A Short Hop by Katrina McGie

A SHORT HOP

by Katrina McGie

Flying to rescue an animal isn't a new thing. People have been doing it for ages! Since I started working the Dispatch desk, I've seen cats, dogs, and even — not a word of a lie —150 turkeys. You try packing 150 turkeys into a Cessna 172 and tell me how that goes for you.

But that's not what this is about. Something I hadn't seen come through the doors of the Flying Club is much more exotic, much stranger, and you've seen them absolutely everywhere.

Bunnies. Weird, unique, bunnies. Bunny owners are like pilots. You'll always know when you're in the room with one because they'll inevitably tell you that they have a bunny. Or two.

I volunteer with a local rabbit rescue: Amy's Bunny Barn. The person who runs it is completely devoted to bunnies and her entire house is jam packed with them. She rescues them, nurses them to health, and raises the babies when the inevitably pregnant females get surrendered. She wants to help every-bun, but sometimes even the most powerful heroes need a helping hand.

That brings us to Poppy, a beautiful little Netherland Dwarf bunny that had a traumatic upbringing in Comox. She was raised in a tiny cage not even big enough for a hamster. She had been put up for free online — effectively abandoned. A nice person saw her online and scooped her up, contacting Amy about her.

You try packing 150 turkeys into a Cessna 172 and tell me how that goes for you.

MEET POPPY

The call went out: Poppy the bun needed transport from Comox to Sooke. A tall order for most, with 6 hours of driving round trip with today's gas prices. I had done a few rescues for Amy before, and everyone knows I have a major soft spot for these weird creatures, and even have one particularly moody and antisocial example of a rabbit that I adopted from Amy myself.

I had a plane booked for a Sunday flight to see my brother in Qualicum already. I wanted to have lunch with him and take him for his first ever flight with me! I hadn't heard anything from Amy or the person with the bunny, but planned a flight to Courtenay anyways. Once we were in Qualicum, I got the call. The bun was ready. I asked them if they could meet me at the Airpark. They questioned it a little, asking if I wanted to meet somewhere more convenient instead. They asked where I was coming from and I said 'Qualicum. If you're able to meet me at the airport, I'll see you in 20 minutes.' Again the question of meeting up and a reminder of the time it takes to drive from Qualicum to Courtenay. 'Don't worry,' I said. 'I'm flying in.' I told them the identity of the plane that would be pulling onto the ramp, and asked them to meet by the airside gate.

My brother and I hopped into the plane and off we went. After a quick trip at 2,500ft up the coast and a smooth landing on runway 31, we taxied in and parked in front of the lounge. They were waiting with the bun in their van. We had quickly discussed how to transport the little angel while on the ramp in Qualicum, and settled on a cardboard box as the enclosure she had been put in after being rescued was too big for the little Cessna. With a few tears, Poppy was released into our custody for the flight to her new home.

We popped her into the backseat and buckled her box in tight.

We made a quick stop back in Qualicum to drop my brother off after his very successful first flight, and had a quick check in on Poppy. She was alert, but visibly nervous. I'm not sure how much she really enjoyed flying, to be honest. Rabbits can't communicate like a dog or cat when they're upset or stressed, and body language is important. But she would be home a lot safer and quicker this way.

All told, the trip to Qualicum, up to Courtenay, back to Qualicum, and then home to Victoria took less airtime than driving from Victoria to Qualicum would have taken one way. And then Poppy was in Victoria! After talking with Amy, we both figured that it'd be easiest for everyone if I took her in for the night at my house, then brought her to Sooke the following day when I was doing another bunny transport anyways.

My own bunny, Vincent, was less than excited to have another rabbit in the house, but was nonetheless curious about her. She was safe in my home and I gave her free roam of the house while Vincent was kept separate.

Her body language loudly exclaimed that she was happy, and free. She never had to see a little cage ever again, and her adorable little happy jumps, called binkies, showed it. The next day, she went off to the Bunny Barn to get a vet checkup and find a forever home. I don't think she'll have any troubles winning someone over. She already has my heart.

One afternoon was all it took to save an animals life. I know other people have rescued animals with Club planes before, but I think this was the first rescue bun we've had come through the Club doors. I want to talk to other people who have done rescues, as I would love to do more.

As I write this, I have a little bunny on my lap that desperately wants a banana, so I should probably attend to that.