If you ever saw Eric carrying Tiny R you probably wouldn't guess he had a rabbit under his arm. A small fuzzy black pillow, perhaps, but never a rabbit.

Tiny R decided long ago that he prefers not to look when being carried. So when Eric picks him up to take him outside, Tiny R snuggles down in the crook of Eric's arm and hides his head so that his face is buried. All you can see is his furry round backside.

Once he is in his carry position, Tiny R relaxes and rides along without any problem. Like a little black football, headed for the goal line. Touch down!

Did you know that rabbits can hum? Well, they can. Tiny R is getting to be a great hummer. You have to get down close to him to hear it. It's very soft and only focuses on one note. So it really isn't very musical in the classical sense. But when you know that the humming means that Tiny R is happy, then it's definitely music to my ears.

The first time I heard Tiny R hum he was a boisterous young rabbit. He was hopping around the living room playing hide-and-seek games with an imaginary friend. I could tell he was joyous but when I heard him making that little humming sound, it was confirmation.

Tiny R's humming isn't like a cat purring. Cats sound (and feel) like they have a small motor running non-stop with just a break every now and then. Tiny R's humming is short and rhythmical. Sort of like "hummm hummm hummm, etc. It's so soft that you can miss it altogether if you aren't tuned in.

These days Tiny R isn't interested in making up games with imaginary friends but he still hums when he's especially happy. Usually it involves something to eat that he really enjoys. Such as a tiny piece of sourdough toast or pizza crust. Then he settles in, a contented look comes over his face and he hums his little one-note song while he nibbles at his snack.

When I first started writing about Tiny R over 9 years ago, I had no idea that there would be so much to learn from having a rabbit as a true member of our family. I must admit that a rabbit seemed like an unlikely "pet" for us. The only rabbits I had ever known didn't seem like they had much going on in their skulls.

But I didn't take into consideration that they lived in hutches in someone's backyard or in a cage in the garage. How could these rabbits show who they were and what they could do? They were prisoners and if they were depressed-looking, I guess it was because they were. I know I would be under those circumstances.

So it was a big eye-opener when Tiny R came to live with us. Right off the bat he impressed us with his curiosity to learn about things. And he not only learned, he remembered. No, this was not a stupid animal.

My ideas about rabbits began to change. And the more time I spent watching and interacting with Tiny R, the more I came to appreciate him. He can do all sorts of things I never dreamed a rabbit could do. He can communicate with us in a variety of ways. He has a definite personality and strong opinions. He is fearless in the face of an opponent, no matter how large. He has an air of importance that even the dogs and cats respect. And he can be a jokester, play tricks and be silly. Yes, Tiny R is all of that and more.

I suppose most people think of a pet as something you can hold and cuddle. I do have to say that Tiny R is not a cuddler. He's not a lap-sitter, either. But that's not to say that he isn't companionable. He very definitely loves to be close, but on his own terms.

Tiny R loves faces. All you have to do to get some special time with Tiny R is to get down on his level. That means getting down on the floor where he is or where he can see you. Then wait and see what happens.

Quick as a flash, Tiny R will come to check you out As long as you don't make any grabs for him, he will stick around. And if he's feeling very comfortable with you, he will settle down beside you and wait for a massage or a gentle ear rub. In return you may get a few gentle grooming licks. But only if he really, really likes you. My son, Eric, falls into that category. Nobody is quite like Eric in Tiny R's eyes.

Eric takes good care of Tiny R. He keeps his cage clean, changes his water, feeds him, shares his pizza crust with him and takes him for exercise and recreation out in the backyard on nice days. And the rest of the time, Eric's time is spent within a few feet of Tiny R since Eric's computer desk is right beside Tiny R's cage and the fireplace hearth. So you can see why Tiny R is attached to this big guy who talks to him and plays with him. They are buds.

Tiny R and I are also friends but on a different level. Approximately the level of the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. I'm the one who goes to the grocery store and brings home those foods that Tiny R adores. The bundles of farm-raised dandelion greens when the side yard here at home is dormant. The red leaf lettuce and the broccoli. Oh, can't forget an occasional carrot chunk. All these things Tiny R knows from years of experience come from the refrigerator. And he knows the sound of that drawer being pulled open. "Hmmmm. Something in there for me?" And usually there is.

