads more oxytocin coursing through my veins.
Having him around makes it hard to focus because he looks like the softest and cutest stuffed animal that has come to life!
This is him grooming his ears…
He likes to come out and chill on his (no longer mine) blanket while I watch television with my partner.
He is a happy bunny!
And it wasn’t until I read up on “rabbit communication” that I realized just how happy Gloin is…
-Lie down with a relaxed body
-Lie down with a stretched body, still relaxed
-Lie down with a fully extended body, still relaxed
-Jumping into the air all 4 paws off the ground
-Have a healthy appetite
-Calm and quiet
-Inquisitive
“You can tell your rabbit is relaxed by looking at his body mannerisms. If your rabbit is lying down in any way and is relaxing, he is not stressed. Likewise, rabbits that will jump in the air with all of their paws off the ground are relaxed and happy.”
Tonight, I saw Gloin do this hop/bounce/twist-thing-in-the-air that made me wonder if he was okay.
It was cute and heart-warming to find out that it meant that he was relaxed and happy.
There is something about him feeling safe in my space that touches me deeply.
I love it.
and I see why countless people over the years have said that I eat bunny food.
We love our veggies!
…I don’t know what will become of Gloin — whether he will stay with me or if he will return to his old caretakers in their new home with bunny companions that don’t quite jive with him.
It’s wonderful having him around, feeling and seeing his trust, cuteness and simplicity on such a regular basis.
I needed that/him — more than I realized.
Thank you Gloin.
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