Reasons to get a second bun

[Elrohwen]

Can you guys share your reasoning for getting a second bun? I’m really trying to convince DH, but he doesn’t want one. He argues that we don’t have room for another cage, but we certainly have room for a *temporary* second cage. And bonding shouldn’t be too hard because the rescue owner will take the buns in and bond them in her house for us with the goal that we don’t even need a second temporary set up. Of course there’s always a chance that it won’t work out, but if we pick the right bun I honestly don’t think it will be that big of an issue. If Otto were a female diva I might worry, but I think he would do well with a friend. And having a very experienced person to bond them in a neutral zone makes me feel better too.

DH’s other argument is that Otto won’t like us once he has a bunny friend. I think this is silly – he spends 90% of his day ignoring us anyway. I don’t think getting him a buddy would put our evening snuggling to an end. It might even draw him out of his shell a bit and make him more comfortable with wood floors, outside, couches, vegetables, and all of the other things that make him nervous.

So help me out BBers! Give me some good reasons to tell my DH to convince him to get another. We always knew it was our goal to get another one someday, but I want to get him over the hump and start seriously considering it. He sometimes says he wants to wait until we have a house, but I think that’s just an excuse to put it off until some indefinite date (since we’re probably 3 years out from getting a house).

[Elrohwen]

Come on, how could he say no to this face?

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/15005134?recno=8

[Deleted User]

I think a second rabbit is no more work than one if they are a solid bond. It’s when you have trios etc that you really need more space. You don’t have to get a second bunny that is a large breed, choose a smaller one if space is a consideration. The thing with giving your rabbit a same-species companion is that when you are away, at work, on vacation, or sick, your rabbit has his main buddy always there with him. It will be a constant in his life. This will prevent stress. It’s why I chose two dogs over one in spite of the extra work. When I leave my animals alone I know they all have company and are really not stressing out.

[Elrohwen]

Thanks Petzy! I’m going to copy the responses from this thread and show them to him 🙂 I’m totally with you. When I go back to work, I’m going to feel so bad about leaving him home alone all day.

[Elrohwen]

Oh, and when I showed him that mini-lop from Petfinder (knowing that he would probably only agree to another lop) he said “But I want one the same size as Otto. And I want one in that fawn color you showed me” (referring to jnc’s Chubs). *eye roll* He’s just making excuses now.

[Deleted User]

You are a horse person; you must be aware of the many horses with stable vices that were cured of them by adding a stable companion, such as another horse, pony, or even a goat etc. Some racing horses that travel much have a cat as a constant companion in with them. It’s to reduce stress.

[Sarita]

The best reason I can think of is that you want one.

[Elrohwen]

Haha, Sarita, obviously a good reason! It took me a few months to get him to agree to one bun, so hopefully it’s just a matter of time before I wear him down 😛

[Deleted User]

Along those lines, I do believe the bad effects of boredom from singularity are still not fully understood but they are mentioned even in veterinary literature. Think of the lonely cow that gets a tire hanging in a tree in her pasture for company. It’s sad but it’s in an attempt to provide that company that is so important. Maybe DH will agree that company is a health-improving thing.

[Deleted User]

But why do you want a second? — I believe we all feel a little sad looking at an animal by itself. My friend gave up a bunny many years ago, she said she felt so sad and guilty looking at her alone in her cage.

[Elrohwen]

That’s a good point. He does seem lonely and bored a lot. Well, it’s hard to tell if he’s bored or just laid back 😉 But I just think about him spending his afternoons cuddling with a bunny friend, instead of sitting by himself in his maze haven, and it makes my heart melt.

[Elrohwen]

I think a friend might make him less-standoffish and braver with his many phobias (floors, couches, etc). And when I do start working again, we’ll both be gone for 10 hours a day – that’s just so long to be home alone. And we won’t be getting a dog or a cat, so he really is totally alone in the house.

[Elrohwen]

And it’s silly, but I think DH is secretly afraid that he won’t love the new bun. He didn’t really think he would love the first one, but he’s fundamentally an animal person and fell head over heels for Otto. It’s totally unreasonable for him to think he won’t also love the new bun, but I think that’s how he feels.

Men! Who knows what they’re thinking 😉

[Deleted User]

I used to think it was not necessary to provide company for rabbits during the day as that is their sleep time. After observing my bonded rabbits I noticed that they always sleep huddled together… So this is to say that even a sleeping bunny will still prefer company.

[Deleted User]

Posted By Elrohwen on 03/18/2010 11:21 AM
  It’s totally unreasonable for him to think he won’t also love the new bun, but I think that’s how he feels.

Men! Who knows what they’re thinking 😉

 

men are so complicated too….