I'm the one who makes paper bag caves, mazes and play houses. The one who orders and pays for the box of timothy hay that came in time for Christmas munching. (And the one who usually sweeps up the scattered hay where it has either fallen off or been tossed off the hearth.) The one who saves the toilet paper tubes and other simple rabbit toys you can find around the house.

On the other hand, I'm also the one who gives Tiny R a butt bath when he needs it. He hasn't needed one for quite a while because his GI tract has been perking along very well this last year or so. But I have the feeling that he still harbors resentment from the times when a bath was necessary. He definitely has a long memory. But, hey, I can live with that.

Tiny R is not the rambunctious scalawag he used to be when he was young. He isn't on the prowl for exposed computer cords like he once was. His life is fairly sedate and predictable. He knows how to relax and just go with the flow. He ignores the normal hubbub that comes with sharing a house with people, a dog and a cat. Tiny R just takes it in, and if it doesn't involve him, he just takes a nap.

But that doesn't mean he isn't alert and ready if something interesting or good to eat comes along. No, sir! He's always on the lookout for a good time. And good things to eat.

And Tiny R keeps track. If the dog gets a treat, Tiny R is instantly on the alert. It might seem like he's fast asleep but he isn't. No matter how low-key we try to make the treats for Mr. Peepers, Tiny R knows about it immediately.

He comes out of his trance and starts hopping back and forth across the fireplace hearth to get our attention. He stands up on his hind legs and stretches up. He is relentless. "Look over here. See me. See me. I want something, too!"

No, you can't put one over on Tiny R. No matter what you do, he knows!

Maybe that's one of the reasons I enjoy Tiny R so much. He is much more than just a "pet." He is truly a member of our household and family. He's smart, observant, calculating and resourceful. He knows how to communicate with us and he seems to enjoy our company. He tolerates our foolishness and allows the dog to kiss him on the face. He's a sweet old bunny who gives me reason to smile everyday. Over nine years of smiles. How on earth can you calculate the worth of that?

Yes, Tiny R. You're quite the fellow. And we're extremely fortunate that fate brought you into our lives so many years ago.

Crunch! The sound of heavy paper being smashed came from the direction of the fireplace hearth. Then some smaller crunching sounds. Naturally I had to look.

There sat Tiny R on top of his bag/cave. And it was all smashed down.

Tiny R had a bewildered look on his face. "What happened?" he seemed to be saying. Finally he shuffled off the bag and turned around to look at what he had done.

I didn't say anything. I didn't get up and prop the bag open again. I just sat and watched to see what Tiny R would do next.

At first it didn't seem like he was doing anything. He just sat there in front of his bag/cave surveying the damage. Then after a couple of minutes Tiny R started trying to lift the edges of the opening up with his nose. He worked and worked, poking his nose into the bag and lifting his head to spread the "roof" and "floor" apart.

It looked like he was making some progress so I just watched from a distance. It was obvious that he had sized up the situation and made a plan to fix the problem.

After about 5 minutes of steady work, it didn't seem like Tiny R was making much progress. Obviously there was something wrong. So I got up to see what the hang-up was.

As soon as I took a closer look, I could see what the trouble was. Tiny R's bag/cave is made of two bags, one inside the other. Tiny R had started his renovation project by sticking his nose in between the bag layers. So he was being fairly successful at getting the outer bag raised up but the inner bag was still flat. So no matter how hard he worked, he would never get the front of the double bag open again.

About this time Eric came into the room. I explained the situation and Eric immediately went to Tiny R's assistance. With a couple of pushes and tugs, the bag/cave was open and back in business.

Tiny R seemed appreciative. He settled in, picked up a strand of hay from the bag and began munching. After all that work, it was time for a break.

But this experience did teach me a lesson. From then on I made sure that I stapled the two layers of the bags together so they don't separate and give Tiny R a problem again. Plus it makes the walls stronger and the opening stays open better.

Of course, if Tiny R jumps up on top again, that bag/cave doesn't have a chance. Crunch! There's only so much you can do.

Sometimes a rabbit has to do what a rabbit has to do. Digging, ripping and chewing fall into that category. Tiny R likes to do all three. It's just part of being a rabbit.

If you think you can "train" a rabbit to quit all destructive activities, I think you will meet with disappointment. We tried it. Didn't work.

