Houdini doesn't eat my blankets anymore

Houdini was named for her amazing ability to escape padlocked kennels.

However, during the seven years I had her, she never managed to pull herself out of a hat.

I got her as an Easter gift. I wasn’t quite sure how to take care of her since I lived in an apartment. I grew up on a farm, with the common rodent here and there, but none of those bunnies were indoor pets.

Turns out an indoor rabbit proves to be entertaining but also a difficulty.

There was her first veterinarian visit after she ate Liquid Nails adhesive while I was repairing the tunnel she bore through my apartment bathroom wall. She survived and so did my bathroom.

One night she shed her entire winter coat on my face while I slept. Everything tasted bad that morning.

She sat with me watching TV, went on pizza runs, ate my brownies when I wasn’t paying attention and nearly brawled with a giant squirrel in a park. There was also the time when I watched horrified as a hawk attempted to carry her away. Then I laughed because, that is one of the most random things I’ve ever witnessed. It still makes me laugh. Luckily she was three times the bird’s size.

She was a very social rabbit with dog friends. Had this hawk not tried to eat her, she might have had a flying friend.

Ever hear a rabbit scream? It is terrifying. I took her to the park and somehow she stubbed her toe on a picnic table, screamed and passed out. I thought she was dead. This resulted in the second veterinarian visit.

Then came the third visit.

She quit eating food and started to lose weight. I had to force feed her but eventually she wouldn’t take it anymore. She tried to hop, but instead she fell down and went into convulsions. I panicked and hoped it wasn’t the end because I truly thought she would survive.

She died as I held her to my chest.

Now she is gone, no longer around to chew holes in my blankets. Left behind are lots of funny memories of things most people won’t encounter with a rabbit. Maybe I will chew a hole into my blanket for old times sake.

Candice Boutilier is the Columbia Basin Herald assistant editor. Her coworkers are sad for her loss. Houdini once appeared as model for a story about the annual Moses Lake Easter egg hunt.