I can't remember if I've ever said before that I've been running a little 'unwanted' animal rescue for a number of years. Not official - just critters that people have lost interest in seem to keep coming my way. At one point I had nine rabbits and four guinea pigs as well as three hens and two dogs - all other people's cast-off pets.

Somehow people seem to say - 'oh, my friend bought a rabbit for her children and they've lost interest.....you wouldn't have space for it would you?'. I have tended to agree just because I know that once children have lost interest, the poor rabbit often ends up in a very sorry state, unloved, badly looked after and lonely. Rabbits don't make good pets for small children - they're too big and strong - guinea pigs are much easier for small children to deal with. If I could stop people purchasing rabbits for children I'd gladly do it.

I take them in, get the males neutered and pair them off with a girl bunny with whom they live for the rest of their lives. I don't really have time to give them all individual attention but they are kept clean, well-fed, have companions and are cared for until they die.

It's always a big jolt when I lose one - today I lost Sabine - the most sensational English Giant rabbit. There are 3-4 breeds of giant rabbit - the English Giant isn't the biggest but she had a body roughly the size of Rosie and weighed about 14 kilos. In other words HUGE! She lived with Fudge - I still have him and his brother, Truffle. They came to me because a couple had bought them off a pet shop to live together as 'house rabbits' and then discovered you can't keep males together - they fight....oh and un-neutered they spray their territory with urine to keep out intruders. The couple rapidly went off the idea of house rabbits so they ended up with me - that was about 5-6 years ago.)

My heart breaks when you see the mate of the dead animal grieving - the last one I lost's partner sat on her ears and refused to let me take away her body. They really are broken hearted.

Anyway, this afternoon I have had to dig a hole big enough to lay out a 14 kilo rabbit in full-on rigor mortis, where she won't be disturbed. I always plant a shrub over the body to make doubly sure no-one disturbs them. Today Sabine was laid to rest under this beautiful Viburnum, flowering to help me mourn her passing.

Since she's gone, I only have two left - Fudge and Truffle. When I have more time to spend in the garden I will pick this up again but until then someone else will have to take a turn at looking after the unwanted.

I hate this bit!

Anyone who has got this far and wants to see the new chapter of my life, click here!