Well, the babies are almost ready to fly the coop, so I brought them to my local vet for their spay/neuter surgeries.

First step, their body-weights were recorded, as well as their identification, by microchip number.

Next step, good-byes were said to the everyday world. Here Elmo is with the tech.

Back in surgery, Elmo almost acts as he knows --

-- "you TRICKED me -- there aren't any liver-flavored bunnies back here -- !!"

Smidge's surgery was also observed, so they will be refered to interchangeably here.

The veterinarian is Dr. I -- who originally received his DVM in Bosnia in the early 70s and who fled communism by coming to America in 1973.

He then spent 15 years in Laboratory Animal Medicine, as the lead-veterinarian at a US hospital that uses animals in testing.

After that, he opened his own practice, where we are today.

I have a great deal of respect for him -- that he allowed me access to his surgery, that he patiently explained all his procedures, and that he cared for his surgeries so much to use the best materials and techniques available --