September, 2021

The last chapter of Hopsi’s life is a succinct snapshot of Andrea and her personality, for better or worse.

Labor Day weekend 2021 Hopsi was at least 9 years old, which I’m told is really old for a rabbit. And he was showing his age: he would frequently trip, moving as if he were intoxicated; he was never excited about being fed; while asleep he slumped over, looking as if he were already dead. He was losing hair and weight at an alarming rate. Over the summer while the girls were in Austria I thought he might not survive due to the temperatures; having him die on my watch was not my goal, so I bought a fan which blew on his cage, providing respite from the heat. I just wanted him to live to see the girls one last time.

Hopsi looked bad enough that once the girls were home I warned them of his numbered days, and I asked Andrea how that works: do people euthanize rabbits?

Regardless, once the girls were home life went back to normal, which is to say chaotic with lots of moving parts. Hopsi was obviously in dire straits (thus my question to Andrea about euthanization), but Andrea “living in the moment” never took the time to truly look at him and ponder what action to take.

That is, until she was entirely alone in the house.

Labor Day weekend Niki, Britta & I were in Napa at BottleRock, while Annika was in San Francisco with Etienne. Andrea was home alone on Friday, where she noticed – surprise! – that Hopsi would frequently trip, moving as if he were intoxicated; was never excited about being fed; slept slumped over, looking as if he were dead. In her own uniquely impulsive way she decided – on her own, without consulting me, again in her unique way – that Hopsi needed to be compassionately put down immediately. She called around for options, then drove to Reno to a veterinary office that would provide the service.

To be fair to Andrea, who has a long history with rabbit’s, the day was difficult and wrenching. She openly wept at the vet’s office, and likely thought of Hopsi all weekend long.

But to be accurate, or to at least present my perspective, while euthanizing Hopsi was exactly the right call it would have also been appropriate for Andrea to consult me and the girls; maybe they would want to see him one last time, say goodbye, and be with him right to the end (just as they had insisted on doing with Baloo).

But the girls and I never had a chance to offer our perspectives. Andrea, with a lifelong determination to avoid any circumstances where she feels she is being controlled (eg a team of 1), as well as a lifelong inclination towards impulsive behavior, made the call. It was the right call, it’s only the timing which is in question.

A rabbit, unlike a dog, plays less of a role in a person’s life. Still, it’s with a smile that we think back to Hopsi, out of his cage, chasing Kino around (Baloo would immediately leave the room when Hopsi was let out) and humping (to include ejaculating on) Kino’s muzzle. Or thumping the ground to make his presence known. Or pushing your hand out of the way as you tried to fill his bowl with gourmet (really!) rabbit food, after which he would kick all the rabbit food out of the bowl and onto our floor so that he could get to the gourmet treats that awaited him. Or holding him – a rabbit! – and feeling his heart race at the normal rabbit rate.

Our rabbit Hopsi, ~summer 2012 to 9/3/21.