My other old lady rabbit died this morning

[kimi]

I'd posted several weeks ago that her life-long companion had died, and I was worried about her cause I thought she'd miss the company. And I tried to compensate, brought her upstairs into the kitchen, with cats wandering in and out all day, and she got interested in them, and I'd let her run around and all. A few of the cats would even go up to her and clean her face, and she was always ready to hop up to them, slowly, cause she was about 11 years old, you could tell she was arthritic. But she liked the company. I took pictures of her last night right up against one of the cats, both of them pretty content with each other.

In the end, my son says - he was there with her - he came upstairs this morning, and she was in her little hutch lying down, and having trouble breathing, and he didn't want to wake me up and upset me. So he stayed with her and petted her while she left. He's truly sorry, and I'm just having more difficulty with it than I thought I would. I knew it would happen - I'm not delusional - but it still hurts. We'll take her to the "family" pet crematorium tomorrow (heck, they know us so well there, that when I took the other bunny in a few weeks ago, the lady there could tell me which urns I'd already picked out for all the other cats and rabbits I've brought in through the years.)

Eh, just wanted to get it off my mind. Like I say, it's hitting me more than I thought. You're just never totally prepared, ya know? Thanks for listening.

[Call Me Wesley]

1. Safe passage to your rabbit.

May she be free from suffering. Peace and comfort to you and yours, kimi.

[kimi]

4. Thanks, I appreciate that.

You know, she was just a little old rabbit. But I took care of her and loved her since I first got her at the Montgomery County Fair over 10 years ago. She was always a feisty little thing, a gorgeous orange colored Jersey Woolly, the most beautiful bunny I'd ever seen. I hadn't even planned to get a rabbit that day, was planning on getting buns for the 4 boys, but I just saw her and fell in love.

The boy who helped her pass is now a man, really, and he was the one who named her. Ah, all these memories. So much time has passed, so many family changes. I'm rambling, but I guess it's my way to honor the old girl. She was so much more than a bunny to me.

Thanks again.

[alphafemale]

2. I'm really sorry.

It sounds like you gave her a really great life though. I'm guessing 11 years is a long sweet ride for a bunny.

[kimi]

5. Thank you, I like to think so

I always have these thoughts afterwards - what could I have done differently?? Would she have made it another day if I'd petted her longer, gave her more attention??

When all the bunnies were outside - and at one point, due to ignorance on our part, we ended up with 11 from the original 5 - they were housed outside, and it was brutal trying to clean those hutches every day in all kinds of Maryland weather, I'll tell ya. Snowstorms, thunderstorms, humidity . . . sheesh. Anyway, I wondered how long they'd live. I still have one of the originals, he's going on 12 now, I believe, and another is about 4. They'll get some extra pats tonight.

[HopeHoops]

3. Ours is 5 1/2 (and an outdoor species mutant) - I wonder every morning if I'll find him alive.

And when I say "him", that's just the euphemism we use. He's a hermaphrodite. He also has had breathing problems since he was a kit. There's no way in hell he would have lived if we had left him outside, but he's a wonderful pet and a total cuddle. Five years is getting on in age for his kin even in the best of physical condition. I can seriously empathize with you. I'll feel the same when he passes on to that great dandylion field in the sky.

[kimi]

6. Never thought about it that way

the great dandylion field in the sky. Yes, my old girl will be enjoying that now with her old friend.

That gives comfort.

Thank you. Best to your guy. Sounds like he's living the high life, good for you and him!

[Arugula Latte]

11. We took in a dumped bunny 5 1/2 years ago.

I don't know how old he is. But, if given good care, can't indoor rabbits live to be 12 or 14 or more, like kitties?

[kimi]

14. I'd always heard 8 or so years

But that was for outdoor bunnies.

Honestly, I never thought I'd bring in a brood indoors. It just got too much to take care of them outside. The weather, the cold, the heat, and that was on them, not me. I'd put up heaters in the winter, running extension cords out the windows, and fans in the summer. Put out frozen bottles in the summer if I didn't shuttle them in and out of the house. And then rats started showing up. THAT was seriously bad. They had to come in then, and that was the start of the Rabbit Retirement Home.

Now I have 2 left. It makes me sad, but I'll do my best to make their days good. They're good vigorous old guys though, full of character.

[Demoiselle]

7. I'm getting that burning watery feeling in my eyes.

Love to you and your whole family.

[kimi]

15. Thank you, that's sweet of you.

I've had that burning watery feeling in my eyes all day. Just trying to hold it together for my boy, then later tonight I'll break down, I know.

Thanks for the support. I appreciate the DU family at times like these, I really do.

[stuntcat]

8. she had a great life

That sounds SOOO sweet, the picture last night.

She was very lucky to be in your care :hug:

[kimi]

19. Thanks, I appreciate your words.

I'm going to treasure those pictures always, I had no idea that they'd be my last chance to have that opportunity. It only struck me late this afternoon that I'd taken them. And so, I'm grateful. She seemed alright, so I had no idea that she'd be gone today.

