Milo RIP
I was asked by a co-worker to take a bunny, as she is moving cross-country and heard how I rescued a kitten from the wall of a van. I said sure, never having owned a bunny before. I picked him up the day before Easter, what a day to get a rabbit.
There was lots of fighting before we got the bunny. The kids room is always a disaster and there was no place in their room for it to play. Since I was getting him mostly for Heather, I put it on her to make sure the room was clean. It still didn't happen on time, but the rabbit was coming anyways.
The hour long trip was tiring on the girls, but they changed their tune when we got Milo. The excitement was high, especially when Heather was getting what she has always wanted. It was also a shock, as this was not kit, he was a huge rabbit bigger than two of the three cats.
Brought him home and set him up in the girls room. I found out I am allergic to timothy hay, but no matter, Christen and the girls can feed him. Made a schedule of cleaning his cage every single day. Since we had no idea how the cats would react around Milo, we kept him in his cage, in the girls room.
Let him out every morning and as soon as we got home. He at first didn't go far at first, but then he got adventurous, going into every room in the house. The kittens were terrified of him, especially since he was bigger than them. He even charged them, which was very humorous. I caught my older cat in the room twice, blocking the rabbit from the cage. Shooed her out, no big deal.
He became a lot more sociable with everyone, stretching out when next to us. He would crawl on us, which made Heather's day every single time. The look on her face was one I had never seen before, she loved that rabbit with everything she had.
We recently got a bigger cage for him, Heather and I picked it up and built it together. She was so happy, going on about how much Milo would love jumping around. It took a couple of days for that to happen. He seemed to like it.
But last night was the tragic night. I had a final and got home just before 10pm. So did Christen and the girls. I flipped out, getting the kids ready for bed. I noticed the bunny was on the bed and his head was wet. He was breathing hard and not moving.
Heather had been a little sick before that, we surmised it must be handling him and not washing her hands. She covered her hands in it and then went to pet Milo. Christen and I thought it was hand cleaner that got him and cleaned him off. He got up and hopped away when we cleaned him, but then went back to the non-movement and heavy breathing. I put him in his cage and thought he would just sleep off the cleaner. I was wrong.
Next morning, he was barely breathing. He could not support himself. He would not eat or drink. He would not move. My wife held him and did not let go till we thought he was waking up. Yes, his eyes were closed. I had not seen him sleep yet, so was completely unsure what was wrong. Maybe the hand cleaner had affected him more than we thought.
I set up the small cage we got him in and got it ready to take him to the 24 hour vet. I ran to work to set up the mobile mechanic set up. Christen rushed to the vet before I got back. I grabbed the hand cleaner and flew to the vet.
When I got there, Milo was already in the back. The procedures and cost was being explained to Christen when I walked in. OK, lets go fill out the credit app, anything, any test, any treatment to get Milo back. I had my doubts but I kept up some hope. His temperature was very low, and they were trying to get him warm.
We had just walked back into the waiting room and was filling out the credit app when the vet ran out and got us.
Milo had stopped breathing. Asked if we give him CPR, I said no, there was something that made him die. As it was, he could not pull his front paws underneath himself. She then asked if we wanted to say good-bye.
Christen and I looked at each other. We both started to cry. We both were just hit with two things, sudden sadness for a life we both held dear and that we had to tell the girls their innocent bunny has passed. We walked into the waiting room and brought them back into the examining room. We told them what happened.
As expected Heather flipped out. Danielle was also upset, but she was withdrawn. We sat and held the kids on our laps, then the vet brought in Milo. We pet him for the last time, tears streaming down faces. Apparently, you cannot close a rabbit's eyes. It was eerie to see the red color leave his eyes.
The vet wanted to ask me what I wanted to do. I pulled her into another room to inquire more about what happened. I explained what happened, and she said it looked like a neck injury. I felt a tiny bit better knowing I didn't revive a paralyzed rabbit. She explained that even though he hopped away, it can be progressive and just a little more shifting can set it fully. I said I'll bury him at home. Christen took care of the paperwork.
I went around back to get Milo, who was put in a box with Milo written on it with some little hearts. I just broke down again while typing this. I put him in my truck and drove home. The entire ride, I thought of the time I spent with Milo, and how much I already cared for him. I thought of how much Heather loved him and the look on her face when he crawled on her chest on his own, it was the single most precious event I've witnessed with Heather.
We both got home at the same time. None of us wanted to exit the vehicles. I got out, slowly and with a heavy weight on my chest and shoulders, and got a shovel. The girls had not seen the box yet and started to tear up when I told them Milo was in it. Christen asked Heather where she wanted Milo to be buried. She pointed out a spot and I got to digging. I put Milo in the hole and we said our last goodbyes.
Wow I'm sad. We did not have him long but at the same time we took him in and loved him as family. I have not been able to think clearly all day. The girls have been a mess all day and Christen is off as well. It's amazing just how much we loved him.
Milo, I am sorry for what happened from the bottom of my heart. If I had gone the correct way out of class, maybe I would have gotten home just before they did and this could have been prevented. I am sorry that I apparently did not teach Heather to be gentler with you, as I thought I did. I am sorry you suffered all night. You were a beautiful and innocent rabbit, who just wanted to hop around. You made my little girl happier than I had ever seen her and now that you are gone, she is sad. Please accept my apologies, it will never make up for your death, nothing will, but at least know I never wanted this to happen. I am sorry. I love you Milo.
