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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A when to rehome a rabbit?

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    • renaelock
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        I’m in a tough spot right now and I’m looking for your opinions.  I feel like crap that I’m considering this but I know it’s going to have to happen eventually.  Long story shorter – I adopted two bunnies last year when I was single and planned to stay that way.  I got the bunnies out a lot and they got time out on a daily basis.  11 months ago I met someone.  Thats when the bunnies got out less and less and now they barely get out to play.  They get everything they need except time outside of the cage.  My relationship has now turned serious and we are considering getting engaged eventually and him moving in.  I barely have room my home for all my pets and myself and adding one more human would be a squeeze but I think we could handle that.  Problem is, we want to start a family sooner than later (after marriage) and I do not have room in this home for all of my pets and a child.  We are eventually going to move but I believe we will be in this home for a bit before moving to a bigger home.  I know I am think what seems to be too far in the future but 11 months went by like that so who knows how fast another year or two is going to go by.  I’ve been under a lot of stress lately and it’s in the front of my mind that I don’t have room for the rabbits when in reality I have room currently but I won’t have room in my future.  So my question is, I guess, should I keep these guys and be selfish until I cannot any longer or should I start looking for a home now?  I want to be responsible and this is killing me inside but I just don’t know – I do believe they will need a new home sometime in the future, so if I know that, when would be the responsible time to start looking for a family that will devote more time to them??  I read like I talk in circles so I hope I’m not too confusing.


      • LBJ10
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          So what’s the reason they don’t spend time out of their cage? Could you set them up differently? Like housing them permanently in an exercise pen (since I’m getting the impression you don’t have an entire room to dedicate to them). I guess I’m just not understanding what having a boyfriend has to do with the rabbits never getting let out to play. I don’t mean that to sound mean, but it just doesn’t make sense to me. Are there other things going on that you didn’t mention here?


        • LoveChaCha
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            Does your boyfriend like the rabbits?

            I agree with LBJ with a nice exercise pen would let them have a lot of room to roam and play around without worrying about not getting much exercise.


          • Kokaneeandkahlua
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              I too missed the reason for why they don’t have time out. When you get an animal you make a commitment, but it sounds like that commitment is sliding because you are dating?

              At any rate, if you feel they aren’t getting the love and attnetion they deserve AND need, I would say it’s not fair to make them live through that. We could certainly help you find a rabbit shelter in your area or figure out how to screen homes for a private adoption. IF they are not going to be your priority and not going to receive what they need, I do agree-it’s time to rehome. It’s better that they go through a transition period to live with someone who has time and means to care for them, then to be put aside while you do your thing. So although many people on here might be upset as they would never consider rehoming their pets, I think I agree and would be here to support you, while you find a forever home for them that is willing to care for them and their needs.

              Please let us know how we could assist you (with finding a shelter or helping you ask the right questions for a private adoption)


            • BinkyBunny
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                Posted By renaelock on 06/04/2011 06:44 PM

                So my question is, I guess, should I keep these guys and be selfish….

                I don’t think it is selfish at all to figure out a way to keep them. Having worked and volunteered at shelters and rescues,  I know they are are filled to the brim with rabbits, (and other animals of course), that have been given up due to their human’s life changes — moves, a new baby etc, and I always have a hard time understanding that because we have many members here that have moved, have children, busy jobs, limited space and yet are able to figure out a way to make it work  So I actually think you may be not giving yourself enough credit!  I would not give up just yet and work on ways to intergrate them into your new life.    I also like the xpen idea. 

                The good thing is they do have each other, and while that doesn’t mean they should be ignored, it does allow them to find companionship with each other.  . 

                 


              • Beka27
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                  You mentioned you adopted them, if you want to give them up, contact the rescue they came from (in some contracts, you may even be obligated to). We just had another bad experience on the board where I member rehomed her buns to a new family through an ad. She screened the family, everything seemed fantastic. A short time later, she found her pair up on another ad website. Had she not seen that site, who knows where her buns would have gone to.

                  Here is that thread: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/115695/afnp/238993/Default.aspx
                  This is not the first time we have seen this happen either.