[corpathina]

oh jeez, i’m so glad you posted this. i’ve been debating getting MJ a pal for a while now and can’t decide if it’s a good idea or not. at first i told myself if one just happened into my life i would go for it, but now i find myself actively looking. i even found a special needs bun at a shelter in dallas that i would love to take care of. -sigh- but i just don’t know if it’s a good idea because of several reasons. i’ll wait a while to discuss that, though. i won’t hi-jack your thread yet. hehe

i think in your situation, el, it would probably be okay. does DH know exactly how the bonding process works? i could see why he might be skeptical if he thought it might take a long time or require tons of space. i would definitely push the companion benefits for otto like everybody is saying. it’ll make him healthier and happier in the long run. it might take a while to convince him, but if you’re dead-set on it, he’ll wise up. =)

do YOU have any reasons you’d be hesitant to get a second? or are you all green lights?

[Elrohwen]

Corpathina, hi-jack away! Hearing other owner’s reasons for and against will help. If your “against” reasons don’t apply to us, maybe DH will see that we’re actually in a good position for a second.

DH has no idea how bonding works actually, so you’d think he’d be more likely to jump right in! Haha. I think he does think we’d need a second cage and was skeptical that Otto’s current cage would be big enough for two as it is. I wouldn’t look at getting a bun much bigger than him, and his current set up is 8’x4′ – I’m sure another bun could fit in there just fine! 😛

And with such an experienced bonder, I’m so confident that we can get it done quickly and pretty painlessly. I didn’t seriously consider a second bun until I recently learned that Linda would do the bonding for me – that takes away all my fears that the bond won’t work out.

The only other issue I can think of is that we only have our landlord’s permission to have one right now. However, he’s personally seen how clean Otto is, so I don’t really think it would be an issue to get him to agree to another one living in the same cage. We’re up for signing our lease soon and I’m sure he realizes how valuable we are as tenants right now 😛 I just don’t want to bug him about it until DH is more onboard.

[Monkeybun]

El, take him around tot he shelters.. he’s meet a bun he can’t resist

[Elrohwen]

Haha, good call, MB. The place I volunteer only has one or two single females – the rest are all pairs. And the other rescues are all foster networks 🙁 But I think taking him to the rescue I work at would help give him the bunneh fever!

[Sarita]

You have someone who would do the bonding? Then I see no reason why not.

Or you could get him bonded with his friend and bring them both home and tell him that Otto laid an egg and this is what hatched :~)

[Elrohwen]

LOL Sarita. Fantastic idea!

[mrmac]

I agree with what Petzy said. Going from one to two really isn’t that much of a noticable difference. Having more than two really increases space needs, but having said that your pen you currently have is the same size (mine is a 5’x8’ish area) that I have my trio in. My trio is out all day though, so the pen size you have now is awesome for two. I say go for it!!!

[Sage Cat]

I strongly agree with the fact that a second bun is a companion that not only reduce stress, but prevents boardem and loneliness – aka destruction!

Not to mention the incredible cuteness of two snuggled bunnies!!

The shelter here does the same bonding technique – they take in your single bun and try him/her out with several potentials and then watch them closely for several days. It is a huge win/win for every bun!

[Elrohwen]

Thanks Sage!

I feel like we’re limited in our options. 1. Because my rescue bonds almost all of their buns, so they don’t have a lot of singles. And 2. because DH is very picky about what he would get. I know Otto should choose his gf, but I just know what DH will only let me get a bun he also likes. There’s a great REW mini-rex girl at the rescue who would totally fit into our home, but he won’t even consider her. He’s kind of ridiculous … haha. I would be willing to wait until the right loppy bun came along, but I kind of want to get him moving on it since Nikki could be that perfect bun.

[Sarita]

Has he had a chance to pet and interact with the rex? I just don’t see how anyone can resist a rex :~) It’s funny to me to hear how picky he is.

[Elrohwen]

He is so picky. He literally told me we could only get a bun if it was a fawn colored Holland Lop. Ok, geez, we’re never going to find that! I find a super cute mini-lop – isn’t that good enough? I’m all for getting another lop too, so I’m willing to work with his lop preference, but anything beyond that seems ridiculous.

He hasn’t met the rex and I might have to take him to see her. She is very sweet! He has this “I don’t want a white bunny” rascist thing going on 😛

I think it’s all excuses because he’s not sold on the idea of getting one. And he thinks he’ll love it more if it’s the “perfect” bunny, which isn’t true. But he’s picky about everything in life and I think that’s extended to the bunnies.

[Sarita]

I think you are right, he’s trying to make an impossible request knowing that it is going to make it harder. I mean who really goes around looking for a very specific rabbit down to the color and type and thinking you are going to find just that one. Husbands!

I bet she is a sweetie. Has he ever petted a rex? Sometimes just petting a rex can make one change their mind. There is nothing quite as soft as that rex fur.

