Just had to kill a rabbit and think I did it wrong

[Spudlet]

Henry just caught a mixy rabbit on our lunchtime walk. He didn't kill it, so I had to try and finish it off

I tried to follow the tips off the last thread I did on this but I think I did it wrong, it twitched and squealed for a few seconds so I think I might have broken its back not its neck. It was def dead when I left it though. It was only a little one, its eyes were gummed shut which is why Henry could catch it - he didn't know how to kill it though, he was carrying it round but hadn't even broken the skin. Took me ages to coax him inot bringing it to me!

Feel a bit rubbish right now, wish I had done a better job on the poor little sod

 

[Fazzie]

You tried your best hun xxxx I would of had to ring my o/h im terrible with stuff like that
poor little bunny

 

[Goya]

Oh poor you. I just hate it when we have to do that but it is the kindest thing to do. the poor thing would have really suffered if you hadn't helped.

 

[ridebumble]

They always twitch when first killed, its the nervous system so you probably killed it outright ... so you can feel better, do you use the pull method ? (didn't see previous thread)

In the end even a couple of seconds of squealing is better then mixi running its full course so you can feel better knowing you did the right thing today

 

[Spudlet]

Thanks, that makes me feel better

I did use the pull method, I put my boot on its head with the head under the outside edge and pulled up and across. I know it was the right thing to do, and it isn't the actual killing it that bothers me, but am a bit worried that I could have done it quicker. It was the squeal that made me worry

I've never had to kill one before so didn't know if that was normal or not.

 

[ridebumble]

You can get a squeal occasionaly, I pull with my hands but if your not confident its easier with the foot

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I don't know about squealing, but I do know that hens can run without a head. Most of my budgerigars as I recall it, only did a few gentle flaps with it wings after it died but I still remember one budgerigar that run around the cage banging against the sides for a second or two after it was dead.

I always take my dead dogs or cats with me home so that the pets at home gets a chance to see what has happened, last time when I laid a dead dog down at the floor at home it both farted and sighed. I knew it was just air coming out and I think it is more likely to happen while you're moving the body but I still stared for a while to make sure she didn't breathed anymore.


So I think you should be proud over yourself, that you dared to try and do your best and thought more about the poor rabbit than yourself. {{{Hugs}}}


That is no critique to those like Fazzie by the way, the way I feel when I have to take the head of a mouse that my cats have injured, makes me feel very understanding towards those that can't do it.

 

[Spudlet]

Thank you... I couldn't quite visualise how to hold the rabbit with my hands when it was explained to me but I got how to use my foot. Maybe I did do it right after all then - phew!

FL - thank you, I've had to empty a few mousetraps and it's not a nice job! I couldn't have just left it though, I would have felt awful.

The rabbits at work have terrible mixy at the moment, there are bodies all over the fields and lanes. Hope it passes through soon, I know they are a bit of a pain (especially on with all the horses and damage they do to the fields and paths) but it's just such a horrible way for them to go!

 

[Oneofthepack]

Quite agree, I know they're a pest but it is a horrible disease so even if you didn't make a proper job of your first 'kill' it's infinately better than how he would have died. I've been known to take mixi buns to the vet to have them pts before now because I haven't the guts to do it myself

 

[Storminateacup]

I have found a few up here in recent months and if the dog doen't kill them with a quick shake I whack them on the head with a stone.
Instant unconciousness or death and then another blow to finish them off.There is no methodology for me, it just the quickest way as I see it.

Big hugs to you anyway, it was the kindest thing to do to despatch it and you thought of the bunnys suffering not your own upset at having to kill it.