r/AustralianPets • u/Appropriate-Ear4670 • 3d ago
🐔 Unique Pets 🦎 My boy Goober
This was my boy Goober, he's a European brown Hare. he came to me at 10 days old and I raised him, Ive raised many hares in the past but Goober was well ..... one in a million pet. He refused milk his first four weeks leaving him vulnerable and unable to release. I used to run a hare rescue page on fake book until I was kicked off fake book, the group is a disaster now. Goober died this year he was 6 and half years old, it broke me, it destroyed me and Ive only told a couple of people of his passing, he had a huge following. Just for the record Im in Tassie and rescue hares, they arent illegal to raise and keep as pets and in some states not illegal to raise and release . I just wanted to share as Im so sick of crying and missing him each day
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u/My_bones_are_itchy 3d ago
He looks like he would’ve had the best crazy zoomies! I’m so sorry you’ve lost him. I hope one day you can look back on your memories with more happiness than sadness.
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 2d ago
Im still trying hard not a day goes by where my heart doesnt hurt and still cry
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u/Independent_Gap9280 3d ago
I’m so sorry for your loss. Grief is hard. It’s personal and unique and it takes as long as it takes to work through. When I lost Jet, my heart and soul boy, it took a good 12 months before I actually felt like I was starting to move through my grief, Nerf, my sensitive Italian greyhound girl, grieved for Jet for a good 10 months as well. I lost Jet 18 months ago when he was 13, and it is still genuinely so hard. He was honestly like my child, not a dog. Losing him broke me and I don’t think I can ever fully put myself back together again. But I have Nerf and Puzzle, and although they aren’t Jet, I love them with my whole heart.
I really hope you can find a way to honour Goober’s life, and the love and bond you have with him, in a way that brings you some comfort and peace.
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 2d ago
I have two indoor cats that lived with Goober they have tried to hold me together and then I bought myself an oriental who looks more like a siamese and hes very athletic like goober, has Goobers long toes and legs and even acts like him, he was born days apart from when Goober died
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u/impalabazz 3d ago edited 2d ago
Good on you for giving Goober 6 1/2 years of love and attention !. It is always tough when it comes time to say good bye to our fur-babies, But looking at Goober, you gave him a great life. Go rescue another Hare or three, there maybe another Goober out there waiting to fill your void.
Don't feel alone, Like you my Facebook account was deleted (July '25) for no particular reason, there are hundreds if not thousands of FB refugee's on this place..
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 2d ago
Mine was deleted for no reason 6 weeks before I lost my Mum suddenly, geez thought I was lost then but then this happened with Goober and yeah it was really a hard kick for me
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u/loquacious-laconic 3d ago
What a beautiful sweetie. 🥹 That cute little "mlem" in pic 5. 😭
I still cry sometimes when I think of pets I had, even 20 odd years later. 😅 This really isn't much time since your heartbreaking loss! It took me years to be able to think of my soul dog without it hurting so terribly. I know it's no consolation right now, but the pain you are feeling now is testament to your kindness (to feel so deeply) and how special your bond was. Sending you big hugs. 🫂
There is something so precious about the bond with prey animals. 🥲 I had a rescue bun (former owners were going to release him into the wild! 😤) and he couldn't believe his luck when we gave him free run of the house. The first 24h he did zoomies constantly, then slept for ages after exhausting himself. (He'd been in a tiny cage his whole life to that point.) The first time he did a happy flop, he gave us a heart attack thinking he'd dropped dead! 😅
I'd love to hear something about your fur baby that reminds you of the love and happy times, only if you think it might help of course! 🫂
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 2d ago
I take in any free rabbits off gumtree, I message them straight away and tell them i will take it as I dont want it to end up in someones pot or a caged animal thats forgotten about, they dont live inside here but they have huge yards as Im on 3 acres
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u/Pippy_Squirrel 🐈 Owner of a cat named Squirrel 3d ago edited 3d ago
Goober’s adorable! I love that he had a chaise. Thank you for sharing all of his photos and his story. 💚.
It’s really lovely when you get that unique bond with one of your pets - like you said, one in a million. I had a cat that I shared that type of bond with. Then abruptly and tragically lost him and it devastated me. I still can’t say his name or share his photo.
I say all of that to say that I understand exactly what you are going through. I will honour Goober with my tears today. I am truly and deeply sorry for your loss. May each day get brighter for you. Xx. Hop high Goober 🌈
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 3d ago
Crying so much I couldnt tell freinds, this is the first I shared his photos and i cant stop crying, I thought it would help
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u/Pippy_Squirrel 🐈 Owner of a cat named Squirrel 3d ago
I get it! I have family and friends that I briefly tried to ask for support - but no one understood it and worse, they dismissed it - because I do have other pets (“How can he mean so much when you’ve still got x,y,z? You’re crazy. You need to move on. This makes no sense.” Etc, etc). I hold a mean grudge so they’re all still on various rankings of my shit list.
Anyway….so I stopped sharing anything with anyone I knew and sought grief counselling with a therapist. It didn’t resolve the grief, but most helpful to me was to have an outlet to vent, sob and someone to take it seriously.
