Terrible guilt.

[Andrew Tungatt]

Hello,

This is my first post here.

Me and my wife recently returned from our honeymoon and went too pick our beloved pets milo and Rosie up from the boarding place they have stayed at twice before when we go on holiday.

When we arrived we were dealt the terrible news that all the rabbits in the boarding home (6 in total) had sadly died on Friday the 13th, cause of death unknown they believe it could of been poisoning coming in from an exterior source or an infection that has spread.

We are both absolutely devestated, Milo and Rosie were the most amazing pets we could of asked for, I can't help but feeling an absolutely horrendous guilt and it is eating me up inside.

Does anyone have a similar experience or any words of wisdom that will help me overcome these feelings?

*The image attached was of these two gorgeous rabbits when we first got them*

 

[Imbrium]

I'm so sorry for your losses! That's absolutely heartbreaking . It's a freak occurrence, though - there's certainly no way you could've seen this coming. You made the best decisions you could for your bunnies based on the information you had available, which is all any of us can do. When bad things happen despite your best efforts, it's easy to blame yourself even when - logically - you know that it isn't your fault. When we've lost bunnies, we always dwell on what we maybe could've done differently. I have to remind myself that doing the best you can for them with the information you have is all the bunnies ask or expect. Leaving bunnies at a boarding place is, 99.9% of the time, a great thing to do to make sure they're checked on often, monitored and well-cared-for in your absence. On a side note, is the boarding place doing necropsies to determine the cause(s) of death? I feel like they owe you and the other owners at least that much of an explanation.

Binky free, Milo and Rosie! Take comfort in being together as you cross the rainbow bridge.

 

[Shasta Smith]

I an so sorry for your loss. You did what any of us would have done by leaving your babies in the care of a trusted boarding facility. I agree that they should be financially responsible for a necropsy.

 

[Andrew Tungatt]

Thank you for your kind words.. I really do appreciate the comfort and advice in those replies. No they never offered to do anything really just that they were so so sorry..i took Milo and Rosie to the vets to get one done myself but they don't do them not sure if it's a UK thing but they said they didn't know anywhere that I could get one done we have had them cremated now and they were returned home today, I am going to make a memorial in their garden so we can look on and remember them.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

I wouldn't use them ever again--sounds like neglect rather then the "great unknown". I'd report them to the RSPCA and notify all organizations of the experience so it won't happen to anyone else. My heart goes out to you--they were adorable.

 

[A & B]

I'm very sorry to hear this. I agree that something needs to be done so this can't ever happen again. Six bunnies dying at once seems very suspicious.

 

[Sissy]

I'm so sorry for your awful loss. We always find things to blame ourselves for, but most often we did everything we could. Your bunnies stayed at the boarding home twice already, presumably without any issues. In the circumstances you would naturally feel confident to use the same place again. I do agree with others above, that the boarding home should have done a proper investigation. You would think they would want to know the cause of death themselves. Otherwise how will they guard against the same thing happening again? It does not sound as if they have taken ownership of the situation and I think you deserved more than an apology.

Sadly nothing will bring back your beloved bunnies. I don't know whether the local council has to license boarding places for small animals. Maybe that is another avenue you could go down with a complaint.