Riley is the rabbit I posted about a while ago who had the huge abscess on her face. When she went in for her initial spay appointment, she flunked the pre-surgery exam because of heart problems. After chest x-rays and an EEG, she was cleared for surgery and did fine. This was such great news.
Although she handled the surgery and recovery well, Dr. Harvey from VCA Bay Area, found masses on Riley uterus along with a mammary tumor. When her x-rays were examined by the Radiologist, it was confirmed that the (suspected) cancer in her uterus had metastasized to her chest. Dr. Harvey has estimated that Riley has between 3 months and a year to live.
So, that’s the bad news. But, there is also good news! Our friend Rich, from Alameda “Rabbit Row” fame, has been fostering Riley during her surgery and has offered Riley a permanent home. Riley really enjoys Rich and all the attention she is getting in her new home. And, I think Rich is rather taken with Riley! Thank you Rich!
The other good news is that Riley’s abscess on her face is all but gone. She is eating well, napping wherever she pleases and gets to play outside on the patio when the weather permits. Talk about the good life!
I will post about Riley here on the blog as I get updates. Rich has promised a new picture of her soon also so I’ll post it when I get it. And, thank you all for the “Riley” donations that have gone to cover the medical expenses. We can still use donations to help cover the cost of food, hay (she eats tons of hay!) and her ongoing medical treatment for cancer. If you would like to donate, you can do so through this website, or send a check to the “Riley Fund” c/o Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary, 14741 Wing Levee Road, Stockton, CA 95206.
Thank you all so very much.
- Rich Sievers Says:
June 2nd, 2007 at 1:08 am
Thanks, Karen, for posting the update on Miss Riley.
It’s a pleasure to have her here at home with us, as she’s really a sweet bunny. She’s settled in here, and seems to be happy. Believe it or not, she’s quite a snuggler and loves snoozing on someone’s chest while on the sofa. She also really enjoys running and playing in the backyard. We have a lot of (apparently) sweet, tall grass to graze in, and when she gets tired she either takes a nap under the hedge or stretches full-out on the concrete patio.
Karen sent a nice cage for Riley to use while she’s here. It’s set up in our living room, next to a window where she can get afternoon sun. She’s done great with her Litterbox 101 training, which is a big plus. Her appetite is currently excellent, and what goes in the front end comes nicely out the back end. She loves tossing things around her cage (whether they’re supposed to be tossed or not). And she always comes over for nose rubs when I approach her cage.
One of the reasons Riley’s here is to be close to Dr. Carolynn Harvey and the staff at VCA Bay Area Animal Hospital in Oakland. As Karen mentioned, Riley’s prognosis is poor, as the cancer has already progressed beyond what we’d be able to stop. So, no massive doses of drugs for Miss Riley. Instead, Dr. Harvey has prescribed stasis breaker, and of course, pain meds will be given if and when it becomes necessary. And most important of all, she’ll receive tons of love and attention – she really seems to thrive on it.
I’ll do my best to get some new photos of her in the next day or so, and I will keep Karen posted on Riley’s progress so she can keep everyone updated.
Thank you for your concern about her, and please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
- Rich Sievers Says:
June 13th, 2007 at 1:03 am
Miss Riley continues to do well. Some new photos were taken of her, and clearly show how nicely the area where the abscess was has healed. (It was on the left side of her face, below her ear.) Dr. Harvey feels there will always be some residual scar tissue, but it’s becoming less and less noticeable as her fur grows back.
She gets to spend time in the backyard nearly every day, and she loves it out there. She’s found a new snoozing spot on a piece of plywood that’s elevated off the patio by about eight inches or so, and she’ll hop up on it and take a nap. She’s also been working on the communal hole that the bunnies have all been digging, on and off. And she has a new trick to allude capture when it’s time to come in: she’ll stand behind the trunk of the pine tree. With her agouti markings, she tends to blend in with the trunk and the pine needles on the ground. Only thing is, she’s a little bit longer than the trunk is wide, so her rump hangs out! Once I approach her she’ll let me pick her up, although I’m sure she’d rather stay outside. And by the way, she no longer makes whimpering sounds when she’s picked up.
All in all, she seems to be doing OK. There’s no visible signs of the cancer, and she doesn’t act like she’s in any pain. Except for the stasis breaker, she’s on no meds at present.
- Rich Sievers Says:
July 9th, 2007 at 2:59 am
Riley is doing fine. The large bare area where the abscess was has regrown its fur, and it’s now pretty hard to tell where it was.
It’s become quite apparent that Riley’s convinced that our backyard is her’s. She loves being able to run and play and graze and snooze outside, and comes running to the side of her cage in the living room and stands up on her hind feet when I come to get her in the morning and ask her if she wants to go outside.