[Elrohwen]

The only bun he’s ever petted is our bun! His mom is visiting next week and I’m going to take her to the rescue. Maybe we’ll drag him along to check out the prospects (unfortunately the mini-lop girl isn’t at my rescue, but there is the rexy girl and maybe 2 other single girls)

[mrmac]

Rex bunnies are amazing! They have such personalities!

[Monkeybun]

My hubby is like that. Our next bun has to be a grey lop lol.

[Denise12]

I am definitely in the same boat as you in the next year. I would like to get buster a friend. I have no idea what bonding entails though.

[Elrohwen]

Denise, I would start readng the info now. If you wait to read about bonding until right before you get a second bun, you might change your mind! Haha. It’s kind of overwhelming at first and you don’t really know how your bonding experience will go until you’re in it. I’m very glad that 1. my bun is male (it’s supposed to be easier to introduce a female into a male’s territory) and 2. he’s laidback – I don’t think he would be overly aggressive towards a new bun.

And 3. I have an expert to help!

[Beka27]

I have an abnormal bias towards uppy-eared rabbits. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Max… but there is just something so “rabbity” about uppy ears. I would go into anything with an open mind. First of all, you really should try and let Otto date if your rescue allows. If not, and you are going to make the decision… make it based on PERSONALITY, NOT LOOKS. I cannot stress this enough. You say that Otto is aloof, maybe there is a love bug out there for you the second time around. Or one who is adventurous and bold and comes when called. It happens. If the new bunny is doing all this stuff, maybe Otto will join in.

Physical appearance and ear position is so much less important than what the rabbit acts like, how he/she behaves, and how well he/she integrates into the family. You may find a beautiful lop but if she hates Otto and bites and chews and can’t hit the litterbox to save her life… suddenly, her appearance won’t matter a bit to you. This may sound harsh, but it’s reality. I want a second bun to be a positive experience for you.

As far as reasons, there really are no good reasons not to get a second, as long as you can afford the vet care and have space. For bonding, Otto’s space would probably have to be decreased by half to make room… but this is just temporary.

[Elrohwen]

Beka, I do totally agree with you. I just wish I could get DH to agree! I’m willing to prefer lops when we’re looking (for my husband), but I absolutely want Otto to meet any new bun first and I won’t adopt if they don’t seem to get along. I also won’t get a second bun if she doesn’t fit into our family and lifestyle – I love that Otto is well behaved and allowed to have a lot of freedom and I want his new buddy to have the same things. Bunny Nikki seems to have all of these qualities from reading her ad, so I’m willing to consider her a strong possibilty. I guess I feel like I need a compelling bun that DH likes to get him into the idea. If we meet Nikki and the introduction doesn’t go well, he may be more likely to consider other bunnies since he’ll be invested in the idea. At least I hope so. At this point he’s not really on board and I don’t think he’ll get on board if I can’t show him any bunnies that he would be interested in.

Bunny dating is an option, though difficult. Most of the rescues around her are foster networks, so you kind of have to date one at a time. The place I volunteer at allows dating, but unfortunately there are only 2-3 single girls as the owner bonds almost all of her buns into pairs before adoption. Our options would be limited there. There actually is a single loppy female (and another lop who I think is a girl), but I won’t even consider them because of their personalities. I do think the REW rex girl would fit in well with our home and Otto’s personality, but I need to get DH to consider her as an option. Of course, I’d be willing to wait – if we can be officially “looking” the rescue owner will hold off on bonding any new girls she gets in so that we can have a chance to see if she’d be a fit for us.

[Beka27]

And you don’t have to hurry. 

Although it’s difficult not to rush… b/c the sooner you bond, the sooner you get to see snuggles like this:

 

 

[Elrohwen]

Oh my goodness, my heart just melted. I am showing DH that picture as soon as he gets home!

[Moonlight_Wolf]

When I was thinking of getting another bunny, the thing I was the most worried about was that Fern would not love me anymore, she would spend all of her time with thistle. And I have to say that at first it will feel like they are ignoring you, but for me at least, Fern was back to her old self within a month. She still is a lovebug and it truly puts my heart at rest to know that she is not alone in the day when I am at school. Allso it really melts my heart when I see Thistle and her sleeping together – they really do love each other.

[Elrohwen]

Moonlight, that’s a great story! I know this is something my DH fears, and I would be lying if I didn’t fear it a little bit as well. It’s taken us a year to get Otto to the point he’s at with cuddling and it would be sad to have him start ignoring us after all of the patience and loving we’ve put in. He’s not a particularly outgoing bunny, but he has come out of his shell a lot. I would be sad if he went back into that shell with another bunny, but I also think there’s a chance that a second bunny could make him even more outgoing.

[Monkeybun]

Monkey’s gotten more snuggly with em since the bonding sessions started… she lets me pick her up and carry her around a bit now

[LoveChaCha]

My dad suggested a few minutes ago: when we move, you should get another bunny.