So, there's only one way to handle this kind of situation: provide the rabbit with something he CAN dig, rip and chew. It's really as simple as that. The rabbit will be happy. Your carpet and furniture will be happy. And you will be happy.

Tiny R likes a good project now and then. He just finished up one this morning. The fall-out is all over the hearth. Little shreds of paper. Newspaper to be exact.

Tiny R had a great time ripping up the ends of the newspaper that he sits on while he's sitting on the hearth. The edges are irresistible. Just waiting to be shredded. When he gets started, Tiny R attacks the job with gusto.

Tiny R doesn't tear up his paper all the time, just when the mood strikes. We refer to his little spurts of destruction as "taking a notion." Every once in a while he just "takes a notion" to do some ripping and tearing.

My job is to make sure Tiny R has appropriate material to work on when the spirit moves him. That's why we have that stack of newspaper next to his cage.

We're ready, Tiny R. Just let us know when a "notion" is on the horizon.

Tiny R knows the sound of the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator being pulled out. He knows the sound of cat food being poured into the cat's dish. No, he doesn't eat cat food but he has developed into a social eater. So if the cat is getting fed, well, why not a little snack for Tiny R? A couple of sprigs of Italian parsley fills the bill. I guess that's the reason Tiny R isn't plump.

He has maintained his fine, rabbit figure over the years without any problem thanks to his mostly hay and vegetarian diet. The few taboo snacks that he gets are tucked in between eating ample amounts of hay. That way he gets away with minute amounts of bread crust or a few flakes of Wheaties without digestive upset. Hay and lots of it. That's the answer for Tiny R.

But as much as Tiny R likes his hay, it doesn't put a stop to his quest for treats.

When other members of our family are having a snack, Tiny R makes sure we know he wants to be included. His body language tells us. He rises from his relaxed, loaf position to a semi-crouch. One front foot is placed slightly ahead of the other. He turns his head so he can see us clearly and leans forward. Then he gives us "The Look."

All rabbit owners know "The Look." The one big eye trained on you, boring into your soul. No sound, no movement, just the feeling that your brain is being bombarded with a telepathic message. And with Tiny R, that message is, "If those other creatures are getting a treat, I think I should get one, too!"

So, in a way, the dog and the cats really enhance Tiny R's chances for snacks. Whenever they get something, Tiny R is right there ready for his. It doubles or triples his opportunities and Tiny R isn't above taking advantage of the situation.

Thank goodness it doesn't take much to satisfy Tiny R. A leaf of red leaf lettuce, a handful of dandelion leaves, a small chunk of apple (Peeled, of course. He doesn't like the peel.), or some flat-leaf parsley is OK with him. Most importantly, Tiny R isn't being left out. It's a matter of maintaining his position in the family.

After all these years of living with Tiny R, I have been well trained. Whenever I give the other animals something to eat, I automatically go to the refrigerator and get an appropriate treat for Tiny R.

Might as well. He won't stop staring at me until I do.

If my calculations are right, Tiny R is now eleven years old. This is based on the year we found him and the date that he started showing signs of sexual maturity. Eleven years old. Wow! Think of that. Fairly old for a bunny by all I have heard. And I'm happy to report that Tiny R is doing just fine. Still alert, active and full of fun.

There has only been one negative change. Tiny R's bathroom habits have taken a dump. Really.

No longer is Tiny R careful about where he leaves his pellets or makes his puddles. Sometimes he makes it back to his cage. Other times he just picks out a place and goes. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.

I've racked my brain trying to figure out why Tiny R doesn't seem to care anymore. He used to be so responsible. Maybe he's getting senile and doesn't remember where his bathroom is. Or maybe he has a bit of arthritis and it hurts to hop very far. I even considered the possibility of a urinary tract infection but he doesn't have any real symptoms of that.

I guess any of these things are possible but I really don't think that's the reason for the decline of his bathroom etiquette. I personally think it's just plain laziness with a hint of "stickin' it to the man."

The reason I say this is that Tiny R seems to know when he has to pee. I've seen him come out of a nap, start hopping with a purpose toward his cage like a kid that's about to wet his pants. Then, he comes to an abrupt stop, turns around and looks at us, the tail goes up and he pees.

OK, you say. Maybe he just couldn't hold it anymore. In some cases that might be true. But how do you explain why Tiny R comes out of his cage and deliberately makes a puddle outside his cage. It's definitely a purposeful act.

