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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:
Raindancer411 · 19/08/2021 00:33

Not sure if this helps, but maybe worth a call as it's effecting your health and use of your garden.

Neighbours rabbit
Original poster
krj2688 · 19/08/2021 06:50

@ManAlive24 🙄 the garden was done before the rabbit appeared. Otherwise, you know, we may have taken that into consideration 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
MrsDThomas · 19/08/2021 07:14

Get someone to grab it a drive it a few miles away. It won’t starve

SmidgenofaPigeon · 19/08/2021 07:17

@MrsDThomas drive it where?!

It’s a domesticated pet, you fool.

CovidDoesNotExistDuh · 19/08/2021 07:29

Plant Rhubarb and put traps out. Your life and allergy are more important than a fucking rabbit and your idiotic neighbours.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 19/08/2021 07:36

Just get your DH to catch it and hand it in to a rescue or the vets or something. It's clear that your neighbours aren't going to solve this problem for you so it's either that or putting up a fence all along your side of the hedge with a concrete gravel board to stop it digging through.

GoWalkabout · 19/08/2021 07:44

Forget notes. Ask neighbour for a sit down or driveway meeting with you and dh. Exchange pleasantries to signify that you are reasonable. Tell her how this is inconveniencing you - be clear. You don't want her rabbit ruining your lawn, you don't want to be reacting with hives to your own garden, your dh doesn't want to be changing and washing his clothes. Show her a picture of a reaction if you have one. Say, 'you are causing this issue, your rabbit needs a run. How do you intend to ensure it never happens again?'

JollyHostess · 19/08/2021 07:50

Please don't use water on the poor bunny!! No hose or water pistol.

It can send them into shock or at the very least cause them distress. They are not meant to get wet.

PopcornMuncher · 19/08/2021 07:55

Get someone to grab it a drive it a few miles away. It won’t starve

Don't do this. The poor animal will die. And it is illegal to abandon an animal. Pet rabbits don't survive in the wild. People who "free" them are actually dumping them to be eaten by a predator. Don't plant rhubarb either. It is toxic to rabbits.

Can't believe people are advising these inhumane things. In your shoes I'd rabbit proof my garden. Job done. Nobody's pet needs to die over this.

UnGoogled · 19/08/2021 08:00

I have to say, I'm surprised that the OP isn't taking her health more seriously, considering she has such strong reactions and is also pregnant. It's really weird to me - surely if there was a consistent danger to one's health, a serious solution would have been sought after rather than this weak sort of effort.

Take the animal to a shelter. It isn't being looked after properly and is risking your health. The end.

Icecreamsoda99 · 19/08/2021 08:03

Could you not get your DH to go over and have a polite but firm word. "We need to have a chat about how to keep your rabbit out of our garden, I don't think you may have understood that Krj2688 is deathly allergic to them, she has to carry." I just think having someone else say it to them will hopefully get it into their stupid heads that it's not just you overreacting. You have my every sympathy OP a lot of people don't understand allergies and how miserable and paralyzing they can be.

NoSquirrels · 19/08/2021 08:08

@MrsDThomas

Get someone to grab it a drive it a few miles away. It won’t starve
It might not starve but it will definitely die. It’ll be eaten within 24 hours - no chance of starving.
Boombadoom · 19/08/2021 08:15

You’re going to have to be firmer, OP.

Tell her to collect her rabbit and tell her if it gets through again, you will be taking it to a rabbit rescue because she is not being a responsible owner and you’ve had enough or being covered in hives and having to repair your garden.

Ourlady · 19/08/2021 08:19

@Boombadoom

You’re going to have to be firmer, OP.

Tell her to collect her rabbit and tell her if it gets through again, you will be taking it to a rabbit rescue because she is not being a responsible owner and you’ve had enough or being covered in hives and having to repair your garden.

This. Either they contain the rabbit or you will be taking it to a rescue. Be more assertive. They are taking the piss.
Remmy123 · 19/08/2021 08:34

That poor rabbit will be eaten by a fox soon!!!

Take the rabbit to the nearest rabbit rescue - she clearly doesn't give a fuck!

Sunshineandflipflops · 19/08/2021 08:50

I agree, you need to have a proper conversation with them again, making it clear that you are very allergic and have had enough of it coming into your garden and making a mess. If it continues to do so after your conversation, the next time it will be taken to a rescue home.

It's not a cat, it can and should be contained to your neighbour's property. If you wanted a pet rabbit, you would have got one!

k1233 · 19/08/2021 09:18

A simple wire fence with tent pegs to stop the bottom getting raised. Not too expensive and easy to do. We have black and green coated fencing wire here and it can be pretty invisible against greenery. Tent pegs can be found at cheap $1 stores here as well. Really effective.

Woolver23 · 19/08/2021 09:22

Why didn't you incorporate a proper fence when you redesigned your own garden?

Original poster
krj2688 · 19/08/2021 09:31

@k1233 thanks will get some tent pegs today. We have cable tied the mesh to the branches but it pushed under so will give this a go.

@UnGoogled we are taking my health seriously. We are trying to keep it out. If I take to a rabbit shelter/rescue they will probably get another one and we will be in the same boat.

We haven't seen it since around 9pm last night. I had a reply from ndn apologising and asking if I am ok. So we shall see.

Hoping the mesh will work as the hedge will then hopefully grow over it. We have wedged slabs in but the hedge doesn't then grow so fingers crossed it will work. Thank you all for your advice! X

OP posts:
Original poster
krj2688 · 19/08/2021 09:35

@Woolver23 because the rabbit wasn't an issue then. Also it's not our boundary. We could have put one inside of it but at 20 panels long it would have cost at least £3000 which is what we paid for the other side. It had taken us 5 years to save up to have the garden done which was unusable- we have two children who couldn't go in the garden because it was so dangerous. We had the work done that could afford so we had a garden that was useable. It's nothing special- a lawn with a wall and patio with fencing along the back and side 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
ImaginaryCat · 19/08/2021 09:42

I'm in the camp of taking it to an animal shelter, say you've seen it around a few times, don't know who it belongs to. Then deny all knowledge to neighbour.

TwoLeftElbows · 19/08/2021 10:15

You might need to bury the wire, or get neighbour to bury a length of wire on her side.

Taking it to an animal shelter is an excellent revenge solution for a fictional rabbit and fictional neighbours, but IRL would look childish and ridiculous.

However OP I might be tempted to mention that your garden isn't actually secure either and there are definite gaps through which the rabbit could escape further, should it ever discover them... and it's definitely not your responsibility to rabbit proof those.

BritishSummertime · 19/08/2021 13:24

You could tell your neighbour you've planted rhubarb but not actually do it.

GoWalkabout · 19/08/2021 13:53

How did you respond when she asked if you were OK? Hopefully 'fed up and stressed about having to avoid my own garden'

Original poster
krj2688 · 19/08/2021 13:58

@GoWalkabout I said no not really I have come up in hives and my throat is itching. Let's hope it's not a hospital trip. I didn't get a response!

OP posts:
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