Bunny Electrocution Story
Rebecca Christie
While our neighbors were away on vacation, we volunteered to look after
their pets which included a rabbit, 2 birds and some fish. Twice a day we
checked up on the critters and let the rabbit out of its cage to hop about
in the living room. The bunny seemed to favor a location behind the sofa,
but we didn't think anything else about it, since it was only out of the
cage for 15 minutes at a stretch.
Apparently, the rabbit was quite interested in the lamp cords behind the
sofa and was eagerly chewing away at them, un-noticed. When the owners
returned they were hysterical and claimed we had nearly killed their bunny
by letting it eat the cords, which were admittedly kind of chewed up.
Well, they won't speak to us now, but that's another story.
Did the rabbit just enjoy chewing, or is there something irresistible
about the plastic covering on the wires? Does covering the wires with
plastic tubing do any good?
Thanks!
-Bunny Killers
Luke & Debby
harsh, considering you didn't kill the bunny. But what I want to know is, when your
neighbors left, did they give you detailed instructions on the rabbits care? If I were
leaving, and having someone watch my rabbit, I would make sure that I gave detailed
instructions on what rabbits do, including that rabbits like to chew on stuff. No matter
what it is. If someone doesn't know anything about rabbits, (and I'm not saying that you
don't) they don't know what to watch for. I really wouldn't blame yourself. And if they
did actually say "You LET my rabbit chew on the cords." Well, you actually didn't, since
you didn't know he/she was doing it. So you weren't LETTING the rabbit do anything. You
were just being nice and letting the rabbit out for a little bit. I would be really happy
and thankful for a neighbor like you, so don't blame yourself. I think it's your
neighbors problem, and not yours. Also, it sounds like to me they lost a good
bunnysitter.
So don't blame yourself. It happens all the time. As for something to protect the wires,
if they were that concerned about it, they should have already been protected. (By your
neighbor.) Thankfully, my rabbit doesn't chew on cords, so I'm not really a good
candidate for that part of the question.
I'm going to say it again, don't blame yourself. Your neighbor is the one that lost a
good neighbor. Okay? I know it's easy to say though. :-)
Take care and I hope this helps you a little bit.
Debby & Mr. Bunny
Raymond Hunnakko
Well, my bunny Cocoa loves my vacuum cord, first because bunnies just like
to chew and my theory is that the size of cord is just right for their
little mouths and the texture must be heavenly to chomp into. I've not known
of any bunny that actually got electrocuted(eventhough it probably can
happen). Cocoa has chewed a few live wires and not gotten hurt, which amazed
me. There are metal wire protectors that slip over wires that you can get.
We make sure ours are out of reach. Don't take it too hard, the bunny is
fine. Arlette, Cocoa and Brownie
Rebecca Christie wrote in message <7bc34u$kqs$1...@sparky.wolfe.net>...
JessicaRbt
speak to you, I wouldn't take it personally. After all, if they did not tell
you that the rabbit was not allowed out because the room was not rabbit
proofed, it's hardly your fault. (and that room should have been rabbit
proofed)
Yes, bunnies can electrocute themselves on the wires. I have heard of two who
were injured, one who was burned severely on the mouth and the other had mild
burns. So, don't be too complacent. If a rabbit managed to chew right through a
live wire without causing damage to his or herself, it was luck and only luck.
Sooner or later, this will catch up to them in a bad way!
Angel
Reno Kitty
Yes, I too agree, it was the bunny owners that should have filled you in on
"what bunnies" are capable of. And also, I did read somewhere that bunnies are
indeed actually attracted to the electricity flowing through the cords. I
found out the hard way that my bun was doing that when I was sitting on my
couch one day, and my lamp started flickering on and off, and under the table
was my rabbit, chewing happily on the cord, I almost couldn't believe my eyes,
he was actually enjoying the little surges of electricity. Every time he bit
into the cord he would drop it, shake his head, and go right back after it.
Needless to say, I now have ALL CORDS protected, or drapped up over curtain
rods to avoid this every happening again. Don't blame yourselves.....
Reno...@aol.com
Kathi and Bun Rab <----Energizer Bunny!!!
Raymond Hunnakko
some things that we aren't even aware of. It would make sense that they
could sense the electrical current and be attracted to it. Excuse me if
anyone thought I was taking this lightly, definitely not. Arlette and C,B
Reno Kitty wrote in message <19990228175942...@ng156.aol.com>...
MoxShorPun
should have warned you about the cords, as anyone with a rabbit knows how much
they love cords, so that you could keep an eye on them. Or they should have
enclosed them is some sort of tubing (PVC, etc.) or cord protectors.
Bunnies do seem to love cords. And they can be electrocuted by them, which is
why you should have been warned before hand.
Kris
Looking for a bunny friend in Western New York? Hop on down to the Erie County
SPCA, Tonawanda, NY. We may have just the right rabbit companion for you.
Heather Wells
again. I am trying to get a job in my favorite state (Wisconsin), and am
having very little luck. WELL, I just got a HUGE job application "package" in
the mail on Saturday from the City of Milwaukee, due this Friday. Problem is,
it has to be typed! SO, I dig out Big Bertha (our IBM Selectric II) from
under the computer table, and set (slowly) to work. Things are going along
about as well as can be expected, when I happen to look down. Buttercup had
nibbled along about a 6-inch length of my cord, to the metal inside!
AAAAAAAAGHH! I quickly shooed him, unplugged Bertha, and calmed down. I am
SO happy that he managed not to electrocute himself! Can you imagine! I just
never even THOUGHT to bunny proof the typewrite wire! I mean I haven't used
the stupid thing for over 4 years now! Sigh....
I have sent Andy to the grocery to pick up some electrical tape so I can
finish this stupid thing off, but I am feeling a bit hopeless about it.
Sigh....
Heather
Nona Cleland
Pretty please, with some insulation on top?
Dr. Dread Yak
Heather Wells
I would LOVE to share my yummy insulated wire with you -- it's the old thick kind
with the paper-wrapped wires inside and the thick black rubber insulation on the
outside--but Mom has taken it away. Thump! THUMP! THUMPPPPP!!!!
She never lets me have any fun. At least I got her to stop making that infernal
racket. She says I made her miss her deadline and she's angry at me, but my ears
can only take so much of that "tap, tap, tappity, tap, OOOPS!, tap, tap tap, OOPS!,
tappity tap tap..."!
Next time, I'll save some for later!
Your pal,
Buttercup
Nona Cleland
That's so generous of you! I really love that stuff that's wrapped
around the wires. It's so chewy, and, I don't know, it just has a
consistency I really go for. Even the wires are good. Yummy! They
crunch between my teeth! I don't get it why the humans get so upset
about it! Nona has put all these yucky things over the wires so I can't
get at them anymore. And she has so many wires. She's pretty selfish,
don't you think? If I had that many wires, I'd share them with her.
Thump, indeed! And double thump!!
Dr. DY