Sometimes an impulse is inspired, I guess.

[blogslut]

9. Farewell to your friend

It sounds like she had a sweet and loving life.

[kimi]

16. Thanks, I like to think so.

And I appreciate your saying so. Thank you.

[DainBramaged]

10. You done good, 11 years for them is amazing

they are back together again running in clover, know that.....


:hug:

[kimi]

17. That thought does give me comfort

She and her friend were so close. They were so sweet together, and she was really - I think, confused - when her friend died. She got kind of close to the cats, but it wasn't the same, I think. I like the thought that they are together again.

Thanks, the mental image is a comfort.

[DainBramaged]

24. I try to think of all of my furbabies running together waiting for me

it's going to be some pack.


:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

12. one is never prepared, kimi

I am so very sorry. :cry:

[kimi]

18. Thank you

You've known pet loss too, I know. And yes, we're never prepared.

Still, the hurt . . . eh, I'd think I'd get kind of used to it. Everytime I go to the crematorium I blubber, though. Tomorrow will be a long day. Thanks for your words.

[Arugula Latte]

13. As a fellow "bun" owner, I'm sorry.

I've got three cats and one rabbit. I never thought I'd have a bunny, but he showed up in our yard one day years ago and I didn't want the coyotes to eat him. He's a little all-black guy, and very sweet.

:hug:

[kimi]

20. He's a lucky guy.

The coyotes, not so much. But they get lucky in other ways. Your guy, he's found his place. Thank you.

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. I'm so very sorry for your heartache, but _I_ take comfort in knowing she was well-loved. *hugs*

[kimi]

34. Thanks

That does help. I like to think that I loved her well.

[MiddleFingerMom]

22. I'm sorry, kimi... I know something of what you're feeling.

.
.
.
I think it's a natural tendency of nicer people to think what
MORE they could have done... when, in fact, they did much
more than regular folks would have done. Sounds like this
is so in your case.
.
Her life sounds like it was MUCH better than it would have
been with virtually anyone else.
.
It will get better. Extra time with your other animals sounds
like an EXCELLENT idea for all involved.
.
.
.

[kimi]

35. You know

Your reply means a lot to me. I'm narcissistic enough to want to think I'm nicer than regular folks! (Kinda laughing here.)

I appreciate what you've said, and thank you so much for just saying what you did.

[applegrove]

23. Sorry.

[kimi]

29. Thank you

It's been a long night. Getting ready to go to the crematorium this morning. A sad and familiar journey.

[InvisibleTouch]

25. Sorry to hear this. :/

It's always hard to lose a family member. I think of her as being together again with her companion. It's not uncommon among two bonded beings, that when one dies, the second decides to follow soon afterward.

[kimi]

30. You know, I've observed this

My grandparents-in-law, they passed away within weeks of each other. The surviving one could probably have lived on for years but just didn't seem to have the will. I'm not sure I totally understand that, not having ever loved someone that completely, but I understand it. I can completely see it in an animal, though, after seeing the devotion my bunnies had to each other. It's why I was so worried after the one passed and the other was left behind.

I wanted to think that I could help fulfill her life with cats and all, but I knew deep down that she needed her bunny friend.

edit for clarity

[emilyg]

26. I am so sorry for your loss.

[kimi]

31. Thank you.

I'm feeling it more and more now that the day is dawning and I know we are leaving for the crematorium shortly. It's been a long night.

[orleans]

27. how wonderful she had you. and your son.

what is her name?

[kimi]

32. Her name was Honey Bunny

My son, who was with her when she passed, named her. He hadn't remembered that till I told him yesterday. He had actually carved it into her hutch outside, above the door, when we kept the buns outside.

She was the color of honey, really, which is why he named her that, the color of my now departed Heidi cat, a cream tabby, sort of orangy-creamy. An off-color, really, for Jersey Woolly bunnies at the time that she was judged at the Montgomery County Fair, but she still won a ribbon. Back right before Sept 11th, and she was already over a year old then.

Eh, thanks for letting me get these memories out. It helps.

[Skittles]

28. "So he stayed with her and petted her while she left"

you've got a good son there, kimi

:cry:


Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you.....
I loved you so --
'twas Heaven here with you.

--by Ilsa Paschal Richardson

[kimi]

33. Yes, he's a good boy

He knew I'd be too hurt to watch her pass. He's been hovering over me since she left.

He's had his own share of hurt in his lifetime, but that's not my place to tell.

I'm incredibly blessed in my kids. Don't know why, haven't done anything special to deserve em, but they showed up anyway. :)

[xchrom]

36. for your good and faithful companion

Dear God, protect and bless all beings that breathe, keep all evil from them, and let them sleep in peace. Amen.

--Albert Schweitzer, "
Memoirs of Childhood and Youth

"

[kimi]

37. Thank you

Words I needed to read/hear tonight/this morning. Seriously.