Okay. It may not be conventional, but isn't it cute? Cocoa Puff has basically lived her life in a cage. Since she was rescued from the snake's buffet cart at the pet store, she's enjoyed lots of fresh air and really enjoys her "playpen" in the backyard where she can munch the grass and weeds.

But . . . you know how you walk outside in the early morning and startle a little bunny who was enjoying her breakfast in your garden, and then she scampers off so fast you're almost not sure you really saw her? Poor little Cocoa Puff has never really had a chance to scurry about and stretch her legs. Since she's gotten so enormous since she's been here, we thought she could use some exercise and checked into getting her a harness and leash. And what better time to test it out than when we're keeping our nieces for the weekend and are looking for ways to entertain them? I mean, what's more entertaining than watching a rabbit as she takes her maiden voyage around the yard, with a 4-year-old in tow?

This little harness is made especially for small critters like guinea pigs, rabbits, and ferrets. It has a stretchy cord for the leash so that there's never too much tension on their fragile bodies. I told the kids as they were "walking" her that she gets to be the leader. We don't pull her; we follow her.

And, boy, did she run/hop! Imagine the song playing in the background as she bounds through the backyard for the first time ever:

"Born free, as free as the wind blows,

As free as the grass grows

Born free to follow your heart!"