Puff was born August, 1999. His father was a stray who wandered into a friend's yard one day and was tame enough to catch. The friend's daughter adopted him and named him Cadbury because he was a chocolate colored rabbit. She had a friend with a black rabbit and soon there was a litter of black bunnies. I adopted Puff and she took his brother, Precious.

I now believe they were part Havana, a breed of black or chocolate rabbits that were originally raised for their mink-like fur. Ours were sometimes black and brown during parts of the year. Puff's winter color was all black.

Puff lived in a hutch for 2 years. My friend taught her rabbit to be comfortable with a cat collar so she could tie him out in the grass. I taught Puff the same when I saw how well it worked out. He was sweet and gentle except for not liking to be carried around. He'd kick and scratch if I didn't get him to where I wanted him quickly. He presented his forehead to be rubbed and laid down for a backrub.

I had a side yard fenced for my Pomeranian, Wolfie, and wondered how they would get along so I turned Puff loose in the fence in the spring of 2001. Since rabbit and dog were about the same size, they got along great and became buddies. It worked out so well that Puff lived there all summer. Having his freedom made him an even better pet. He and Wolfie played and cuddled together. He took over Wolfie's doghouse even though he had one of his own. He came to me for a petting and was just so much fun.

One day he figured out how to get out of the fence. At first I worried, but he never went far. He didn't know how to get back in and would wait at the gate for me to let him in. He and Wolfie would chase and play like long lost friends.

From then on, Puff had the run of the place. He came when he was called (if he felt like it) and followed me everywhere when I was outside. If he heard me out back, he'd come around to where I was. Sometimes I had to trick him into going out back or in the fence so I could walk out to the road without him following me.

I believe he was in love with me, or at least my boots :-). He was especially attentive after I'd cleaned the other rabbit cages and followed me out to the compost pile, running circles around me and the wheelbarrow all the way. Sometimes he sprayed my boots or the dog which was pretty nasty. Everyone who saw him thought he was too funny. He was wary of strangers but would go right up to children and let them pet him.

He stayed pretty close to the house in either the front or back. I was worried that the cottontails would lure him away from his territory. It looked more like he ran them off. I think he even ran off the neighbor's cat. I was afraid he would follow the cat right off my property but he stopped and came back. I wondered if he'd sire some colorful cottontail bunnies someday, until I learned that cottontails and domestic rabbits are not genetically compatible.

I moved the other bunnies outside for the summer and one of my prized Netherlands got loose shortly after being moved outside. Puff was helpful in herding the tiny bunny to where we could net and catch him.

I still worried about him. My property was open to wildlife. He was as big as a cat so I figured he could hold his own and I rarely saw a stray dog. I lived on a main road and hoped he didn't go that far, but to my knowledge, he never did. He was so happy and so much fun that I couldn't cage him again. He did just fine for the last 2 winters of his life. I'd leave food and water out for him, but he got most of what he needed from my yard and garden.

Puff disappeared on March 9, 2003. I choose to believe that a pretty Miss Cottontail captured his heart. He is still much missed.

Goodbye, Puff.

This is Puff helping me in the garden. Mostly he's munching.


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