June 6, 2008: It is with great sadness that we report that Queen Ava (aka Amelia) suffered a fatal heart attack late last night during an emergency trip to the vet. She had developed pneumonia following recent dental surgery and the stress apparently was too much for her little body.

The following is a tribute written by her caretaker:

I have never shared my life with a companion rabbit as full of life as Queen Ava I. Yes, I said companion - not foster. She came into my life as foster bunny named Amelia and one of the original 3 Bunnies, but she later returned for a very happy "retirement," as she told animal communicator Dawn Allen. She began life in a cage as the pet of a small girl who, of course, lost interest in her. I took her in for a while and we gave her a new name for her new life - Ava. From the very first day, she was a spirited little diva - a little aggressive, yes, but who could blame her for acting out? She went to live in another foster home, where she suffered a broken leg in an unfortunate accident. When she returned to live on the first floor of my condo, she made it clear that the other rabbits - two upstairs and two in the basement - needed to know that she was in charge (hence, the new nickname, Queen Ava I). Her occasional trips to visit the others whenever I carelessly left a door open or gate down always turned into fur-flying brawl (truth be told, I think on some level that the rabbits enjoyed occasionally mixing it up).

As time passed, a curious thing happened. Ava's outsized personality never dimmed, yet she transformed into a big sweetheart. She would jump up onto the sofa to demand treats or a head rub and, when her needs had been met, take a flying leap - never a gentle hop - from the arm of the sofa through the air and onto the floor. She got into the habit of charging out to meet me first thing in the morning and when I returned home from work. Yes, we bonded. When a neighbor expressed mild interest in adopting Ava, I have to confess that I did little to encourage her.

The end came, as it always does, far too quickly. Ava developed pneumonia after dental surgery and stopped eating, prompting a late-night emergency trip to see Dr. Ellis. He was preparing to take her home with him overnight to keep an eye on her. When he left the examination room to gather some things, she rolled over on the examination table and I got the curious feeling that she was trying to get a better look at me. Suddenly, her side began to spasm and I called for Dr. Ellis, but it was too late. She had suffered a fatal heart attack. I was devastated that Ava, who just a few days earlier had scampered past me through the basement doorway to charge into the basement and taunt Norah and Cooper (and me, by her actions), was gone. That night, she visited me in a dream.

About 10 days later, I visited her again, too, thanks to the afore-mentioned Dawn Allen. I wanted Ava to know how much I missed her and how sorry I was that I had been unable to save her. Her physical heart may have failed her, but her spirit was still strong. Ava assured me that she had not been feeling well for some time and knew that her time was short. She was grateful for what she called her "retirement" years.

One of the toughest parts of this ordeal for me - and I have been admittedly lucky over the years - is that this is the first time I have lost a younger rabbit. All of my other rabbits have made it to their senior years. Ava may have been ready to leave, but I was not ready to watch her go.

This is her original profile:

If you like rabbits with attitude, you just might fall in love with Ava (also known as Amelia Earhart because she is a helicopter lop - one ear up and one ear down).

The word "diva" does not even begin to describe this girl. She can be as sweet as can be - "presenting" herself for a lengthy head-, ear- and body-rubbing session that will test your physical endurance. But make no mistake about it: Ava demands life on her own terms. As such, she comes with a couple of strict rules.

1. As she told an animal communicator recently, "I am not a cage rabbit." Ava requires a large pen with plenty of out time to stretch her legs, explore (one of her favorite activities) and to practice her binkies.

2. Ava also requires an adult home. That’s because her "attitude" just might be too intense for small children.

In many ways, though, Ava is like any other good house rabbit. She has excellent litterbox habits (and some strong ideas about exactly where the box should be located!), loves her hay and veggies, and recently discovered the joys of playing with a Slinky! She’s also got a stuffed friend whose company she enjoys. She does not like other female rabbits, but the animal communicator says the right male - somewhat submissive, but willing to stand up to her when push comes to shove - might be a good match.

Do you have room in your heart for this girl? Like any worthwhile relationship, having Ava in your life will have its challenging moments. With time and a little TLC, she would be a great companion in the right home!!