6 replies to this topic

[Irishhh]

I've spent this weekend trying to save a baby bunny. My boyfriend's aunt lives next door and she has two dogs. One of them brought in this little tiny baby bunny! The aunt (who is half crippled) picked the bun up in a shovel and carried him outside. My boyfriend got him and we were trying to save him.

He seemed to be happy with us, content... and this was a good thing. We couldn't find his nest to give him back to his mom, and honestly I didn't want to. I was afraid he'd get taken by the dog again.

So we've been nursing him with kitten formula and keeping him warm and safe. This little guy was a fighter. I named him Ziggy Stardust, but unfortunately he died this morning.

I don't want to talk about that anymore.

I can't deal with life. I just can't. I have inappropriate responses to emotions. I cried all day, literally, I never stopped.. Except when I went to sleep to escape the pain.

I woke up and hoped that this was all a dream, as I often have such realistic dreams. but my eyes were sore so I realized it was real. That was heartbreaking all over again.

We buried him in the backyard with his things I got him.

He was helpless, his eyes weren't open yet and he literally could fit in the palm of even my small hand!

I am so sick from this. I don't know why I can't deal with anything. I couldn't control myself today. My boyfriend was hugging me and I couldn't stand up anymore. I slid down his body as he tried to hold me up and I feel so weak. So tired. So upset.

I knew he probably wouldn't make it, and I tried everything I could. I'm trying not to blame myself. I did the best I could. I had him for a little over 24 hours.

I don't really want anyone to write me and say they are sorry for my loss, I don't want that kind of thing. I never do. I just want to ignore this.

I just need to know how do you all deal with things??? How???

[sleepless sleeper]

Oh, baby, I am sooo sorry! That is so very hard to see something so tiny and cute suffer and then die.

About six years ago one of our cats caught a baby bunny that my husband said was probably about 2 months old. It was still alive, but in shock. I wanted to do what you and your bf did, but hubs said no. That is the way of life. He carried it a little ways away from the house, but I don't know what happened to it. I was mad as hell at him for a long time, but eventually got over it. At least you 1) know that you did what you could, 2) gave it some kind nurturing, and 3) know what happened to it.

You did the very best that you could. I think that applies to most things in life. At least try. Show compassion. Step up. Take responsibility. Unfortunately, even when we try to do the right thing, the outcome is not always what we want. It is awful, but this is all life is ever going to throw at us. Most things are a 50/50 coin toss, and the best that we can do is to always try the best that we can. Hope that makes sense.

At least we want to hear what you have to say. I'm here for ya. It is sad. Cry a bit, but then at some point, though, we have to stop. Another bunny may come along another day, but please don't let this hurt keep you from doing what you think is the right thing. Always continue with your compassion, care, concern, love, empathy, sympathy, thoughtfulness, etc. Please, don't ever stop.

[Irishhh]

Oh, baby, I am sooo sorry! That is so very hard to see something so tiny and cute suffer and then die.

About six years ago one of our cats caught a baby bunny that my husband said was probably about 2 months old. It was still alive, but in shock. I wanted to do what you and your bf did, but hubs said no. That is the way of life. He carried it a little ways away from the house, but I don't know what happened to it. I was mad as hell at him for a long time, but eventually got over it. At least you 1) know that you did what you could, 2) gave it some kind nurturing, and 3) know what happened to it.

You did the very best that you could. I think that applies to most things in life. At least try. Show compassion. Step up. Take responsibility. Unfortunately, even when we try to do the right thing, the outcome is not always what we want. It is awful, but this is all life is ever going to throw at us. Most things are a 50/50 coin toss, and the best that we can do is to always try the best that we can. Hope that makes sense.

At least we want to hear what you have to say. I'm here for ya. It is sad. Cry a bit, but then at some point, though, we have to stop. Another bunny may come along another day, but please don't let this hurt keep you from doing what you think is the right thing. Always continue with your compassion, care, concern, love, empathy, sympathy, thoughtfulness, etc. Please, don't ever stop.

