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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Escaped rabbits

31 replies

77Balloons · 21/09/2018 10:38

I have two rabbits which are exceptional escape artists, and last year started getting into the garden behind ours. The lady there didn't like it so I put a fence up at Easter last year, which they breached a couple of times but eventually kept them in. Until a couple of weeks ago when she came round to say they'd been in her garden again. I couldn't see anywhere they could have got through the fence so I just left it but then she came round again yesterday going absolutely mad saying they've eaten her plants and pooed in her garden. I said I'd have another look at the fence, but she wouldn't accept that saying she's going to take legal action, that it's making her ill blah blah blah. She wouldnt let me speak, kept saying the same things over and over again, and at that point I started getting annoyed. She then stood by the hedge, peering into my garden shouting at me while I was trying to get the rabbits back through.

Am I being unreasonable in wanting to tell her to get a grip and f* off? The rabbits must have been in her garden 10 times in total max. And her garden is mostly just grass, so I can't believe they've caused much damage, and I have offered to replace the plants but she refused. Opinions please.

OP posts:

Honeyroar · 21/09/2018 10:45

You are being unreasonable. Ten times is far too many. Sort your fence out, check they've not dug out. Your rabbits could end up hurt as a result of them escaping. Everyone is responsible for keeping their animals off other people's property, and I say that as someone with loads of animals.

hidinginthenightgarden · 21/09/2018 10:52

YABU. Put them in a hutch with a big run.

Original poster

77Balloons · 21/09/2018 11:01

They are in a big hutch with a big run, they just keep escaping. I'm not saying I think they should be allowed to go wherever they want, I just think her reaction is way OTT for an escaped pet.

OP posts:

mummymeister · 21/09/2018 11:04

you are being very unreasonable. why should she have to put up with your animals in her garden. do you really let them run around in the garden. aren't you worried about fox or cats attacking them?

its lovely to let them have so much space but they are animals and they will dig and try to escape. buy or make a huge run - very easy to do with double and overlapping chicken wire and put double chicken wire on the bottom. that way they are outside running around but cant escape and more importantly nothing can get at them either.

in all fairness, you are lucky that your neighbour kept them in her garden and didn't encourage them to run even further afield.

you don't sound like a very responsible owner.

Synecdoche · 21/09/2018 11:09

How are they escaping their hutch/run?

If escaping from the hutch they need to be padlocked in.

If digging under the run you need to dig proof it by sinking wire mesh grids into the ground by a good few feet.

If they are lifting the run it needs pegging down or weighting (AND digproofing).

user1485816612 · 21/09/2018 11:18

As an owner of four rabbits myself, I know how mischievous they can be, at the same time though I don’t blame your neighbour for being annoyed. Part of our responsibility as pet owners is making sure they don’t cause a nuisance to our neighbours.

Every time your rabbits escape, they are not only causing annoyance, they are in danger from foxes, birds of prey, cats, dogs and people who wish to cause them harm. You need to keep them safe.

Some practical advice for you. What you need is proper welded mesh, rabbits can chew through chicken wire as can predators. If the run is on the grass then the rabbits are just going to burrow out and escape - digging is just what rabbits do, foxes also dig into runs. Either place the hutch and run on slabs or concrete or mesh the underside of the run, you can place a layer of turf or topsoil on top of the mesh to stop it irritating their feet.

Check the run sits flush with the hutch and check there are no gaps under the hutch where they could be squeezing out of, rabbits fit through surprisingly small spaces.

If they have learnt how to open doors - small padlocks to keep all doors and run hatches shut unless you are opening them yourself, they are intelligent and a slide bolt really doesn’t offer much in the way of protection, from their own escape attempts or from predators.

If you feel comfortable posting a picture of your set up I would be happy to make some suggestions of where you need to strengthen the set up, as would others I’m sure. Sometimes it just needs another set of eyes to figure out where they are escaping from, and once your hutch and run are secure you won’t have to worry too much about your fence

Honeyroar · 21/09/2018 11:18

Ditto what synecdoche said.

Her reaction wouldn't happen if your rabbits didn't escape. You (and me) like bunnies in your garden, she doesn't. It's her garden her prerogative. She's over reacting because you're not treating it seriously and sorting it out.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 21/09/2018 11:20

Bloody hell, you're lucky you've got them back 10 times. Anything could have happened to them!
Be a responsible owner and decent neighbour and make sure your runs/hutches are actually escape proof.

MardyMavis · 21/09/2018 11:23

She's being a twat as I'd just catch them and bring them home. BUT you need to sort out a hutch they can't escape from or they will end up dead you don't seem that worried that they are escaping.

TeddybearBaby · 21/09/2018 11:25

You are being so unreasonable it’s off the scale. She could take your rabbits and release them or do whatever she likes. You’re not being a good pet owner.

