Meet The Bunnies
The storybook bunnies are based on real-life rabbits who are Beth’s pet bunnies. Below are real details of the actual bunnies that Keith lovingly evolved into the storybook character versions in Making Friends with Feelings.
Shiner
The tattoo on Shiner’s ear means that he is neutered. It was done by the vet while he was under anesthesia for the procedure. For 20+ years, Beth has worked with a no-kill rabbit shelter that only adopts out bunnies after they are spayed or neutered.
Shiner is six years old, and has lived with Beth since he was only a few months old. His breed is called “Cinnamon,” and he weighs about 5 pounds. He is mostly brown (but so many shades!) on top and grey shades on his belly.
His ears are perky – tall and straight – and move like antenna when he hears sounds. And they lean way forward when he explores a new area. He has soulful brown eyes and you know when he’s looking at you.
Shiner is easy-going and very friendly. He is oddly picky about when he eats his meals, preferring to graze throughout the day or overnight. But he will not eat one bite of his healthy greens until dessert comes first in the form of a craisin (or three)!
He often does not reciprocate affection but will endlessly allow another bunny or a human to shower him with love. If he does kiss (gently lick) back, it is always exactly seven times, almost never more.
He thoroughly enjoys his safe space, which you can tell as he is often yawning, stretching out his legs, or chilling with his back feet kicked out. He loves viewing things from a high perch and gets to the top of the highest parts possible to sit (e.g. back of a couch and the top of an office desk hutch).
This is why Keith built Shiner a special cardboard castle in real life. It is Shiner’s castle that inspired the castle storyline in our book.
Molly
Molly’s breed is called “American Fuzzy Lop,” and she weighs about 2.5 pounds. She is five years old, and has lived with Beth since she was only a few months old. She is very furry and needs a haircut about once a month. She has a little mug (squished) face, and floppy ears that she can pick up one at a time, or together, to listen carefully to sounds.
She doesn’t do a typical bunny hop but has more of a scootch, with a little hopping motion. She can’t go up and down stairs or jump on anything more than just a few inches tall. So she stays upstairs in the “Bunny Loft,” unless we carry her downstairs and then back up again at bedtime.
She snores when she sleeps and makes funny little honking noises when she’s being petted, eating, or sometimes for no reason at all. She sometimes sleeps so hard, she physically startles no matter how gentle we are when trying to wake her up.
We wonder if she’s nearsighted because sometimes she runs into the walls and doors, but the vet says her eyes look healthy! For such a tiny bunny, she eats a lot - literally anything we give her (from the safe for bunnies food and treats list).
Molly loves to cuddle and kiss. She sits calmly on Beth’s shoulder to watch TV with us.
Buddy
Old-fashioned oats are a favorite bunny treat.
Just a few at a time, though. Buddy did not get to eat this whole canister!
Buddy crossed the Rainbow Bridge and went to heaven in early 2021. He lived with Beth for 9 bunderful years, which is pretty old for a bunny.
Buddy’s breed was a “Polish Dwarf.” He only weighed about 3 pounds. He was colored snowball white all over, with a tiny pink tongue and nose, and bright, periwinkle-blue eyes. His coat was short, smooth and he barely ever shed any fur.
He was generally aloof toward humans and other bunnies until he got super comfortable and knew he could trust that they wouldn’t hurt him. Then, he gave lots of kisses as long as you pet (or groomed) him first.
He was daring and speedy. He jumped up on, and down from, all kinds of furniture – couches, beds, ottomans. In August 2020, he jumped down from our bed and landed awkwardly on his back legs and injured them. In just a few days, he quickly adapted and began to army-crawl on his belly like it was no big deal!
We lovingly nursed Buddy back to health over the next 6 months. Buddy was eventually able to hop again, although it was a bit more of a crooked hop than before his injuries.
It was this situation and how Molly sweetly interacted with Buddy during his recovery that inspired Keith to write our first story about the bunnies.
