Max is a Jersey Wooly rabbit weighing in at just under four pounds. He shares a home with humans Jenny, her mild-mannered French husband Francois, and an 18-year-old Cockatiel named Milly. Jenny describes Max as “the cutest little grey and black fluff ball” whom the vet affectionately refers to as a “dust bunny.”
Max and Jenny found each other through a rescue organization called Rabbit Ears. Max is “both affectionate and aloof.” He won’t climb onto Jenny’s lap but he will come sit at her feet. When she arrives home from work he runs circles around her legs and nibbles at her slacks until she picks him up. He’s eight or nine years old now but still frolics on occasion, springing into the air.
Although Max is Jenny’s second rabbit, she admits there were a few surprises in store while getting to know him. Shortly after they adopted Max, Jenny and Francois thought Max would be happier sharing his new home with another rabbit. To ensure they made the right match, they decided to foster rabbits until Max met the one for him. They started with a group of four bunnies, still so tiny that each could fit in the palm of a hand.
One evening as the couple sat relaxing on the sofa, Francois nuzzled one of the bunnies on his chest. After replacing the bunny in his cage, Francois sat back on the sofa, stretching his legs and crossing his ankles. Without warning, Max leapt on Francois’ ankles and darted up the length of his body, not stopping until he reached Francois’ face, where he promptly bit him hard on the nose!
The startled couple jumped from the sofa, Francois yelping and clutching his wounded proboscis. Gathering his courage, Francois picked up Max, carefully keeping the tiny rabbit at arms length, and returned him to his own cage. Baffled and a bit frightened by the enraged rabbit (“I kept thinking of the rabbit in Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” Jenny laughs), they wondered if Max resented the other bunnies. To test their theory Francois removed his bunny-scented tee-shirt and placed it in Max’s cage where Max promptly vented his anger on it.
For the benefit of everyone involved, the bunnies were returned to the rescue organization the next day. Max set aside his displeasure with Francois and family life quickly returned to normal. Jenny later learned that Jersey Woolys do not bond well with other rabbits, a bit of trivia Francois wished she had discovered sooner.
These days Max’s favorite pastime is snatching a piece of apple or a Cheerio from Jenny's or Francois’ extended hand, then hopping off like a bandit. That seems to be quite enough excitement for everyone.
by Elizabeth Sundstrom
Max and Jenny found each other through a rescue organization called Rabbit Ears. Max is “both affectionate and aloof.” He won’t climb onto Jenny’s lap but he will come sit at her feet. When she arrives home from work he runs circles around her legs and nibbles at her slacks until she picks him up. He’s eight or nine years old now but still frolics on occasion, springing into the air.
Although Max is Jenny’s second rabbit, she admits there were a few surprises in store while getting to know him. Shortly after they adopted Max, Jenny and Francois thought Max would be happier sharing his new home with another rabbit. To ensure they made the right match, they decided to foster rabbits until Max met the one for him. They started with a group of four bunnies, still so tiny that each could fit in the palm of a hand.
One evening as the couple sat relaxing on the sofa, Francois nuzzled one of the bunnies on his chest. After replacing the bunny in his cage, Francois sat back on the sofa, stretching his legs and crossing his ankles. Without warning, Max leapt on Francois’ ankles and darted up the length of his body, not stopping until he reached Francois’ face, where he promptly bit him hard on the nose!
The startled couple jumped from the sofa, Francois yelping and clutching his wounded proboscis. Gathering his courage, Francois picked up Max, carefully keeping the tiny rabbit at arms length, and returned him to his own cage. Baffled and a bit frightened by the enraged rabbit (“I kept thinking of the rabbit in Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” Jenny laughs), they wondered if Max resented the other bunnies. To test their theory Francois removed his bunny-scented tee-shirt and placed it in Max’s cage where Max promptly vented his anger on it.
For the benefit of everyone involved, the bunnies were returned to the rescue organization the next day. Max set aside his displeasure with Francois and family life quickly returned to normal. Jenny later learned that Jersey Woolys do not bond well with other rabbits, a bit of trivia Francois wished she had discovered sooner.
These days Max’s favorite pastime is snatching a piece of apple or a Cheerio from Jenny's or Francois’ extended hand, then hopping off like a bandit. That seems to be quite enough excitement for everyone.
by Elizabeth Sundstrom
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