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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Parenting

Dreading dd coming home as I have to tell her that the foxes killed our rabbit and guinea pig. Help please

30 replies

cruisemum1 · 18/06/2007 13:55

Dd age 9 is gonna be devastated beyond belief. We have lost a rabbit before this way so are always extra careful about securing hutch. But the b***ds got in somehow and took the guinea pig too. I know I have to tell her after school but I feel sick to the pit of my stomach at the thought. Any experience of this anyone?

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cruisemum1 · 18/06/2007 13:58

Anyone??? Please?????

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Blu · 18/06/2007 13:58

Oh dear, how awful.

I have no experience, but I guess it's either calm and factual and head-on - or just lie and say they escaped and have run off...

How did they get in? was it through the wire, or by jumping at the catches, or digging?

MamaMaiasaura · 18/06/2007 13:58

dont tell her the foxes got them. Say they both fell asleep and didnt wake up.

Blu · 18/06/2007 13:59

Have you got the remains / evidence?

colditz · 18/06/2007 14:00

I'd lie, to be honest.

moopymoo · 18/06/2007 14:02

we have lost rabbirs and chickens in the past to foxs. upsetting for ds but he was not too distressed. we told him that foxes have cubs to feed at this time of year and that they can be very hungry. this seemed to help him. all part of life and good learning when pets die though not nice. hope she is ok. have a burial/ memorial service?

cruisemum1 · 18/06/2007 14:02

God! I am so dreading this. I don't know how they got in but the top of the hutch (it is a huge double level hutch with a big run at the bottom), was open wide. The rabbit was on the lawn. In fact my dh saw the fox carrying him in its mouth while he was shaving this morning. The guinea pig was no where to be found

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Marina · 18/06/2007 14:02

Please be honest with her. If she is told they have legged it she will be forever combing the garden to see if they've returned (I did when told something similar about my pet mice) and I think she is too old to buy the fell asleep idea.
I am so sorry cruisemum - I hate urban foxes with a passion and all they can do to us is squit all over our patio.

kittylette · 18/06/2007 14:03

Id lie too, just tell her they escaped.

moopymoo · 18/06/2007 14:03

(rabbits and foxes am a typing moron)

cornsilk · 18/06/2007 14:05

You could tell her they ran off - ours did and ds wasn't too upset. Turned up luckily. Would having another rabbit for when she comes home from school help?

cruisemum1 · 18/06/2007 14:05

I can't lie, she will question me and question me until she ties me in knots! When we told her about the last rabbit (which the foxes got the day my ds was born 9 months ago) she screamed and ranted. I don't mind the screaming and ranting but she got extremely upset and it was awful on what should have been such a happy day.

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cruisemum1 · 18/06/2007 14:06

i guess i have to tell her the truth and bear the consequences. Shit, motherhood has some really crappy bits.

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Blu · 18/06/2007 14:06

Yes, I think marina is right, really, about telling the truth. She is old enough to know that they wouldn't survive 10 mins in the wild, anyway. But might it be possible that the GP legged it when the hutch was opened? Have a good look under all p[lants etc.

Is it one of those hutches that has a polastic 'heart shaped' catch that turns round to keep the door shut? Because I think a fox could easily knock the catch round with it's paws up against the hutch.

Tell her that your DH saw it happen and that you know he rabbit died instantly and was not in any pain and didn't suffer fright because it was so fast.

MamaMaiasaura · 18/06/2007 14:07

I would tell her they are dead, just not the circumstances surronding their demise. I would dig up a small 'grave' (not necessarily burying rabbit in case fox digs up again) and then your dd can put a small plant there perhaps? If she asks why/how they died say they must have gotton sick.

MamaMaiasaura · 18/06/2007 14:08

blu - never thought of that. The GP could be hiding.

cruisemum1 · 18/06/2007 14:08

blu - like the suggestion of telling her rabbit didnt suffer. dunno what to say about guinea pig. If i tell her she ran off then she will forever being scouring the garden for her. Oh Crap

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Blu · 18/06/2007 14:10

Does the bottom run sit on the grass, rather than having a floor? because foxes also do their best to tip those hutches over - peg it down with firm tent pegs, or cables or something.

I have replaced the catches on our run with proper bolts, and a Karibiner type catch.

Create Rabbit Colditz and then take her to choose new ones?

Bloody urban foxes.

cruisemum1 · 18/06/2007 14:11

blu -the bottom run is on patio stones but they go on grass in their portable run most days (or rather they did ). I am soooo ni a quandry about replacing them too.

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cruisemum1 · 18/06/2007 14:14

She is soo happy when I get her from school - just dreading crushing her with this s*t news

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MamaMaiasaura · 18/06/2007 22:14

How did it go?

cruisemum1 · 19/06/2007 06:39

it was awful. i told her the truth, that the foxes got the rabbit but the guinea pig ran away. she was devastated but recovered quite quickly. she was 'up and down' all evening. Part of life i guess.

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cruisemum1 · 19/06/2007 06:39

thanks for asking

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MamaMaiasaura · 19/06/2007 12:53

glad she hads recovered. I think as adults we feel more nervous but kids are quite resiliant. I guess in a way pets prepare us as children for some of the stuff in adult life.

NoodleStroodle · 19/06/2007 12:54

It happened to me when I was little.
Named my DS1 after the guinea pig that was eaten by foxes!

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