For a while I thought it might be our fault. Perhaps we weren't being diligent enough when it came to keeping his cage clean. So we stepped up our efforts. But that didn't help. Something definitely had changed in Tiny R's mind that made it OK to use anyplace in his area as a toilet. I admit it; I don't know what's going on with Tiny R. But I still have to figure out what to do about it.

So, what's the plan? For the time being, I have resorted to layering newspaper over the fireplace hearth to catch and absorb any puddles. I've scrubbed the hearth down and wiped it down with white vinegar in the hope of getting rid of the urine odor and discouraging Tiny R from a repeat performance.

The ultimate plan is to buy a litter pan and put it on the hearth to see if Tiny R will use it. Until I can get to a place that sells cat litter pans, the newspaper will have to do.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it all works out. Until then, not many newspapers are making it into the recycle bin.

At last there is a break in the non-stop rain we've had this year. After days and days of rain, the sun finally came out last week. Glorious, glorious sun!

One of the best things about the sun is that the dandelions have started to really take off in the side yard. Lots of golden yellow, fluffy flowers on long stems reaching up toward that source of warmth and light. Just right for picking!

I wonder how many bunny owners know how much rabbits enjoy fresh dandelion leaves? Tiny R is exuberant when I come back inside with his basket filled with dandelions. Especially when he sees a layer of dandelion flowers spread over the top, sort of like frosting on a cake.

Tiny R knows immediately that I have dandelions for him. As soon as I come inside, he races from wherever he is and starts dancing around in anticipation. He must smell the juice from the broken stems. It's obvious that he can hardly wait to get started on his feast.

As soon as I set the basket down in front of Tiny R, he grabs a dandelion flower off the top and starts chewing. Then a sort of blissful look comes over his face and he settles down in a comfortable position. He looks so serene and happy. One by one the dandelion flowers disappear into his mouth followed by the long stems. When the flowers are gone, Tiny R starts in on the leaves.

By this time Tiny R has usually rearranged the basket for easier access. He puts one paw on the side of the basket and tips it over. This way he doesn't have to reach over the rim. More chomping and before long the basket is empty.

Sometimes Tiny R picks up the empty basket with his teeth and flings it off the fireplace hearth. I guess it's his way of "doing the dishes." So I pick the basket up and put it on the shelf for next time.

So, next time you happen upon a patch of dandelions in your yard or in an area that has not been sprayed with herbicides or insecticides, etc., pick a handful and bring them home to your bunny. Be sure to include some of the little yellow flowers.

If your bunny is anything like Tiny R, he will think you brought him the most wonderful gift. I'm willing to bet on it.

It's been a few months since I've written about Tiny R. Because he is a "senior bunny," I imagine that some of you who have followed Tiny R's life for a long time are wondering how he's doing.

I'm happy to report that Tiny R is alive and well and preparing for his annual Halloween photo shoot!

It's hard to believe that Tiny R has been a part of our family for over 11 years. And the way he's going, I'm sure he'll make 12 without any problem. He's apparently a cousin of the Energizer Bunny. He just keeps going and going.

Now that it's fall weather, Tiny R really enjoys going outside and playing in the fallen leaves and nibbling on the tips of the late-growing wild grasses. When he finds a twig in the way, he grabs it in his teeth and throws it aside. Just like when he was a youngster.

Tiny R has learned the art of growing old gracefully. The activities he can still do, he enjoys immensely. Those that are too hard, he either modifies or puts aside altogether.

Slow, purposeful hops have replaced impulsive leaps into the air. Sniffing and nibbling have taken the place of speed runs. Cooperation rather than resistance. Relaxation as opposed to tension. A few white hairs have appeared in his solid black fur coat. Does Tiny R complain? Not a bit. He simply takes each day as it comes and makes the best of it.

Tiny R has eased into old age in a quiet, gentle way. Speaking as a senior citizen myself, I'm watching and taking lessons. I hope I'm doing my thing as gracefully as Tiny R is doing his.

I have to tell you that old age has brought some changes into Tiny R's life. Tiny R appears to be almost blind.

I think the beginning of his vision troubles started back when he was very sick and almost died about 5 years ago. He became so dehydrated his eyes became very dry, the lens almost crackled in appearance. Without being treated with antibiotics, subcutaneous fluids and antibiotic eye ointment, he probably would have lost his sight completely. Tiny R did recover and his sight seemed to be only slightly affected.

