Lev Lafayette's journal

Last week I reported that Gremory rabbit has been unwell and required a couple of vet visits. There were some minor signs of improvement this week with him tucking into some greens and fruit, supplementing his primary diet of critical care. But he obviously wasn't improving enough and tonight, having returned from Arcanacon (more on that in a few days), he was wheezing and not being particularly active, and shortly afterwards (having hopped to the next room), he was dead. Thus ends some nine years of having Gremory in our lives, with another period with previous owners. I can only assume by his behaviour that he derived from some contentment in life, whether it was chomping down on a fresh carrot, or lying in the sun with a gentle breeze. He never seemed particularly stressed, which one imagines is how a rabbit prefers the world. What was once a very extensive menagerie of rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, cat, turtle, and fishes have had its mammal selection reduced to just cats - and their staff of course.

The reduction, of course, isn't due to any dislike or disinterest in our furred friends, but simply because if one wishes to engage in more extensive and worldly journeys some of the more exotic companion animals can make matters much more difficult. In part, there is the motivation of making the life of these creatures a little longer and more comfortable. As Alfred North Whitehead once suggested; to live, to live well, and to live better, whilst nature presents itself red in tooth and claw. From their own part, our companions are well-known with the correlation of their presence in reducing depression and anxiety, the two most common mental afflictions of our species. We must, one supposes, seem god-like in the power that we have over their lives. But with that comes our moral responsibility show benevolence in return, and forgive their unknowing transgressions. Some may say, "it's only a rabbit", to whit one recalls Jeremy Bentham: The question is not, Can they reason?, nor Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?

Andrew Pam spoke today at Linux Users of Victoria giving an incredibly extensive overview of the current state of various games with plenty of demonstrations. After that was our usual ten minute committee meeting, which is always a pleasure considering that we have at least three speakers a month, fifteen hundred members, and regional chapters. It is amazing how much easier committee meetings can be when you have an organisation that (a) has processes set in place and (b) makes use of any form of communication to ensure that everyone's opinion has been incorporated prior to meetings. I rather suspect that some other community organisations could learn from this.

After the Linux meeting came home to discover that one of our rabbits, Dantalion, had developed a serious urinary tract infection. Took him to an emergency vet who gave the news that he may have to undergo surgery etc., and there wasn't even assurance that would see the end of his problems. With some regret caseopaya and I decided it was time for euthanasia. He never seemed to be a particularly happy or friendly hopper, despite our best efforts and concerns. Sleep well lagamorph, you at least did bring some amusement to our lives.