Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not take our pet back home

242 replies

Teenagecrisisagain · 30/11/2015 12:01

We have been having a huge amount of work done in the house for the last few months.

A few weeks ago (when it was very disruptive/dusty/noisy) we asked dm if she would mind having our rabbit till the work is finished. She agreed. He has a big indoor cage and an outside run. Dh dropped it all round to dm

I go there after school drop off to feed him and dh goes through clean litter tray etc when it needs doing. At weekend dm feeds him.

The work is nowhere near finished and our house is an absolute tip atm
Dm has declared today the rabbit has to be gone by Christmas ??? She knows we are nowhere near completion of the work and that we have a house full at Xmas.

Dm in the other hand will be alone in a big three bed house and is complaining she wants her house 'tidy' for Xmas (by 'tidy' she just means no rabbit as house is spotless except for one room where dsis has stored furniture for 2.5 years)

AIBU to just say no? If we don't actually take him home she has no way of getting him back to ours herself and I'm annoyed as we had agreed she would have him till the house was ready?

OP posts:
VodkaValiumLattePlease · 30/11/2015 12:59

SURELY a supposed loved family pet, a LIVING thing is more important than a bloody tree with glass balls hung on it?!?

Original poster
Teenagecrisisagain · 30/11/2015 12:59

His cage is huge!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Teenagecrisisagain · 30/11/2015 13:00

It was in space under stairs and in hallway but that's currently not accessible

OP posts:
VodkaValiumLattePlease · 30/11/2015 13:01

Then pay for animal lodging like regular people that don't have anyone to force their pets upon

Arfarfanarf · 30/11/2015 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 30/11/2015 13:02

Yet still you have room for extra guests for Christmas Dinner Xmas Hmm

Arfarfanarf · 30/11/2015 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Teenagecrisisagain · 30/11/2015 13:02

Not at home today so can't tackle it now

If I'd have known a few days ago before putting the tree up then yes the rabbit could have taken precedent

OP posts:
Original poster
Teenagecrisisagain · 30/11/2015 13:04

I was also worried about dust and noise for him too and dm was all fine about it till today

OP posts:
VodkaValiumLattePlease · 30/11/2015 13:07

Then take it down? If your mothers this spiteful who knows what she might do with the rabbit of you don't go and get it.

And YABU for putting your tree up in November Hmm

VestalVirgin · 30/11/2015 13:07

I wouldn't leave a pet with a person who doesn't want it. That's a danger to your rabbit.

Find a foster family. I am sure some children would be delighted to have a rabbit as Christmas guest.

trulybadlydeeply · 30/11/2015 13:09

This seems to go much deeper than the issue with the rabbit.

Anyway - you have to collect the rabbit from her. It sounds like Christmas is a difficult time for her emotionally, and whatever the reason, and however much she will "play up" (refuse invites then call you telling you she has thrown away dinner etc) you need to respect that decision. I suspect it is so she can "be alone" at Christmas, as you won't need visit to feed the rabbit, then complain bitterly about having been alone, but obviously I don't know her or the family dynamics.

Your choices:

1.Find small animal boarding or friends with DC who would enjoy having him

  1. Put him in the sitting room and forgo a tree, I'm sure your Dc will understand and not be too worried
  2. Put him in the playroom. even if it's draughty, he will be fine. He's a rabbit.
  3. Put him outside. He will be fine. He's a rabbit. Find a nice corner or windproof area. Put masses of hay in there that he can curl up in. He will be toasty warm. Get some heavy duty plastic to place over the front at night to keep out the wind. (Weight it at the bottom). Put some old blankets over the top of the hutch to insulate it (covered with something waterproof).
Cressandra · 30/11/2015 13:09

In 25 days you can sort something, whether boarding or playroom.

Whatever you think of your mum, it was a nice thing she did in taking in your house rabbit for many weeks. Lots of people wouldn't have done it - me for one. Just be grateful.

Original poster
Teenagecrisisagain · 30/11/2015 13:09

I can't take it down if goes up 27 nov every year and has done since 2001

It's in memory of my first baby.

OP posts:
Original poster
Teenagecrisisagain · 30/11/2015 13:09

And yes, I'll try and sort playroom out later on/ tomorrow

OP posts:
PurpleHairAndPearls · 30/11/2015 13:10

Goodness me, this really seems like a very tiring drama over nothing.

If your house is fit for 8 or 9 people to stay in over Xmas surely it can accommodate a bunny.

If it really can't however, put the bunny in rabbit kennels.

It doesn't require all this angst.

Lancelottie · 30/11/2015 13:10

Buy him a temporary smaller cage and stand it on the guest bed (the one you're clearing for your houseful of guests anyway). Move it on Christmas Eve to some other space that you've cleared. He'll cope for a few days.

coffeetasteslikeshit · 30/11/2015 13:10

Sounds like your DM is being deliberately awkward. Annoying, but not much you can do. Like others have said, the best way forward is to not ask her favours in future, it saves the disappointment of being let down.

I had to have counselling to work that one out... MN is much cheaper Grin

AliceInUnderpants · 30/11/2015 13:10

You have to make room. It's your rabbit. She doesn't want it. Can you find someone else kind enough to have it?

TheClacksAreDown · 30/11/2015 13:11

You’re convinced that your mum is doing this to annoy but maybe she in finding the whole rabbit thing more hassle or annoying (notwithstanding your doing the work) than she appreciated and is using Christmas as a way of bringing matters to a close.

And if things are such a terrible mess at the moment then why on earth is your tree up already?

The bottom line is though is she is doing you a favour by hosting him and she is at liberty to turn off the free rabbit hotel. So either you work out a way of finding him a place in your home, you find another friend/relative to have him or you arrange boarding over Christmas for the animal.

BreadAndOliveOil · 30/11/2015 13:12

You can't put him outside. The cold will kill him as he isnt acclimatised. Ask around at some pet shops, a lot of them take bunny boarders.......it's really cheap too. Something like £2 a day in my area.

TheCarpenter · 30/11/2015 13:12

OP. I think you should go get the rabbit.

However, I think some posters haven't owned rabbits and are thinking 'how big is a hutch ffs'. Where as rabbits need to be out and about either in house or outdoors weather depending.

It's the same as having a dog in a house where the whole family is sharing 2 rooms and there's stuff everywhere.

Regardless of the realities of rabbit ownership, either adapt or find boarding for him.

Original poster
Teenagecrisisagain · 30/11/2015 13:13

Mil won't as said her backs too bad

Dsis has cat who hates anyone/anything other than her and her dh

I'll try the playroom and speak to builders about dust draught noise being kept to minimum as playroom is next to main works

OP posts:
Original poster
Teenagecrisisagain · 30/11/2015 13:14

Guests are just daytime not overnight

OP posts:
BreadAndOliveOil · 30/11/2015 13:15

And if you can't find bunny boarding id get a small dog crate for the time being. His old cage will have to go.elsewhere. you could stick him in bathroom or somewhere for a run each day. Our old bunny used to just roam the house tho.