I don't want to do this any more/ Not good news post 147

[aliceechamberlain]

Liz, what about speaking to Jason Burgess? He is excellent and he has such an empathy with rabbits. Not only that he is sensible, honest and straight.

I wish I could say something more constructive, but, I do think you both need some time to step back and re energise. When I have sick animals here I get into such a panic, and I never have the large number of sickies that you do. It is emotionally draining.

Alice

 

[Funkylady]

I am so sorry to hear this sad sad news. :-( thinking of you and sending you hugs. You are so much braver than I could ever be. I underestimated just how much buns touch our lives, and i learnt the hard last week. My thougts are with you. Xxxxxx

 

[bunny babe]

I'm so sorry to hear about Elwood, I hope you can find a specialist who can help.

You and Steve both do a brilliant job in looking after the bunnies and giving them a caring, loving home. Sometimes you do have to step back though for your own sakes. Sending hugs.

 

[raine]

Liz, I am so sorry to read about Elliexxx

 

[Heather&Bart-MyLittleBuns]

I'm so sorry

You do a fantastic job with all your bunnies and I envy your strength.

((((((((Vibes))))))))) for little Elwood

 

[rosiebunny]

oh the poor little man.

And the other buns too...

but as the others have said, you've worked hard to keep all the bunnies alive with as good a quality of life they can hope to have, and I don't know how you manage, it must be a huge drain emotionally (and financially!).

You do so much more for these animals than anyone else would, but unfortunately taking on these difficult cases means that eventually your time with them will have to end. Celebrate their lives, celebrate how much longer they had withyou, and how much happiness they got that otherwise they would have been denied. And remember what they gave you in return, so much love which is very precious.

 

[Fairy13]

I so admire you and Steve and what you do Liz. I do think that you and Steve really deserve a break though and that is pretty much impossible for you at the moment. I think taking a break from taking any in and concentrating on you existing buns and seeing where you are in a few months is praps a good idea.
I dont think anyone could cope with the amount of heartbreak and stress you have endured and just carry on. Without you and Steve the bunnies have no one anyway. I do think you need to both rest (as much as poss cos thats still no way an easy task even if you do stop taking in for a time!) and recharge if possible.
Hugs to you and I'm pryaing with everything that a solution can be found for Elly xxx

 

[Hugo's There]

We have definately made the right decision about no more bunnies for some time as we have 2 more sick today, not eating , not moving. The hot weather is never ending and I am sure it is causing a lot of our bunnies problems. I feel like my head or heart are going to explode, or both.


Thank you for vet suggestions. I have thought of 3 vets that are reasonably close that I can contact in the first instance. And then I shall start moving further afield. Unfortunately I think FHB is too far for Elwood to travel but does Jason Burgess have a wbsite, does anyone know?

 

[happybunny22000]

oh liz
im so so sorry

 

[prettylupin]

I just googled and found this:

Jason Burgess

Wood Veterinary Group

125 Bristol Road, Quedgeley, Nr Gloucester

Tel 01452 520056

I hope that it is correct.

So sorry things are so tough at the moment Liz Thinking of you xx

 

[Jenefina]

I think this is the right one for Jason

http://www.woodvet.co.uk/page8.html

There's also the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in Hatfield which someone has recommended before

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/QMH/Contact.cfm

 

[kayj]

So sorry to hear about poor Elwood, hope you can get a 2nd opinion off the Vet Alice as recommended.

It is emotionally draining when rescues have poorly bunnies but how Theo (snowy), Jaypot and yourself cope with running sanctuaries for poorly bunnies is beyond me.

If you are finding it it difficult emotionally at the moment then you are probably better taking a step back like you have said as when you get to this point you just feel like you are sinking faster and faster and start questioning yourself which is a normal reaction to do but doesn't help you or the bunnies.

 

[Glingle]

Sending you lots of love x

 

[Hugo's There]

So sorry to hear about poor Elwood, hope you can get a 2nd opinion off the Vet Alice as recommended.

It is emotionally draining when rescues have poorly bunnies but how Theo (snowy), Jaypot and yourself cope with running sanctuaries for poorly bunnies is beyond me.

If you are finding it it difficult emotionally at the moment then you are probably better taking a step back like you have said as when you get to this point you just feel like you are sinking faster and faster and start questioning yourself which is a normal reaction to do but doesn't help you or the bunnies.

We lost 30 rabbits last year, and we always hope it is going to get better but it doesn't. So far we have lost 14 this year and I know we are going to loose more shortly. No-one can keep going at that pace I am so exhausted that when I saw the thread about Junes candle cermony I couldn't even recall which rabbits we lost in june There is no record of them in RB as I can't even go in their any more, its too hard.

We desperately want to keep doing what we are doing and the only way we can do that is try to find the time to take a few deep breaths and get our heads back where we need them to be. Not sure it will be easy to do when so many of our bunnies are still so very ill, but hopefully it will help a little

 

[happybun]

more hugs for you.

everyone reaches their limit. you're recognising that you've reached yours, for now. that's a good thing.

i hope you have a quiet time with your bunnies to recover.

