My sweet Tino bunny...... I brought him home from the pet store on Valentine's Day 2000. He was beautiful - he had black and white markings all over, he was so cute! When he got older he had a tuft of brown fur on his head behind his ears. It was the softest patch of fur on him (and he was pretty soft!) We set his cage up in our livingroom and had to put a book by the door so he could hop in and out, he was so little. I didn't know what kind of bunny he was or how big he was going to be. He was very sweet and friendly and easy going. I handled him alot and gave him so many kisses and pats and rubs on the face (he loved it, he'd become hypnotized by it) He gave me kisses too, his kisses were so gentle. I'd get close to his face and rub cheeks with mine, his fur was so soft. He'd kiss me on my nose and cheeks and grind his teeth (they do that when they are happy). He would run around the room, zooming from spot to spot. He'd buck his head and jump straight in the air (so funny) and run and hop and play with me. Tino was a house bunny, he had his own room. In the spring and summer I would take him outside for exercise and to enjoy the sunshine. He had a harness and I'd put his retractable leash on that and we'd go all over the yard. Later we used some loose fencing and made a big playpen for him so he could run around without wearing anything. The neighborhood kids would ask if they could go inside and pet him and Tino didn't mind, he loved the extra attention. I have a neighbor who would bunnysit him if we went away and she spoiled him too! She loved him just as much as I did (and still do!). Sadly, he got sick last Saturday and we found out he had a stone in his bladder caused from too much calcium in his diet. His kidneys were affected by it also. Time was not on his side, as any rabbit owner knows. Rabbits are not fighters when they get sick. Rabbits and birds and other small animals are "prey" animals in the wild and do not show signs of illness until it is too late. I fought hard for him (as my husband did too) to get him the help that he desperately needed but it came too late. Tino passed away Tues. January 13th, 2004. That is the saddest day of my life. I was holding out so much hope he would make it through. I am comforted by the fact that he did pass away at home and not in the vets office or on the operating table. I know he knew I loved him. I know that he loved me too. He was the most affectionate bunny, he would come when I called to him and he loved people. He would sit next to you and as long as you were petting and rubbing his head he was so happy. He had such a relaxed personality, he was very calming to me. He brought me 4 wonderful years of joy and I know I gave him the best life I could. He is buried in a beautiful varnished wooden box that my brother built for him and the lid has his name scrolled into it. He deserved to have that, he is so badly missed. Please love your animals while they are in your care. They are living breathing feeling creatures that depend on us for everything. They do love us unconditionally, no matter what. I am so sad to not have him physically here with me but he will always be in my heart. I am so glad to have loved and to have been loved by Valentino. I will never ever forget that sweet bunny.