i need to know.

Question
QUESTION: Hiya, in august , my neighbors dog got into my garden it jumped on there
trampoline and over the fence, w told them about it but they didnt listen n i
forgot all about that so i let her out then ..... the dog got ova and chased and
chased 1 of my rabbits, daisy, the dog wudnt stop then i notced it, we went
outside put he dog bk over the fence and told them what happened,
i put her and one of my other rabbits that lives wiv daisy (daisy lives with her
mum, cola) and a fw hrs later, daisy still had not moved , she was in shock,
me n my mum bought her inside put her in a basket with a blanket, food, and
water, n hay, but she wudnt eat or drink, so i put some water on her hed to
cool her down, but she got up hopped a few steps and fell over, we thought it
was her paw, so we took her to the vet, they had to keep her a few days, they
sying fed her, pain r elief, antbiotics, it wasnt her paw, she was traumaised!!
and we were going to visit hr to see how she was, and i got up early n got my
mum to come downstairs n then she told me that the vet said that she passed
away at half 6 in  the morning, =[ =[.
i didnt want to leave her there so we burried her in the garden.
she was only a year and 3months old, she was a twin sister, daughter, and
mother, n pet.
She is a rex x french lop .
i miss her!
would keeping her at home could have done any difference and made her
come out of shock?
I keep wishing it was all a bad dream, a mistake, that it wasnt true, i wish i
could have said goodbye to her, instead of 2 days before, i love her!
could i have done anything to make her better?
what could i have done!
i miss her!

ANSWER: First I want to apologize for your loss, and I suggest that you call your local humane society or animal control officer and inform them about what happened.  Your neighbors should also be notified that if their dog gets out of their yard again, you will be calling the animal control officer to pick it up.  Your neighbors are responsible for their dog, especially if it is outside of their property.  And because you guys do have a fence between your properties, and the dog came onto your property and caused you harm you should really talk to someone in your community about what happened.

As for your rabbit there is nothing you could have done, if she was in that kind of state when you took her to the vets office, then she probably would have not made it had you kept her home.

Being at the vets was the best thing for her as they are more prepared and educated on how to handle a situation like that.

I also suggest you keep your other rabbits in a secure enclosure (not just in your yard) until your neighbors take responsability for their animal, and make it where he can not get out of their yard.

GOod Luck
Amy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you.
but they don;t have that dog anymore, so it wont happen again.
but i miss her, i don't want to forget her, but what shall i do, i can't get over
it, it happened in aug n its now oct.
do you have rabbits?
what should i do for winter?
at the moment my rabbits are in my garden in there hutches, with a big
plastic cother over them to keep rain off and the draft, and i give them extra
straw and hay, and sometimes give them dishes with boiled water in (not to
hot) but will this be enough, i hve a shed that i coul keep them in, when
would it be best to move them into it, if that is needed?
thank you.
Bexx.xx

Answer
It sounds as if the rabbits have a pretty nice set up as it is, if they are provided a nesting place (almost fully enclosed) then they can stay outside however  if you do want to move them to the shed, I suggest doing it in the next month or so, that way you are sure to get them in before the bad weather starts.

I do think the boiled water is a bit much however, if you provide fresh clean, room temp water in the winter that is actually the best for them, it is not so warm as to cause problems but is not cold (so it won't lower their body temp either)and the rabbits prefer a room temp water over hot. (at least mine do)

And yes I have rabbits, right now I have 1 house rabbit, 2 breeding bucks, and 5 breeder does, (one with 6 kits atm) they all live in my garage, atm, and we are working on walling off one side of it just for them.

As for your grief I suggest googling an animal loss support group. Loosing a loved one both human and furry can take time to get over, having others to talk to about it will help.

Good Luck
Amy