With conflicted emotions

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for small animals.

Especially rabbits.

So it was with conflicted emotions that I dispatched six young bunnies last week.

I didn’t want to be that guy, but couldn’t see any other option.

Ruthie, my year-old springer spaniel, had shown up at the back door with a tiny cottontail in her mouth. I said “drop,” and she deposited the little rabbit at my feet. It appeared unharmed, but was covered with dirt.

Ruth has a soft mouth, the result, not of training, but I suspect stemming from her delight at the noise baby birds and small critters make when...