This is a bit grim - dead pet rabbit body problem

[HoppityBun]

I have lived with houserabbits for many years and my last sadly died a fortnight ago. Seven of the eight rabbits that I have lived with in this property have been buried in the garden without any problem, ever. The last one, the eighth, was PTS and buried on Saturday 17 August. To my dismay, this last Friday, I found his body had been dug up and was on the lawn.. The hole I had dug, was really, really deep and I have never had this problem before. Perhaps, fortunately, his head had disappeared so I am just dealing with a body.

I put it back, covered him up covered it with more pots and whatnot and you will not be surprised to know that his body was on the lawn again today. Now, I’m not upset about this. I loved him daily but it is only a body -apologies if this offends anyone but it is what it is, in my view. The question is: what do I do now? I am absolutely not going to put him in the black bin to be taken away with the refuse on collection day. On the other hand, I am perplexed and feel a bit of an idiot.

It seems obvious that I should try a new hole somewhere else where there is no tantalising smell but the ground is very, very hard because we have had no rain for ages. I can of course get the hose out. The soil is quite sandy.

I do have an Eco liquid which is an enzyme all purpose liquid- Agriton effective microorganisms (the stuff that bokashi is made of)– I have thought of putting his body in a box and soaking it in with this stuff until it is more decomposed.

This is the first time I have had to deal with this problem, though I’ve read about pets getting dug up, which is why I dug deep- far deeper than for the others. I will not be having any more pets (too heartbreaking) so, fortunately it will be the last time I will have to deal with this. I am assuming it’s a fox doing it, or a large cat.

He was a dear rabbit - they all were- and I want his body in the garden. He’s too decomposed to hand back to the vet and ask for a cremation.

Apologies if I seem hard hearted. I’m really not.

Sorry to hear this op.

I'm wondering if maybe you could place the body in one of those plastic kitchen caddy bags if you attempt to bury it again. They are plasticky but I assume biodegradable as they are for kitchen waste?

Not sure- I think the smell will get through- he doesn’t actually smell but of course if you’re a fox or whatever you can pick it up. Thank you

Thank goodness! This one was 13 and I’ve adored each one I’ve had.

I should have thought of that before

When we had small pets that were buried in the garden my husband constructed an underground crypt out of paving slabs and with a concrete slab roof that was then covered by earth and the bird bath sat on top . When the next rat died we simply boxed them up in a little cardboard coffin , moved the bird bath , dug to the top of the crypt , took the lid off , inserted box and closed it up again . Nothing ever got dug back up by animals . This must be highly distressing @HoppityBun but in your shoes I would box up the remains and take it to the local pet crematorium and get them to cremate bunny .

Put him in a plastic bag and take him to your vets for cremation. They won’t bat an eyelid. You can even have his ashes back should you wish to scatter them in the garden

Just to say how sorry I am. We have continental giants and they are part of the family. I love rabbits and this must all be really distressing.

I think you have to dig a much deeper hole and maybe wrap him up in a thick towel.

The scent will be all over the garden now so I would also give everything a really good hose down afterwards.

Your poor bunny.

Thank you so much. He’s now reburied under 5 chopped bulbs of garlic, 7 chopped chillies, probably only medium heat and two jars of Sainsbury’s hot chilli powder, with a large packet of cayenne pepper scattered around and under 4 large pots. Funnily enough I’m not distressed, just determined to keep him in the garden. Or what’s left of him. I adore rabbits.

Thank you. Having just about come to terms with the ending of his life - the vets were wonderful- I’m doing ok. I envy you your mausoleum/ crypt. The others were buried in the garden without a problem. If the garlic and chillies don’t work I’ll take him back round to the vets.

Hoping it works @HoppityBun

Our first house/garden bunny (the spectacularly named Speedy MacReadie) was planted under a small weeping willow tree.

The next rabbit ate the tree and killed it.

It still sits in the garden with a string of fairy lights in it.

It certainly doesn’t happen like this in fairy tales does it. I mean, I’m coming to terms with the end of living with animals- for good reasons- but they just won’t go quietly.

Thank you so much. He’s now reburied under 5 chopped bulbs of garlic, 7 chopped chillies, probably only medium heat and two jars of Sainsbury’s hot chilli powder, with a large packet of cayenne pepper scattered around and under 4 large pots. Funnily enough I’m not distressed, just determined to keep him in the garden. Or what’s left of him. I adore rabbits.

Here's hoping Mr or Mrs Fox isn't a fan of highly seasoned rabbit.

I took my beloved house rabbit, Buffy, to a local 'rewilded' nature reserve, to be with the wild rabbits. My husband is a ground worker, so he dug the hole really, really deep, and dragged a large rock, and put it on top of her
She's still there, 20 years on.

Occasionally, I wonder what passers by thought we were up to, with the box and the spade!