But over the last few months I could not ignore the fact that Tiny R could not see very well. I first noticed that something was wrong when he no longer came out of his cage to sit on the fireplace hearth during the day. I wondered what was going on. It just wasn't like him to keep to himself. Was he sick?

Then we noticed that Tiny R had developed runny eyes. The fur underneath his eyes was stiff with dried drainage. After several days of cleaning the area around his eyes with water, I remembered the little tube of left-over eye medicine. So we started putting it in both eyes every day. The infection started clearing up right away.

Tiny R knows us very well and knows that we would never do anything that would hurt him if we can help it. So when Eric put Tiny R on his lap and turned him over on his back every day for his eye ointment, Tiny R gave no objection and cooperated better than any other animal we've ever had in our family. (And better than some humans I've known!). I can't say enough about what a good little patient he was. There is no doubt in my mind that he knew we were helping him.

Over the next few days, the dried fur under his eyes came off in clumps. But once the infection was controlled, new fur began growing and eventually covered the bare spots. I'll have to admit that Tiny R looked pretty rough there for a while.

Well, Tiny R's eyes look fine now. No drainage. No cloudiness. If you didn't know, you would think his eyes were normal. But looks are deceiving. Tiny R is almost blind. Not totally but almost.

So Tiny R's life has changed quite a bit. Being a smart little fellow, Tiny R has adapted pretty well. For one thing, his nose works just fine. He can smell a piece of toast or a Round Table pizza before it enters the room. And he doesn't settle down until he gets a tiny piece.

He still uses his keys to register complaints or request a snack in his food bowl. He pushes his food bowl around to get our attention. In other words, Tiny R doesn't let being partially blind get in the way of getting what he wants. He's not a one-trick bunny. He definitely knows how to work the system.

The biggest change in Tiny R's life is that his world has gotten smaller. He doesn't come out on the fireplace hearth anymore. Even when we have put him on the hearth, Tiny R heads back toward his cage. I think he feels vulnerable since two cats are in the house some of the time.

Neither cat has ever threatened or tried to hurt Tiny R. The cats steer clear of him. But Tiny R is right to be nervous. You just never know. In the big scheme of things, the cats are predators and Tiny R is prey. And being blind definitely puts a prey animal at a disadvantage. So his cage has become his haven. The door is always open and the bridge is still there if he wants to come out. As long as the door is left open, Tiny R is fine with the arrangement.

When we take Tiny R outside, we stay close and talk to him often to let him know we're still there. I can tell from the position of his ears that he listens for us. As long as he knows where we are, Tiny R goes about his business, occasionally bumping into things, always staying within 10 or 15 feet. He trusts us to watch over him and keep him safe.

Life is a series of adjustments. When you care about someone, human or pet, you figure out ways to handle the problems that come along. Life is full of them. Right now Tiny R needs us to act as his eyes.

We're here. We can do that. It's simply what you do when you're family.

No doubt about it. Tiny R is beginning to show his age. But do you know what? He really doesn't give a hoot.

Yesterday I had Tiny R on my lap while Eric cleaned his cage. He snuggled down, with his head tucked partially under my elbow.

"Hmmm," I thought. "This is unusual for Tiny R."

In his younger years lap-sitting was not one of his favorite things. Too confining. The only thing that could get him to sit still was a snack. And when the snack was gone, so was he.

But yesterday it was different. Tiny R not only sat on my lap without protest, he even did a little humming as I plucked loose hair from his coat.

The loose undercoat hair came out easily. There wasn't much that needed removing but it was easy to spot since his outer coat is black and the undercoat is a grayish-white. And it came out easily when gently plucked.

I kept moving around his body in my version of what another rabbit grooming him might do. Tiny R seemed to like it, and even allowed me to groom around his forehead and ears. That's when I started hearing the humming sound. Contentment.

After a while I noticed a few white hairs in a place I had already covered. I moved my hand down to the spot on his back where they were. But when I took a closer look I noticed that these silvery hairs were not the soft, downy undercoat. They were outer coat hairs. And they were attached.

Well, it didn't take a genius to figure out the score. After all, I see that color hair every time I look in the mirror. Yep, Tiny R and I are both going gray. It goes with the age and stage of our lives.