Thank you so much for your kind, sweet, wonderful words. It means a lot to me. I needed the reassurance from an outside perspective. He is probably better off though. He won't have to endure the world... I am very negative about the world if you can't tell lol but I have reason to be. We all do right?

Your husband was just protecting you from what he knew would happen. I can see why you'd be mad, but also it was a good reason he took it away. My boyfriend is feeling bad for bringing me the bunny. He says I wouldn't be going through this if it weren't for him. He did the right thing though in my case. I needed to try. I love animals so much, so much more than people even!

Sigh...

Thank you! I ate today, but my body wanted to reject food. I'm still upset, still recovering. This is what I get though, for being narcoleptic, a Pisces, a female, and a redhead! lol

[dogdreams]

I couldn't eat for awhile after my dog died last year. I couldn't stand meat because I felt like I was eating her!! It was horrible and I felt so guilty. I still cry over it. I hope you feel better soon. don't feel bad about being sad. it's perfectly normal.

[greatbig47]

I just need to know how do you all deal with things??? How???

And the appropriate response would have been???

How you dealt with it was the right way...for you! I think that means you are okay. Grief can be a tough one.
It sounds like you are needlessly hard on yourself about it. We feel what we feel, and feelings are never right or wrong. They are what they are...

Time doesn't heal all wounds...It merely allows us to figure out how WE best cope. Having my family removed from my life has taught me that there are some scars that stick around forever, but they NEVER end up crippling us unless we hold on to them like a security blanket.

Allow yourself to feel okay....Allow yourself to walk towards better times...THey are there waiting for you.

[Marcianna]

Stu is absolutely right. here. He has a knack for being right...

I myself have been in your position many many times. My BF is a lawn guy and all ways bringing home baby something or another trying to save it. Usually bunnies. I too have a really hard time emotionally with just about everything. It was like reading something I would have written. kinda weird.

I seriously doubt this will help you at all, but it is something I have learned to consider especially dealing with the small tiny animal babies. Nature has a way of dealing with things that we as humans would never never do. but they dont have pediatric vets available to thier mothers readily either. It is possible that bunny was alone because mom knew something was wrong and had to let him go in favor of the others. Really harsh... I know...but it is what it is...

The great thing about it is that you guys found him and his little bunny soul did not have to leave this world feeling abandoned and alone. You still did a great and wonderful thing! try to look at is as something good that happened for him, not as a failure on your part to save him. Death is a part of life, even a beautiful part at that. We all get there eventually.

Its what we do in life to affect those around us that matters the most. What wonderful things did this bunny do? Help you spend more time with your man? bring you closer together? Maybe opened up a bit of compasion in your heart? (not that it wasn't there in the first place, but if your like me, sometimes you need a reminder nudge... This world has a way of turning me cold sometimes...) every bit of life serves a purpose even the blades of grass we walk on. Try to look for the happiness in all this. Not an easy task, not at all. but sometimes it helps.

We all handle things very diffrently, and how we greive is never wrong, (even I cried when I read this. I couldn't help it...) but it seems you and I are alot alike on this one, so I thought I would just ramble off some of the things that go through my head when I deal with ailing animals.....

[Lucestrife]

For what it's worth (and I know I'm super late to this thread) I worked for many years in a large veterinary facility that dealt with everything from bugs to zoo animals.
Baby bunnies are hands-down the most sensitive critters, and all of the vets who worked in the clinic agreed. When we got baby bunnies in, even if they were still with their mother and everyone seemed healthy, you could pretty much rest assured they wouldn't make it, no matter how well they seemed to be doing. Sometimes batches would pass the normal crisis point and the entire batch would still be gone within hours. It was always tragic, and always the case. Any disturbance just throws them off, I guess. But you shouldn't be too down on yourself. It's fantastic that you tried, and you must believe me that there's nothing more you could have done.