She's the wild rabbit who befriended me three years ago. Crazy huh? But it's true. I've been talking to her almost every day since then. We talk about the weather, what her plans are for the day and what crazy Steve the Chipmunk has been up to. Also, I'm always telling her to be safe. (Lots of foxes and coy dogs in our parts) For the record: No, she never answers me back.
But she does wait for me by our back door and allows me to get within a foot of her. She's so comfortable around us, even Darla and Gracie don't bother her.
Just last week I saw her gathering grass, making a nest near the field stone we have around one of our trees.
This morning as I was on my computer, I heard my hubs run down the stairs and out the front door. I followed him asking what was wrong. "Did you hear that noise? It was a loud thud." I heard nothing. Just as I said that we both turned towards the road.
There she lay dead on our front lawn. She was hit by a car. My hubs ran over to check on her but I couldn't move.
She was still warm. She was in rough shape. A lot of her fur was missing and her back legs were barely attached to her wee body.
As my hubs picked her up to bury her, I couldn't help but wonder through my tears, "Did the driver even see her? Did they know they hit her? If they did, did they feel bad? These are questions I'll never have the answers to.
I know many may think, it's just a rabbit for crying out loud. Who cares??
Well, I do. That one rabbit touched our lives. She was one of God's little creatures.
Hubs buried her down by the blackberries. She loved to hang out down there. I will continue to talk to her and tell her how much I miss her at her grave.
So it is a sad day here at the Countryfolk homestead. I lost my furry little friend today.
Rest in peace, Clarice.
♥
I can understand your sadness... we become so attached to our furry friends.... even those that live outside.... My sister just had a very bad experience with the bunnies living on her property... the mama made a nest and had her babies right in the middle of her yard (she's been doing that for years! Why doesn't she go somewhere safer?). My sister's 2 dogs were watched closely so as not to go by them....one of them always on a leash. But one managed to snatch a bunny and kill it.... one of the other bunnies ran right into their pool. They were able to scoop it out with the skimmer. It lived, but they weren't sure what would happen to it. She and my nieces cried for days...
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about Clarice... I'm sure she will be happy among the blackberries... I know it is very sad for you now. Hugs, Penny
I'm so sorry about Clarice. We have a bunny that we watch in our yard. It never lets us get as close as you were able to get. I'm glad you were able to take care of her at the end.
ReplyDeleteHaving seen it happen so many times, I do know that bunnies can speed out into the road too fast for a driver to react. I can see where a person would not think to stop after hitting a wild rabbit, not thinking that they may be missed by us.
Also, having hit small animals such as squirrels and such, I know how sick I felt afterwards.
Talk to her and tell her that she will be missed by others as well as you guys. I'm sure she is hopping happily in Heaven and doesn't want you to be sad. :)
I am so sorry you lost your friend. Sometimes the most unlikely friends are the sweetest, and this bunny sounds like one of those. ... jan
ReplyDeleteThanks, ladies.
ReplyDeletePenny, how tragic! I truly feel for your sister and her family.
Peachy, I can only hope the person has some remorse. Although I saw a young woman plow into a mother duck and her ducklings as they crossed a road. Didn't even attempt touch her brakes and it was only a 35mph area. I was mortified.
I agree wholeheartedly, Jan.
Since we live on a state route I find myself spending a lot of my outdoor time making sure deer, woodchucks, geese, ducks and other critters don't become road kill. Just the other day, my hubs saved a fawn from wandering into the road. ♥
Unfortunately I wasn't able save Clarice today.
Man, even my gruff ol' hubs is feeling really down.
I'm just glad she didn't suffer.
What a sweet story about her when she was alive and I'm so sorry she got hit! I have tears right now.
ReplyDeleteShe will be waiting for you in heaven and watching out for you until you are reunited. It is a shame that when you are in pain over your loss that you have to read about other sad stories. God bless you in your time of sorrow!
ReplyDeletePeanut, I was so sorry to read about the loss of Clarice.
ReplyDeleteWe love to hear about all of the animal antics and we will miss her too.
Big hugs to you my friend.
Audrey
Hi Karin.... I sure hope my comment didn't offend you, as Judi in an above post seemed to imply. That certainly was not my intent... I was just sharing a similar story, and how hard it is when our furry friends leave us.
ReplyDeletePlease accept my apologies if my story upset you more. Penny
Thanks ladies, for all your kind words. Even the smallest of God's creatures can have a big impact on us. ♥
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it's just a matter of time before I have other stories to tell about the crazy critters who seem to find their way to our land. :> )
For me, reading other similar stories helps in the healing process. It can be quite comforting knowing others have had to deal with similar situations. So no apologies needed. ♥
I'll bet Clarice is filling in Hannah (our mini Doxie) on what been going on at the ol' Countryfolk Homestead since she had to leave us a year and a half ago. ♥
Thanks again, everyone.
:> )
I'm sorry to hear about Clarice's unfortunate death. But I'm glad you were able to give her a burial.
ReplyDeleteAli
I'm sure she's very happy among the blackberries. ♥
ReplyDeleteSometimes we just connect with an animal and she was so much apart of your day. Its sad.
ReplyDeleteI just found out Karin ,I'm so sorry for your loss. It is so sad that many people don't care about our furry friends ,and don't even slow down . You were lucky that she touched your life and she will remain in your memory . :0)
ReplyDelete