When pets are involved, having a new baby may always be nerve-wracking, but Jenn Eckert never could have imagined how quickly her bunnies, Alfie and Amelia, would fall in love with her when she delivered her daughter, Bailey, in June.
There was no doubting Alfie and Amelia adored their new baby sister from the moment they met her. With their huge ears almost as big as hers, they stood tall next to the newborn in her carrier at the hospital.
“Alfie tried to jump into the car seat, and Amelia just sniffed,” Eckert told The Dodo. “They were both so gentle, though, so I knew they would be best friends.”
Eckert was right. Though rabbits can sometimes be aloof, Alfie and Amelia, who live free-roam in the Wisconsin family’s home, made it clear right away that, when Bailey was in the room, nothing else mattered.
“She is always their center of attention,” Eckert said. “They will lay by her when she is sleeping. They tend to hover a bit, like they immediately saw her as their responsibility to protect.”
Since Bailey has been around rabbits her whole life, she loves them right back. She’ll often roll over to watch Alfie and Amelia when they come into the room, and also loves feeding them treats. The rabbits are both Flemish giants, who can weigh upwards of 20 pounds, so they’re the perfect-sized friends for her.
As Bailey ages, she will learn about the world from her family and the bunnies that will be by her side at every turn. She already seems to be learning a lot about respect and compassion from Alfie and Amelia.
They are undoubtedly Bailey’s protectors, according to Eckert. Alfie “thumps” when Bailey starts to cry. Both of them [kept] smelling Bailey while she sleeps to see whether she is awake.
Unfortunately, many families rehome their rabbits because some people don’t believe they can coexist with kids. While children should always be supervised and gentle with rabbits, the animals can make wonderful companions for people of all ages and often have plenty of affection to offer their humans.
Because Alfie and Amelia are so gentle with Bailey, Eckert has begun training them as official therapy rabbits, working with an organization called Pet Partners. After they become certified, they’ll begin paying regular visits to hospitals and nursing homes to meet and snuggle with patients.
The two have already gained lots of expertise at home, and they like practicing at hospitals just as much. On a Facebook group called Rabbitat For Humanity, Eckert frequently monitors the kids’ development in both their therapeutic sessions and their shenanigans with Bailey at home.
Since rabbits aren’t often the first pet that parents would choose to have with a baby, Eckert believes that people are genuinely intrigued about them. “With Bailey, I can now demonstrate to people that having a kid does not exclude you from keeping your bunny.
Since it demonstrates how wonderful they can be with children, I still advocate for bunny therapy. Additionally, it affords me the chance to spread awareness about rabbit care, since they are more than simply a house pet.
Rabbits are extremely clever, with a life expectancy of over ten years, and form strong ties with both their bunny companions and human families. Numerous bunnies, like Alfie and Amelia, have complete freedom to roam the house, which gives them plenty of opportunity for play and interaction.
Despite the fact that they are prey animals and often dislike being taken up, they frequently enjoy sitting near to their owners and enjoying being petted. Because they don’t bark, they are naturally kind creatures that may seem less threatening to young people, according to Eckert.
Rabbits are extremely clever, with a life expectancy of over ten years, and form strong ties with both their bunny companions and human families. Numerous bunnies, like Alfie and Amelia, have complete freedom to roam the house, which gives them plenty of opportunity for play and interaction.
When her husband brought home a female Flemish giant named Betsy as a pet around five years ago, Eckert initially developed a passion for the animals.
Eckert, who had recently lost her mother, found the best friend and supporter in Betsy. Soon after, the family brought home Walter, and Eckert started preparing the two of them to become licensed therapy rabbits.
“The rabbits have always been my babies, so watching how they immediately responded was amazing, and watching the bond grow as they interact more really is a beautiful sight,” Eckert said. “With Bailey still so young, all three are completely dependent on us for food, a safe place to sleep, love, etc. … I think in a lot of respects, they recognize that. It is like they have their own little language.”
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