There is a lot to say about this little lady, but not much is known about her past. Esther came into Old Dog Haven care when the shelter asked for assistance placing her in a forever home. Esther was thought to have heart disease and dental disease and she wasn’t spayed. Once in her ODH Final Refuge home and just before her planned echocardiogram/cardiology consult she became very ill with pyometra—infection of the uterus, which is a life-threatening condition that is a serious risk in unspayed older females. This required emergency surgery despite her age and health issues. Fortunately, she did well and quickly began to mend. Thank goodness for ODH and all the vets!

Esther Bunny is an animated character: sassy, saucy, and an avid adventurer on a quest for the unknowable. She discovers things along the way like street scraps that I wrestle out of her mouth, her dog friends in the neighborhood—Ruth, Tobias, Mooshu, and Wesley, squirrels, birds, and lawn figurines that she finds startling.

She is loving, patient, gentle and kind toward people of all ages and dogs of all sizes, yet she will give you a warning growl and snarl if and when she doesn’t want her paws touched. Toe touching is only on her terms and that is okay. She loves long walks, perching on pillows, roughhousing and eating. Esther is mostly quiet unless there is a discussion about eating or walking and then she has a lot to say. Esther Bunny enjoys lots of pets and sleeping in, chasing her tail like a cat and showing me tricks she has hiding up her sleeve. At this moment she knows how to sit, lie down, roll-over and possibly speak.

Oh, and lastly, Esther likes to be snuggled and carried like a baby Joey . She’s not so interested in bedtime snuggles, but she is definitely down for pouch traveling. We look forward to her health checkup, teeth cleaning and many more years of being “The Princess and the Pea.”

Esther is named after my grandmother who was originally named Easter but was teased and had her named changed to Esther, hence Easter/Esther Bunny. Like my grandmother, this Esther is resilient, spirited and loving. Esther’s 11 years betray her youthful exuberance—or is it stoicism we are discovering or discerning in that balance?

Update from her Final Refuge Mom:  Esther Bunny was the best companion; easygoing, loving, gentle and kind. I treasured taking care of her and I am forever grateful to everyone who afforded me the opportunity to love her.  Her sweetness and patience left an indelible mark on my heart. I hope to honor her by loving other ODH dogs in the future.

The Princess and the Pea