I will remember this for the rest of my life
There was lots of fighting before we got the bunny. The kids room is always a disaster and there was no place in their room for it to play. Since I was getting him mostly for Heather, I put it on her to make sure the room was clean. It still didn't happen on time, but the rabbit was coming anyways.
The hour long trip was tiring on the girls, but they changed their tune when we got Milo. The excitement was high, especially when Heather was getting what she has always wanted. It was also a shock, as this was not kit, he was a huge rabbit bigger than two of the three cats.
Brought him home and set him up in the girls room. I found out I am allergic to timothy hay, but no matter, Christen and the girls can feed him. Made a schedule of cleaning his cage every single day. Since we had no idea how the cats would react around Milo, we kept him in his cage, in the girls room.
Let him out every morning and as soon as we got home. He at first didn't go far at first, but then he got adventurous, going into every room in the house. The kittens were terrified of him, especially since he was bigger than them. He even charged them, which was very humorous. I caught my older cat in the room twice, blocking the rabbit from the cage. Shooed her out, no big deal.
He became a lot more sociable with everyone, stretching out when next to us. He would crawl on us, which made Heather's day every single time. The look on her face was one I had never seen before, she loved that rabbit with everything she had.
We recently got a bigger cage for him, Heather and I picked it up and built it together. She was so happy, going on about how much Milo would love jumping around. It took a couple of days for that to happen. He seemed to like it.
But last night was the tragic night. I had a final and got home just before 10pm. So did Christen and the girls. I flipped out, getting the kids ready for bed. I noticed the bunny was on the bed and his head was wet. He was breathing hard and not moving.
Heather had been a little sick before that, we surmised it must be handling him and not washing her hands. She covered her hands in it and then went to pet Milo. Christen and I thought it was hand cleaner that got him and cleaned him off. He got up and hopped away when we cleaned him, but then went back to the non-movement and heavy breathing. I put him in his cage and thought he would just sleep off the cleaner. I was wrong.
Next morning, he was barely breathing. He could not support himself. He would not eat or drink. He would not move. My wife held him and did not let go till we thought he was waking up. Yes, his eyes were closed. I had not seen him sleep yet, so was completely unsure what was wrong. Maybe the hand cleaner had affected him more than we thought.
I set up the small cage we got him in and got it ready to take him to the 24 hour vet. I ran to work to set up the mobile mechanic set up. Christen rushed to the vet before I got back. I grabbed the hand cleaner and flew to the vet.
When I got there, Milo was already in the back. The procedures and cost was being explained to Christen when I walked in. OK, lets go fill out the credit app, anything, any test, any treatment to get Milo back. I had my doubts but I kept up some hope. His temperature was very low, and they were trying to get him warm.
We had just walked back into the waiting room and was filling out the credit app when the vet ran out and got us.
Milo had stopped breathing. Asked if we give him CPR, I said no, there was something that made him die. As it was, he could not pull his front paws underneath himself. She then asked if we wanted to say good-bye.
Christen and I looked at each other. We both started to cry. We both were just hit with two things, sudden sadness for a life we both held dear and that we had to tell the girls their innocent bunny has passed. We walked into the waiting room and brought them back into the examining room. We told them what happened.
As expected Heather flipped out. Danielle was also upset, but she was withdrawn. We sat and held the kids on our laps, then the vet brought in Milo. We pet him for the last time, tears streaming down faces. Apparently, you cannot close a rabbit's eyes. It was eerie to see the red color leave his eyes.
The vet wanted to ask me what I wanted to do. I pulled her into another room to inquire more about what happened. I explained what happened, and she said it looked like a neck injury. I felt a tiny bit better knowing I didn't revive a paralyzed rabbit. She explained that even though he hopped away, it can be progressive and just a little more shifting can set it fully. I said I'll bury him at home. Christen took care of the paperwork.
I went around back to get Milo, who was put in a box with Milo written on it with some little hearts. I just broke down again while typing this. I put him in my truck and drove home. The entire ride, I thought of the time I spent with Milo, and how much I already cared for him. I thought of how much Heather loved him and the look on her face when he crawled on her chest on his own, it was the single most precious event I've witnessed with Heather.
We both got home at the same time. None of us wanted to exit the vehicles. I got out, slowly and with a heavy weight on my chest and shoulders, and got a shovel. The girls had not seen the box yet and started to tear up when I told them Milo was in it. Christen asked Heather where she wanted Milo to be buried. She pointed out a spot and I got to digging. I put Milo in the hole and we said our last goodbyes.
Wow I'm sad. We did not have him long but at the same time we took him in and loved him as family. I have not been able to think clearly all day. The girls have been a mess all day and Christen is off as well. It's amazing just how much we loved him.
Milo, I am sorry for what happened from the bottom of my heart. If I had gone the correct way out of class, maybe I would have gotten home just before they did and this could have been prevented. I am sorry that I apparently did not teach Heather to be gentler with you, as I thought I did. I am sorry you suffered all night. You were a beautiful and innocent rabbit, who just wanted to hop around. You made my little girl happier than I had ever seen her and now that you are gone, she is sad. Please accept my apologies, it will never make up for your death, nothing will, but at least know I never wanted this to happen. I am sorry. I love you Milo.
I will remember this for the rest of my life