I’m not 100% with that. I would love to give Koucha a friend, however, I will be going to school for a year and can only handle the responsibliy of one bun for the time being. People have critized me that by the time I DO get my bunny a friend, she will hate the other bunny with everything she has because she has been used to being alone.

Anyways, my dad is smitten with my bunny, but the poor baby runs away wheneve she sees him

My dad and I will be moving into an apartment sometime this year when the house sells. he said that the bunny can go into the sun room (which is attached to the living room, no doors to go through!). I told him I will have to put up curtains for bunny so she doesn’t overheat.

[jerseygirl]

People have critized me that by the time I DO get my bunny a friend, she will hate the other bunny with everything she has because she has been used to being alone.

Bleh. People will always find something to criticize about. It’s as much about if you’re ready for a 2nd as it is about a friend for ChaCha. Sounds like your Dad wants a bunny of his own….

Elrohwen, have you consisdered fostering? If your DH agreed to this, it would be good way to see what a 2nd bunny in household would be like. Also will expose him to different types and personalities. It would seem less permanent (with a high chance of foster-failure of course. ).

[LoveChaCha]

jerseygirl – my dad has always had a soft spot for animals. i grew up with many animals: 3 cats, fish, 2 birds, a dog, and even an orange bunny at one point. i think he doesn’t want her to be lonely if i am busy doing something else.

people will complain.. they don’t know what is good for others i plan to take chacha speed dating once i get settled down after i finish my school next fall.

[corpathina]

see, i’m in a pickle with bunny dating as an option. i live in a pretty small college town and the closest rescue is either baton rouge (4 hours away) or dallas (4 hours away). i don’t think i’d really be able to do much bunny dating..

but el, i totally understand how DH is picky. my guy is like that.. when we agreed to take MJ we didn’t know what he looked like and after we got him home he told me he was so disappointed that he “didn’t look like a rabbit.” and he reminds me all the time that he hates that MJ doesn’t look “normal” and that’s he’s ugly. whatever, he’s my adorable teddybun and i don’t care what people say.

i guess my apprehensions for getting a second bun would be:

1) i’ve never bonded buns before

2) i have no idea how MJ would react to another rabbit (i tend to think he’d be happy as he’s somewhat curious and non-threatended about the neighbor’s dog)

3) being at such a far distance from a rescue, i’m not sure i’d be able to bunny date and find a good mate for MJ

now the reasons i DO want to get another bun are obvious – all the reasons you guys are saying and all the reasons i’ve read about.

i guess if i were closer to a rescue i would feel far more confident about getting MJ a pal.

i think the fostering idea is great for you, el. maybe having another rabbit in the house would get him used to it and like jersey said might not be “temporary” afterall

[Monkeybun]

hehe cor, i drove 3 hours to get Monkey, maybe you could make a weekend out of dating for MJ, pack him up, drive to dallas or baton rouge, do some dates, spend the night, drive back the next day. Arrange the dates in advance so its all ready for when you get there

[TARM]

Thinking of reasons to get a second bunny is easy. Thinking of reason NOT to get an 8th bunny is really, really hard.

[Elrohwen]

Ehh, *I* think fostering is a good idea, but DH does not! He doesn’t want to take up any more room with cages and a foster bun would definitely need to be in a separate cage. He’s ok with fostering once we get a house, but he just isn’t interested at the moment 🙁

I agree with MB – it would be great to take the day and drive out to a rescue, do some dating, etc. I think it would be totally worth it.

Well, DH seemed a little more ok with getting a second last night. I kept bugging him and we finally ended with “Ok, I’ll think about it some more”. So that’s a good sign! I think he’s starting to see the pros instead of just the cons. Yay! I’m going to call our landlord today (before DH comes home) and see if he’s ok with a second bunny. I’m kind of nervous because he wasn’t thrilled about the first … but we are up for renewing our lease so hopefully he keeps that in mind.

[Barbie]

I want to weigh in on this with my two cents becasue I went through some similar concerns before I got Jeannie.

My boyfriend told me he wanted a “cute little one” that he could hold, lol.  But he was also open to which ever bunny Leroy picked. 

I was also concerned that Leroy wouldn’t love me any more.  But he’s just as cuddly with me, and he still licks me like before.  But before it was constant and actually kind of annyoing… but now he has his girl friend to love on!  I’ve also noticed that he doesn’t get into as much trouble.  Now, don’t get me wrong, when they want to cause trouble, the two of them together can cause lots of chaos!  But Leroy isn’t out looking for trouble all the time.  Since I got Jeannie, I haven’t had any issue with cords being chewed!

I wasn’t sure how the bonding would go, I was worried about it becasue I’d never done a bonding before, but I lucked out and had an easy bond!  I think the dating really helped Leroy chose somebun that he got along with and that made the bonding easy.

Good luck!

