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 Hello! My name is Baby, and I'm the official mascot of the Alameda Animal Shelter. I'm honored to be your host while you visit our Rabbit Row website, and I thought I'd tell you a little bit about me.
As you can see from my photo, I'm really not a baby. I was born in 1991, and I was named Baby because I originally lived in a backyard hutch with my mother. We were known as the mama and the baby, so everybody started calling me Baby. My mama and I were very bonded to each other, and when she was called to the Rainbow Bridge in 1996, I was so filled with grief that I wouldn't eat for days. The people where I lived were very concerned and brought me to the Alameda shelter, where Supervising Animal Control Officer Shellette Bass liked me and suggested I become the mascot.
My brownish-gray fur pattern is called "agouti". I sort of resemble a cottontail rabbit, but I'm really a domestic mixed breed. The puffy fur-covered area you may see under my chin is called a "dew lap", and it's common on female rabbits like me. And because mine is so big, it makes a great pillow!
I was spayed by Dr. Carolynn Harvey after I came to live at the shelter. Because I'm an older bunny, it was necessary to run quite a series of tests to make sure I was healthy. I came through the surgery with flying colors, and my human friends tell me that having me spayed will likely add several years to my life. I thank them!
During the Fall of 1999, I developed a mammary tumor. Although it was successfully removed, the cancer is still present, so I decided to leave the shelter and go into semi-retirement at my pal Rich's home. I take 1/8 of a Tamoxifen tablet twice daily. It's hidden in a raisin, and I love raisins! Dr. Carolynn Harvey and Dr. Jen Dalmasso continue to provide excellent care for me, and I'm a happy bunny! Although I miss my friends at the shelter, I have to admit that I like living at Rich's house with the other critters, and I get to hop around his backyard and snooze in the sunshine on nice days. I even get to visit at the shelter occasionally.
Before I retired, my job at the shelter was to be an educational bunny, and to help teach people about caring for a house rabbit. I've been to visit at schools, scout troops, or retirement homes, and I've even ridden on the Shelter's float in Alameda's Fourth of July parade. But if you visit me, you'll probably find me loafing, cuz that's what I like to do best.
Thank you for viewing our website. Please stop by in person and visit the bunnies awaiting adoption on "Rabbit Row". You can even e-mail me at RabbitRow@aol.com
Bunny hugs and nose boinks,
Baby
A note from Rich: On August 8, 2001, at the age of 10 years, the Black Rabbit visited Baby and called her home. She went peacefully and quietly, surrounded by everything familiar to her in our backyard, with her friends there to help her begin her journey to the Rainbow Bridge. She was a very brave bunny right to the end.
Baby had a profound effect on my life, and I'm eternally grateful to her for all she taught me. Godspeed, my little friend. You'll always remain in my heart.
To learn more about Baby, please visit our Tamoxifen page. |
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Baby's Last Days
The following account of Baby's last days as Rich shared his concerns for her quality of life with the members of the Petbunny list.
8/6/01
Vibes need for Alameda's "Baby"
Many of you folks have read about "Baby", the retired mascot bunny from the Alameda (Calif.) Animal Shelter. (In fact, Baby's even posted messages on PB all by her bunny-self!) She's lived at our house since she retired from active shelter life two years ago. Baby came to live here after a malignant mammary tumor was removed in August 1999. Unfortunately, the cancer cells had already
progressed outside the tumor walls, and even though Baby's treatment protocol
with Tamoxifen has been very successful and has added two years to her life...she's at least 10 years old now...we knew the day would come when the cancer would return.
And so it has.
X-rays show what appears to be an inoperable tumor in her chest cavity. She'd been doing remarkably well until a few days ago. Her system has begun to shut down, and we're now at the stage where we're just making Baby as comfortable as possible. We've stopped the Tamoxifen-in-a-raisin treatment, as there's really no point to continue, and she's stopped eating on her own anyway. We're giving her Torbugesic for pain relief. Our goal is to prevent her from suffering, and to help her begin her next journey if that's what best for her.
Baby and I will spend tonight snuggled together on the couch, and we can "make our peace" if she feels it's time for her to go. Please keep this brave girl in your thoughts and prayers.
And on a personal note, I want to again thank everyone who posted to the list and wrote to me directly after Chocolate Bunny passed away last month, followed a day later by my unofficial foster bunny Phil. I had promised to write to everyone individually, and I have all your messages saved (I hope), so I still plan to do that.
