Dreading dd coming home as I have to tell her that the foxes killed our rabbit and guinea pig. Help please

[cruisemum1]

Dd age 9 is gonna be devastated beyond belief. We have lost a rabbit before this way so are always extra careful about securing hutch. But the b***ds got in somehow and took the guinea pig too. I know I have to tell her after school but I feel sick to the pit of my stomach at the thought. Any experience of this anyone?

Anyone??? Please?????

Oh dear, how awful.

I have no experience, but I guess it's either calm and factual and head-on - or just lie and say they escaped and have run off...

How did they get in? was it through the wire, or by jumping at the catches, or digging?

dont tell her the foxes got them. Say they both fell asleep and didnt wake up.

Have you got the remains / evidence?

I'd lie, to be honest.

we have lost rabbirs and chickens in the past to foxs. upsetting for ds but he was not too distressed. we told him that foxes have cubs to feed at this time of year and that they can be very hungry. this seemed to help him. all part of life and good learning when pets die though not nice. hope she is ok. have a burial/ memorial service?

God! I am so dreading this. I don't know how they got in but the top of the hutch (it is a huge double level hutch with a big run at the bottom), was open wide. The rabbit was on the lawn. In fact my dh saw the fox carrying him in its mouth while he was shaving this morning. The guinea pig was no where to be found

Please be honest with her. If she is told they have legged it she will be forever combing the garden to see if they've returned (I did when told something similar about my pet mice) and I think she is too old to buy the fell asleep idea.
I am so sorry cruisemum - I hate urban foxes with a passion and all they can do to us is squit all over our patio.

Id lie too, just tell her they escaped.

(rabbits and foxes am a typing moron)

You could tell her they ran off - ours did and ds wasn't too upset. Turned up luckily. Would having another rabbit for when she comes home from school help?

I can't lie, she will question me and question me until she ties me in knots! When we told her about the last rabbit (which the foxes got the day my ds was born 9 months ago) she screamed and ranted. I don't mind the screaming and ranting but she got extremely upset and it was awful on what should have been such a happy day.

Yes, I think marina is right, really, about telling the truth. She is old enough to know that they wouldn't survive 10 mins in the wild, anyway. But might it be possible that the GP legged it when the hutch was opened? Have a good look under all p[lants etc.

Is it one of those hutches that has a polastic 'heart shaped' catch that turns round to keep the door shut? Because I think a fox could easily knock the catch round with it's paws up against the hutch.

Tell her that your DH saw it happen and that you know he rabbit died instantly and was not in any pain and didn't suffer fright because it was so fast.

i guess i have to tell her the truth and bear the consequences. Shit, motherhood has some really crappy bits.

I would tell her they are dead, just not the circumstances surronding their demise. I would dig up a small 'grave' (not necessarily burying rabbit in case fox digs up again) and then your dd can put a small plant there perhaps? If she asks why/how they died say they must have gotton sick.

blu - never thought of that. The GP could be hiding.

blu - like the suggestion of telling her rabbit didnt suffer. dunno what to say about guinea pig. If i tell her she ran off then she will forever being scouring the garden for her. Oh Crap

Does the bottom run sit on the grass, rather than having a floor? because foxes also do their best to tip those hutches over - peg it down with firm tent pegs, or cables or something.

I have replaced the catches on our run with proper bolts, and a Karibiner type catch.

Create Rabbit Colditz and then take her to choose new ones?

Bloody urban foxes.

blu -the bottom run is on patio stones but they go on grass in their portable run most days (or rather they did ). I am soooo ni a quandry about replacing them too.

She is soo happy when I get her from school - just dreading crushing her with this s*t news

How did it go?

it was awful. i told her the truth, that the foxes got the rabbit but the guinea pig ran away. she was devastated but recovered quite quickly. she was 'up and down' all evening. Part of life i guess.

thanks for asking

glad she hads recovered. I think as adults we feel more nervous but kids are quite resiliant. I guess in a way pets prepare us as children for some of the stuff in adult life.

It happened to me when I was little.
Named my DS1 after the guinea pig that was eaten by foxes!