Willow

Baby Willow When I Found Her

Willow’s introduction in to our lives is a true rescue story!

One early Spring day in 2009 during my walk home from my previous job, a small ball of white fluff under a bush caught my attention. A crow was picking at it so I went to shoo it away, only to find the tiniest rabbit I have ever seen.  Her paw was cut up (from the crow pecking at it) and worst of all, she wasn’t a wild rabbit!

I’m not sure how Willow got there.  I don’t know if someone released their pregnant rabbit in to the wild, or their rabbit had babies and they released those or if she escaped from the pet store that was just around the corner.  All I knew was that this rabbit was injured and clearly didn’t belong outdoors.

Once I got her home, I wasn’t sure what to do.  I started with fixing her a VERY temporary cage – which was actually a large cardboard box we had at home.  I really wasn’t thinking straight as my main concern was for this poor little baby.  Once I had a home made up for her, I examined her paw.  I gently cleaned the wound with warm water to take a look at the damage.  Luckily, the cuts didn’t look too deep but she wouldn’t put any pressure on it.

Willow Taking A Break From Doing Laps

I began soaking the wound twice daily with warm water and epsom salts and then covering it in Dr. Maggie’s ointment (a pet safe and all natural polysporin type product available at pet stores).

Within a week, the wound was almost completely healed although it took her a little longer to start using it fully!  She loved to be wrapped up and kept warm against me and even though she hadn’t been around people, she was always very good with me,  especially when I was treating her wound.  I’d like to think she somehow knew I was there to help her, not hurt her.  I didn’t have any problems feeding her, although she didn’t eat much of her pellets for a while but would eagerly munch away at her hay.

Willow Enjoying Our Backyard.

Once that paw had healed, Willow took off! She seemed to have limitless energy and throughout her prime years her favourite thing to do was run full laps around the upper level of our house.  She loved to binky and flop, which was incredibly enjoyable to watch!  And while she still hates to be picked up, she loves coming to stretch out beside you if you’re sitting on the floor for a thorough rub down and nose scratching.

Willow is the Princess of the household. She is very dainty, weighing just under 2lbs, and has always been incredibly tiny! She has a sassy side too and has been known to lunge at family or friend’s who’ve popped in to care for her in my absence. You’d never know it when I’m around though, then she is a just a sweet melty marshmallow.

Now in her senior years, Willow prefers to spend the majority of her days lounging in a cozy bed or hiding in her hay box. She spent many years being Ollie’s companion and they made the sweetest couple. Now that he’s passed she spends her days keeping Sebastian company. We may not see the binkies and zooms anymore but she is the first one to the gate for her morning veggies and is quick to sink in to my lap for a good cuddle.

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