Just as an update, Chocolate Bunny's bonded mate Magic took her death extremely hard. They were totally devoted to each other, and it's been really tough on him. Magic went into what Dr. Harvey describes as "depression induced partial stasis" after Chocolate left us, and we nearly lost him. Three weeks later, he still hasn't completely recovered. But now there's a new bunny girl living here by the name of Sydney. Initial introductions have gone well, and we hope that Maj and Syd will be able to move in together in the very near future.
Thanks again for all your support, and I'll post again with an update on Baby.
S/Rich Sievers
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8/7/01
Update on "Baby" :(
Hello Everyone,
Thank you for all the kind words and thoughts you've sent about Baby. They are very much appreciated. Here's an update on our sweet ol' girl:
Baby spent Monday night sleeping with me, and she had a relatively peaceful night, thanks to the Torbugesic. She dozed off many times and would snooze for 10 - 15 minutes before awakening again. Once, sometime around 2 AM, she stretched out her neck as far as she could and gave my nose a "nose boink.
Awww.....
After what Dr. Dalmasso saw on Baby x-rays on Monday, she called in Dr. Sarah West to do an Ultrasound first thing Tuesday. The pictures confirmed what Dr. Dalmasso saw. Actually, they showed that things were much much worse. Many of Baby's major organs are now in various stages of compromise, so much so that surgery just isn't an option. Baby's also having progressively more and more trouble breathing normally, and one of the things the Ultrasound revealed was a mass that's formed in her left lung.
Those of you who know me, know that I'm a firm believer in "Quality of Life" when it comes to our animal friends. Preventing pain, stress and suffering is my most important goal when it's time to make heart-wrenching decisions. These decisions are never easy to make, yet I believe it's the kindest, most loving gift I can give to Baby, for the Black Rabbit has called for her, and she must go.
And so, after talking it over with Dr. Dalmasso, and knowing that Baby's prognosis is extremely poor, the decision was made to bring her back home. This is where she's lived for the past two years, and this is where she's comfortable. Call it Bunny Hospice.
Baby spent Tuesday afternoon snoozing in the sunshine in the backyard, just as she's done so many times before. She stayed out until the last golden rays had faded away, and she nibbled on a tiny bit of clover. She even accepted a small amount of carrot tops and dandelion greens from me, although I'm sure she only ate them to please me, since she hasn't been able to eat or drink on her own for several days. Shortly, I'll give her some more Torbugesic to help her relax, and she'll spend the night sleeping with me, and I'll tell her many things. Like, what a brave bunny she's been, and how proud of her I am for Fighting the Good Fight for so long. I'll tell her that all the friends she's made over the years will miss her deeply, but none more so than I. I'll thank her for the profound effect she's had on my life and for passing my way, and that I so much richer for it. Then I'll tell her about the Rainbow Bridge, and how she'll be able to run and play again, and that I reckon the first rabbit who'll greet her will be Chocolate Bunny. And I'll tell her how much I love her, and always will.
Wednesday morning, she can spend more time...as long as she wants...snoozing in the clover in the backyard. Then later on, my friend Officer Janice from the Alameda Shelter will come by. Baby and Officer Janice have known each other for a long time, ever since Baby's days as Official Shelter Mascot. We'll probably sit in the clover, and I'll hold Baby while Officer Janice helps Baby begin her journey to The Bridge, and I'll stay with her until she gone. Dr. Carolynn Harvey will perform a necropsy a Thursday, and the results should be back in a few days. That way, even in death, Baby can help other rabbits. Afterwards, her ashes will return to my house, to be placed alongside those who've gone before her.
Baby touched a lot of hearts over the years though her gentle and calming manner. In addition to teaching people visiting the Alameda Shelter about rabbit care, she would sometimes visit patients in retirement homes and convalescent hospitals, or go to schools and scout troops to teach kids about what it takes to be a rabbit. And she even got to ride in the Fourth of July parade!
Please keep Baby in your thoughts on Wednesday, and I'll post later in the day when it's time for you to light candles so you can help her find her way.
S/ Rich Sievers
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8/8/01
Please light a candle for "Baby" tonight
Baby spent a peaceful night snuggled with me in bed. The Torbugesic helped relax her, but I could tell she wasn't comfortable. She seemed to appreciate having someone there to stroke and nuzzle her. Then this morning, she came outside and I watched her as she slowly hopped around the yard and visited each of her favorite spots. I think she knew. I took a bunch of photos of her, including her munching on some carrot tops I offered her. (If anyone wants to see 'em, just send me your e-mail addy.)
Then about 12:30, I brought her into my lap so we could say our good-byes. Officer Janice came by around 1 o'clock, and we slowly helped Baby begin her
next journey. We went slowly, and Baby began to drift away as I held her in my arms. She was on her back, and as I talked to her I reminded her of how familiar that position should be to her...going back to when she really was just a baby and her mama would nurse her. She went very peacefully, and that's what's most important.