                  I’m a firm believer that bunnies in a less than ideal situation but with love/proper care/diet/housing, are better off than with “the unknown”. Especially since they have each other, they are not starved for human attention.

                  We’d be more than happy to give tips and tricks for easy-to-clean housing, ways to minimize bunny chores, etc. I’m also curious to hear about your other pets, and your boyfriends opinion of the bunnies/other pets. You could be setting a dangerous precedent if he is not an animal lover like you are. Making a stand now and re-committing yourself would make it clear that you value your fur family, just as you will value your human family.

                  Finally, remember that life is cyclic. Last year wasn’t crazy, this year is, next year… who knows. Anything could happen. You won’t always be short on time/space. You made the commitment, you’re in this for long-haul.


                • renaelock
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                    Thank you for your replies! As far as rehoming them because of the boyfriend thats not really it – he’s not saying get rid of them. I do lack the physical space to have the rabbits cage attached to an expen so they can binky 24/7 or to give them any bigger of a cage (28 by like 42 technically 4 level nic cage). And while I currently don’t get them out much (I know in the short term that may change and I’ll have time to supervise and let them run), I am more concerned about putting them on the way back burner when I get married and start having kids. I know maybe a long ways away but I don’t believe that long- I’m a worry wart a little can you tell? Anyway, as far as the boyfriend goes he wouldn’t have made it with me for 11 months if he didn’t accept ALL of my pets – he’s not really an animal person but you couldn’t tell that if you watched him talk to my birds and rabbits . I would have not even dated him. I did talk to my boyfriend last night and he’s helped me feel better about the situation and decide that I should keep the bunnies and stop worring about the future for right now. I still feel bad about not getting them out as much as I use to but I’m hoping my busy schedule will pass and I will have the time once again. Oh and I have emailed my rescue and ask her about what I should do too, and I wouldn’t let them go to anyone without me or my rescue person doing their homework on the family to make sure they are going to be getting MORE than what I am giving them. I’d be rehoming to give them a better life not a worse one. It’s still a worry I have about rehoming my bunnies in the future but it really makes me feel better talking to my boyfriend and knowing that he doesn’t care if I rehome them right now because there is really no reason. I feel like I am thinking and talking in circles again but I have concluded for now I have no reason to rehome the bunnies other then the guilt of feeling bad for not getting them out but they do seem content being with each other and that makes me feel better about the whole dang thing too. Drama, I know and I apologize for feeling like I wasted a thread. I really do appreciate your replies. For those that are curious I have 4 dogs, 2 cats, 3 birds, and 2 rabbits. So imagine all of those pets and two people in a smallish house. The birds have a room, cats have a room (for night time and when I’m gone) the rabbits get a view in the living room and the dogs get the rest unless they are crated in certain areas of the house when I am gone. I was really giving my home to my pets because I was going to be single forever but love happened so it stressed me out a little trying to merge the two. I think I’m ok for now. I do want to be in this for the long haul but my worries/fears/thinking got in my way.


                  • Beka27
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                      This is all good to hear! It really does sound like you have a lot on your plate, but as was said, they have each other for company.


                    • brittbritt
                      Participant
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                        My husband is not a pet person. He doesn’t dislike animals just not really into them. I have a houseful of animals. We have had some tiffs over how many I have and the money spent on them. Just make sure before you get married that each of you have an idea of what to expect long term when it comes to your animals.

                        Take a breath now, stop worrying, and just enjoy your babies and boyfriend while all is going well. If something comes up it sounds like you have lots of friends on here who can offer sound advice.


                      • LittlePuffyTail
                        Moderator
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                          Maybe you could give them a bigger cage and then wouldn’t feel so guilty about them not having so much out-time. You can build an NIC cage to be tall, with several levels as opposed to wide and it won’t take up very much room. Check out the Bunny Info section for great pic ideas.


                        • Joyfull_music
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                            Families usually come with bigger homes, which means more space. Things may get tight for a while, but I personally would just deal with the situation until it gets better. I have a tiny little city house (3 bedroom, 1 bath, sorta useable basement, tiny yard) with myself, a husband, a room mate, 1 dog, 5 cats, the rabbit and reptiles. You just learn to make it work.

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                        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A when to rehome a rabbit?