Goodbye, Tish

[poliphilo]

We got up this morning to find one of our rabbits dead:  the younger one- Tish.  She was lying on the floor- stretched out- with Tosh watching over her. She'd shown no sign of failing- she'd always been a lazy old thing- so I suppose she'd had a heart attack. I wrapped her in a pillow case and buried her in the backyard. 

Then I fed the birds.

We got Tosh to keep Joe amused. That's nearly six years ago now. He'd been saying he wanted a pet and was threatening to get a snake which didn't appeal to us very much (all those dead mice in the freezer) so we compromised with a rabbit and a guinea pig. The guinea pig was a mistake- Tosh just bullied it- and we swapped it for a second rabbit- an older rabbit that didn't live long. Tosh has now outlived three "wives".  We won't be supplying him with another. He's an elderly gentleman in rabbit terms- and when he goes we'll be winding up our rabbit-keeping days. 

Comments

[craftyailz.livejournal.com]

The weird thing was that Tish was a dwarf lop eared rabbit. When we got her we thought it meant that she would be small - it didn't it meant that her ears would be small, ie that she wouldn't have to drag them around the floor. When we found her this morning her ears were in the 'proper' position for a rabbit, upright. Poor Tosh we're going to have to spend more time with him - he's always been more friendly than any of his lady friends.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

My condolences to you both.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

What is Tosh doing to his wives?? Sorry she's gone, but it sounds like a quick and peaceful end.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes. It looked as if she'd just keeled over.

She was about four- not actually a bad age for a rabbit.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear this, but as huskyteer says, I'm glad that Tish doesn't seem to have suffered before she went. Poor old Tosh being left on his own - but I'm sure you'll both do a grand job of keeping him occupied, as craftyailz says above. :-)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He's clearly unhappy. Last time I saw him he was sitting all hunched up in the place where she died. We'll have to give him lots of extra attention.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Poor thing. Animals very definitely know when a companion is ill, or vanishes from their world - I've seen it with cats and guinea pigs too. He will forget before long, but you're right - he definitely needs cuddles in the meantime.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

They do.

Rabbits are social animals- used to living in large groups. I feel a little bad about not supplying him with a new companion, but we have to break the chain at some point.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Poor Tosh! It sounds as though Tish met a peaceful end though.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Peaceful and very quick by all appearances.

[oakmouse]

So sorry to hear this! It's nice that she went peacefully, though. Poor Tosh! Condolences to you all...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Animals grieve. That much I know having seen it in my dogs time and time again. And they can make themselves ill from the grief.

I'm so sorry to hear about Tish. And I know Tosh will appreciate the extra attention from you. Poor old boy.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes.

He'll miss her. Rabbits are social animals and need company. I hope we'll be enough for him.

[clindau.livejournal.com]

My condolences to you two, and to Tosh.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[ibid.livejournal.com]

Oh that's always sad. hugs to Tosh.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Usually one gets warning that an animal is sickening, but not this time- so it was a bit of a shock.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

So sorry for the loss of your pet. Tosh is really going to miss her.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.