Author Topic: Animal Stories  (Read 1929 times)

Hopalong

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Animal Stories
« on: May 31, 2025, 12:38:50 PM »
Poor Pup was really traumatized just now and shook hard for about 30 minutes. I'd forgotten a pan of boiling eggs, which then exploded, blowing the lid across the kitchen and pieces of burned egg everywhere.

Found him in the LR by the front door, shaking like a leaf. I hope it won't have permanent effects.

I'm starting to worry about memory lapses. If I'd set a timer it would've spared us both but I forgot to do that too!

hugs
Hops
"That'll do, pig, that'll do."

Hopalong

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Re: Animal Stories
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2025, 09:31:43 PM »
And now he's brought a lovely baby wild rabbit into the house (yea, doggie door) and I'm not sure what to do.

I took it from him, no big wounds visible, and it's spending the night in a box on a soft towel with a little dish of water in the corner. No idea what should be next. Or if it'll die anyway.

If I just release it in the yard, he'll probably hunt it down again. The odd thing is that I genuinely wondered if he's just happy to have found a creature "friend." If he really wanted to kill it, he could have. And raising a rabbit as a pet is appealing (if not rational) to me. I was happy to think this might be the same larger one he'd grabbed earlier, when I discovered the nest of babies. I checked this morning in the perennial bed and saw no more babies. I dunno what mama rabbits do in such a case -- do they spend time moving their babies elsewhere? Or just abandon the nest? I left Pup locked out of that area for several days, and now they're gone....

Any experience here? Last time, when he wounded one, I took it a very long way over the mountain to a wildlife center, but they never responded to my followup query about what happened to it. So I'm a little reluctant to make the same pilgrimage again.

hugs
Hops
"That'll do, pig, that'll do."

sKePTiKal

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Re: Animal Stories
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2025, 07:43:22 AM »
No idea about the bunny Hops, but I would find someplace to release bun-bun outside with a chance of making it. Park? farm field? Somewhere with softish dirt? My spot is too rocky for bunnies to feel at home - but just down the hollar, Hol has the occasional bunny.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

lighter

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Re: Animal Stories
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2025, 08:22:30 AM »
Oh my goodness, Hops.  You gotta save that bun! 

My niece loves her pet bunnies...she has 2 now.  Maybe you, and pup, can make it an outdoor pet, while feeding and nurturing, until/if the mom comes for it?

Not sure, but good luck.

Lighter

Hopalong

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Re: Animal Stories
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2025, 12:54:44 PM »
And I dropped the thread AGAIN!

Well, my neighbor offered to let me place it under her deck where other bunnies have  lived, because there was no place in my yard where it'd be safe from Pup. I mostly knew it was dying when I carried it over there, and several hours later she told me it did and was "all sorted." That was kind of her.

Meanwhile, I had Abdalla thin out that perennial bed and cut it back, so it'll be a less sheltering place next year. I may even put some gravel in the depression where she makes her nests to discourage a repeat. Abdalla is a new helper I found; I like him very much. A refugee from Sudan 20 years ago, he's now a citizen with a FT job at the Univ in their environmental/landscaping etc department. He's doing this extra gigging either after work or on weekends. His wife is from the UAE, I believe -- she and the 3 kids are there for the summer. He lights up like a chandelier when he mentions his family; his English is excellent; he has a wonderful personality with a huge smile. Speaking of huge, he is that too.

The other fellow, from the Central African Republic, is still doing what he can and desperate for work, but his truck died and he really struggles to plan transportation. He came once in early spring and did more in two hours than most would do in five, but I worry for him/them, because he clearly really needs work, but can't get there.

My yard guy, Esteban, is from Mexico and a "permanent resident" here with green card, so I worry less about him than I do the others. And Edid, my cleaner, has been here 20 years but never went through the citizenship process, so is undocumented.

Two days ago I met another fellow, recent arrival from El Salvador, who is going to replace half my kitchen floor. He brought his lovely HS-junior sister in law to translate.

When I think about how hard these people work, how gracious and kind they are, and what they've been through to save their families' futures, I am awed. Grateful.

hugs
Hops
"That'll do, pig, that'll do."

lighter

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Re: Animal Stories
« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2025, 05:48:45 PM »
Sounds like a very bright spot in your life, and garden, Hops.

Maybe you could give the Central African chap some transportation, till he can repair his vehicle?

Not sure if that's a few days, or more, but it might be very fulfilling.

Lighter