Mindy Hayes of Erie, Pennsylvania, was careful to introduce her dogs to their new family member gradually when she brought Sophie the rabbit home last year. Dogs and rabbits don’t often get along, but Hayes immediately discovered that Grace, her 2-year-old rescue pit bull, would be an exception.
According to Hayes, the link happened right away. They gave each other a sniff, and things just got better from there. The fuzzy sisters bonded together right away. Grace followed Sophie rather closely no matter where she hopped. Soon after meeting her new mate, the affectionate dog began brushing her hair and cuddling with her on the couch every day. Hayes declared, “I can’t keep them apart.” Grace is laying next to Sophie on the couch and licking her head all the time. If I let Grace, she would groom Sophie until she was drenched.
Rabbits are extremely social creatures, much like dogs, and they develop enduring relationships with their owners or other pets. Being groomed is a symbol of affection for bunnies, and Sophie enjoys it a lot. Even though Sophie is only 11 months old, she still needs to grow a lot. The average adult Flemish giant rabbit weighs about 15 pounds, but they can go as heavy as 20 pounds. She and Grace don’t appear to be that much different in size when they are both sprawled out and relaxing.
For those who already knew the girls, their tight connection came naturally, but Hayes said many people outside the family are surprised to see how affectionate Sophie and Grace are with one another. Grace had a difficult beginning in life, according to Hayes. She had been used in combat before being chained to a tree and left on her own until being rescued. Knowing her origins and witnessing her love for everyone, especially a rabbit, is helping to raise awareness of the true nature of these dogs. They’re not bad dogs, either. Everyone she meets wants to be her friend.
Hayes considers himself extremely fortunate to have a bunny with the same upbeat disposition as Grace in addition to a dog like Grace. Sophie enjoys spending time on the couch with my husband and me, according to Hayes. She will lick our hands while we pet her while sitting on both of our laps. She follows us about the house and comes to me when I call. She is a friendly and content rabbit!
Every time the two engage, Hayes gets a smile on his face, and it’s clear that the two furry friends are equally thrilled to have each other.