Charlie's Story

Charlie's Story

December 23, 2019

 I should have written this out a while ago, but such is life.  This particular little buck's story still warms my heart every time I think of it, so although late, I will post it anyway!

Charlie was born April, 2019.  After weeks of watching him and his siblings grow and mature, he was the one held back.  He was always my favorite compared to the rest of his litter.  Had the best head, best top line, best Hindquarters, etc.  But....Charlie was a buck.  I really didn't need anymore bucks.  Especially not a broken Chestnut!

I mean, his color wouldn't destroy a tri color program, but it was not what I needed to move forward in my breeding project.  But I held on to him anyway.  I liked him.  After all, his parents where some of my best in my barn!

I put Charlie in a bottom cage, and thought, I would just leave him there...let him grow, and look at him down the line.  But I pulled him out every week.  Checking to see if maybe, just maybe the penis fairy came and well....took his penis away.  I didn't need another buck!

All through the summer this young buck hung out in the lower level of the barn.  He was adeptly named BHMB Look That Kill.  His name was very suiting, as this was a good looking buck.  I knew he was going to show well, he was going to be a good contender.  I had shown him a few times as a junior.  Of course, during one of his growth spurts, when he was in his gangly stage.  Even then he never took bottom, but he didn't take first either, always in the middle.

I debated keeping him, all the while I had him on the sale list.  This buck was killing me, without performing the act himself.  Thus where his call name came from, Charlie Manson.  I hemmed and hawed over this buck for months!

I had held back several junior bucks this past breeding season.  Even though I knew I was not going to keep all of them.  I grew them out to see which was the best, and to see what I truly needed to move my program further for next year.

In comparison to all the bucks I held back, Charlie was the best.  But, he was a broken Chestnut.  And a buck.  The penis fairy never came and took it away.  He remained a buck, no matter how much I pleaded for the penis fairy to come.  Had Charlie been a doe, he would have remained here!  Not a doubt in my mind about that!

When all was said and done, and all my litters had come, the best out of each was held back regardless of color or sex.   Fall was now upon us, and winter will be here before I know it.  I needed to cut back on the herd and the hard choices had to be made.  In the end, it came down to getting my tri & chocolate breeding program into the next generation.  What did my does need moving forward?   I went from seven to four junior bucks, Charlie being one of them, based on body type alone.  

The final decision came down to these two boys pictured above.  Litter mates, but both would work in both the tri color and the chocolate program.  Both boys were very nice, the Tri color placed extremely well, and when shown with Charlie as a broken Junior buck, always placed above him.  Twister & Doc were exactly what I needed.  It was then confirmed that Charlie had to go.

Charlie hitched a ride with us at every fall show we had attended.  Hoping to find him a new barn to call his own and claim his rightful place as the King!  He traveled all the way to Monroe, Washington, but no one was interested in Mini Lops there at all.  He had two shows left to find a home before it was the end of the line.

I could not keep him, I had to stick with my plan and be firm.  He needed to find a home, or to freezer camp he went.  I hadn't looked him over in weeks after my final decision was made.  I did not want to be tempted into keeping him.  The last show I attended was in Helena, Montana.  Charlie was there, and again, no one wanted him.  I tried hard to send him home with my friend and Mini/English Lop breeding partner of Off Grid Farms.  She too had limited cage space.  She could not take him.  But Charlie had one last shot.  My other friend and Harlequin Breeding partner Nickie would be attending a show in Moscow, Idaho the following weekend.  I was already planning on sending with her a couple to sell, and a few to show.  Those that were not going to show, but just going to find homes would not be returning to their birthplace if they were unable to find a new barn.

Nickie kept me posted throughout the show, letting me know how my animals placed on the table.  She had also informed me that a lady with her son was set up close by to where she was set up and wanted to look at the Mini Lops I sent with her.  The young man wanted Charlie.  He was in love with him.  Nickie told me this and it just warmed my heart!  I was glad that Charlie was going to a good home.  Better yet, a youth interested in showing!  Charlie deserved that chance to strut his stuff.

The next day, Nickie called me after getting some rest from the show, and all the traveling, to fill me in on all the details.  She told me comments from what judges had said about the few Mini Lops I sent with her, and again was telling me how this young man was so thrilled to be able to purchase Charlie.  She had told me she overheard a conversation when the young man was showing his purchase to another person.  This person had asked the young man. "How much did you pay for this rabbit?"  In which the young man replied "$25".  The person was amazed by his response.  

The club hosting the show was accepting day of show entries, and allowed this young man to enter Charlie in the second show of the day.  Out of 50 Mini Lops entered, Charlie went on to win Best of Breed or Best Opposite of Breed (I can't exactly recall now, but it was one of the two!)   This just warms my heart, even to this day!  Not only did Charlie decide at the last minute, his last chance, to find his person, but he finally decided to strut his stuff!   This amazing little buck did it!

This photo taken by Nickie below is Charlie and his young man.  Unfortunately Nickie was able to remember this young man's name.  I would love to know how Charlie is doing, and have any updates on him!  Charlie is now a senior, I would love to see what these two can do together!

It is situations like that that make all the blood, sweat and tears worth it.  To see the next generation of rabbit breeders have the opportunity to own amazing animals.  The smile on this young mans face is all I need!