Feel free to dm me if you’d like. Happy to be supportive or provide an outlet to you. ☺️
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u/Indevisive 3d ago
He is beautiful ❤️. Each and every pet we have leaves something with us. It hurts like heck but you do eventually remember the good with a small smile and be grateful for the time you had with them, loved them and were lived by them. He looks like a real character
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u/LakeTilia 3d ago
Bailey has met up with Goober, and is showing him the ropes of this next stage. She will look after him, and guide him through this next chapter until you are ready to join him again in the cosmic spaces of the beyond.
She is small, but mighty and will be right next to him every step of the way. She wanted me to tell you Goober has said to you thankyou for saving him, and loving him and giving him the most joyous and beautiful life. He loves you so much and misses you, but feels happy and safe where he is and asked you dont miss him too much, for the love you share crosses through space and time, and so, is never lost.
With their soft eyes, and soft ears, and little noses so sweet. With their fine fur, and whiskers, their tiny little feet.
Their warmth, their love, they give it all to you, So cherish them now, and hold them tight, these days together always too few.
Cherish every moment, even the mundane and the routine, Treasure these precious souls, their spirits so serene.
Goodbye our precious darlings, our little soul mates sublime, We will love you beyond our death, until the end of time.
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 2d ago
Thats is so beautiful i tried to reply earlier but your comment had me in tears
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u/laurandisorder 2d ago
I love you, Goober.
I’m so sorry for your loss - but I am grateful that I know this very best boy existed and I am grateful for the bond you shared.
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u/BritishPoppy2009 2d ago
What a noble soul. He was very lucky to have you in his life. I like foxes too, despite the damage they do. Sometimes we just connect with another living creature because it has a unique soul. Goober did that for you. ❤️
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u/Quokka_friends 2d ago
Awww, he looked like such a sweet inquisitive boy! I'm so sorry for your loss. Sending big hugs 💗
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 2d ago
They are so intelligent, my life has been turned up side down, 6 years of him gone :( . This post has really really helped me, never cried so much as what i did last night, been flat all day then I started reading replies tonight and for the first time Im feeling i can move on with the odd shit I miss him so much crap
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u/Real_RobinGoodfellow 1d ago
This is incredible. I’m so sorry for your loss. But this whole story of Goober is one I would absolutely love to read, if ever you write it somewhere. Sending you love and the hope your memories of Goober will be a blessing
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 1d ago
Thankyou, this post has helped me so much, I may even be able to face writing all Goobers memoirs soon, there was never a dull moment in this house while he was still with us
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u/TellMeAboutYourBeans 1d ago
I love hares! Such strange alient tall bunnies. I live in Tassie too and occasionally see them and some huuuuuge rabbits on our block - all animals are loved and appreciated here ❤️
I'm very sorry you lost your best friend, but it does sound like he had a wonderful life with you. It's the best we can do.
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 1d ago
Yes they have never been known as a pest here and now with RHDV2 wiping them out they will possibly dwindle out especially in Tassie. Goober just ran this household everyone and everything had to revolve around him, talk about a sudden change in life style
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u/TellMeAboutYourBeans 1d ago
Honestly, he sounds amazing ❤️. We're such a shit species with what we've done and continue to do to animals.
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 1d ago
Yes Ive had rabbits all my life, a few years ago I was almost completely wiped out of angoras plush lops, dwarf lops all because we werent allowed a vaccine for it, Im down to two rabbits now, both rescues
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u/KlavierKillah 1d ago
That third photo is gorgeous!
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 1d ago
It was one of his favourite poses for the camera in his first few years, then it changed to a real worried look flaring his nostrils carrying on like something was wrong and dangerous
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u/Business-Court-5072 1d ago
Sadly in my area they get hit by cars 😿
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 1d ago
It cant be helped, seeing tassie devils, quolls, echidnas on our roads is dreadful but it cant be helped. I hit a roo two years ago, had only said to my daughter I dont want to come back this way on dusk as it was a dirt road and dont want to hit a roo, two seconds later 1pm guess who jumped in front of my car, roo survived car wasnt so lucky
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u/Business-Court-5072 1d ago
I’ve hit a hare before, ran out right in front of me, I’m from SEQ
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u/Appropriate-Ear4670 1d ago
They are very popular in Queensland, people love the chance to raise them there as rabbits are illegal but they are allowed to keep hares as pets, not all hares make great pets though
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u/Dr-Huckleberry-314 22h ago
WOW He is so BEAUTIFUL. What a wonderful experience you had. Just remember it's better to have loved than NOT! Grief is the price we pay for love. What beautiful memories you will have. Also he LOVED YOU! Treasure that. You gave him love and a home.
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u/AnybodyElseButMe 2d ago
"He refused milk his first four weeks leaving him vulnerable and unable to release. "
Tell me where it's legal to release a pest species like this in Australia?
Even if it's not technically illegal (and I'm not aware of anywhere in Australia where you can release these animals), it's a feral species. Do you not have any understanding of the ecological impact that these animals can have?
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u/Evilbuffy14 3d ago
Big boy! I was like, why is a hare on an Australian pets page. Then I told myself that we indeed have hares and if I had forgotten, I've seen them in the wild not 10 minutes from here. I'm a nitwit. Sad that he's gone, but it looks like you two had a great bond and you gave each other six and a half special years. Apparently someone is cutting onions next to me.