Tiny R will be 12 years old in a month or so. A few silver hairs don't seem to bother him. He's still got a few good kicks left in him and he's making the most of them.

Ditto for me.

Here in California we're in our "false spring." It happens every year. The rain takes a break, the sun bathes the earth with golden warmth and the wild grasses jump out of the ground and cover the dirt in a brilliant shade of green. Then, a few weeks later, some of the early bearing fruit trees begin to blossom. It's a breathtaking, glorious, promising time of the year. But.... then it happens. Winter comes back with a bang!

The rains come down, nights turn cold again, sometimes to the point of freezing. Farmers with orchards in full blossom wring their hands with worry.

It's just one of Mother Nature's little jokes. I don't know why folks who've lived here very long are surprised. It's just part of the cycle.

But we've learned to go with the flow. And when Mother Nature gives us a new crop of grass, we make sure Tiny R gets some of it. We call it his "spring tonic."

On warm, dry days, we take Tiny R outside. But if he can't go outside, Eric brings part of the outside in for Tiny R to enjoy. All it takes is a shovel.

Eric goes outside and scouts the area for a likely spot to harvest. Then he slides the shovel under a clump of inch high wild grass. About an inch deep is all it takes. Just enough to get the mass of roots and the dirt that's attached. He brings the shovel in the house and slides the grass patch off into Tiny R's cage.

It's amazing how much Tiny R enjoys his little piece of springtime. As soon as Eric unloads the shovelful of dirt, Tiny R is on it! The piece of natural sod has everything in it. Stuff to eat, dirt to dig in and all the smells of spring right there in his cage.

Well, Tiny R does a real job on that foot-square piece of earth. By the time he finishes, the whole thing is either eaten or pulled apart. The dirt and a few spider-like roots that fall through the wire cage floor land in the plastic litter pan below. Easy to clean out.

So, Mother Nature, go ahead and bring on the rain. Make that spring grass grow. (But be gentle with the farmers. They have enough problems to contend with without a freeze.)

On the sunny days you'll find Tiny R outside and on the others, Eric will just bring a little of the outside in for him. One shovelful at a time.

Tiny R is over 12 years old now. I wish that I could report that he is still as perky and as mischievous as he was when he was a youngster, but in all truthfulness, I cannot. You see, Tiny R is an old rabbit and like all of us when we get along in years, changes come whether we like them or not.

We are lucky that, even though there are problems creeping up here and there, Tiny R still seems to be enjoying life. He has a healthy appetite and enjoys his outings in the backyard. He attacks the basket of dandelion flowers and greens with enthusiasm and eats every last one. He still lets us know what he wants by using his plastic keys or by stamping his foot. And when he hears the refrigerator door open, he hangs his head out his cage door to let us know he'd enjoy a slice of apple or a bit of carrot, please.

The things that aren't going so well are his vision and his coordination. I've known for several years that his eyesight was failing. This winter he finally lost complete sight in his right eye. It is totally gray and opaque where it used to be a shiny black. The left eye is showing signs of a cataract forming but he still has vision in it. On the plus side, his nose works great so he is able to locate his snacks without any problem.

The other problem is with his hind end. It seems that he is losing some of his strength and balance when he moves. He no longer hops but moves in measured, slow adjustments. Sometimes he falls over a little when he's making a turn. We try to keep his toenails clipped so that he doesn't catch them in the wire of his cage floor when he's moving about.

Tiny R is still very good about keeping his face and ears cleaned but he doesn't have the balance to do any kind of grooming on his underside. This became very apparent this past weekend.

On Sunday, Eric cleaned Tiny R's cage but the smell of urine still wasn't banished. Finally, Eric put Tiny R on his lap and turned him over. Well, there was the problem. The fur around his bottom was thick and matted and completely soaked with urine.

So into the bathroom we went to give him a butt bath in the sink. The bath went well and we towel-dried him and put him back in his cage to dry the rest of the way.

A couple of hours later, the same old urine smell. What the heck? We checked him and, sure enough, he was soaked with urine again. Finally the light in my brain went on. Without a whole bunch of that matted hair coming off, there wasn't going to be an end to the problem. With all that urine on his skin, I could foresee some real problems if something wasn't done.

