About the Author
Marie Mead holding Siobhan
My love of animals began long before I met the little lop-eared rabbit named Kali, who inspired my book. Beginning at an early age, various species captured my interest and my heart. I clearly remember Oscar, the black-and-white piglet who grew to be a 450-pound mother—and a good friend. Nutmeg and Ginger, orphaned lambs who needed to be bottle-fed, followed me everywhere. Then there were Whitey, a bucket-bumping calf, and Stripes, the resident skunk. I was often in the company of cats and dogs, good companions for my explorations. When I moved to the city, however, animals were less evident, showing up more in my dreams than in daily life.
My formal education was in teaching and counseling psychology. I’ve enjoyed a wide variety of employment experiences, some of which nurtured my love of nature, adventure, and travel. I worked in various capacities as a technical writer, and the research and writing of environmental articles brought me back into closer attunement with nature. I am a contributor to Bunny Mad magazine (UK) and my nature writings have appeared in laJoie.
Around the same time, a tiny motherless calico kitten entered my life—bringing me full circle, back to the love and compassion for animals that I knew as a child. Since then many abandoned and abused animals have influenced my growth, and I credit them with awakening my concerns regarding animal ethics and welfare. I’ve put my philosophy into practice by supporting animal welfare organizations, performing volunteer work, and providing foster care for special needs and elderly animals.
Acknowledgments
To me, rabbits are such a contrast: very independent and yet incredibly dependent due to their vulnerability and selective breeding. I think we respond to them in part because they are representative of the vulnerability in each of us. My singular inspiration for the book was Kali, a dainty black lop-eared rabbit who blessed my life in countless ways.
Although many people contributed to this project (and the book lists them fully), I would like to especially thank the dedicated individuals at the four animal welfare organizations who responded to my request for information about their rabbits: the Rabbit Sanctuary, Best Friends Animal Society, Brambley Hedge Rabbit Rescue, and the House Rabbit Society.
I’m also very grateful to collaborator Nancy LaRoche, whose love and knowledge of rabbits are evident in her daily life. She shared two of her stories and offered excellent edit suggestions on the rest.
Thanks also to Dr. Michael W. Fox for providing the Foreword, best-selling authors Susan Chernak McElroy and Dr. Bernie Siegel for contributing their personal stories, Dr. Angela Lennox and Lucile Moore for writing their respective educational articles, and the artists and photographers who so successfully captured the true essence of rabbits.