Maple brings sass, laughter to family
House rabbits are rare enough, but one that commands every room she’s in is rarer still.
Maple, the almost 4-year-old mixed-breed bunny, makes it clear that her species isn’t as shy and unassuming as originally thought.
According to Maple’s owner, Leigh Wolfe of Fenelton, the family adopted her without previous rabbit experience.
“I didn’t know much about bunnies, but her personality is enormous,” she said. “Bunnies are so smart, I don’t think we give them enough credit.”
The family already had dachshunds Lucy, 16, and Lacy, 7, when they adopted Maple, and Wolfe said she turned the home on its head.
“Dachshunds are bred to hunt out creatures like (Maple). At first they sniffed her and wanted to attack, but Maple took over,” she said. “She rules them.”
The bunny will play like one of the dogs, charge at them, and go about her daily routine with them.
“If I pay too much attention to the dogs, she sprints at me for love and affection and will grunt at the dogs!” she said. “They all meet me at the refrigerator for treats. (Maple) gets blueberries and they get dog treats.”
Maple has free reign of the lower level of the family’s home and is litter trained. She’s even become the mascot for Wolfe’s online business, CreativLeigh Made.
“I’m a nurse at (Butler Memorial Hospital) and my coworkers always ask about her. It was a thing to talk about during the pandemic,” she said. “People know Maple and ask about her. She’s gone viral a few times. She makes frequent appearances in my craft room and has been known to balance thread on her forehead.”
Wolfe elaborated that Maple will frequently run around the craft room, knocking things over, then balance them on her nose.
“She can go from sassy to ‘Look, I’m so cute,’” she said. “She’s super lovable; she’ll take her nose and bump it on your leg to get you to pet her.”
Ultimately, Maple brings laughter to the family.
“When she’s happy she’ll jump in the air. It’s funny to see her interact with the dogs. She adds a certain dynamic,” Wolfe said. “It’s amazing such a little fur ball can make you laugh, how her personality demands love and attention like the dogs do.”
Wolfe said most people don’t realize that bunnies make good house pets.
“She brings a certain uniqueness to our family and for as little as she is, she has a lot of love to give, mixed with a bit of sass,” she said. “Bunnies are misunderstood. Their personalities are so much bigger than being put in a cage.”
