Animal House: Professors keep pet rabbit hip to social media

BY BRAVETTA HASSELL World Scene Writer
Saturday, February 09, 2013
2/09/13 at 5:22 AM

Tater Putman is a rabbit on the verge.

So far he has two Facebook “likes” and more than 50 Facebook friends.

His fans periodically post to his profile page, and he posts, too:

“I’m the new PSY,” Tater wrote on Dec. 6 of a photo featuring him and some Photoshopped-in sunglasses. “I’ve been dancing Gangnam Style all over the house.” Tater’s got a sense of humor, and he has some admirers, too.

There’s one student who’s “quite flirtatious” with him, points out Chris Putman, Tater’s owner.

She was wanting to go on a date with him, adds Chris Putman’s husband, Jim.

What did Tater do?

“Well, he likes to string them along,” Chris Putman says with some laughter. Tater’s faithful admirer isn’t alone.

Recently, the two college professors and the Broken Tort Holland Lop sat down for an interview. Jim and Chris did, at least. Tater hopped in and out, leaving Chris — his designated “person” — to do the talking for him.

1. A rabbit is somewhat an unusual pet these days — tell me why you’re “rabbit people.

Chris and Jim Putman lead busy lives and long work hours, so they needed a pet that was low-maintenance, quiet, clean and fairly independent, she said.

Rabbits suited that lifestyle, and in the Putmans’ nearly 35 years of marriage, they’ve always owned a rabbit.

2. How did Tater get his name?

“We always wait until they tell us what their personality is rather than just picking a name. This one, we didn’t know what in the world to do.

The couple was brainstorming at a local restaurant, McAlister’s Deli, Chris said. “It was getting to be the point where we better come up with something.” She and Jim were eating baked potatoes kicking names back and forth, and suddenly it came to her: “Tater.” “It just fits him, but who knows why.

3. What is Tater’s favorite thing to do?

Watch TV. He’ll watch TV with his legs kicked out like a child, Jim says. He’s a big fan of HGTV and a little Fox News, Chris adds later. But on HGTV, “he likes the construction part, just not the decorating,” she said. “Probably the power tools.” Tater also likes action movies. Romance? “You’d think a Valentine’s boy like that (would), but no,” Jim says.

4. Does Tater have any special tricks?

Chris and Jim call Tater an athlete. When he starts running, “ he’s like a missile coming through,” and he jumps, too. Chris said, “He can do some incredible jumps and leaps.” During his shows, she added, Tater will “jump, turn around in the air, and take a look at you — kinda like hold it like basketball players do and he’ll do a spin and then he’ll come back down.

5. What have Tater and past pets brought to your life?

“He fills the house,” Jim said.

“You come in and you reach for them and they’re just smothering you with kisses, how can you resist that,” Chris said.

Amirers can visit Tater’s Facebook profile page at tulsaworld.com/taterputman.
Original Print Headline: Professors keep pet rabbit hip to social media

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The one and only Tater Putman lives with Chris and Jim Putman. Tater's fashion sense gets good reviews on his Facebook page, and he enjoys stretching out and watching HGTV. Courtesy