Hello -

I joined the forum on Dec 10 but have not posted until now. What a wonderful group of people. I wish I had no need for such a place but unfortunately I do.

Last Wednesday, my best bunny buddy died suddenly. Rusty came into my life during the summer of 1997. He never used a cage and had full run of our house. He was with us all of the time. If we sat on the floor to watch TV, he'd be right there waiting for pets. If we sat on the couch, he'd be there with us. When my son entered the room, he'd run circles around his feet (a sign of true bunny affection). His favorite thing was for me to sit on the floor and he'd come hopping over and plop himself right in my lap. He loved to spend time with his family. This past summer, he developed weakness in his back legs and also cataracts. I contacted a wonderful herbalist and we put him on an herbal regimen and glucosomine and chondroitin, which helped him to hop again. The cataracts did not bother him, since he knew the layout of his house so well.

On December 8th, when I got home from work, he was waiting in the dining room, as usual. His huge ears were hanging low, like they were too heavy for him to hold upright. I put his ears up and patted him on the head and told him I'd be right back with his dinner. While I was gone (a minute, maybe two), he went into the TV room and lay down on his favorite blue rug. I walked into the room with his food dish and he was gone.......just that quickly. I still can't believe it.

I have been crying since he left me. I believe he waited for me to come home to say goodbye. I couldn't work last Thursday or Friday. I have to somehow find the strength to go to work tomorrow.

Lynn

Lynn, I'm so sorry you lost your buddy Rusty. Our furries do such a good job hiding their illnesses, often there's little warning that anything is seriously wrong with them. I'm glad at least you got to say that final goodbye to him.

Wishing you peace and comfort,

Hi Lynn, I am glad you found us too we have some wonderful people here. I am so sorry you lost your little Rusty. I bet he was waiting for you to get home so he could say goodbye. He looks like he was a beautiful doll and sounds so loving and sweet. I'm sure it will take a lot of time to not feel so heartbroken and for the tears to stop. We are all in this together and will lend a listening ear and a helping hand.
Ann

Lynn dear
What a beautiful picture of your precious Rusty, what a beautiful boy he was. Clearly from what you say he loved you dearly, and yes, he waited to see you one more time to say his final goodbyes. I am so glad you have that special memory, and did not come home to find that he had already gone. Bless him.

When we have a pet as loving as your dear Rusty was, it makes it a hundred times harder when we loose them, to lose all that love and affection and closeness. But what you do know is that you gave him a wonderful life. You made him happy and gave him all your love. He was a very lucky boy to have found you.

I know it will be hard for you to find the strength to go to work tomorrow, but if you can manage it Lynn you may find it helps you a little. I have found that by getting out of the house it offers a small distraction for a short while and helps to ease the pain a little. Tell your friends at work. Let them know and understand what has happened and that you are not yourself at the moment and that you need lots of love and understanding at the moment. I have found that by doing this people have been extraordinarily kind to me.

My thoughts are with you

With love
jilly

I''m very sorry to learn of the loss of your beloved Rusty. It sounds like he had a great life with you and your family. You obviously loved him very much. Life without him will be different, but we all learn to cope with the loss of our pets....it just takes time.

All of us here at LS understand and share your pain so I'm glad you decided to post and share your story. Thanks for showing all of us what a handsome boy your Rusty was. It will be difficult to go to work in the morning, but you'll find the strength to do it and you'll make it through. Keep us informed on how things are going....we're here to listen.

Take care,
__Jim

Dear Lynn,

I'm sorry you lost your little bunny friend Rusty. He was so adorable, and it sounds like he was a true companion and that he loved you as much as you loved him.
How fortunate for both of you that he got to say goodbye to you before he left for the Rainbow Bridge. Know that he will be waiting there to greet you someday.

My thoughts are with you.
Kathleen

Just wanted you to know I understand your sorrow at this time. Rusty is precious.
I wish you strength and peace in your heart in the days, weeks and months to follow.
Stay in touch...........
Litebrez

Hi Lynn:

First, please let me say what a very, very sweet, precious, beautiful boy your Rusty was!!!!!

Your quote............

You took the words right out of my mouth, Lynn..........
I am very, very sorry that you had to find a pet-grief site at all...........BUT, IF YOU HAD TO FIND ONE, I AM SINCERELY
HAPPY THAT YOU FOUND LIGHTNING-STRIKE....
TRUTHFULLY!!!!!

I myself have been here for 10 months, ever since my precious furcat Ernestine was put to sleep........and, I haven't searched anywhere else.......
There's no need to!!
EVERYTHING THAT I NEED IS RIGHT HERE!!!!

Please, if you can, while you're at work...........and you need to cry...........please let those tears fall......
I know myself that a lot of people were surprised AND UNDERSTOOD THAT I WAS CRYING BECAUSE MY SWEET FURKITTY WAS PUT TO SLEEP...............
People openly shared their stories on their experiences...........

The tears you are crying now are THE HEALING ONES..............
I just couldn't stop crying.........no matter where I was...........My eyes were red & puffy..........
If I said an "Allergy", that was just not going to "CUT IT"............You know?????
So, by being honest, I found that more people were willing to share their stories......

If you have access to a computer............please hop on to Lightning-Strike, and know that some of us will be on here,
to help you..............

I LOVE THAT LITTLE STORY............"ONE SET OF FOOTPRINTS"..........
Do you know that one????

It's when God is always, always with us............and, when we feel that we cannot carry our pain, our turmoil, whatever
it is that is weighing heavy on our minds...............THAT OUR DEAR LORD IS CARRYING US DURING THAT TIME..........THEREBY ONLY SHOWING ONE SET OF FOOTPRINTS...............
GOD IS NOT WALKING BEHIND US, BESIDE US............BUT, HE CARRIES US, BECAUSE AS HIS CHILD, HE KNOWS THAT WE JUST CANNOT GO ON............

In my experience, after Ernestine went to Rainbow's Bridge, I found that to be the case for me.......... I just "COULDN'T". And, it was our Dear Lord who carried me, when I couldn't walk.....
What a beautiful thought that was!!!
Really....

We are all always here for you, my new friend...........
Just so you know that!!!!

You have received a lot of good advice from some wonderful people.............Just know that we are all "IN THIS TOGETHER"..............AND, "WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU"!!!!!!

Goodnight & God Bless You..............

Love, Denise

Lyn. That is just such a moment of love and companionship babe. I lost my Seth on Thursday 8th too. The boss told me to take Friday off too.

Poor girl. Too have such a powerful relationship as that is just amazing. I'm totally speechless at the courage Rusty showed and loyalty to his family. That would be such a moving and sudden shock to come home to...that is just an unconditional sign of love from a pet to you.

Tons of hugs to you babe.

Hamish xx

Hey Lynn,

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my dog, Max, in a similar way. He wasn't sick until evening when my husband called me at work and said he thought Max wasn't feeling well. But it didn't seem serious. When I got home from work, Max saw me and then never moved again, even through carrying him to the car and driving him to the emergency vet.

I do think your bunny and Max both waited for us -- I feel grateful that I meant so much to my dog, and I'm sure your bunny felt the same way. They can't speak but they show us what they mean.

I could barely stand up the first two days. I went to work the next week but have no recollection of the week.

It's so hard to lose someone we have such a connection with -- be gentle with yourself -- you're not alone, Karen

Karen,

So sorry about Max. Thank you for sharing your story of how he waited for you. We certainly were fortunate to have had a connection that strong.

Keep in touch.

Lynn XXOO