See you later, little Bunny

Over the last few weeks, Dwight had been battling a nasty UTI, and potential GI infection.  After two visits to the vet in less than a week, two antibiotics, one steroid, medicated shampoo, diluted disinfectant, ointment, and subcutaneous injections of fluids, Dwight decided that enough was enough and passed away last night.  While we were doing everything we could to try to save our spunky little bunny, it wasn't enough to give him the will to fight the infection that was making him feel so horrible.

Dwight took his final breath laying in his favorite spot by the back door, looking out at the deck, where he used to spend hours just sitting and watching.  While sadness had been a major member of our family for the last week (watching Dwight get weaker and thinner each day took a huge toll on us, and resulted in multiple nights of tears and comforting), when Luke told me that Dwight had gone, the first thing I felt was relief.  Relief because I knew that he wasn't suffering anymore.

Dwight's favorite spot

It's amazing how such a small little guy made such a huge impact on Luke's and my lives.  Just under 5 years of being a family together taught us a lot about patience and personality (Dwight's personality was at least 20x bigger than his body size), and his passing has already left quite a hole in our hearts.  We may still have 10 pets in our house, but walking downstairs for the first time this morning forced me to feel how empty it already feels.  This morning, when I was on my way out the door to go to work, I walked over to the spot under the lilac trees where we laid him to rest, only to find that earlier Luke had put down some carrots for him on his way out to work (as close as we'll ever get back to that morning ritual of treat-time before heading to work).  As I sit here now, in the back room, I occasionally see him hop and kick his feet out of the corner of my eye, but by the time I turn to look, he's gone.

Thanks for the good times, Dwight, and we'll be seeing you again later someday.  Keep an eye out for us...

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.