Our Visit from an Easter Bunny

This visit from the Easter Bunny came early and not with cute little eggs filled with candy.  Yesterday, right about the time I got home from work, I was on the phone with my mom, Joey was studying, and Harley was outside in the backyard.  Joey came out of the study and looked at Harley through the window.  He saw her playing with something, so he opened the door to get a better look.  She picked up the little fluffly thing she had been playing with and took off.  Joey yelled at me that she had an animal!  I screamed, told my mom I'd call her back, and joined the chase.  The animal in her mouth is making the most horrible sqeaking sound.  I thought I heard the squeaking from inside earlier, but in the distraction of getting home and being on the phone just wrote it off as a toy.  Harley is very fast and her favorite game is keep-away.  So, we are yelling all kind of things- "No!", "Sit!", "Bad Girl!", "Harley, Come!", "Wanna Treat?"... and she is just sprinting circles around the backyard.  Finally, we coordinated our efforts and got Harley cornered.  She didn't want to drop the new toy she'd found, but finally Joey pried her mouth open and this is what fell out...

OH MY GOSH, right?!  This sweet tiny little baby bunny was covered in slobber and so scared!  We shoved Harley inside the house and tried to figure out if the little guy was ok.  There was no blood and despite being shocked almost to death I'm sure, he was moving a little, so I was hopefull he would make it.

I wrapped him in a towel and left him alone in the shade on our porch to calm down.  We went and got on the internet to read about these little guys and it didn't look good for our little Peter Cotton Tail.  There were articles about how fragile life is for these little guys and about how they often don't make it through a traumatic experience because the stress overwhelms them, or that they can't make it on their own if they are too young to be separated from momma bunny.  But, we had no idea how old he was and hoped for the best!  After about an hour I could see he was moving around a bit and decided to take him back up on the hill in our back yard.  We looked around for a nest and didn't find one, but thought he must have come from under the fence up on top of the hill.  We checked on him periodically last night and he made it back under the fence, so I am hopefull he made it!  I felt so awful for this poor little guy.  I know Harley just thought he was a fun little toy.  I mean his squeak sounded exactly like the way her toys squeak!  But, this little Easter Bunny had no idea what he was in for when he ventured into our backyard.  I picture him making it back to his home and telling all his friends to steer clear of that backyard with the black and white furry beast.  

Joey was proud of his little hunter and I was horrified that our puppy could have been a murderer.  I realize now that she just thought little Peter Cotton Tail was a fun new toy and had no idea she was harming a live baby animal.  We are still hoping the Easter Bunny visits our house this weekend, but understand if he decides to stay away.  Happy Easter week!