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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours rabbit

131 replies

krj2688 · 17/08/2021 18:01

Hi everyone

We get on really well with next door neighbour But their rabbit pretty much lives in our garden day and night. They have several dogs and cats so it probably enjoys the peace.

We have just had the garden professionally done. The boundary that side is a bush which is their responsibility. It's killing our grass off, rabbit droppings everywhere and most importantly I am severely allergic to rabbits (anaphylaxis/epipen).

I have approached her around 6 times now, she will come and collect it but I shouldn't have to keep doing this. We suggested she gets a run but nothing. I'm not sure how to approach this, I don't want to fall out with her but I don't like using the garden as there's fur everywhere and I have had hives on my legs.

What would you suggest!? Considering sprinklers

Husband has used the hose and water pistols, he has said he will shoot it (he is is joking btw!)

OP posts:
Iwantamarshmallowman · 17/08/2021 18:50

As an owner of a rabbit. I agree that chicken wire is your best option. It worked a treat when ours was eating all the plants in our garden.

Original poster
krj2688 · 17/08/2021 18:53

@donquixotedelamancha no idea Ive been a vegetarian since 11 years old 😂

Thank you all. My husbands currently out there's with wire trying to fill in the holes. We don't get wild rabbits. We have a field at the bottom of our road and can hear foxes so I'm surprised they haven't found it yet. It's a fairly large rabbit I think it's a Rex. It's completely brown. Very similar to a hare. Our garden is completely enclosed apart from their bush so they don't seem worried as it can't go any further. It's started digging trying to get under our fence. We did say about leaving the gate open but I would feel awful if it got hurt. My husband will throw it back over but that involves a change of clothes, contaminated ones straight in the washing machine and a shower 😬

OP posts:
BeaucoupFish · 17/08/2021 18:54

Poor little bunny 🥲
I second @234Pepperplant

fantasmasgoria1 · 17/08/2021 18:55

I have a rabbit and she's kept indoors! I always think rabbits are better off inside due to predators!

80Dodgeballs · 17/08/2021 18:58

My child said "Forget spraying the rabbit, spray the neighbour!" Grin

TacoSunday · 17/08/2021 18:58

As an aside, it’s so cruel to have just one rabbit. The biggest killer of rabbits? Loneliness Sad

UnGoogled · 17/08/2021 18:59

I would take it to a shelter next time it got in. It isn't being looked after properly and is a danger to you.

I would also feign innocence.

StoneofDestiny · 17/08/2021 18:59

Capture and donate to animal charity. They obs aren't bothered about it or you.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 17/08/2021 19:00

@TacoSunday I know, people don’t realise, it’s so sad.

I had one lone rabbit among quite a few rescues, but he was an indoor and very very bonded to me, don’t think he knew he was a rabbit. He’d snuggle up on my lap every night like a cat, and was litter trained.

Original poster
krj2688 · 17/08/2021 19:09

@80Dodgeballs I think your child is right 😂

I might give a few rescues a call. It's still out there now, whilst my husband is fixing the holes. He sent it back once and it come back through. He said he will Chuck It over once he is done. Hoping it will hold but not too sure

OP posts:
FleasInMyKnees · 17/08/2021 19:15

Dont chuck it over poor thing, it could get hurt, maybe a rescue would take it ndn doesnt seem that bothered about it.

Original poster
krj2688 · 17/08/2021 19:19

@FleasInMyKnees not literally Chuck it, we can separate the bush at the back by our fence and pop it through.
I think my husbands annoyed as it's been tucking into his veggie patch ... I just called his mr mcgregor from Peter rabbit 😂

OP posts:
ChateauMargaux · 17/08/2021 19:31

Do not bring the rabbit to a rescue.

Rabbits should not be indoors.

But do secure your garden with chicken wire. Stopping the digging is very difficult.

ILoveCrap · 17/08/2021 19:34

Make a stew Grin

In all seriousness, tell her next time it gets into your garden you’ll shoo it out and it’ll have to fend for itself. And then do it. Why should you have to put up with this?!

FleasInMyKnees · 17/08/2021 19:38

Why cant it fo to a wildlife rescue centre, it will have other rabbits to play with, shelter and a safe outdoor space.

honeybuns007 · 17/08/2021 19:41

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I’ve never ever heard of someone having that severe an allergy to rabbits.
this smacks of 'I don't believe you' Hmm. Why are people on MN so quick to call people liars?
Spyro1234 · 17/08/2021 19:44

Catch it and re-home it!? Could be eaten by a predator being loose like that 😱😱

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 17/08/2021 19:47

Is this not GBH if she is allowing it to happen? If you died from it ( sorry!) she’d been responsible for manslaughter.

Baystard · 17/08/2021 19:55

Tell her your French cousin is coming to visit and has a wonderful recipe for rabbit-au-vin that you're looking forward to trying out...

2bazookas · 17/08/2021 20:18

I heard of someone who had a free-range nuisance cockerel. At night it slept in a tree in next doors garden right outside their bedroom window. Every morning at dawn the cockerel crowed in the tree outside the bedroom window of the people next door. One day the cockerel went missing and was never seen again.
Foxes, eh.

lochmaree · 17/08/2021 20:30

I would catch it and take it to a rescue and just not say anything. if she asks then "oh I havent seen him for a while, hope he's ok!" - she clearly doesn't care about the rabbit and it deserves a better human.

BeaucoupFish · 17/08/2021 21:54

@ILoveCrap

Make a stew Grin

In all seriousness, tell her next time it gets into your garden you’ll shoo it out and it’ll have to fend for itself. And then do it. Why should you have to put up with this?!

Because maybe OP cares about it’s well-being ?
Cryalot2 · 17/08/2021 22:01

Poor you and the rabbit. The owner seems not to care.
You may get it to a rescue centre.

Els1e · 17/08/2021 22:27

Rabbits will move away from dog pee. Please help this rabbit by moving it on either via sanctuary or neighbours garden the other side. Don’t keep shoving it back to the other garden. Think Watership Down

steppemum · 17/08/2021 22:33

we used to have a free rangign rabbit. Chicken wire isn't going to do it.
The rabbit will push underneath the wire.
You need really good fencing.

I think you need to up the situation with your neighbour.
Talk to them and say that you want them to take action so that the rabbot no longer comes into your garden. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to properly contain their pet.

Be clear that this is not about them collecting it when you call, it needs to be kept out of your garden 100% of the time.

Nicely say that if they do not do this, you will need to take some legal action to get them to contain the rabbit.
In order to make it 'nice' so that you can keep good relations, I would use the fact you are severely allergic as the reason.