Births, deaths and marriages - well almost!

The holiday seasons come and go and because we look after small animals and birds when their owners go on their holidays we get to see our regular boarders once again.

Many come to us year after year often having been purchased from us in the first place. It is always nice to see our old friends back again and sometimes I think that they like to see us again too. We usually know their little likes and dislikes and most of their little foibles. All are known by name so if a member of staff says 'Sugar' or 'Bubble and Squeak' are coming in next week we know exactly who they are.
One of my all time favourites must be 'Derek' the Rex rabbit. He came to us for his holidays for many, many years only stopping when he eventually went to that great rabbit warren in the sky. 'Derek' was a lovely cuddly rabbit, he had gingery coloured fur that was quite short but felt like Velvet when you stroked him. His long ginger ears were just made to be tickled and his narrow face made him look like some creature in Alice in Wonderland.
Derek always seemed to enjoy his little holidays breaks with us, but one year he had a vacation of a lifetime. At about the same time as Derek was due to arrive for yet another holiday there was a female rabbit arriving for her holidays too. Now the owner of the female rabbit had asked me sometime earlier if we had a male rabbit that her female could be mated with. The Lady had wanted her rabbit to have a litter of kittens (baby rabbits). Normally I do not encourage random breeding, but this Lady was a sensible person who wanted her children to learn about reproduction and how to care for young rabbits. She also had found homes for all the young rabbits before they were even born, so I thought that I could help. I had a quick word with Dereks owner before she left for her holidays asking her if Derek would like to 'offer his services'. The answer was 'yes'.
Wow, - Did Derek have a good holiday that year? I am sure that when I looked in on Derek and is girlfriend a little while later they both looked very happy. In fact I could have sworn I saw Derek wink.
Some weeks later and back at home the female rabbit gave birth to a lovely litter of gingery long eared rabbits. Her owner reported that Mother and babies were doing well and a eight weeks after that all had been found caring homes.
I can't help thinking that now many years later there are still some of Dereks great-great grandchildren maybe coming into the shop for their holidays. I always take a long look at any that are remotely gingery with a velvet coat and long lanky ears that are just waiting to be tickled.