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I was an undercover narcotics agent when one day I was followed home and severely attacked. I was left with a severe head injury and many scars on my soul and myself. I was taken from the job I loved and placed on disability because the head injury caused not only seizures but also strokes. I've had small strokes but, so far, no disastrous results.
The scars left in my memory took me spiralling into a deep depression. I stayed there for a few years with family and doctors worried about my survival. One day after bring released from the hospital after a well planned, well executed, but failed overdose I got to the house where my husband showed me a small cat carrier and suggested I look inside. When I looked, there was two of the most precious mutt bunnies I had ever seen. I had never had a rabbit before but I intended to take care of these the best I knew how.
A trip to the library was first on the agenda. This was the first I had left the house to be in public in six months. I got an armful of books on rabbits and went home.
Before, when I was well, I showed Arabian horses and German Shepherds. I was used to spending money and showing animals. As I looked at the books, I saw many breeds I liked but I fell in love with the English Angoras. They were not easy to find so I settled for Mini Rex, Holland lops, Fuzzy lops, Netherland dwarfs and of course my two precious mutts. I continued to search for my dream, just one English Angora.
Finally the county fair in Texas came around to my town. Due to my fear of people we went with caution to visited the rabbit barn. There it was right in front of my eyes; the most beautiful but strange looking rabbit I had ever seen. Yes, it was an Angora, and an English one at that. I waited until the owners came along and just my luck they had not only a doe for sale but also a buck to go with her. I rushed to buy them and proudly took them home.
Mean while the police department I had worked for told us, the scuttlebutt was, that the dealers knew where I lived. We had to move immediately so getting rid of rabbits was a must. The wonderful lady that had sold me most of my rabbits bought them back from me. But I kept the Angoras and a Holland lop named "Cutree," who was my house pet and foot warmer. He sleeps on my pillow at night and my German Shepherd never made me feel as safe as he does.
I had, in the meantime, met another lady, who raised Angoras and Jersey Woollies. Pam soon became my best friend. Well, I decided I had to have one of them also. So I bought a buck and doe. I guess I just couldn't see them lonely.
We eventually ended up here in a spot in the wall called Libby Montana. There was to be a local show and I decided to take the leap and go for it.
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Much to my dismay my beautiful Angoras did nothing on the table but my Jersey took Reserve BIS at my very first try at showing. After the show I asked the judge to give me the good and bad about the Angoras. He did and I held back the tears when all he could say was don't breed them, don't show them but use their wool if you want. I went home with my head hung down. I wasn't sure if I'd ever get the nerve to show again. Someone had sold me wool rabbits for the show table. I wasn't surprised I'd been taken. I asked my friend Pam: "Who raises good show Angoras?" She smiled and said Betty Chu, not expecting me to contact her.
I worked for weeks to muster up the strength to contact her and it finally happened. I dialed the number and she actually answered. She explained she was blunt and didn't have $40 rabbits. So I found my courage and said, "I don't want it any other way". She told me about her English Angoras and I ended up buying five.
I found homes for a few of my old rabbits but kept a couple for wool. They are beautiful in my eyes even if they can't be shown or bred. A show came to Kenewick WA and we went. Scared to death but armed with new rabbits, I cautiously went up to the table. Best of Breed he said and BOSV for my buck. Great! He hadn't told me to send them back. Then it came to BIS. I put my little girl in her cage and waited impatiently until he got to her. At that point I wish he had every one else to look at again. He announced Reserve BIS and Honourable mention. My heart sunk. Then he said he found an exceptional rabbit that was the epitome of the standards for her breed. He walked over and said, "The English Angora takes BIS". I was thrilled. I gave my bunny a big hug because it is bad protocol to hug the judge.
I went home and called Betty, she was so sweet. She has been a mentor for me and tolerates my daily e-mails and questions. She has always written back. When she goes to a show, she writes an e-mail and tells me she'll be off line for a while. Between her and what the judges have told me about the breed I now breed with comfort and make precise decisions with the belief that I'm making the right choices. If I'm in doubt, I ask my best friend Pam or my newfound friend Betty. Thanks to the rabbits and the care of two wonderful ladies I am doing very well and planning a long schedule of shows for 2003. Rabbits need a lot of care and love. You don't want them to bite the judge, so you take them out daily and love and groom them. With my concern for caring for them, I've yet to find time to feel sorry for myself. Sami
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