As she begins her new journey, please light a candle for her to help her find the way.
S/ Rich Sievers,
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8/9/01
"Life's Circle"
Thank you all for the kind words and thoughts about Baby. I truly appreciate them, and I know Baby does, too. I'm slowly sending out the pictures to those who've requested them. Maybe we'll get 'em all posted on a photo album, which will make viewing 'em a lot easier.
Although Baby's passing has caused a lot of sadness for her human friends, I'm pleased that she went so peacefully. We were able to give her the ultimate gift. And I'm sure all those candles you lit for her guided her safely on her journey.
And while Baby left us yesterday, life began anew, for a mother rabbit and three newborn babies arrived at the Alameda shelter. Part of "Life's Circle". I'm sure Baby, in all her wisdom, is looking down on the new family, and she's smiling her approval.
I've written a final paragraph to "Baby's Story" on the Rabbit Row web site.
S/ Rich Sievers
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8/9/01
Here's "Baby's Photo Album"
Miriam Palevsky has created a wonderful photo album for Baby. Want to see it? Just visit http://www.mybunnies.com/baby.htm or follow the link on our "Rabbit Row" web site. There are several photos with captions, plus a brief recap of Baby's story.
Thank you so very much, Miriam, for doing this for Baby.
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8/16/01
Baby's necropsy report (Not bad news!)
Hello everyone on PB,
First, I'm hoppin' pleased to tell you that our web mistress Renata Frey has updated the main page of our Rabbit Row web site. There's now a direct link to the wonderful photo album that Miriam Palevsky created in Baby's memory,
right next to Baby's picture.
Plus, Cristina Forbes has graciously updated the "Tamoxifen" page that tells about Baby's and Chocolate Bunny's battle with breast cancer. To visit it, just go to our Rabbit Row web site and find the link for "Tamoxifen".
And now for the serious business.
If you've read about Baby you know that when the malignant mammary tumor was removed two years ago, the pathologist's report revealed that some of the cancer tissue had extended outside of the tumor walls and was, therefore, not excised during the surgery. Thus, we prepared ourselves for the likelihood of Baby's cancer returning someday.
There had been a slow, but noticeable, deterioration in Baby's health over the last couple of months. X-rays taken on August 6 and an Ultrasound done the following day strongly suggested that cancer had returned, and when combined
with the fact that she was not eating on her own and her breathing was becoming increasingly labored, we made the heart-wrenching decision to help her on her way to the Rainbow Bridge.
However, when Dr. Carolynn Harvey performed the necropsy, it appeared that not everything suggested by the X-rays and Ultrasound were correct. And so, samples were sent for a Histopathology examination, and we now have the report.
Baby was suffering from progressive congestive heart failure. How long she had this condition is unknown, but time and old age - she was at least 10 years old - had taken its toll. Also noted was intestinal fibrosis and chronic inflammation in the lungs, both of which are thought to be related to cardiac insufficiency. Additionally, the previously known fat deposit in Baby's upper chest area had become herniated and was pressing against her lungs. This accounted for her labored breathing...actually gasping at times. There were also some stomach and liver problems noted, as well.
The good news is that there was absolutely no indication that Baby's mammary carcinoma; i.e., breast cancer, had returned or spread! Yea! That tells me that the Tamoxifen had done its job (just as it did for Chocolate Bunny's cancer.
Dr. Harvey assures me that surgery would not have been an option for Baby, and we had chosen the best and kindest "option" for her.
Thank you again for all your wonderful words and thoughts about Baby's passing. She was a wonderful rabbit, and I think Dr. Krempels summed it up best when she said that Baby was "a teacher and a friend". Indeed she was, and still is.
In closing, please allow me to post the following message I received from my brother and sister-in-law the day after Baby had left us. There may just be somethin' to this…!
"Rich,
We wanted to tell you that we are sure that Baby found her way to the rainbow bridge... Yesterday evening we went out for a drive. We turned the corner from our street, and straight ahead of us was a small cloud, precisely in the shape of a rabbit. As we were looking at it, we could see there was another cloud rabbit right next to it, as if they were hopping side by side. We have never seen a picture in the clouds as clearly detailed as that. Make of it what you will, but we felt it was a sign that Baby was being guided across the bridge.
We later lit a candle for her, but more as a symbolic gesture of friendship as we felt she had already found her way.
We know you miss her. You're in our thoughts and prayers."
S/ Rich Sievers
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