Rabbit vs. Refrigerator (Spoiler Alert: The Refrigerator Won)
How a Holland lop named after a basketball point guard became one of the pack — and almost took out the kitchen appliances
We never went looking for a pet rabbit. But when some college student friends graduated and couldn’t take their Holland Lop from the dormitory with them, we became the lucky parents.
Naming pets was always a very fun event in our house. This time, Jane and I had a free-association brainstorming session. It went like this: rabbit:bunny – bunny:buns – buns:cheeks – cheeks:Maurice Cheeks, point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team! So, Maurice it was.
Maurice bounced around the house and was mostly litterbox trained. He got along splendidly with our dogs, Otis, Mack, and Lewis to the point that we could open the door to the yard and let the four of them out. When we called them, they would all come back in. Maurice thought he was a dog, just one of the pack.
We had to take Maurice outside often to brush him. Rabbits shed like crazy, and our brushing created little fur tumbleweeds that the wild birds coveted for nesting material. He liked being outside, although if a hawk flew over, he would completely flatten himself in an effort to become invisible.
Rabbits naturally like to hide in tight places, and Maurice enjoyed squeezing behind or under furniture. Rabbits also like to chew.
One day, while having afternoon coffee at the kitchen counter, there was a sudden flashing of the ceiling lights, and the refrigerator made an unhappy noise. Then Maurice came running out from behind the fridge with actual smoke coming from his fur! Unbeknownst to us, he had squeezed behind the fridge and decided to chew the power cord. He escaped with a minor singe. We ended up making a barrier so he couldn’t get back there and electrocute himself.
We don’t know how old Maurice was when we got him, but we enjoyed his company for about 4 years. Near the end of that period, he developed a double ear infection. It was sad to watch – he was obviously in pain. Under the instruction of a vet, I gave Maurice weekly antibiotic shots for several months. While we were able to stop the shots, Maurice never fully recovered. He seemed to have no more pain, but it was as if he had an inner ear problem and possibly vertigo. His head was permanently tilted, and he sometimes stumbled in circles.
And then one day when he was outside with the dogs, he didn’t come in when we called. Jane and I searched but couldn’t find him. We thought we had lost him. An hour later, our Sheltie, Lewis, came in dragging Maurice by the scruff of his neck. Good boy, Lewis. But Maurice was done. He died that night.
Although we never got another rabbit (too much shedding!), we’ll always remember sweet little Maurice, a beloved member of our pack.
Bill Boivin is a scientist, retired from 30 years of active duty with the United States Public Health Service. Bill and his wife Jane have shared a love of nature, gardening, and wildlife for over 50 years. Look out for Bill’s monthly Plants & Animals column at www.burlington.buzz
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