Aaren was sitting on the couch last night when he saw a rabbit pass by the basement window. He immediately jumped up and dashed up the stairs. Quickly he headed to the patio door and looked out. From the kitchen, I followed. Outside was two pit bulls barking at the rabbit cages. Aaren and I came back in and quickly got on our coats and boots. Then we went outside to save the rabbits!
I grabbed a black plastic sled from off the ground and then advancing forward, yelled loudly and authoritatively to the dogs to go home. I made a lot of racket and after them barking back at me several times, they left. Aaren stayed behind, watching on the deck!
Once they were gone I ran back inside to get a flashlight and my phone. Aaren stayed outside to make sure they didn't come back. At the cages, we found the lids undisturbed as the snow was still in pristine condition. We lifted the lid of Momma's cage and found her and her 4 tiny new babies to be safe. Phew!!
Then we checked Girl's cage and he was missing!!! (Girl is actually a boy. Aaren traded rabbits from Uncle Lowyn this summer. Girl was the name David and Eva gave it as a baby bunny, until they realized it should have been called Boy! Jeff thinks it's funny so we still call it by its first given name.) The whole bottom of his cage was torn up. We noticed blood smeared on the outside front of his cage but we couldn't see any major blood on the ground in the snow near the cage. We did see plenty of rabbit tracks.
We checked the cages of the other 3 rabbits that live in the cage Aaren built this summer. They were all safe too. Going back to recheck Momma, we noticed that her cage sustained more damage than we thought. The bottom of her cage had some holes and so did the front. It was also smeared with blood on the wire and wood. I took pictures of the damaged cages on my phone and then began looking for evidence of the rabbit. Aaren and I followed the rabbit tracks all over the front and backyard, across the street and eventually we lost its tracks. We didn't see any large spots of blood so we assumed that the rabbit was still alive. Phew again! Perhaps it would come back on its own.
I called Jeff to let him know of the attack (He was shopping with Devin in Lethbridge.) After our call, I went back inside to settle the little kids and get them working towards bed. I left them and walked over to the neighbours house around the corner from us. That is where the dogs live. The lady answered and before she could say anything I asked her if her dogs had blood on them. To which she answered yes. Then I let her know that their dogs were in my yard again!!
I was loud and upset (but still in control and respectful!) I explained that I keep my property in my yard and I expect others to do the same. Especially dogs like theirs. I also expected some kind of restitution although I didn't really know what. And then I left.
On my way home, I decided I need to notify the authorities so that I could have proof that it happened. As I passed the second house from the corner, I noticed rabbit tracks which I hadn't noticed on my way there. I stopped and then began to follow the tracks. The tracks made me turn back around and head back towards the corner. I went across the lawn and over to towards the neighbours garage. Then the tracks looked as if they just vanished into air. But I noticed that it really just turned around and went off another direction. I followed the direction and then as I glanced up, I saw our rabbit- Girl- sitting on the bottom step of the home.
Cautiously and slowly I approached the rabbit. It never moved and I got close enough to catch it and scoop it up. As soon as I got home, I went to the backyard where Aaren and Maren were still out looking for the lost pet. I called to them, telling them to bring the day cage because I found Girl. They came running from the back of the yard. We went directly to the garage with the day cage and after quickly getting it set up, we were able to release Girl safely into it. Aaren was so happy he was back!
I left the kids rejoicing in the garage so that I could message Jeff and then call the bylaw officer.
The conversation with the bylaw officer was interesting. He remembered coming to our house before for a similar incident. Because of this attack, he told me that the dogs need to leave or be put down. I told him my call was simply to have second witness for our family. We do not want to press for charges. But.... We do want them to be responsible dog owners and because they know their dogs potential, do a better job of keeping them secure in their yard!! If there is a third time (attack) then the officer said the dogs will have to be euthanized.
Jeff talked to the officer today. I still need to go file a report. But I will stipulate clearly that we won't be pressing charges- this time!!
I am frustrated that the cages are wrecked and now we have to spend the time to fix them. I'm mad that the dogs won't leave our pets alone and I'm worried that sometime it may be a small child who is attacked. I wish we could afford a fence to keep the unwanted from our yard but that won't solve all the issues. The issue is really the potential of the neighbours pets and what they should be doing to keep them in their yard!
Momma's cage
Girl's cage
The bottom of girl's cage
