To not want to double bag a dead fox

[marryinhaste]

I noticed this morning that the fox I saw "sleeping" in my back garden yesterday is still in the same position, and there's quite a lot of flies buzzing around it.

I called my local authority out of hours number, and was told there's no out of hours service for this (fair enough) but that I should double bag the body and leave it on my driveway for street services to pick it up on Monday. Really? It's a full grown fox, and I couldn't even face going out there to look closely.

I've recently separated from H, and have been facing all the challenges I meet head-on, but this seems a step too far for my bravery! Am I being pathetic? Also, H is being rubbish with contact so unless I want to do it in the dark, the kids will be looking over my shoulder while I do it.

[ScrambledSmegs]

Yes, the owner of Get Stuffed could probably do with working on his people skills. I wandered in there one day when it was actually open (it never is normally) and he seemed most put out. Think he locked the door behind me

There's a sign in there saying 'Not all the animals on display are for hire'. Which means some are. DH and I were considering having the creepiest table decorations ever at our wedding for a while

Good luck today with bagging your dead fox, OP.

[marryinhaste]

Problem solved - my neighbour came round and did it, and wouldn't even take a bottle of wine for her trouble.

It looked easy enough - no exploding or expelling - it was just stiff. I did inwardly a bit as she tried to bend him in half to fit in the bag

I feel I've let you all down by not doing it myself!

[hellsbells76]

Problem solved and yay for nice neighbours! I take back my 'flinging over fence' suggestion then.

[ratbagcatbag]

Was a bottle of wine at Xmas for her then and a nice card. Sorted. :)

[ladyfirenze]

where are you? I'll come and get it.

[ladyfirenze]

oh bugger too late

[marryinhaste]

Thanks for the offer, anyway ladyfirenze!

I feel very mean for calling my neighbour strange at the start of the thread (she does like to sing country and western songs very loudly when drunk - usually til 2am!) I will buy her a nice bottle of something for Christmas.

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

Thank goodness for that! I really felt for you reading the thread, there's no way on this earth I could ever have bagged up a dead fox can't even pick up a cat without heaving

[marryinhaste]

Mumsnet - the only place you can be made to feel bad for not man-handling a dead fox

[scarletforya]

Aw, what a great ending! Your neighbour sounds like a sweetheart!

[Londonista1975]

I completely empathise. Even seeing them walking about freaks me out a little so I know I could never touch a dead one. I would pay someone a serious amount of money to do it for me, if it came down to it.

Glad you got it sorted.

[UnrequitedSkink]

"Mumsnet - the only place you can be made to feel bad for not man-handling a dead fox"

I just snorted tea

[VerySmallSqueak]

Just glad it's sorted marry.

Perhaps you just need to start with a dead bird/mouse or two and work your way up!

[sarahseashell]

start with a dead mouse/bird or two and work your way up?!
whatever next! build up to a dead cow or horse perhaps?
this rates as one of the bizarrest mn threads ever!

[boomting]

Put a bin bag in your wheelie bin, opened out a bit like you put one in the kitchen bin, then wheel bin over to fox, use a shovel to move fox into bin, then bag it? At least it would allow you to remain a couple of foot away from it . . .

[MonaLotte]

I came back to check the status of the ex fox. Glad to see it all got sorted!

[marryinhaste]

VerySmall - I'll have you know I've picked up many a dead bird/mouse when I used to have cats. They're easy - carrier bag as a glove and pick up. It was the thought of trying to pull it by the tail (as was suggested by some here) and the tail just coming off if it was decomposed...as it was, it all came up in one stiff piece.

So as I've already graduated from the beginner level maybe a vole or a small badger could be the next step? Maybe I could get enrolled on one of those "face your fears" courses where I have to pick up increasingly sized dead animals?!

[hellsbells76]

Just wanted to say that you sound marvellous OP

[marryinhaste]

Awww, hellsbells. It makes a lovely change to the words stbxh uses to describe me!

And to everyone for helping me see the humour in the situation. I coped, I didn't consider calling stbxh to help, and I even talked to a neighbour (not a common occurrence round this way!)

[hmc]

Can't see the problem - I've had to remove a dead rat from my lawn, and a couple of years ago my decapitated cockerel (the dog got it). Man up

[Horopu]

I have moved up from disposing of dead mice (fling them into a hedge) to dead rats (double bag and put in bin) after lots of screaming when I found in in the pile of towels to now burying the possums I trap.

I think you have done a great job OP.

[VerySmallSqueak]