Rest in peace, Wally Heather. Words cannot justify the joy you gave us.

I lost a pet rabbit I had for eight great years of my life, so I know how you feel. The death of a previous pet in 2003 made me constantly think of the inevitable fate of my rabbit.
I didn't know when the day would come, but expected it and had come to accept it as something I'd have to deal with.
At least until Christmas 2005.
I approached him, he seemed sluggish, so I gave him some oats which always perks him up, but to no avail. Some prodding and I realized something horrible was wrong, I picked him up and tried to make him feel better, but I couldn't. I called my parents so they could be there to see what was going on. That's when it started to sink in. He struggled and kicked, made his very first noise with his vocal chords, a horrible cry. He kicked and kicked until he was just laying there, motionless and staring at us.
On Christmas he died. And the next day I put his stiff motionless corpse into a box and we buried him right under where he died. While I never cried (like I said constant thinking of his mortality before he even looked like he was going to die prepared me for this), it affected me deeply. I barely go outside to the area where he used to live, not because I can't or won't realize the fact that he's dead, but I just don't have any reason to be there any more.

It's the first time I ever say someone I cared about die right in front of me. It was both the most horrifing and beautiful thing I have ever seen; a liberation from life, but the end of a great connection. Even today when I see a rabbit, it tugs at me, knowing that the one I cared about the most is gone. The one constant all the years I lived at my current home was gone and it scared me how easily I transitioned away from him.
I know what losing a friend is like, sometimes the loss can (and was in this case), worse than the loss of anyone else you've lost before.

March 3, 1997 - December 25, 2005

Goodbye, not forever, but for a very long time...

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by mortis

Whoa, sega, did you find out what it was of the rabbit's death? I just had something VERY similar happen to a pet rabbit (actually, sadly, three of them) of mine two days ago (it was just a baby too, ugh). And my condolenses on that even if it's four months late, as I had to witness what you did myself. It's just not cool.

He had an incident several months back where he was sluggish as well, a vet suspected it was kidney failure, he gave him a shot and he was fine until Christmas rolled around. I strongly suspect his kidneys finally failed him.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Bernard Black

I am really sorry for your loss, Elixir. About three or four years ago our family had a cat called Shelly. Everyone was very attatched to her, so it was very sad for us all when her kidneys failed. If you ever doubt having Wally put down, please, just don't. Trust your judgement. Shelly died in my brother's arms, struggling to breathe and in pain. You and your mother did the best thing, it was honourable to Wally. Don't feel bad for moving on, it's a good thing. Just because you don't feel as bad as you did the first week doesn't mean you'll forget him.

I see a frightening trend here, kidney failure seems to be a common old-age cause of death.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.