Is There a Goat Planet?

A friend of mine recently slipped on a walnut while training for a marathon, badly spraining her ankle just two weeks before the big race. A family we know had to cancel a long-awaited vacation when they found their basement flooded on the morning of their planned departure. A teen I know failed her driver's test, again. Some days you just want to go back to bed and start over - or, as we say in our house, "Someone needs a visit to the Bunny Planet."

One of our most beloved childrens' authors is Rosemary Wells,  creator of Max and Ruby, McDuff, and our favorite tiny trilogy entitled Voyage to the Bunny Planet, in which Wells' delightful characters experience one woe after another (getting a shot, being sick in front of the whole class, cold liver chili for dinner) until they are mercifully rescued by Bunny Queen Janet and transported to her planet for "the day that should have been." (If you are now questioning my sanity, take a trip to the library and you will understand - you are never too old for these wonderful stories!)

On Monday, Elliot needed a visit to the Bunny Planet.

When the vet pulled into the driveway, he hid behind the shed. She found him, then stuck a big needle in his hip. He got all woozy-feeling, jumped up on a bench and promptly fell off. By the time he woke up later on a blanket in the driveway, he had gotten seven shots, five deep skin biopsies, and ten stitches. His belly and three of his legs had been shaved, and he had been scrubbed all over with a foul-smelling yellow goop which was air-drying in fluorescent crusts on his fur. He awoke wet, sticky, sore and hung-over. This was not the day he wanted.

We tried - really - though as anyone who's ever used lyme sulfer dip on an animal knows - you truly have to love your pets to be anywhere near them once it's applied. Although it is renowned for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic qualities, the odor is ferocious and the neon yellow stains clothing and skin permanently.

So now we wait. Possibly the antibiotic and steroid and Vitamin B6 injections will help, and a goat pathologist in another state will microscopically examine his tissue samples. At least for now, the cone is off. For Elliot, that alone is a voyage to the Bunny Planet. A few extra treats and a big hug from Emily help too. She's not that worried about turning yellow - after all, her hands are already stained from the blukote spray we use on his sores. Yellow, blue - maybe she'll just turn green after this!