Lynn's Bunny
Mama Doe
This morning i let my bunnies out for a run in the backyard. I am thinking of trying to bond them and as I am nervous I put a harness and leash on one in case they fought so I could grab one faster. It sounds so stupid now. Anyways, they put their foreheads together and then just hopped around, not really paying much attention to each other. They normally are housed in my shed with a divider in the middle and often sit next to each other.
I was quite happy they didn't just start fighting and thought maybe they have a chance to bond. But then my neighbours cat jumped up on the fence and scared Jack. Jack hasn't lived here very long (since August) and was a totally indoor rabbit, so he is not familiar with cats or other animals. This frightened him and he started running. I dropped the leash but unfortuantely he thought the leash was chasing him.
It was horrible watching him run about full speed completely terrified. I had to grab the leash to stop him and he started screaming. I felt and feel terrible about this. I picked him up as fast as I could and held him tightly. He stopped screaming when I picked him up and went limp. Once he was calm again I put him back in his pen inside the shed. He is still frightened and being nervous.
It must have been so traumatizing for him. I will never put a leash and harness on him again. I'm also wondering if allowing him to run in the backyard is too scary for him with the neighbours cat around. Poor Jack.
I just had to vent as I feel so bad for him. And feel like such a stupid owner.
I was quite happy they didn't just start fighting and thought maybe they have a chance to bond. But then my neighbours cat jumped up on the fence and scared Jack. Jack hasn't lived here very long (since August) and was a totally indoor rabbit, so he is not familiar with cats or other animals. This frightened him and he started running. I dropped the leash but unfortuantely he thought the leash was chasing him.
It was horrible watching him run about full speed completely terrified. I had to grab the leash to stop him and he started screaming. I felt and feel terrible about this. I picked him up as fast as I could and held him tightly. He stopped screaming when I picked him up and went limp. Once he was calm again I put him back in his pen inside the shed. He is still frightened and being nervous.
It must have been so traumatizing for him. I will never put a leash and harness on him again. I'm also wondering if allowing him to run in the backyard is too scary for him with the neighbours cat around. Poor Jack.
I just had to vent as I feel so bad for him. And feel like such a stupid owner.