 

[Tuckerbunnies]

So sorry it never ends does it, sending you a hug .

 

[kayj]

We lost 30 rabbits last year, and we always hope it is going to get better but it doesn't. So far we have lost 14 this year and I know we are going to loose more shortly. No-one can keep going at that pace I am so exhausted that when I saw the thread about Junes candle cermony I couldn't even recall which rabbits we lost in june There is no record of them in RB as I can't even go in their any more, its too hard.

We desperately want to keep doing what we are doing and the only way we can do that is try to find the time to take a few deep breaths and get our heads back where we need them to be. Not sure it will be easy to do when so many of our bunnies are still so very ill, but hopefully it will help a little

It will be easier for you to take a breath if you keep your intake down (I know easier said than done as there is alway that one that is really needy and in a bad situation)for the moment and if you get calls then give the people other sanctuaries phone numbers don't carry the burden & weight when there are other sanctuaries that do exactly the same as you, you have to work together as alot of rescues do it is the only way.

Don't think of how many you have lost think of how many you have given a loving home to for their last days, months or years.

Give yourselves a break

 

[Hugo's There]

We are taking a break. Well from taking in any more bunnies for a while anyway. We certainly wont be sitting on our bottoms though, there are a 101 things we need to do. Might even get the chance to get the bunny room decorated.



Mixed news with Elwood, he is responding well to the antibiotics and cream, but unfortunately the hole is no bigger. We discussed the catheter option again and while infection will be a big problem it will also involve cutting into scar tissue which will create more scar tissue. So it will be a never ending cycle But Elwood is so happy and has been tearing around doing his wobbly binkies so I am not giving up on him

 

[doorkeeper]

I know how you feel. I have six rabbits teetering on the verge of needing to be put to sleep, and a dozen others seriously ill. One of them I have had for seven years, most of the others from 2-5 years, and one just a few weeks which hurts just as much because she is enjoying her shed and run so very very much and she has made Liffey so very very happy. The effect on he and the other bereaved partners is as heart breaking as my losing them.
Deciding when to let them go is the hardest part of this work; it is so difficult

And the flies make it even worse. I have done so much grooming in the last few weeks combing fly eggs out or checking to see if there are any.... So far I have managed to find them all before any hatch but that record can not hold, I'm dreading my first real case of fly strike. Interstingly none of the eggs have been on the rabbits bottoms, but that is probably because I don't tolerate mucky bums on my rabbits. Except Daffodil, she has reached the stage she can't move except by using her back legs as flippers and she is now constantly wet underneath Not long now poor girl

I'm not taking any in at the moment either. Our new limit is 40 groups of rabbits rather than a number limit, and we still have a few more than this with 112 individuals. But at least they all have their own runs now, even the stroppy singles who I'm picking off one by one. (I sooooo hope Rose and Cascade work together....)At least having so much to do keeps me from dwelling on the ones who won't here too long too much:~

 

[Hugo's There]

I know how you feel. I have six rabbits teetering on the verge of needing to be put to sleep, and a dozen others seriously ill. One of them I have had for seven years, most of the others from 2-5 years, and one just a few weeks which hurts just as much because she is enjoying her shed and run so very very much and she has made Liffey so very very happy. The effect on he and the other bereaved partners is as heart breaking as my losing them.
Deciding when to let them go is the hardest part of this work; it is so difficult

And the flies make it even worse. I have done so much grooming in the last few weeks combing fly eggs out or checking to see if there are any.... So far I have managed to find them all before any hatch but that record can not hold, I'm dreading my first real case of fly strike. Interstingly none of the eggs have been on the rabbits bottoms, but that is probably because I don't tolerate mucky bums on my rabbits. Except Daffodil, she has reached the stage she can't move except by using her back legs as flippers and she is now constantly wet underneath Not long now poor girl

I'm not taking any in at the moment either. Our new limit is 40 groups of rabbits rather than a number limit, and we still have a few more than this with 112 individuals. But at least they all have their own runs now, even the stroppy singles who I'm picking off one by one. (I sooooo hope Rose and Cascade work together....)At least having so much to do keeps me from dwelling on the ones who won't here too long too much:~

Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it. I am sorry things are so tough for you too right now.

I agree it is a nightmare trying to keep the flies at bay. I have been round the clock bum bathing these last few weeks and so far haven't seen as much as an egg, phew...

It is such a hard decision to make not to take any more especially when places like yourselves and as far as I am aware, Ebony Eyes are also having to say no to new bunnies, it leaves these very vulnerable and special bunnies with very few options But with the huge emotional and financial drain it is jsut impossible to keep going with out a break. Better we step back now and be able to come back refreshed to help lots more bunnies, than struggle on for a few months until we drop and never have the strength to carry on.


I have also emailed 2 vet referal centres about Elwood, so will see what we get back from them