The Sophie Boyd

Sophie on his first day

Nina beans is always so stressed.

Sophie trying his best with Nina.

I never thought I would be writing about bunny number 11. Some of you have already met Sophie through Facebook but for those that haven't, here we go.

I was at the rescue a few weeks ago when we got a call about a bunny. As usual we were over capacity and promised to put this bunny on a waiting list and share his photos and do what we could. He would have ended up at Heartland eventually.

Something kept nagging me about this particular bunny. 4 years in a backyard. It's amazing that he survived this long. I had visions of Pippin running through my head. I had a dream about the bunny. I called the guy back the next day and talked to him. We made arrangements for me to pick him up.

When I got there the house was pretty dumpy. I was already worried about the bunny. The guy came out and I could tell he was having a bit of trouble walking and breathing. He walked me into the backyard and I was tensed up expecting to find Sophie in deplorable conditions. What I saw blew me away.

He had a bunny wonderland and a fortress built for Sophie. It was as long as my living room, had a roof like a house and the fencing was buried in the ground. Sophie had been protected from all the elements and it was heated and cooled. He has good quality food, hay and the most expensive litter in his potty box. This man had gone through a lot of work to make this bunny comfy. Sophie was friendly and in beautiful condition. I had to ask if he was sure he wanted to surrender his bunny.

He started crying like a baby and just said he couldn't take care of him anymore. I didn't ask anymore questions. I understood. I packed Sophie up and we said goodbye with my promises that Sophie would be loved and taken care of. On the way home I got several text messages asking me for pictures sometimes and telling me what Sophie's favorite foods were.

I was going to change his name. Sophie seemed strange for a boy bunny. Some of the bunny ladies suggested Boyd after a tv character we all like. He was dubbed The Sophie Boyd. Sometimes I call him Bo but mostly I still call him Sophie or Soapy. He knows his name. He is the happiest bunny. From the second I opened his carrier door he has been a free roam bunny. He doesn't tinkle anywhere but his potty box and doesn't scatter doots about. He is the tidiest kid. Doesn't bother a thing. He has almost no interest in the other bunnies at all. Sophie's only interest besides humans is Nina, he adores her. Nina is completely alarmed by him and hisses and runs away. Sophie wants so badly to make friends. Maybe someday.

I feel very privileged to have Sophie in my home. I took him out to Heartland for a visit and to show him off a bit. Nothing bothers this boy in the slightest. Aggression from other bunnies seems to puzzle him. I get wonderful binkies all the time from this snuggle kid. What a treat he is.

So there you have it. Now you know The Sophie Boyd.