We said goodbye to our beautiful Tesla this week.

Tesla was a gentle soul with bunny spunk - sweet, yet mischievous. She would boldly steal food from the pigs (something no one else ever dared to do) and they allowed it. She befriended anyone she met, no matter their species. She vigorously guarded doorways from unknown foes. She loved to play ball, tossing it back and forth with us. And she wasn't afraid to give us a good foot stomp to show her feelings. She also loved to snuggle and have her head pet.

She was a cancer survivor once already, beating the odds after losing her ear to an earlier tumor. For a long time, she enjoyed a peaceful, happy life here, surrounded by love and sunshine and her favorite snacks.

Recently, another cancer appeared, and it spread quickly and couldn’t be stopped. True to her spirit, Tesla kept fighting right up until the end. Even when it was clear her body was tired, she found the strength to attack her banana slices and snuggle with her favorite humans.

From the minute Ryan met her at a post Easter rescue event to the very last minutes of her life, she was adored and loved wholeheartedly and is missed in ways that are indescribable. Only one word can truly make clear how we feel about our fluffy little girl: irreplaceable.
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This October is Tesla’s month in our 2025 calendar, a bit of perfect timing that lets us see her sweet face every day.

We have some really difficult news to share about our sweet Tesla. She almost certainly has metastatic cancer, most likely a blood vessel type such as hemangiosarcoma. Because of how quickly the mass has grown and how much blood it is taking up (and the likelihood of other masses present internally in her body), our vet felt it would not be safe to anesthetize her for a biopsy. This means we cannot know with absolute certainty, but the prognosis is not good.

Even so, we are not without hope. Tesla has started on an experimental dose of a common antibiotic that has shown anti-cancer properties for this type of cancer. Whether it is the medicine or the daily banana she happily eats it with (and perhaps both), we have seen an improvement. Her appetite is better, her energy is brighter, and her Tesla personality has been shining through. She has been asking for extra cuddles, stealing the dog’s food again, and filling the house with her unique spark.

Right now, her vet does not believe she is in any pain, and our focus is on making her life as wonderful and comfortable as possible. She gets special cuddles at night in bed with us, and receives extra treats of course.  We are so thankful we are the lucky ones who get to spend her life with her.  

Tesla is one of the most resilient souls at Life With Pigs. This gentle rabbit, who loves exploring cozy corners and nibbling her favorite greens, and who is one of the only animals who is every brave enough to steal food from the pigs, has already overcome more than most animals ever face.
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Last year, Tesla underwent a major surgery to remove one of her ears after a severe infection revealed something more serious: cancer. It was a difficult ordeal, but Tesla pulled through bravely, adapting quickly and showing us once again the incredible strength of animals when they are given love and care.