After testing several areas, Riley finally decided on one favorite snoozing spot. We have one of those wood benches with the horizontal slats – I call ‘em “park benches” – that sits on the concrete slab at the edge of the patio. Beyond the slab is tall grass and a large yellow rose bush. Needles from the nearby pine tree tend to collect under the bench, and what Riley’s done is to push the pine needles in a semi-circle so that they make three sides of a thicket, with the tall grass being the fourth side. It’s here that she spends most of her snoozing time, coming to graze or drink water, or race around the yard, or, occasionally, stretching out on the patio by the sliding-glass door and looking inside at the other bunnies.
The horizontal slats of the bench allow enough sunlight to shine on her, but not enough to make her too hot. Whenever possible, I like to sit on the bench and read or eat my lunch. Riley’s thicket is directly under me, and she’ll periodically stick her head out and give my ankles a couple of nose boinks or tug on my pant leg.
Something she’s learned to do – and I try to discourage – is to hop up on the bench when she knows I’m not looking and use the slats on the back as a ladder, then lean as far as she can and grab a rose bush branch with her teeth. Now, the rose bush’s purpose is to provide petals for bunny treats, so I don’t want Riley eating it, and the branches have thorns, which aren’t what we want a bunny to eat, anyway! Whenever I see her doing it, I go outside. She’s learned she’s not supposed to be up there, and always looks “guilty” as soon as she sees me coming.
It’s now been about six weeks since Riley arrived here, and she’s still doing OK. There are no external signs of the cancer progressing, and she isn’t in any discomfort. Other than stasis breaker, she’s isn’t on any meds, and no appointments with Dr. Harvey are scheduled.
Please watch Riley’s blog for updates.
- Marie Aguilar Says:
July 14th, 2007 at 4:50 am
I’m so glad Riley has a good home. I’ll be cheering for her and watching this blog.
- Rich Sievers Says:
July 24th, 2007 at 4:36 am
And then, as suddenly as she came, she was gone.
Less than a week ago it was noticed that Riley’s respiration was starting to become more rapid and shallow, as though the cancer was beginning to spread and cause breathing problems. Yet, she seemed to be feeling alright, was eating and drinking fine, and was active and alert. Every day she looked forward to going out in “her” backyard to play and snooze. But the telltale signs of spreading cancer were there.
On Saturday, July 21st., Riley and I hopped out to the House Rabbit Society’s Adoption Center in Richmond so she could be examined by Dr. Harvey. Although her breathing was indeed rapid, it wasn’t off the wall. But what was of concern was a series of lumps on her abdomen. They hadn’t been there a couple of days before, and they could only mean one thing: cancer. Dr. Harvey did a needle aspiration and sent the samples out for lab work.
Saturday night, I could tell just by looking in her eyes. We spent most of the night on the living room sofa with her stretched out on my chest, and she listened intently as I talked to her while stroking her big head and long, floppy ears. I explained that my mission was never to allow any bunny to suffer from pain or discomfort, and I gave her my word that she wouldn’t. I told her about the Black Rabbit and how he would someday soon come for her, and that she should go with him when he beckoned, for if she followed him, she would instantly be able to run free again.
She spent most of the day outside on Sunday, and did OK. I brought her inside before leaving for work, and she immediately stuck her nose in her pellet bowl and chowed down.
When I got home from work early Monday morning, it was obvious that she was taking a turn for the worse. Her breathing was much more animated, and she felt hot. Her temperature was 104.5, and the process of taking it was quite stressful for her. I told her we wouldn’t do it again.
She spent Sunday night on the bed with me. I set up a small electric fan to blow above her but not directly on her, and that seemed to cool her. I also made a “pillow” for her so she could elevate her chest, and that allowed her to breathe easier. She ate some vegetables and hay if I hand-fed her, but otherwise she wasn’t very interested in food.
Shortly after sunrise on Monday I carried her outside. She hopped around some, then stretched out on the concrete patio in the thicket under the park bench she’d made for herself weeks ago. Around noontime I noticed she’d moved from the thicket onto the grass, next to the yellow rose bush. Each time I checked on her, I noticed she’d moved or turned around, but hadn’t gotten up, and when I went to fetch her before leaving for work, she didn’t do the “catch me if you can” routine she was so good at.
I set her in her hutch in the living room, filled her pellet and water bowls, and placed fresh timothy and vegetables – including Spring Mix – in her litterbox. She ate some pellets, then hopped into the litterbox and started munching. In fact, she was eating so well that I gave her a refill on the Spring Mix before leaving for work. Then, I gave her nose a skritch and told her I’d be home as soon as I could.
It was sometime Monday evening that the Black Rabbit came. He may have been there all along, waiting. In checking her litterbox, I could see that she’d eaten nearly all of the veggies. After all, she’d best have a full tummy for the journey she was about to begin!
