What would you do? (Helping 2 bunnies)

[Minty]

I am in quite a dilemma. Let me start from the beginning. 

A ‘friend’ on Facebook who I haven’t spoken to in a long time messaged me the other day. She apparently has two rabbits she needs to rehome and asked me if I wanted them. I guess she saw all of the pictures I post of my rabbits on FB. Anyways, the situation is that she lives 2-3 hours away from me in a rural area. They do not have any rabbit specific rescues and she said if she cannot find someone to take them she will send them to the shelter. I don’t think the shelter in her area deals with small animals so there is a high likelihood these buns would be put to sleep… I don’t think she really knows anything about rabbits and I’m not sure about the care these buns are getting. They were probably an impulse buy, as she told me she is now moving and unable to take them with her. 

Now, about the buns. They are two male unaltered and unbonded rabbits. One Netherland Dwarf and one Lionhead. She said they live beside each other and are friendly together. I am tempted to take these bunnies in as I fear she will sell them on craigslist or send them to the shelter where they will be euthanized.

I figure I have a few options.

A) I can go and get them from her and drive them back to my area where we have a rabbit specific rescue and surrender them. I do know that there is a waiting list for bunnies to actually be housed at the shelter though (which is someones house) so they would need to be fostered anyways. The small animal rescues in my area are very full though.  

B) I could foster them myself and try to find someone to take them. Or have them be put on the waiting list to be admitted to the shelter. 

C) Take them in permanently. However, I already have two rabbits and this would bring me to a total of four! I would also need to pay for both of their neuters. To be honest, I was thinking of adding a third bun to my house eventually but hadn’t ever considered a fourth. I do have the resources, time, and love to give to two extra buns but I’m not sure if four is too many. 

D) Leave them and let her take them to the shelter or rehome them to someone else. 

What would you do? 

[Sarita]

I doubt that your local rabbit rescue will take owner surrenders – most rabbit rescues take rabbits from shelters that are going to be euthanized.

I would ask her as well why she wants to rehome them and perhaps you can give her some suggestion on how she can keep them if it’s behavioral or care problems. I think that is what I would actually do, try to help her KEEP the rabbits.

If that does not work, I would strongly urge her to take them to a local shelter or humane society.

[Elrohwen]

I agree with Sarita for the most part. Though if nothing seems to work with her, I would consider fostering for a local rescue. My local rescues would be happy to post a listing for a rabbit and help find it a home if someone would foster it for them. But you run the risk of getting attached and ending up with two more (unaltered) rabbits.

[Sarita]

If it’s due to behavioral or care issues, you can always invite her to join the BinkyBunny Forum.

You do not want to start becoming a dump for unwanted rabbits. Also you need to think about your 2 rabbits first and foremost and you need to get them altered before you even consider getting another rabbit or fostering other rabbits. And you need to think about the cost of adding 2 more rabbits to your home…

[kralspace]

I agree with Sarita also. I’ve kept it pretty quiet around West that I have rabbits for that very reason, I don’t (didn’t) want to be the dumping grounds for unwanted pets because I know I have a problem turning them down. and my “fosters” turn out to be permenant so I don’t kid myself anymore.

I’ve seen so many ads on our local CL this week about bunnies suddenly being ‘found’ by the road, under houses, etc. I’ve quit looking because it makes me ill to think about what’s going to happen but I don’t want to wind up starring on an episode of Animal Hoarders either.

[Beka27]

This is prime “bunny dump” time. Two months after Easter and the novelty has worn off. Those sweet 8 week old bunnies are now 4 months old and starting to get stinky and destructive and people don’t know how to deal with it. So chances are very slim any rescue is going to take them. Also, you would be on record as someone who has surrendered bunnies. So next year, when your two are bonded and you want to adopt an altered, adult bunny for your trio, guess who’s going to get denied. You don’t want that.

I would let her deal with her own rabbits. You can’t save them all. They are not your responsibility.

[Minty]

Thank you for the replies everyone.
I have talked to her about keeping them but she seems to be really convinced that she can’t. I don’t think she has had them that long. They are around 5 months old. I think the circumstance is that she’s moving for school and will either be living in a dorm or with roommates and her family will not care for them for her when she leaves. (I know, she should have thought of this before buying these buns.)

Beka, I never thought of the shelter denying me for future adoptions after making a surrender… Thank you for the tip, I would not want to be on their records. I know I should let her deal with her own problem but obviously she is not very responsible and I fear these bunnies will end up in a bad situation.

Sarita, I have been thinking lots about my current 2 and that is the main reason I wouldn’t want to keep them. I am happy with my 2 and they are a nice match for me. I am able to give both of them lots of one on one attention. Sully is neutered, and Frankie will be neutered next month and that is when I can start bonding. I think adding two buns to the mix would set everything off balance. Also, you said to ask her to take them to her shelter. If her shelter doesn’t deal with small animals would they be put to sleep?

Elrohwen, I really want to foster them but I’m scared I will just end up keeping them! I get attached really easily.

Kralspace, there are tons of buns being rehomed right now on CL and I see this all the time… People claim they are moving to a place that can’t have pets so they have to get rid of them. This is even happening for dogs and cats. I don’t understand.

[Sarita]

Minty, I cannot say for sure if they will be put to sleep or not but you should not let that be on your conscience, that should be on your friend’s conscience since she’s the one who is convinced she cannot keep them.