It was obvious that Tiny R wasn't able to remove the old fur. His lack of balance just wouldn't let him sit up so he could duck his head down there to do the job. This had become a job for Mom!

Back to the sink. Another butt bath. This time I took the towel with Tiny R in it and put him on my lap. With my hairdryer set on low and pointed at Tiny R's backside, I gently plucked the old, loose but matted hair from his butt and legs. The pile of old hair just kept growing as clump after clump of wet hair came off. He even had lots of matted hair on his tail.

Did Tiny R enjoy it? I can't say that he did but by easing the little clumps and strands of hair out and moving around so that one area didn't get too sensitive, we finally got the job done. He got a little piece of carrot for his reward.

Tiny R still has plenty of hair on his backside. He looks just fine. Just the matted stuff is gone. Now he can lift his little tail and pee without getting his fur all wet.

Tiny R seems a lot happier now. And he definitely smells a whole lot sweeter!

The most bizarre thing happened last night! I'm still shaking my head about it. Thank goodness we finally figured it out.

Now that I have your attention, I guess I should start at the beginning.

For several months we have been taking Tiny R outside for a little R&R during the day. We put him down on the grass and he nibbles as he enjoys the sunshine and the birds twittering in the trees. It seems to make him more content to have this kind of stimulation and change of pace. And we enjoy it, too.

But then a couple of days ago Tiny R started some very weird behavior. It only seemed to occur when he was back inside his cage. Out of the blue he started stomping his foot and making a real racket. The wire cage floor vibrated as he hit it with his hind leg over and over. Then he would twist around and thump again.

Tiny R is not usually a "thumper." So we knew that something was definitely wrong. He was trying to tell us something but we just couldn't figure it out. We offered him hay. Didn't satisfy him. How about a carrot? Well, OK, but it didn't stop the stomping for long. Without any obvious warning, the stomping would start up again.

I began entertaining the idea that Tiny R was showing signs of Alzheimer disease. Could it be that poor Tiny R was losing his mind?

Well, last night we got the answer and I'll bet it's one you never would have guessed. I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

Tiny R was in the midst of another frantic thumping episode. Eric picked him up, put him on his lap and turned him over on his back. First Eric checked Tiny R's feet and toes in case he had picked up a sticker while he was outside. But everything looked OK. No foxtails or other stickers.

Then Eric started looking through the fur on Tiny R's stomach. He saw something dark in the fur and thought it might be a piece of dried on feces or a sticker. Well, in two words, it wasn't. Not unless stickers have legs, a pincher and can run fast.

The culprit turned out to be an earwig. And it had probably been hanging out on Tiny R for at least two days. And whatever that nasty earwig was doing while he was crawling around on Tiny R, it was driving Tiny R nuts.

Well, we are pretty gentle when it comes to wildlife, but in the case of that earwig, he was dispatched without a second thought. One big squish and it was over.

All this happened last night. As soon as Tiny R was free of his tormentor, he settled in for a piece of apple. And hasn't stomped since.

The moral of the story is this: When your bunny's behavior changes drastically, there's something going on. And he needs your help. Check for the obvious. But don't rule out the absurd.

And if your bunny wigs out, don't automatically think he's crazy. As nutty as it sounds, it just might be an earwig.

There is no easy way to begin this chapter so I'll just have to do the best I can.

Tiny R is an old bunny now. Well past 12 years. It's unlikely that he'll reach 13. The winter of his life is all he has left.

Tiny R spends much of his day napping. His body has become quite frail. When I run my hand over his back I can feel the bony ridge of his spine. And the strength in his hind quarters is slipping away. It's hard for him to move around without a great deal of effort.

Tiny R's eyes have failed him, too. His right eye is completely blind. The gray cataract is obvious. And I doubt the sight in his left eye is far behind. Being almost blind has curtailed his adventuresome spirit. He no longer feels safe outside his cage unless we are right beside him. So his bridge to the fireplace hearth has been removed and taken to the garage.

But despite all his infirmities, Tiny R continues on as best he can. He uses what he has left to his advantage. For one thing, his nose works just fine. He can smell a piece of bread toasting and puts up a fuss if a small piece of crust doesn't find its way to his cage. Ditto for pizza.

His hearing seems to be OK, too. He still knows the sound of the vegetable drawer being opened. And when he hears it, he stops his fussing and waits for me to bring him something he likes to eat.