[Elrohwen]

Well, good news – my landlord is totally ok with a second bunny! I’m still trying to get in touch with the one rescue (email and phone call have not been returned) but at least now I can safely fill out an application with my landlord’s approval. Just gotta get DH’s approval! But I think I’m wearing him down.

Barbie, thanks for sharing! I know you had such an easy bond with your two – I can only hope I have the same! Otto doesn’t like licking me, but he does like licking DH and I know DH is concerned that he won’t get kisses anymore. I’m just excited that maybe the new bunny will kiss me! Haha.

This morning Otto was in his cage causing havoc. He was throwing his dishes around, messing up his blanket, digging like a fiend. Maybe he’s having fun, but I also feel like it’s boredom. I tried to go over and keep him company, but he’s really not interested in humans until about 5pm unless they come with treats 😛 This is why I think he needs a friend! I also can’t imagine him being aggressive with another bunny. Maybe some humping, maybe some fur pulling, but if he was with another calm bun I can’t imagine him starting an all out fight (all bunny owners say that though ) so I think he’d be a good bonding candidate.

[Sarita]

Sounds like your persistence is paying off. If the rabbit rescue is an all volunteer organization just be patient – they probably all work full-time.

[Elrohwen]

That’s true, Sarita. It is a foster network, so I imagine they all have jobs. I’m so used to the rescue I volunteer at – the woman works full time for the buns, so she responds within minutes! I’m impatient 😛

I’m going to take a good look at the single girls at my rescue next Wednesday too and make sure I know who’s available. I think there are potentially two who might work out for us.

[Barbie]

Is the rex one of them?! I HIGHLY recommend a rex! Leroy is the best! Well, Jeannie is also the best… I love his fur and everyone that meets him comments on his fur!

[Elrohwen]

Yep, I think the rexy girl is the top contender at the place I volunteer. She’s incredibly sweet (even before her spay, which was only a few weeks ago) and loves attention. I think she would be lazy like Otto and not too much of a trouble maker. I love a couple of the boys there, but man, they would be up and over my bunny proofing in seconds! I couldn’t deal with a bun that was too crazy or curious, but Megan the rex seems great. She’s soooo soft too!

[TARM]

I wish I had a friendly rex. Digger is a little butthole-bunny. :0(

[Beka27]

I found that with my girl, having a mate around calmed her waaaaay down. It wasn’t a constant struggle of “I want attention right now!” b/c she has Max to snuggle up with… It is also possible that there are more rabbits available that are not listed yet. Maybe they’ve just been rescued and they are not spayed yet so they are not *officially* up for adoption. Also, not all rescues update their listings all the time. So any of those buns may no longer be available, but you’ll find out more info about how they operate once they approve you. Are there links to this rescue?

[Elrohwen]

Beka, here is the link to the rescue I found the loppy girl at: Rabbit Allies of CT – http://dlf.cotse.net/rabbitalliesct/

This is the rescue I volunteer at, but I know all of the bunnies there, including the ones not listed (Megan the rex isn’t posted yet): Hop-a-long Hollow – http://www.hopalonghollow.org/

And here’s the third major rescue in CT; they’re also a foster network like the first: 3 Bunnies - http://3bunnies.org/

I heard back from Rabbit Allies about Nikki – she is available and they think she’d be a good fit for us. The best part is that DH agreed to go out and meet her next week (with Otto)! I’m very excited. He’s still not sure he wants to get a second – I think he wants to go and see how much he likes her, see how much Otto likes her, etc. However, if she’s not a good fit I don’t think he’s really interested in bunny dating with random buns – he’s still looking for something specific  I can’t really change his mind about that right now, so I just hope she and Otto get along well and she’s as well behaved as her Petfinder ad said. I think if she’s a good fit he won’t be able to say no. If she’s not a good fit, I’ll just have to keep browsing Petfinder and stay in touch with the rescues until the “perfect bunny” (his words) comes along.

[Sarita]

That’s so odd that he has a specific rabbit in mind. It makes me feel like he’s trying to discourage you. I think if that was the case with me, I would have to tell him it’s not about him, it’s about finding the right rabbit that will get along with Otto, I mean really that is the “right rabbit”. Not some superficial rabbit he’s dreamed up that probably doesn’t even exist.

[Elrohwen]

Sarita, I really hope he comes around to that way of thinking. I think in his mind, he’s in absolutely no hurry. So if it takes another two years before we find the perfect cute loppy bunny who also likes Otto and is well behaved, then he’ll wait for that. I think he doesn’t want to rush into getting just any bunny. If Nikki turns out to be that “perfect bunny” I don’t think he’ll be able to turn her down, but otherwise we’ll probably have to wait a bit. But maybe with every bunny he meets he’ll warm up to the idea a bit more and open his mind.

