For quite some time I have know that our house rabbit, Tootsie, needed a friend. Many of her days are spent mostly alone, which can cause her time and again to be destructive and moody. She is often bored. She rarely plays, even with most of the house under her domain. So, I thought, another rabbit to socialize with might make her happy.

Scouring craigslist and searching shelter listings every day, we came up empty. Then, during a vet visit, we were connected with a little bun whose parents were rescued strays. Instead of paying up to $65 from a breeder for a bunny eight weeks or more, we adopted this little four-week-old fella for free.

Now bonding Tootsie and–the one for whom we have yet to find the perfect name–may take weeks. So far Tootsie has been territorial and somewhat paranoid, but I have a feeling she will warm up to him in time.