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Hanging on to bad news
It's been a very hard few weeks here and for so many of us, so I've been trying to focus on the funny adventures of pig-keeping. Nothing of terrible import, though. So feel free to skip over this to protect your own happy mood.
Last weekend, two of the neighborhood girls came over with treats for the bunnies. I believe it was the younger one, given the older one seems more interested in the poultry. I came home to find several dog bowls from the back porch in Freckle's pen filled with poisonous plants (eucalyptus and oleander) leaves and Freckles dead. *sigh* Freckles was the most trusting bunny we've had and I have no doubt she trusted these girls to give her safe treats to eat. I spoke to the girls and was very strict with them. No moving anything, no feeding the critters unless I'd given it to them myself. And no leaving the younger one alone. I should not have wasted my breath.
Later this week, their mother drove them over and dropped them off in my driveway. I checked to make sure there wasn't any treats hidden away and let them back, reiterating that the older one had to supervise the younger girl. To be sure, I stayed out there finishing up some of the farm chores and while I was out there I witnessed the younger girl stomp on one of the rabbits. I think she was trying to hold him in place so he couldn't run away from her. I yelled at her to stop, jumped the fence, grabbed her and carried her right out of the yard and all but dropped her on the street side of the fence. The little one kept lying about stomping on the rabbit and I called her out for it. I told them both that they were no longer welcome to come over and that should the other rabbit be hurt, I'd be reporting it to Animal Control. The rabbit was fine, wasn't even upset, thankfully. They haven't been back. I don't expect they will. I've a fine Irish temper and can lecture with the best of them, especially when I'm righteously angry.
Meanwhile, I'm buying two sturdy padlocks for the fence gates. *sigh*
Last weekend, two of the neighborhood girls came over with treats for the bunnies. I believe it was the younger one, given the older one seems more interested in the poultry. I came home to find several dog bowls from the back porch in Freckle's pen filled with poisonous plants (eucalyptus and oleander) leaves and Freckles dead. *sigh* Freckles was the most trusting bunny we've had and I have no doubt she trusted these girls to give her safe treats to eat. I spoke to the girls and was very strict with them. No moving anything, no feeding the critters unless I'd given it to them myself. And no leaving the younger one alone. I should not have wasted my breath.
Later this week, their mother drove them over and dropped them off in my driveway. I checked to make sure there wasn't any treats hidden away and let them back, reiterating that the older one had to supervise the younger girl. To be sure, I stayed out there finishing up some of the farm chores and while I was out there I witnessed the younger girl stomp on one of the rabbits. I think she was trying to hold him in place so he couldn't run away from her. I yelled at her to stop, jumped the fence, grabbed her and carried her right out of the yard and all but dropped her on the street side of the fence. The little one kept lying about stomping on the rabbit and I called her out for it. I told them both that they were no longer welcome to come over and that should the other rabbit be hurt, I'd be reporting it to Animal Control. The rabbit was fine, wasn't even upset, thankfully. They haven't been back. I don't expect they will. I've a fine Irish temper and can lecture with the best of them, especially when I'm righteously angry.
Meanwhile, I'm buying two sturdy padlocks for the fence gates. *sigh*
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that is really concerning.
I'm also very sorry for the loss of your bunny. So sad :(
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ETA: I'm moving into a home with a house rabbit, and feel constantly terrified that I'm going to accidentally do (or not do) something that ends up killing her. ::sigh::
Thank you
Houserabbit.org has several lists of healthy veggies and fruits, to keep things safe.
The next biggest thing is to make sure bunny doesn't get smooshed. Know where bunny is when you move, stand up and sit down. Watch any furniture that moves - i.e. loungers, etc.
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Which it turned out to be - for me. :(
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How old is the youngest?
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I'm thinking the youngest is likely 5 or 6 and the older kid maybe 10ish?
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No way to fix that, so no entry. I feel like the Gatekeeper in the Wizard of Oz.
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It makes me sad - that you've lost one of your rabbits, and also that children are growing up obviously not knowing how their actions affect other living things. *HUGS*
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Sounds like the mother was using you for free babysitting.
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I hope that these girls learn that their behavior has consequences.
*sigh*
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She was so sweet.
I'm so heartbroken right now. Tears are honestly streaming down my face. I am glad the other bunny is ok, though.
Just know that Clover, Pig and I are thinking of Freckles. She deserved better than that. She was a good bunny.
It makes me so mad that the girl did that. It makes me furious. She needs to be taught a serious lesson. Is there nothing more serious you can do? Doing something like that to a living creature is not ok. I'm so full of anger and sadness right now. I don't know how to process what's going on in my head.