I have to say, he was reluctant to get Otto and didn’t think he’d enjoy having a bunny. Now he’s obsessed with Otto! He just doesn’t like change and he sees getting a new bunny as making a big change. If I can get him to take the plunge I’m sure he’ll be head over heels for whatever new bun we get.

[corpathina]

i can understand being hesitant to change. i’m pretty resistant when it comes to changing (especially when you’ve got a good thing going). but that being said, i think as soon as he realizes having a second bunny would be for the betterment of the situation, he’ll open up to it.

MB – you’re so right about making a weekend trip. good idea. i guess i just thought you had to go multiple times or something. if i could do it in one weekend it would be okay. i guess it just depends on how he reacts to other buns.

i feel so dumb because i really think MJ is ready for a buddy but i don’t know if I’M ready for him to have a buddy. haha.. i guess i’ll give it more time.

i think i just wanted to adopt another because i saw this adorable nethie female with one eye.. 9 years old.. she’s at the rescue and while i know she’s up in age i wish i could adopt her to ensure she really enjoyed her elder years. but, my brain tells me that’s probably a bad idea, ultimately because i couldn’t ensure that she and MJ would bond. even if they did bond, i would hate to bond them knowing that she wouldn’t be around nearly as long as he would (though i’ve read that you shouldn’t keep buns from bonding due to age differences). also, i don’t know how well re-homing older buns really works.. i think it boils down to me wanting to take care of more buns but realizing that when it comes to bonding MJ, i need to be far more careful and methodical about it. i guess it’s really not up to me who would come home with us, huh? hehe..

well i’m glad i jumped in on this thread because i think i’ve talked myself out of getting another rabbit right now. i just need to steer clear of petfinder.com and all the rescue websites for a while. the melt my heart..

however, i totally think otto needs a friend and it seems like you’ve thought it through, el. when are you guys gonna get a house? is it in the near future? i mean, if DH absolutely insists you wait til you get a house, would that be a really long time?

[Elrohwen]

Unfortuntely the house isn’t in the cards for at least 3 years, maybe 4 🙁 They’re just so expensive here that we really need to take our time and save up a huge downpayment (and we’re maybe 1/3 of the way there). It’s not really a near future thing. I can understand waiting for a house to foster, or have two pairs, but I don’t see any reason we can’t have one pair right now. It’s not like we’re in a studio apartment – it’s a two level townhouse plus basement! Haha. Nikki sounds like a sweet bunny, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed that our meeting goes well (still don’t have a date, but it should be this week).

I just sent in the adoption application – that thing is intense! I’m glad they’re picky, but they asked about 5 times (in different wordings) under what circumstances I would give up the bunny. Uhh, none? I felt weird giving that same answer over and over. She’s going to call our references too, so I told them to say nice things about us 😛

I’m sure you’ll feel it’s the right time to get MJ a buddy at some point. You’re still in school right? I think that alone would make me want to wait. It’s easier to think it out when you are out in the job world. And I’ll admit, I’m pretty nervous about bonding! I hope that the rescue owner is willing to help me or do it for me, but if I’m not adopting one of her buns I can’t impose on her too much (though she’s so nice, she’ll probably just offer). Still, it’s a big thing to get into and I’m definitely nervous about it. This is probably a good time to get a second since I’m unemployed – I have plenty of free time to devote to getting them bonded quickly. Then when I do go back to work, Otto can have a buddy.

[corpathina]

ah yeah, 3 or 4 years is too long to wait. i’m glad y’all are taking your time, though. my sister and her husband just closed on a house that didn’t fit their needs because they got impatient. everybody’s happy for them but i’m pretty annoyed with their hastiness as they don’t plan to stay there very long and they’re just gonna lose money on it. instead of finding what they really wanted and needed (and WAITING till they found it), they just jumped into a 6 figure commitment that isn’t even what they want! aaggghhh.. oh well.

i forgot you’d be at home with them. boy! that seems like the perfect time to bond, then! i’m sure you’ll do an awesome job, especially with help close by.

and yes, i’m still in school. that’s a big part of the reason i want to wait (but also a big part of the reason i think he needs a pal). i think the major reason that i’m hesitant is that i’m really not sure of my current relationship and as we live together, there could be a move in the near future. i don’t want MJ to be lonely, but i also don’t want to overload him with too many changes too quickly. even if we don’t break up, my boyfriend says we can’t have another rabbit and he’s already got a terrible attitude about MJ (which honestly is one of the major things that started to make me doubt this relationship). so i think i’ll just wait till things are a little more stable. i’ll live vicariously through you guys and hope that MJ can’t wait to have a bunny friend.

