Saturday 11 May 2013

A Good Rabbit

For Big Sis it was love at first sight. Not for her the cuddly lop eared bunnies coveted by other girls her age - she looked at his apple shaped head and  spriggy ears and declared 'this is Ned and he's got character!'


Character he certainly did have but financial awareness - no! In his early years he and his pal Fudge (a gorgeous lop eared blonde belonging to Little Sis) were allowed to roam around our supposedly rabbit proofed house. I can't even begin to list the amount of electrical appliances that were 'disabled' but let's just say the damage ran in to hundreds of pounds. After a particularly naughty stint with the fridge freezer it was decided that it would be safer, and certainly cheaper, for them to live outside. At night they retired to their hutch but during the day they lolloped and binkied ( a particularly lovely leap that you would usually associate with young lambs) around the garden. Fudge passed away several years ago now but Ned never seemed lonely. He continued to binky and sunbathe in plant pots. He shared his apples and pears with the blackbird and was fascinated by the clutch of ducklings that hatched in our fern last year. He was very sociable and would love to stretch out in the sun alongside Jessie Dog, or wander up and sit on his hind legs, meerkat style, waiting to be picked up for a tickle.


Last week we noticed a slight change. Mr K would often return from walking Jessie Dog with some lovely large dandelion leaves from the towpath. But Ned wasn't interested. He seemed a little tired and kept his normally alert ears flat on his back. We tucked him up in a duvet and took him to the vet. He returned with some antibiotics and the prognosis that it was probably some form of infection. But we knew. Strangely Big Sis was home from university for one night and she sat with him on her lap, stroking him for at least an hour. It was sheer coincidence that she was able to spend this time with him as the next day he was gone. Although we knew it wouldn't be long I think it has hit us all a little harder than we expected. He was part of our family for eight years and saw Big Sis develop from a schoolgirl into a bright young woman. He now lies alongside Fudge under the plum tree at the top of the garden and I can only hope that somewhere they are binkying around a field full of dandelions and primroses.

Farewell Ned - you were a good rabbit.


xxxxx

26 comments :

  1. OOOH noooo....

    How ever he did live to a lovely age...and so glad big sis was home for him...I am so sorry...I am now off to find my tissues.

    We lost humphrey the hamster last week...not he same as an eight year old family 'member'...

    give our love to big sis, (thats what got to me in this post another bit of childhood ties gone...)
    they grow so fast...

    love to you too

    daisy j xxx

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  2. Ah, a lovely tale. It's always sad to lose an animal pal; our Sam a springer spaniel lived with and loved us for 14 years, and waited til our younger son had left home to join the Marines before he gave up the ghost. Still missed 20 odd years later.

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  3. it is always sad to lose a beloved pet (pass the tissues) they do become part of the family. One consolation is he got a cuddle off Big Sis before he went, and he had a long and happy life for a rabbit.
    xxx

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  4. Aaaaaah, poor Ned. He was a beauty.

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  5. Oh so sad, poor, poor Ned, but he lived a wonderful life that is for sure.
    Hugs to all of you,
    Meredith

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  6. Ahh bless him he looked such a sweetie, beautiful eyes
    sounds like he had a happy life, and he has left you with some lovely memories
    Thinking of you and your family
    Thea x

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  7. What a lovely rabbit he was and you will all miss him very much, it is hard to say goodbye to a pet as they are part of your family. Take carex

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  8. Sounds like these Rabbits had the best of lives. I never forget that my Grandmother once told a tiny me that the biggest problem with pets is that they do not last as long as we do. Quality of life really matters. So sorry for the emptiness you now feel at the loss of Ned. He was a handsome lad. Animals who are loved often manage to spend some time with their human friends before they pass, and this leaves us with the best memories. Minerva xx

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  9. What a long and happiness-filled life Ned lived, though this must make the parting even harder. You'll look at your plum tree and smile at the thought of your binkying bunnies very soon, but for now it must be sad.
    x

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  10. Poor Ned. It sounds as if he was a lovely and very well loved character.
    M x

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  11. Oh, you poor things. I'm so sorry. But it sounds like Ned had a very happy life and was much loved. What a sweet post.

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  12. So sorry to hear of Ned's demise. He sounds like a right character and had a great life where he was loved and cherished.
    Thanks for becoming a follower of mine. I will try and reciprocate but with all my Blogger problems it may not happen but I will keep dropping by!

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  13. Oh, I'm so sorry. Losing a pet is always so hard. Hugs to all of you. :o(

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  14. It sounds like a little rabbit couldn't have had a happier life ... love the name Ned ;) Wendy

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  15. So sad Jane. Pets are always hard to say goodbye to and it always strikes me that we know when something is wrong. Take care. Chel x ((hugs))

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  16. Ned had a good life with you ... so hard when they go :(

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  17. Aaaaaawww, Ned was adorable. So sad but he lived a good long life. Our rabbit went the way of the fox last year. The first and only time he managed to dig his way out of the garden and the fox got him. Bloody fox. Xx

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  18. ~ Awwww, I am soooo sorry that dear, Ned's day is over, but am so happy for the life he lead with you! ~ such a bonny face!~ Ned's story brought back memories of our,' Thumper', so named by the children when small.. She was free to roam and play with our many cats and incidentally ruled the roost! She had a lovely life and I wish all animals could be loved like this....She is buried under her favourite sunny spot now on our forecourt....~ Thank you for Ned's story, I am sure he is happy again with Fudge, doing all the things rabbits enjoy including a little mischief! ~ With kind thoughts...Maria x

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  19. Sorry to hear about Ned. It sounds like you gave him a wonderful full life. x

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  20. Oh that's such a sad story. The hardest thing about having pets is when they pass away. It sounds like he made himself a big part of the family and made you all very happy when he did. So sorry for you all.
    Rosie xx

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  21. It's so sad when pets pass away. Sounds like he had a lovely life though and lived to a good age. xx

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  22. How sad. It's horrible to loose these little creatures in our lives. Warm wishes xo

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  23. Oh, I am SO sorry. Goodbye lovely Ned. Enjoy playtime in bunny heaven....

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  24. That is a lovely tribute to Ned. He obviously lived a good life and was loved. Hugs and blessings, Tammy (P.S. I talk to animals, too :)

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  25. Hello Jane, again I am so sorry for your loss. Just wanted to post again to say that you asked how you could subscribe/follow my blog and offcourse I have left you a message there. You can follow by email if youre not doing the bloglovin thing. Hopefully see you soon. xo

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