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Gabe
When Gabe first came to us in summer 2005 he was extremely aggressive. Without fail he would growl, charge at, and then attempt to bite, anyone who entered his pen. We failed in our efforts to reassure Gabe that he was safe with us, and a health check failed to find a physical problem that could cause such extreme behavior. In desperation, Valium was prescribed by our veterinarian. When the drug did not work, she doubled the dosage, but it still did not lessen his aggression. There were even recommendations that we have the vet put Gabe down! Never had any of us seen such a tormented little soul as Gabe.
The answer to Gabe’s recovery was right in front of us. Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary is, after all, a sanctuary: a place to retreat, rest, and hopefully heal; a place of permanence when one has nowhere else to go. We began to leave Gabe alone except for feeding and cleaning chores and slowly he began to heal on his own terms. As his behavior changed we began to interact with him again, making it clear he was safe and loved. When he became ill and required ongoing care, he went home with our executive director. There Gabe’s emotional healing was completed: he discovered it wasn’t so bad to be held, that laps were warm and soft, and that a bunny massage was really quite enjoyable. We are thrilled to see the dramatic change in Gabe and hope you enjoy reading about him.