[Elrohwen]

I’ve had some co-workers push me to buy a house, but I don’t see the point. I definitely want to put down a 20% deposit and here that’s $50-70k! That’s a lot of money. And I don’t want to empty our savings account, so we’d need more than that just have a cushion. I like where we’re renting so we’ll just hold off. That’s too bad your sister rushed into it! Definitely not a good idea to buy if you’re not going to be there for at least 5 years. I definitely understand the need to get a house – I can’t wait for a yard, a dog, and some more bunnies, but I’d rather wait and get a great place for the right price.

That’s a shame about your relationship! I’m really glad we waited to get Otto until we were engaged – if we had split up we both would’ve wanted him! At least you know that he’ll be only yours if you do have to move out. If you do move out, that might be the perfect chance to get another one – they’ll be on neutral territory and you can start fresh in a new place. I think they might have an easier bond that way.

[corpathina]

very good suggestion! that prospect might make the break up a little easier! haha! =D

[Elrohwen]

Well, Bunny Nikki, our front runner, is no longer available 🙁 Originally her owners adopted another bun, then returned it saying she was “crazy”. So the rescue let them adopt Nikki, but within a week or two they said they decided a bunny wasn’t for them. The rescue owner wasn’t able to take her back right then, but asked the owners to hold on to her til they found a home. Well, now, a few months later, they’ve decided they’re keeping her. Even though they don’t want a friend for her, but admitted she seems lonely. It makes me sad. It would’ve been one thing if she hadn’t been right for Otto or us, but I’m sad that her people were calling the rescue twice a week trying to get rid of her for so long. I hope they’re really good to her!

Now on to my other options. How does everyone feel about unspayed buns? There is a shelter near me that has 6 or 7 unspayed loppy females who look adorable. They’re all living together (!) at the moment, which means they must at least like other buns (and I think they’re over a year, not babies). The rescues in the area will get me a reduced price spay if I rescue one of these buns, but we’re worried about getting an unspayed girl and then having the bonding be very difficult after spaying. I guess it’s worth meeting them and if Otto gets along with one very well unspayed, the chances of them still getting along after are pretty good right?

There’s also a huge amazing bunny named Taylor. She loves to be picked up and snuggled, loves to watch tv with you, and bonds instantly to almost anybody! I want! She’s 7.5lbs and DH is worried that we just don’t have the space to make such a huge bun happy (we can’t really devote a room to them). How big of an area does that size bun really need? I think we’re going to look at her anyway because she sounds amazing, but I certainly wouldn’t want to squeeze her into a too small area.

[Beka27]

Seven pounds is not THAT huge! It’s not like we’re talking about an 18 pound flemmie! The space I have seen in your living room would be perfectly adequate for both of those bunnies. Don’t get so caught up on the little details, look at the big picture. Personality is the key.

For that same reason I would personally be a bit iffy about getting an unspayed bunny. You would need a totally separate area for her during the healing time, and if your husband wants the least possible changes, I don’t think he’ll be happy with that. And really, you have no idea what personality you’ll get post-spay. I mean, you can do it… I would just keep that in mind as a last resort. You would not want to introduce Otto and the girl prior to her spay, so you would be taking a big chance at them not bonding.

[Elrohwen]

Yeah, I’m also very iffy about the unspayed girls. The rescue owner (who does not know these bunnies personally) seems hopeful, but I dunno. I think it might be worth going to take a look. It’s a shame that none of the humane societies spay or neuter – they’d probably have an easier time adopting them out.

I’m glad you said 7.5lbs isn’t too big! I think DH is imagining something the size or our friend’s 15lb dog 😛 She really sounds fantastic, so we’re definitely going to meet her. She’s currently living in a trio, but the other female of the trio doesn’t really like her. It sounds like she’s a total love and the fosterer would keep her if it wasn’t for her other female.

[Karla]

So did you finally convince him to get another or are you still in the process of convincing him? It is so exciting to get a new bunny!

Perhaps if he gets to choose the bunny, you will have more luck. My boyfriend was not involved with the decision, when we got Molly as our second bunny, and unfortunately, he never really liked her looks or personality. It is only just now almost 8-9 months later, that he has accepted her. I think she is growing on him though. He loves Karl to bits, and that is because he actually chose Karl, so he feels that Karl is his.

 

[Elrohwen]

Hey Karla! I’m still convincing him I think, but he’s agreed to look at some bunnies, so that’s a start. He won’t let me get anybunny he doesn’t love, which is probably good – I wouldn’t want to end up in a situation like yours where he just didn’t like the bunny I picked. Though it would be so much easier if he let me have free rein to pick whatever bun Otto and I wanted.

Unfortunately he’s really picky, and about half of the bunnies in the area are unspayed Humane Society bunnies. The rescue owner I’ve been working with thinks we should try meeting some of these unspayed girls and see how it goes. She said in her long experience, if they get along when the girl is unspayed, the will continue to get along after spaying. I’m not sold on the idea, but I’m willing to meet some bunnies. The rescue owner would almost rather I go this route because I would be saving a bunny from a kill shelter.

