Honorary Malamute - Pig the Mini-lop Bunny
Stephanie wanted a bunny - she says it's like a puppy but doesn't bark...ok, I'll give her that but you do have to change the litter pan. Then she went back to college this fall with no one to babysit Pig and I was elected. It's been interesting. First of all, I didn't know bunnies could have such attitude! Pig is not afraid of the dogs at all and actually LIKES Riggs! Mocha is trying very hard to be Pig's friend but so far has been getting the cold shoulder - Pig is apparently very picky about who she allows into her circle of friends. I felt sorry for the poor rabbit in a small cage so built her a bunny "condo" with several levels (do you know how hard it is to find something for a large bunny? I ended up using an old cat/ferret cage and building floors into it). While I have to assume she likes the added floor space, you would never know it. She still grunts at me and gives me dirty looks when she doesn't get what she wants. She still prefers Riggs to humans (at least this human - I assume Stephanie is the exception!).
Pig in spite of her name is a mini-lop - which if you know about bunnies isn't all that mini. They are larger than other breeds of bunny and (according to Steph) require an extensive and particular diet. This rabbit eats better than I do! She gets timothy hay, fortified rabbit food, and a huge armful of fresh greens every day. She mostly lives in Steph's room, with occasional field trips outside - enjoying her condo and all it's amenities - lower floor bathroom, middle floor kitchen, upper floor bedroom...complete with indoor-outdoor carpet and lots of toys which include a couple of stuffed rabbits for company. Her favorite toy is crinkled paper - which she eats. She immediately lets you know if you displease her by grunting and slamming you with her front claws. I used to think it was hilarious that Jimmy Carter was "attacked" by a rabbit - no more! This rabbit is ferocious if she is unhappy - though she doesn't bite - she does get her point across by grunting, pawing angrily and running away - with an attitude. But she has a soft side for Riggs...
Early on Riggs took an interest in "Pig" and kept wanting to come into the room (which is typically kept with the door closed to keep less friendly dogs out - Jazzy for example is of the mind we are fattening her up for a feast! and everyone knows what Holly does with rabbits - based on the 40-50 she dispatches and eats a year in the backyard). Anyway Riggs, being such a gentle guy wanted to see this new creature so cautiously I let him in (supervised). The bunny immediately decided he was OK and granted him audience. And while with us or the other dogs, she makes no acknowledgement that we exist, decided to hop over to say hi to Riggs. Nose to nose they "talked" for quite some time that first day - and have had conversations regularly since. If I leave the door open, he'll park himself on the bed and just "hang out" with Pig. She doesn't seem to mind and I think likes the company.
Mocha, meanwhile, wants in on the action. She finds this creature infinitely interesting. She's made it her job in the morning to remind me to feed Pig her greens, lest I forget. She insists with great enthusiasm on accompanying me in to "help" feed Pig. Pig has even gone nose to nose with her (no fear, this Rabbit is amazing!) but generally considers her an acquaintance, rather than a friend, like she does Riggs. But Mocha tries! Every morning without fail she reminds me the Bunny must be fed by standing in front of the door and giving me the "look". Mocha has created a new job for herself. Even around Riggs, Pig is always safely caged.
Meanwhile, Pig, queen that she is, expects being waited on. Heaven help you if you are late for breakfast, rearrange her condo or generally mess with her surroundings. She only gives audience to her buddy Riggs. If another dog wanders in, she basically ignores it - being still and staring (like a Malamute) - not in a scared way, but more of a HOW DARE YOU ENTER MY SPACE way, then continues what she was doing, never acknowledging the dogs existence. If Riggs comes in the room she'll hop down to her lower level so they can "talk". So there is some kind of inter-species communication going on.
Many times Steph has carried her outside for a walk amongst 3 or 4 Malamutes and so far no feet are missing. Either they are respecting Steph's alpha-ness when holding the bunny - or Rigg's friendship. Come to think of it, I wonder if that's why Holly and Riggs' had their falling out? (they have had some vicious battles - and he's her son). Maybe he doesn't approve of her bunny murdering sprees? I guess we'll never know...I just find it funny how Mom is bunny killer extraordinaire while son is gentle bunny friend....maybe Riggs just considers Pig an honorary Malamute?
The Condo
Q and A:
Q: Does she ever get to interact with the mals without the cage?
A: Never - I don't trust them. Even Riggs in a weak moment. She's always in the cage unless certain dogs are out of the room and we are holding her - usually taking her outside. I don't trust most of the girls or Superman at all. Mula, Mocha and Riggs have been OK with her as long as she's in the cage and we're supervising...the others...she would likely be a bunny snack.
Q: How does a bunny stay alive among that many mals?
A: I think the few we can trust with her respect her alpha-ness for the most part, and ours. We also keep the bedroom door closed ALL THE TIME so the dogs can't enter the room unless supervised. And I never let more than one in the room at a time even when I'm in there.
Q: How old is Pig?
A: I think she's about 3 now...she's also spayed which helped her attitude a lot (she had started to get very aggressive).
Q: Why the name Pig?
A: I can only guess...Steph named her.