In an extraordinary tale of animal intuition, a giant pet rabbit is credited with saving her owner's life by alerting his family to a medical emergency.
The Unlikely Hero: Dory the Flemish Giant
Simon Steggall first encountered the enormous Flemish giant rabbit breed at TruckFest in Peterborough in 2002. Instantly captivated, he knew he had to have one. He soon brought home a baby rabbit, whom he named Dory. Even as a youngster, she was larger than most fully-grown rabbits.
Dory grew to an impressive 10kg in weight and was walked on a leash like a dog. Her appetite was legendary, encompassing not just piles of carrots, cabbage, and hay, but also less conventional items like computer cables, furniture, and even a pressure washer hose.
The Night of the Life-Saving Intervention
The most remarkable chapter in Dory's story unfolded in 2004. One evening, while Simon was watching television with his then-wife, he began slipping into a diabetic coma—a condition that can cause severe brain damage or death if not treated promptly.
His wife initially thought he had simply fallen asleep. However, Dory sensed the danger. The normally docile rabbit sprang into action, climbing on to Simon's body.
"She went nuts, jumping up and down, thumping furiously on my chest, and licking all over my face," Simon recalls. This bizarre behaviour was the critical alert that made his wife realise something was terribly wrong, prompting her to call 999.
Celebrity Status and a Lasting Legacy
In the aftermath, Dory became a local and national sensation. Her story featured on the front page of the Hunts Post and in various national publications. Her heroic actions earned her the distinction of becoming the first honorary animal member of the Rabbit Welfare Association.
Tragically, Dory passed away suddenly at just two years old. The marks she chewed on skirting boards and carpets served as small reminders, but her greatest legacy was the life she saved. Simon Steggall remains convinced that without Dory's intuitive intervention, he would not be alive today.
"No one can say that Dory didn't make the most of her short life," he said, "and I've tried to live the rest of mine in her memory."