But we’re still looking! Easter is in just a few weeks, so there might be a big influx of bunnies and I know the rescues are all full.

[Karla]

Posted By Elrohwen on 03/21/2010 07:16 AM
Now on to my other options. How does everyone feel about unspayed buns? There is a shelter near me that has 6 or 7 unspayed loppy females who look adorable. They’re all living together (!) at the moment, which means they must at least like other buns (and I think they’re over a year, not babies). The rescues in the area will get me a reduced price spay if I rescue one of these buns, but we’re worried about getting an unspayed girl and then having the bonding be very difficult after spaying. I guess it’s worth meeting them and if Otto gets along with one very well unspayed, the chances of them still getting along after are pretty good right?

Here shelters don’t neuter the bunnies either. Molly was not spayed when I got her. I got her Friday and introduced her and Karl to each other, and it was instant love because of her hormonal scent, I think. She was spayed Monday morning and was kept in her cage until Thursday, because she was feeling poorly. Karl was sitting outside her cage all the time just starring at her, so they still had a chance to socialise and get to know each other. Thereafter I let them out together under supervision, which went fine. Karl was still completely besotted by her and tried to hump her (he has just been neutered 4 weeks earlier), but she just moved away when he tried and after 3-4 failed attempts, he didn’t try anymore. And that was it, they were bonded.

So no need to worry about the bonding after the spay.

[Elrohwen]

Yeah, I figure if an unspayed female doesn’t rip Otto’s ears off, she’ll probably continue to like him after 😛 I’m willing to try it if a bunny seems promising (obviously if she’s trying to kill him through cage bars, I won’t even put them together). It would be a bit more expensive, but I could get a spay rate of $200 since it would be a rescue bunny (one of the rescues would get the spay done for me) rather than the $400+ it would cost on my own. But still, that’s probably $250 for a bun instead of $75 (which is what the rescues charges for an already spayed bun). Though like I said, in the rescue owner’s eyes, I’m saving a bun from a kill shelter – the buns she has are all already saved, even if they don’t have forever homes yet.

I would definitely prioritize a spayed girl over an unspayed one though! No doubt about that.

I really wish the rescue I volunteer for didn’t bond all of their bunnies! They can take in more that way, but I think they’d have more luck adopting them out if they were singles and it would give me more options.

[Karla]

I see the point about bonding the bunnies at the shelter, but it does make it more difficult for us who already have one or more and only wish to get one more. Have you considered Craigslist?

I’m looking forward to hearing more updates about the new bunny

[Elrohwen]

I did do a quick Craigslist check today and I dunno … I kind of have a moral thing against it. There really aren’t too many bunnies around here, but I did find a listing for a promising spayed female. I definitely wouldn’t get a non-spayed one off Craigslist because I would be stuck with the whole $450 bill. I guess Criagslist is no different than a courtesy posting on Petfinder by a rescue, but I guess I just don’t trust working with individual owners. Maybe I’ll email the owner of the spayed female and see if anything comes of it.

[lwayne]

I enjoyed reading this post. I am in the same spot now, debating a second bun.. (I just posted in the bonding forum).

Please post pictures when you get your second bun!! I am curious to see what you will find and how quickly DH falls in love!

[jerseygirl]

This bun is the right colour at least.   Such a lovable face!   http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/15383871

[Sage Cat]

At the shelter here about 1/3 of the buns are single for when some one with a single bun is looking for a 2nd bun. And when you are talking 100 to 120 buns total – that is a lot of single buns!!

Maybe every one should come for a “Bonding” visit to Denver!!!

I totally agree about buying a house before you are ready!
A very long time ago I got pushed into getting a house I did not really want. After a year I moved – work reasons – and that house was on the market for 2 years, while I was renting another location. I lost an LOT of money.
Now J and I rent so that we can put our money into our business. Besides, in the long run a business is going to make us more money than a house will.
Bu the time we am ready to buy a house – or better yet, build it – I hope to be in it for a very long time.

[Elrohwen]

Jers, that little guy is so fricking cute! 🙂

As much as I hate Craigslist, the Craigslist bunny I found seems promising and we’re going to set up a meeting time. She’s a mini lop (I think), has perfect litter box habits and doesn’t destroy the house. Her owner is a young actress who doesn’t have enough time for her anymore, but has at least taken good care of her. She’s 3 years old and spayed (whoohoo!) – one of only two spayed buns I even saw on Craigslist. Hopefully she’ll be free to meet with us either Tuesday or Wednesday and we can figure out if she and Otto will get along. There are still some shelter buns that we were planning on meeting with this week or next, but I want to get this one out of the way and see if she’s a match or not. Being unemployed, I’ll admit that her being free is nice (not that we won’t end up spending a lot in food and things, but we’re trying to save every cent we can so it’s nice to find a free already spayed bun).

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