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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To "name and shame" her on Facebook.

238 replies

BlueEyesWhiteDragon · 26/03/2022 13:21

I've come home to 2 terrified rabbits sitting in a cage in my garden. The bloody things were surrounded by the billion cats that live here who are fascinated.

I've relocated them to a very old rickety hutch from when we had rabbits a million years ago and chucked them some hay, carrots and water and told the DSs at least 72 times that we are not keeping them whilst they fight over names.

CCTV shows a woman dropping them over the gate. She obviously didn't realise I've got CCTV and I have a nice clear view of her face.

I mean I clearly won't be returning the rabbits but WIBU to stick her on Facebook in a "what the hell were you doing" post?

OP posts:
LBFseBrom · 26/03/2022 15:44

On first reading I thought you meant a woman was dropping cats over your gate. My bad. I see you mean she dropped rabbits over your gate - odd thing to do but it takes all sorts.

Don't 'name and shame', that's vindictive. If you don't want to keep the rabbits there must be refuges for them somewhere in your vicinity. They are, however, surprisingly cheap and easy to keep and quite docile pets. Get your family to muck in with the cleaning of the hutch and research the correct diet for your rabbits. Bless.

Bootothegoose · 26/03/2022 15:49

I would report this.

My first thought wasn't that they thought they might be yours. It was that she may have been looking for a home for her rabbits and saw you had cats and assumed you were an animal lover and they would be safe with you.

Whilst most likely indicative of a cheeky fucker, it is also common for individuals getting ready to take their own life to take their dependants to places they feel they will be looked after. A dog was left at our local supermarket and the authorities were called. By the time the owner was identified it was sadly too late.

Leaving animals in a stranger's garden is not a rational act, I would call the police in the hope they can identify her and make sure everything is alright. Definitely the RSPCA for the rabbits.

ivfbabymomma1 · 26/03/2022 15:51

Where in the uk are you?! I would rescue the rabbits! (I have a current rabbit rescue gang)

SunshineCake1 · 26/03/2022 15:51

They are adorable! 🐇

stormswiftlysweetafton · 26/03/2022 15:56

I don't see a problem with sharing the video or a screenshot of it. Why protect her? It seems very unlikely she made a mistake. She just wanted rid of the rabbits! I might fake a belief that it was a mistake, to play it safe, but privately I'd be convinced that she knew very well what she was doing.

Ellmau · 26/03/2022 16:04

Cats don't hurt rabbits for goodness sake, it's natural for them to be fascinated but no harm is intended.

This is not the case. DB's last cat regularly caught, disembowelled (on the carpet, lovely) and ate parts of, a number of poor little wild rabbits.

Hoppinggreen · 26/03/2022 16:09

My uncle married a bloody awful woman ( who was awful for many reasons). She would get pets for her kids and then when they lost interest she would just dump them at random in someone’s garden in the local area.

Hawkins001 · 26/03/2022 16:10

@BlueEyesWhiteDragon

I'm not going to go all gung ho on Facebook. I was just annoyed. I'd come in harassed, we've dealt with a literal ton of fly tipping this week, and then I nearly tripped over the pair of them because I wasn't looking. I've chilled a bit now and I admit they kind of cute.

I've posted saying we've had 2 rabbits left at house in error anyone missing any. All polite and cheery on the outside with a seething centre on the inside lol.

I'm currently still saying they not staying but I am sitting in the garden watching them explore the run I've just borrowed from chap down road and am treating myself to a a cup of tea and a KitKat.

DS2 wants to call them Stew and Pot - he thinks he's hilarious. DS1 wants to call the brown one Choco and will conceded to pot for the other.

It's been ages since we've had rabbits. We'd have to make them a pen and all the bloody front is artifical grass now. They'd either have to go in the field or we'd have to returf some of the front.

Awwwwwwww if no one claims them, as your d's are already attached, would you be considering keeping them ?
HappyHouseWitch · 26/03/2022 16:13

That's a a great offer from @ivfbabymomma1, I hope she can take them. If not there might be a rabbit rescue society near you who can help instead of going to RSPCA

WeCouldBeSpearows · 26/03/2022 16:22

@LBFseBrom

Cats don't hurt rabbits for goodness sake, it's natural for them to be fascinated but no harm is intended.

