Anything For Dottie

If you check my google history, you might find yourself slightly puzzled. No, it's nothing sinister. You'll see search after search for information on bunny care, rabbit facts, and searches for bunny toys, accessories, and treats. It wouldn't take you long to realize you're looking through the browsing history of a devoted bunny owner.

"Does she ever search for anything for herself?" You might wonder.

No I don't.

I have always been a frugal individual, and that remains the case in the context of buying things for myself. I ignore commercials, I breeze past ads online. I only find myself making purchases I absolutely need. I'm not sure why I am this way. I suppose it's just my nature, it's simply the way I've always been.

That seemingly instinctive part of myself flew out the window the day I became I bunny mom. Dottie, my fur baby, was a foster at first. After a few weeks, I knew I could never give her back. From that point on, she became my responsibility. I was no longer responsible for just myself. I had a tiny, furry, helpless creature dependent on me for all of her wants and needs.

Of course, as my browsing history accumulated bunny related topics, the personalized adds that appeared all over my social media soon shifted from makeup, clothing, arts, etc to bunny products. Suddenly, I found that frugal part of myself nowhere to be found, as I just can't help myself to buy every bunny related product I come across on the internet. Mostly, I see ads for things like organic timothy bunny treats and a variety of toys for bunnies to chew and play with.

I buy every single one. Every. Single. One.

Why? Consciously, as I add a $10 woven hay ball to my cart, I probably couldn't articulate a good reason as to why it is justifiable when my darling bunny already has plenty of toys. Subconsciously, however, I believe the fact that I chose to make this little being my responsibility means that I have every rhyme and reason to splurge on her. She isn't able to purchase things for herself, that's my job, my responsibility. In the same token, she isn't able to verbalize to me exactly what she wants, or exactly what will bring her joy. To solve that problem, I just buy it all!

Humans, like you and I, have the luxury to pick and choose when we make the purchase from that social media ad. We can see an overpriced lipstick from an obscure brand we've never heard of, and think "hey, this looks good! I want it." We can splurge on ourselves, pamper ourselves, and make purchases that probably aren't in our better interest just because we feel like it. If it makes us happy, we can do it! Pets weren't afforded that same luxury in life. Therefore, their pampering and presents are limited to what their caretakers provide for them. In my opinion, pets have a right to be gifted with such luxuries. After all, they provide us with companionship and unconditional love. Providing them with treats and enrichment toys is one way to show your pet just how special and deserving they really are.

The kicker is, out the hundreds of dollars worth of toys and treats I have bought for Dottie as a result of an internet add, she has never touched much of it. She's a picky girl, and often will forgo a $20 toy for a cardboard box. One would think this would prevent me from continuing to make these purchases. Alas, I do not. Every time an add pops up, I think "this could be it, this could be the one she loves, this could be her new favorite!"

One of these days, it just might be.

So, are these social media advertised, overpriced, underused bunny products worth the purchase? Yup, every time. Because each time I buy a new gift for my little pride and joy, I know I'm doing the best for my baby that I can, and providing for her. That brings me much peace, and for me, that is plenty reason to make these purchases worth it.