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Original poster

We buried our rabbit this morning..............(fox involved)

14 replies

Aero · 07/11/2004 11:06

.........and are all feeling pretty sad.
Damn fox killed him last night and we got there to late to be able to do anything for him - dh went out to put him in his hutch as usual (he had a run with a fairly high fence, but somehow a see-saw toy got left next to the fence so he would have been able to climb in over it) and found him already dead and the fox taking off over the fence. I guess he got there in time to limit the damage, but the b***d had got his lovely lop ear already and it was horrible and we both felt very upset.
The children are very sad but have dealt with it better than I expected and both drew pictures to bury with him then helped with the 'funeral'. All very touching, but so sad. Feel no sympathy towards foxes whatsoever at the moment!

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Rowlers · 07/11/2004 11:11

How horrid. I hate foxes, bloody nuisances. They shit everywhere, wander around bold as brass in the middle of the day and kill our little bunnies. Wish they'd sod off back to the countryside and be chased by hounds

Twiglett · 07/11/2004 11:19

sorry .. read the title and had immediate visions of fox doing the burial service

Freckle · 07/11/2004 11:34

We lost a rabbit to a fox. Rabbit was in run (not open), but fox dug at edge of run, managed to flip it up and unfortunately it came down on the edge of rabbit's food bowl (not sure fox could have got him out otherwise). All that was left was a lot of fur all over the garden and one lop ear . We told the children that some friends had come by and Mr. Bing Bang (our rabbit) had decided to go with them because he would be less lonely that way.

We have put chicken wire on the underneath of that particular run, so if a fox tries the same trick it hasn't a hope of actually getting at the animal inside.

Horrible to have to deal with it, though, Aero. Hope children aren't too upset. Mine seem to bounce back from these things very quickly and a new pet soon distracts them.

Original poster

Aero · 07/11/2004 11:39

Put that in the title as a kind of warning for faint-hearted mners! Didn't want to be too graphic in the title, but on re-readng it, it is rather funny. First thing that's made me smile this morning.[half-hearted smile emoticon] He wasn't the friendliest of creatures, but he didn't deserve to come to such a horrible end and we'd taken precautions to make it difficult for a fox to get in, yet not wanting the rabbit to be cooped up all the time as he was rather a big bunny. It was just unfortunate that the see-saw got left where it did - one of the kids probably put it there out of the way so they could play football and neither of us had noticed it. Feel very bad about that.

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PuffTheMagicDragon · 07/11/2004 11:43

Oh crikey, this has made me cry . So sorry about your bunny.

Dh and I had a long talk about whether we would get another pet after our cat died last year. We both agreed that we can't cope with the grief, so however much we are nagged for pets by ds1 and 2 in future we are determined to stand firm. No more pets. It makes me sad, because I love animals but losing them is so awful. We thought we might "adopt a donkey" through a donkey sanctuary, then the children could visit the donkey but we don't have to sit crying for weeks on end after the death of a beloved animal that has become an intrinsic part of our family. I know there's a view which says the death of pets helps children understand loss and grief, but me and dh aren't brave enough to take on another pet.

Original poster

Aero · 07/11/2004 11:45

Thanks Freckle - have to say we were very glad of the cats last night and gave them an extra cuddle. Weird how they seemed to know something was wrong. It was the missing ear that really upset me though and the fact that if we'd gone out to put him to bed a little earlier...........you know. Neither of us could have forseen it happening, but can't help feeling bad - he must have been terrified and that's most upsetting.

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Original poster

Aero · 07/11/2004 11:53

Thanks Puff - the kids have been ok, but I think it will be worse when the cats go (though hopefully that is years off) as the cats are very friendly and are more part of our household than the rabbit - I suppose it's a good introduction to loss and grief in a way, but very hard to explain that he can't come back to 4yo dd. She knows the facts and has helped bury him, but doesn't quite understand the finality of it all.
Don't think it would put me of having another pet though, but the cats are enough to be going on with.

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Freckle · 07/11/2004 12:37

Oh that was it for me, too. I couldn't stop thinking about how appallingly terrified he must have been and what a dreadful death he'd had. He was a lovely bunny too.

Original poster

Aero · 07/11/2004 13:45

Ours was too - beautiful, despite not being such a friendly pet. Didn't mind being stroked, but on his own terms or if food was being handed out! Hated being picked up though.
Just about to go out and clean out the hutch. Will probably have to chuck it as I can't imagine anyone else would want it. Will be weird to look out and for it not to be there though.

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Original poster

Aero · 07/11/2004 20:58

Couldn't face the hutch after all! Got there and saw the bloody patch on the ground and bailed out. Hadn't seemed so bad in the dark last night. Having gone pretty much all day with no-one being too badly upset, dd suddenly got very tearful this evening about 'Alfie' and desperately wants him back! Have managed to settle her now, but as if we weren't having a bad enough day, I discovered she had about thirty headlice after her bath! Yuk, yuk, yuk. She has a headful of brown curls so took ages to sort her out! Not our weekend really.

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Dingle · 07/11/2004 21:04

Oh Aero, so sorry to hear your sad news. Same thing happened to a friend up the road last week,it amazed me how her ds dealt with it all!
Glad you had the cats to cuddle!
Hugs, Dingle.

Original poster

Aero · 07/11/2004 21:07

Thanks Dingle. It was horrid and we weren't able to tell the kids what really happened. We just said the fox frightened him so badly that his heart stopped working. Don't think they could have coped with the truth, esp dd.
How are you and yours btw?

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Dingle · 07/11/2004 21:18

On a bit of a low ATM, dd started mainstrean=m nursery,not sure I've made the right choice for her. Have been busy with hospital appointments,,etc,but things have slowed down now.
(see orthotics thread in SN!)
And to top it all both mine and DH's nans in hospital, my nan died yesterday and DH's nan has been given a week to live. So it's really hard for us ATM. Slightest thing seems to be getting to me. Sorry to sound so low-it's really not what you need right now either.
Perhaps we could get together again soon, have given Cadbury some dates that might suit.

Original poster

Aero · 07/11/2004 22:54

So sorry to hear your news Dingle. Must admit I hadn't read that thread in SN - will do now though. Mum rang so have been away from mn for 1.5 hours so have just read your post now. It's hard losing Grandparents - esp if you were close to them. Much sympathy to you and dh - doesn't sound good for his nan either!
Would be lovely to meet again. Am off to N Ireland this week to visit parents, but would be good to meet up sometime after that. Am seeing Cadders tomorrow, so will ask her about dates.
Hugs to you too.

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