I had a rabbit and cats; one of my cats formed an attachment to the rabbit, it was really sweet, they ran around playing together. Unfortunately it all ended when the rabbit tried to mate with my cat.

Foxes will prey on a rabbit but if the hutch is secure, it will be all right.

Haha, you haven't met my cats!

I've been 'treated' many times to the remains of a rabbit in my kitchen.

DelurkingLawyer · 26/03/2022 16:25

What a cute little pair @BlueEyesWhiteDragon - so sad that someone would just abandon them, not knowing if you’d gone away for a few days or had a huge dog or anything. Think they’ve fallen on their paws with you Wink

Rodion · 26/03/2022 16:26

Keeping or rehoming is lovely, but doesn't address the fact this woman dumped some animals in a cage and you have footage of it that could potentially get her prosecuted. I'd contact the rspca regardless I think.

Hotzenplotz · 26/03/2022 16:35

The bunnies are very cute!

Steelesauce · 26/03/2022 16:36

Poor buns really shouldn't be kept in a hutch but if its all you have for now, then its better then nothing! Id report her to the police tbh. I hate how disposable rabbits seem to people, they are clever, loving things.

PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 26/03/2022 16:42

You COULD post on facebook, but without the 'naming and shaming' vibe. You could ask if anyone recognises the woman as she accidentally left two rabbits in your garden, as she clearly has the wrong address, maybe someone could let her know??

Sugarplumfairy65 · 26/03/2022 16:44

Don't bother with the rspca they are a total waste of time. A friend of mine who used to breed rabbits but still had all the hutches was asked by them to foster 30 rabbits until homes could be found for them. She was promised food for them and told that all get bills would be covered. She got Fuck all and never heard from them again. It cost her thousands in food and vets bills for them because none of them were in great shape.

WiddlinDiddling · 26/03/2022 16:45

Our local facebook group is really useful for stuff like this - we have lots of people posting about missing parcels that get found, lost toys, missing pets, found pets etc.

I guess it depends where you live and what the community is like - but here, if this was posted and it was a misunderstanding and someones put them in the wrong garden, it would be resolved quickly!
If its not an error and they are dumped again, it would be useful to rule out error and move on with rehoming the bunnies.

probablynotthesame · 26/03/2022 16:46

What's going on with missing rabbits, we found one hopping around outside our house last night, taken it in so it didn't become a foxes dinner! Trying to find its rightful owner with no luck so far...

irishfarmer · 26/03/2022 16:53

What a weird thing for someone to do! She obviously is a CF there is no way she thought they were yours and decided to return them by abandoning them in your garden!! She wanted to get rid of them and found what she thought was the easiest way possible.

I think you have gone about the FB post in a good way though. I wonder if some one will recognise them and tag her!

Evenstar · 26/03/2022 16:54

I think they will have been dumped. All the rabbit rescues for miles around here are full to bursting and impulse purchases for Easter are only going to make matters worse 😔 Please if you are able, share this image on social media, if it stops one person buying a rabbit without thinking of its needs and the long term commitment it will be worth it.

To "name and shame" her on Facebook.
TabithaTittlemouse · 26/03/2022 16:56

You have to keep them! The Easter bunnies came to you.

jytdtysrht · 26/03/2022 17:01

People are so awful. I wonder if there are kids somewhere crying for those rabbits. I actually would publicise on Facebook. (Not with the woman’s face) - I would just put if you have lost rabbits, send me a photo of them. As otherwise, someone might claim them as a gimmick for their kids Easter.

Walkingalot · 26/03/2022 17:06

I'd post it on FB. Obviously under the guise of 'surely this is a mistake - can you come and collect them'. You can't just make assumptions that they belonged to someone else and dump them. She dropped them over the gate = she made no attempt to see if OP was home/knock.
Sit back and wait for the barrage of excuses.

DogsAndGin · 26/03/2022 17:15

I put UABU because I wouldn’t even entertain communicating with this psycho. I’d take the rabbits straight to a pet rescue centre/vets, and forget the incident ever happened

Amici · 26/03/2022 17:16

Omg... That photo of 'Pot' 🤣 just stole my heart! I think you've done the right thing regarding the fb post. I know it's not been the best thing to happen but I'm so glad she dropped them off at yours and not left them in the cage in the middle of nowhere with no chance of a good outcome ❤️