When I found her, she been gone for awhile. I wish she’d been able to wait so I could’ve held her while she crossed over, but I understand. Looking at her, there was no indiction that her crossing had been anything but peaceful. It was as though the Black Rabbit had asked her, “Are you ready?” and she replied “Yes.”
Dr. Harvey will perform a necropsy in the hope that we can understand what happened and by doing so, be able to help future bunnies. Then she’ll be cremated and her ashes returned here to take their place in the Special Place where the ashes of those who’ve gone before her rest.
I’m grateful to Karen for allowing Riley to hop into my life. She was a wonderful rabbit, funny, playful, affectionate, and very intelligent and wiley. We knew her time with us would be short, and we tried to make her stay here as pleasurable as possible. She seemed to enjoy it.
So run and play, my little friend, until we meet again. Your spirit won’t be forgotten.
I have some digital photos of Riley, taken in the jpeg format. If you’d like to receive them by email, please drop me a line at:
(Please put “Riley’s photos” or something similar in the subject line.)
- Violet Says:
July 26th, 2007 at 6:31 am
Goodbye, Miss Riley. Please give all my critters kisses and play with them while they wait for me there at the Bridge. Especially Petunia. (Miss Pet was a sweet ancient guinea pig we fostered for the Oakland Animal Shelter. She very tragically left us in May. You should be able to find her pretty easily … she’s the one who will get very excited and wheek like crazy when you call her name. She’ll probably ask if you have any food on you.) And whenever you get a nice piece of banana from the Big Banana Tree In The Sky, Wooly will be your best friend if you’ll share it with him. It was his favorite, and his own piece was never quite enough. I know, I know … who knew a dwarf could pack that much food away? Anyways, if you share, I promise he’ll pay you back with lots of snuggling and eye cleanings. He was the best snuggler in the whole wide world. Until he had somewhere else to be, of course. But I’m sure you know how that is. See you on the other side…
- Suzy Says:
July 26th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Rich, I am so sorry for your loss, and that you were unable to be there when the Black Rabbit came for Riley. But sometimes our bunnies prefer to leave on their own, when their humans are away. I am so very glad that Riley was able to find a Forever Home at the end of her life. I am sure she knows she was dearly loved. Bless you for giving her this home.
Hugs, Suzy
- Martha Says:
July 26th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Rich,
Riley was so fortunate to have found you. You made such a wonderful place for her to be until she crossed over the rainbow. Thank you for helping so many bunnies. My thoughts are with you as you say goodbye to Riley.
Martha
- Rich Says:
July 27th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Rich,
I am so glad that there are people in the world like you who are willing to make a bunny’s last days on earth so filled with love!
I had to help my 12 year chow/shep mix to the Rainbow Bridge that same afternoon. Cancer took her also. I like to think that she met up with Riley and together they went on to find all of those that have gone before them. My Brandy lived in a house full of rabbits…
They are all up their having the time of their lives and patiently waiting for us to come join them. Peaceful thoughts,
Renee
- Donna Jensen Says:
August 1st, 2007 at 1:36 am
Dear Rich,
Riley was so lucky that you came into her life. She reminded me alot of our Lily who we only had a few short months. We don’t know what there former life was but we are determinded to make up for it. You gave Riley a rich and full life right up until the end. She new she was truely loved and well cared for.
- Liane Ko Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Thank you for giving Riley a loving home, no matter how long or short.
You are the angel for the bunnies!
- rich sievers Says:
August 6th, 2007 at 1:45 am
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts about Riley. She was indeed a special bunny and I enjoyed having her here. More importantly, she truly seemed to like it here, especially when she was out for playtime/grazing/snoozing in the backyard.
I picked up her ashes last Thursday. The urn is very nice. It’s a fairly large – after all, she was fairly large! – rectangular wooden box, very fancy, with light-colored stain. There’s a carved sunburst (or something) on the top, and on the front is a gold label with RILEY and scrollwork (or something) on it.
Usually, her urn would be placed here in the den where the computer is. One shelf of the bookcase is the resting spot for the urns of those bunnies who’ve passed through my life, with a photo of each bun next to his or her urn. However, since Riley could see the backyard from her cage in the living room and enjoyed being out there so much, her urn will instead be placed in a spot in the living room where she can “see” outside.
Just as a final thought, thanks again to Karen at Harvest Home for helping her, to Dr. Carolynn Harvey at VCA Bay Area for tending to her medical issues, and to the person who rescued her – just in the nick of time – from the Manteca shelter. You folks are Riley’s true heroes!
- Janet Weber Says:
October 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Thank you for the amazing blog, the rabbits truly have a angel in you. I can tell your life will never be without the bunny blessings from above. With regards to Barney, I have told him that his article has been sent to you and Margo at HRS. God Bless, Janet
- Francine Toulouse Says:
March 7th, 2010 at 4:36 am
thanks, Keep up the Great work 
