William Cowper was a poet, probably best known for "God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform." He had a long battle with insanity and during his recovery, according to
http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/cnm/htmlpages/cowperbi
og2.html#hares
......On
his return to Orchard Side he was glad "of anything that would engage my attention without fatiguing it". Some neighbour's children had a leveret of which they grew tired. Cowper was offered this and two others. In a letter dated 28th May 1784 Cowper describes the arrangements he made for his pets.
Immediately commencing carpentry, I built them houses to sleep in; each had a separate apartment so contrived that their ordure would pass through the bottom of it; an earthenware pan placed under each received whatsoever fell, which duly emptied and washed thus kept sweet and clean. In the daytime they had the range of the hall, and at night retired to his own bed, never intruding into that of another.........