Binky Pees and Might Ruin the Walls: Go Ask Wally

NATICK, MA - He’s a bonafide Internet sensation, and probably the biggest bunny celebrity to hit social media. Wally the Bunny has 217,000 followers on Instagram,and he’s been featured in numerous media outlets, including People Magazine, CNN, Good Morning America and the Boston Globe.

Now, Wally (and Molly) assist and entertain Patch readers each week with the advice column “Go Ask Wally.” Each week, we’ll field questions from readers, and pick the most interesting one, with Wally answering one question each Monday on Natick Patch.

QUESTION: I am Binky, a 4.5 year old orange Netherlands dwarf boy bunny that gets to roam freely in the apartment.

We are about to move home to a brand new house and Mummy & Daddy are cracking their heads over design ideas for my new space. Sure, I will get to roam almost everywhere freely, but I need a nice bedroom where I can go to the toilet, have my hay and dinner and generally lord over my toys. Mummy says I do have a naughty habit of spraying my pee out through my fencing and she’s worried that I might ruin the walls of the new house. Can you share some bunny home design ideas that you may have? What does your bedroom look like?

ANSWER: Hi, Binky. It’s ME, Wally! Here are my three favorite home design essentials: (1) a large tropical banana tree, (2) a medium-sized kiddie pool filled with strawberries, and (3) a twenty-pound bundle of laptop cords. But if your Mummy is anything like Molly, she will probably say “no” and offer you a sprig of parsley instead. But we must never give up on our dreams, Binky!

Binky, let us begin with a man-to-man conversation. Have you been neutered? Neutering helps tremendously with spraying and litter box training. Neutering can prevent health problems and improve behavior, which increases your chances of being described as “angelic.” And what bunny doesn’t want to be likened to an angel?!

As you know, Binky, all bunnies are very different. Because I don’t chew as much as Molly’s previous bunnies, her bunny-proofing is minimal. My bedroom environment is simple: I don’t have a cage, but am blocked off from under the bed and Wire Lane (the side of the room with electrical cords). I have a big litter box with high walls and unlimited hay. When I leave my bedroom, Molly uses gates to block off certain areas. For example, I used to secretly dine at a local restaurant, “The Living Room Couch,” but Molly told me that bunny bellies can’t digest furniture stuffing, so now a gate prevents me from snacking there. So sad!

You can find a vast selection of gates, fences, and playpens online. Molly purchased a human baby gate with panels that come apart and reconnect. This way she can customize the length to bar me from all my treasured spaces. (And you cannot bargain with gates – they’re very self-righteous. Not even an apple slice will coax them to budge!) High chew-temptation areas can also be covered with cardboard or cotton fabric. It sounds like your Mummy and Daddy provide you with lots of toys and freedom! These ideas, then, will come as no surprise, but here are my favorites: cardboard boxes (to gnaw and hide in), platforms to sit on (for example, Molly lays a towel on top of my plastic hay bin and I love to sit up there), shelves to climb inside, and rugs/blankets to dig in. Such simple sources of happiness!

I hope you love your new home, Binky. Be a good bunny! May your room bring you joyful adventures and temper your desire for mischief.

Wally (and his mom) fields questions that range from life’s conflicts and local politics to social etiquette to general hygiene and fashion tips. If Wally thinks the question is beyond his scope of expertise, he will pass it to his administrative team.

So what say you? Have you a question for Wally? We will compile them here at Patch and feature one question and answer each week. Send your questions to charlene.arsenault@patch.com. Or post your query in the comments section.

Photo Credit: courtesy Molly Prottas