You remind me of my neighbour. Her pitball keeps getting into my garden. I have 2 DC, 2 dogs and 2 rabbits and I don’t want it! She (like you) thinks I’m the unreasonable one for having a problem. Honestly you both blow my mind!

DappledThings · 21/09/2018 11:29

She's overreacting massively. We've had the neighbour's rabbits in our garden three times in the last month. It happens.

First time one of them was there for 4 days and once he was safely home they came round with a card and chocolates to say thank you/apologise. It was very nice but totally unnecessary. A gesture like that might go down well though in your case.

Original poster

77Balloons · 21/09/2018 11:39

I am a responsible pet owner, but I've never had rabbits before so I didn't realise how easily they can escape. I thought I'd sorted it last year, but they have obviously found a new escape route that I can't see.

I don't think comparing a pit bull in your garden to a rabbit is very fair though (aren't they illegal anyway?)

I don't think it's unreasonable to not want someone else's rabbit in your garden, I just thinking threatening legal action over a nibbled plant is a bit bonkers

They are digging out of the run so I'm off to b&q to get some mesh to put under the run.

OP posts:

TeddybearBaby · 21/09/2018 11:44

@77Balloons it’s more her attitude that annoys me! It’s definitely not the same, you’re right but she does agree with you that it’s not a big deal because to her it isn’t. She goes ‘he’d never hurt a fly’ and thinks I’m being hard work for moaning about it! I probably took it out on you!

I think they are but usually they’ve got something else in them which makes a difference....... this one looks a bit like a pitball / boxer cross.

Yokohamajojo · 21/09/2018 11:45

If it got into our garden it would be swiftly eaten by my terrier

Unicornandbows · 21/09/2018 12:08

Yabu.. Sort out your rabbits it's not fair on her.

To me it seems like she's tried to tell you a number of times but you haven't made it escape proof enough. Some people are very garden proud and it's not there fault in being angry at something that keeps o. Happening again and again.

Perhaps seek help from experienced rabbit owners to guide you to make it escape proof.

helpfulperson · 21/09/2018 12:27

It isn't clear from your post but are you going and collecting them or is she returning them? From the way you said 'she said they'd been in the garden' it sounds like you haven't actually seen them in her garden. Is it definitely your rabbits not wild ones?

Original poster

77Balloons · 21/09/2018 12:46

It was definitely my rabbits yesterday although there is another runaway rabbit on the loose cos one of my other neighbours had one in her garden and she thought it was mine but mine were safely in their hutch. We live in the suburbs so probably not wild ones. They come back when I call them although I have to take the fence apart to get them out again! So god knows how the little blighters are getting through!

OP posts:

theunsure · 21/09/2018 12:51

I think your neighbour is a twat - but you do have a responsibility to keep them in.

People like you and I like animals - she doesn't. She has a right to not have your animals in her space - whether they damage it or not.
She is probably unhinged but it is still her right

I have chickens, they got out when we moved. I was very apologetic and we have spent a small fortune trying to secure the garden since and will continue to try everything known to man until we are confident they are not going anywhere. I think my girls are lovely - but I have no right to allow them to roam.

SabineUndine · 21/09/2018 12:54

Rabbits eat as if there were tomorrow and they'll nibble anything. If your neighbour's a gardener, I'm not surprised she lost her rag. A couple of rabbits escaping ten times must have caused a lot of damage.

YABU.

DopeyDazy · 21/09/2018 13:14

be in cooking pot if it was my garden.

Original poster

77Balloons · 21/09/2018 13:32

@theunsure. I have also spent a small fortune trying to secure the garden and will continue to do so. I don't want them to get out, although they can definitely fend off a cat, I wouldn't want them to meet a fox or a dog. I was very apologetic last year, it's just her making such a big deal out of it that winds me up - I wish she was a bit more understanding like your neighbours. My other neighbours think it's hilarious and call her the bunny boiler.

She is definitely not a gardener and she is definitely unhinged

OP posts:

Seniorcitizen1 · 21/09/2018 13:42

If they had been in my garden that many times the next time they’d be in a pie

Original poster

77Balloons · 21/09/2018 13:55

Wow there are a surprisingly high proportion on mumsnet who would eat someone's pet rabbit. I'm not sure I trust your opinions any more you bunch of weirdos, but thanks for the tips!

OP posts:

DopeyDazy · 21/09/2018 14:29

Pet rabbits are lot plumper than wild ones probably more tender as well

WhiteCoyote · 21/09/2018 14:36

YABU for letting it happen so much! Once or twice maybe, but 10 times?!
Rabbits are brilliant at escape - I owned and bred rabbits for 10 years and only had a single accident where one got into the neighbours garden. He was the size of a small dog and leapt over a partition when the wind broke the top part of a fence off lol.
I can see why neighbour is annoyed. It’s probably more your “well it’s only the TENTH time” attitude.

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