[Andi]

Minty, send me a whisper, or call me (I think i gave u my number).

Just some info – In our Area many shelters do not accept rabbits, if there are loose (abandond) they will do nothing to get them, and they will not accept owner surendered… hence why we have so many feral colonies. The few Rabbit designated rescues (I think we have 2 now) are overflowing, so unless the animal is in major neglect situation the most they can do is give the home support and add the animals to their PetFinders adoptable list.
It stinks, but without Volunteers/Money/Locations there is only so much that can be done. I’d like to see the city run (etc.) Shelters start accepting owner surendered rabbits and other small animals. And more laws like the one past in Richmond banning the sales of Rabbits in pet stores.

[Minty]

Andi, I messaged you.

[Beka27]

Is there anyone you know, friend or family member, who would want a pair of rabbit? The only way I’d suggest you take them is if someone would be willing to, at the very least, house them until you could find another home. It would be too much hassle to bring them into your house, risk upsetting your two bunnies, and who knows what they may have healthwise.

(Keep this in mind too: Kralspace just acquired a homeless bunny that was perfectly healthy. Angelicvampire just acquired a surrendered bunny that needed an expensive dental surgery. It’s a crapshoot. Two neuters may not be the most expensive thing these bunnies require.)

[jerseygirl]

All good points. This sort of thing “gets on my goat” (whatever that means – lol) I fear your friend sees you as an easy solution to her problem. It makes it hard when you have a personal connection and it makes the rabbits very real to you when there future is sort of dropped in your lap like this. I think if this were me, I would have a hard time with this situation. I would feel I would want to take control as then I would know exactly where they end up.

I do think you have an opportunity to educate her and see if she will have the rabbits neutered and keep them. Even bond them. If this is a no-go, then work with her in finding them a home. I would be tempted to foster and rehome but I would sure as heck be pushing for her to get them fixed beforehand and help financially in their care while I was re-homing them. I would not think it fair she absolve herself of that burden and you shouldn’t have to take that on.

So, my post has probably not helped but I really do hope your friend will think and act differently once she’s aware of the rabbit situation (over-population, post-Easter surrenders, behaviour issues due to age, being left intact, euthanasia and so on and on and on).
You could be a great example to her on how to be a responsible pet owner. If she steps up and becomes one then she will become a great example to someone else down the track. Only good can come from that.

 

[Minty]

Well, to be honest, she isn’t really a friend… more of an acquaintance…
I honestly don’t think she really cares where the rabbits go and isn’t willing to invest in any neuter surgery. I don’t think she knows much about rabbits and just wants them off her hands. I have tried talking to her into keeping them but she brushes the suggestion off. So that is not an option.

[jerseygirl]

[Minty]

I think I might have a solution…
I have convinced her to keep one bunny… she says she cannot keep the second one since she will be living in a small apartment and says she won’t have the space for both of them. I’m not sure how true this is, but I figure that if she is willing to keep at least one of them and give it the proper care then it is worth it. She also doesn’t want to go through bonding them. So, there is the one bunny left, the Netherland Dwarf. I am considering taking him in… Either temporarily or permanently I’m not sure yet. Do you think this is an okay solution?

[Zombie-Sue]

I think that’s a good idea–take him in and see how things go (: You don’t have to make up your mind about wether or not it’s permanate immediately, after all.

And encourage her to get the other one neutered, or I think she’ll dump him off too x___X

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Minty-there are some really great rabbit rescues in BC-I know BC is a big province but I think I found three when I was looking.

I do agree encouraging them to keep is great-but often, well if they are going to rehome they will. Perhaps you taking them on and then rehoming yourself, as a great bunny owner who can properly screen, would be a good idea.

However you need to know these buns are not your responsiblity, and no matter what you do-your doing above and beyond. Don’t feel bad, duped or drug into this. Do it, if you want to and CAN. Only if. You cannot save everybunny, but if you can help these two-do so and feel proud and not sad that you couldn’t keep them youself

Google VRRA (Vancouver rabbit adoption and advocacy) They are great-might have some ideas. http://www.vrra.org/wp-beta1/

[Sarita]

Honestly, I don’t think you should take this bunny. I know it may be hard to say “no” but you really should and don’t look back and unfriend this person on Facebook.

[Beka27]

Posted By Sarita on 06/11/2010 05:22 AM
Honestly, I don’t think you should take this bunny. I know it may be hard to say “no” but you really should and don’t look back and unfriend this person on Facebook.

I agree.  When you get a third bunny, it should be on your own timeline, with your pair making the final decision on who is welcomed into your home.  I’d skip this.

[Minty]

Kokanee, both VRRA and SARS are overflowing in my area and those are the only rabbit rescues I know… The best they could do would be to put the bunnies on their website but they would still need someone to foster them. And as Beka said, if I surrender them I would be put on their records and it would be difficult for me to ever adopt from them.

Thanks for the insight everyone. I will have to think this one through. I have until the end of the month, as that is when she needs them gone.

[Beka27]

Can you take the opposite approach and encourage her to find them a new home this month. If she cannot rehome them herself, THEN she can call you at the end of the month and you *might* consider taking the bunnies. But let her know it’s not a guarantee that you will. Hopefully this will make her try and figure stuff out for herself.

[Sarita]

I would encourage you to have her continue looking for a home for them. She has plenty of time to do that. Place the burden back on her, not on you to have to make a decision by the end of the month.

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