Say hello to Mr. Bojangles for us

[ifihadahifi]

So, we've had this wild rabbit that's been living in our yard for a several months. We'd watch it from our windows for long periods of time. It would eat Bon's flowers but we didn't care. It even burrowed in our lawn and we avoided disturbing it. Our dogs always whined when it appeared and they so badly wanted to dart out the door to go after it but we made sure that never happened. We liked the rabbit. We figured it belonged here more than we did. We were the ones that had a house built on it's habitat. So what if it ate a few $2 plants. Big deal. She eventually got used to us and wouldn't run away when we drove up or walked out the door. It would just sit there, somewhat frozen and we'd stand there and watch her until she decided we were cool and then it would go on and start munching grass or weeds or whatever.

Yesterday she was in our front yard again and we finally gave her a name and declared it our favorite wild pet (we have some frogs and lizards as wild pets as well, you see).

Thirty minutes later a neighbor kid chased it and it darted under our fence, into the backyard... where the dogs were hanging out all casual.

They cornered and caught it. They played tug of war with it and hurt it badly before I could stop them. She was still alive when I got to her but barely.

Our family slightly freaked. Bon shut the door and blinds so the kids weren't scarred for life and I stood over it and tried to figure out how I could humanely euthenize it. I didn't like the options I came up with but couldn't watch it just lie there, gasping and squeeling. Fortunately, it died within a couple of minutes and the whole nightmare of helping it into the afterlife was avoided.

Anyway, we'll miss the rabbit.

We would like to think Dalya's Mr. Bojangles and Missy are playing freeze tag under the great Bois D'arc. Later on they'll have tea or something all twee like and it'll be cool.

[jen]

now i'm sad.

[mere1975]

I am, too. I know it's all the circle of life and instinct and shit, but that doesn't mean it isn't a little heartbreaking, too.

Sorry, Hifamily.

- Mere "<3 Missy in heaven <3" 1975

[Irock]

Can my dead bunny Buster play freeze tag too?

Sorry about your rabbit.

[katie]

awwww. jason and i had a much better wildlife rescue story this weekend, i'll stop being lazy at some point and post pictures. sorry about your rabbit, jimbo.

[monet2u]

That sucks.

[squeezle]

poor bunny, poor hifi

[Dalya]

sad. that would definitely traumatize me for a few weeks. my raccoon incident haunted me for days and I didn't even see it die.

all of the baby squirrels that don't know to be afraid of cars yet are with them, too.

dal "all furry things go to heaven" ya

[ifihadahifi]

Update: A new, smaller rabbit showed up last night.

It's not nearly as brave as Missy. That might be a good thing.

And we're not ever naming this one.

[Dalya]

Rabbit version 2.0?

[ifihadahifi]

Rabbit version 2.0?

Yep. And v3.0, v3.1, v3.15, v3.7, and v4.0.

While mowing yesterday I noticed the burrow again, looked at it closer and was able to count five babies in there. I think O.G. Missy was a dude. And 2.0 is this momma because the babies are all healthy.

[Irock]

OMKK you should totally make your kids read Watership Down right now. I only read it like a year ago and it's awesome. But the movie sucked bunny butt.