I try to give him small snacks all during the day so he has something to look forward to. In between pieces of red leaf lettuce or romaine, he gets flat leaf parsley and cilantro. Sometimes there's a piece of carrot or apple. Or a piece of broccoli if I have it on hand. These snacks are all in addition to the rabbit pellets that he has in his bowl all the time. He eats about 1/2 cup of pellets a day. He should be fat but he's not.

Dandelion greens from the side yard are always a Tiny R favorite. And in the spring, Tiny R loves the round, yellow dandelion flowers that burst into bloom like little fluffy pillows. I'm probably one of the few people who purposely tries to keep the dandelions growing during the summer. The neighbors probably wonder what the heck I'm doing out there, all bent over, putting weeds in a little wicker basket. Oh well, let them wonder. I hope Tiny R makes it to spring. The dandelion crop promises to be magnificent.

Several times a day Tiny R gets a new handful of hay. Whatever he doesn't eat, I remove and replace it with fresh. I have a 25# box of timothy hay out in the garage for him. Why scrimp at this date? I see him nibbling away all during the day when he's awake. It makes both of us happy.

We check Tiny R's bottom often to make sure he doesn't need help with cleaning. Now that his balance and strength are diminishing, cleaning himself is becoming more and more difficult. About every couple of weeks we take him into the bathroom sink and give him a butt bath. He doesn't put up a fuss anymore. I think he understands that we're doing it to make him feel better. And the fact that we give him some kind of treat after he's done ends the experience on a high note.

On warm, sunny days, Eric takes Tiny R outside and puts him down in a grassy area. Tiny R really seems to enjoy his outings. He nibbles grass and listens to the sounds of the yard. And if a leaf or twig should get in his way, he gives it a toss. Just like the old days when he was young.

Sometimes he takes a nap while he's outside. We have to make sure he doesn't get overheated. The warmth of the sun really collects on his black fur. So we stay right there with him, talking so he can hear us. If he can hear us nearby, he doesn't get scared. After all, he's a blind bunny and needs us there to make sure he's safe. He trusts us. And we love him.

Though it pulls at my heart strings, I know that Tiny R's time with us is coming to a close. But when I start feeling sorry for myself, I look over at Tiny R and realize that he's completely oblivious that he's an old bunny. He's just taking each day as it comes and making the most of it.

As long as Tiny R doesn't appear to be sick or in discomfort, we'll just keep going. Enjoying each day we're given. Making the most of it.

Until Winter is over and Spring comes again.

It is with great sadness that I tell you that Tiny R, our sweet little black lop, has died. He was well over 12 & 1/2 years old and he maintained his sweet temperament and gentle spirit right to the end.

Tiny R was an appreciative little creature. I could tell he tried his best to live. If our love could have kept him young and healthy, Tiny R would still be here with us today.

I've known for over a year now that Tiny R was approaching the end of his life. And during this time I've tried to prepare myself. But apparently I didn't do a very good job of it. Here it is a week and a half since his death, and still I have a lump in my throat and tears welling up in my eyes as I write this.

I've had many pets over the years and have experienced losses of many kinds, but this time it's different. I don't know quite why, but it is. It feels like something has been ripped out of me. And it hurts all the way to the core. My brain tells me that the emotional pain will eventually fade. But my heart is the part that aches.

Tiny R is the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning. "I wonder how Tiny R's doing. I'd better get dressed and go outside to pick some dandelion leaves for him." Then I remember.

I still catch myself thinking I see him on the fireplace hearth. Or when I see Eric's black cap or camera bag on the floor. We used to laughingly refer to these sightings as "false Rs." I hope someday I'll be able to laugh about them again. But not right now.

I miss the sound of Tiny R's plastic baby keys rattling to let me know he wanted something. He was so creative with his keys. It was like we had a secret language that we used to communicate.

The keys are silent now. No little rabbit to shake them. They look a little chewed but they're clean. I put them through the dishwasher along with his pottery food and water dishes. One of these days I'll put them all in a box and put them away. But not yet.

Eric buried Tiny R in our backyard, up on the hill, under our giant oak tree. He's not alone. Stormy, my black and tan shepherd, is buried nearby. And not too far away are the graves of Tiny R's old pals, Chamois, Rags and Shovel. They will look after him.

Until the day comes when we all meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.