Moving out – bringing my rabbit?

[Svandis]

I’m 18 y/o and moving out to study at a university. At home, we have two bunnies, brothers, who go together very well, one of them is mine and the other is my little sister’s. I really want to bring my bunny, but I’m worried it will be unfair to seperate them, seing that rabbits are social creatures who enjoy the company of other rabbits. I’m worried they will be lonely w/o each other. I’m also worried my sister won’t be able to take care of the one staying behind properly (she is 5..), and that my parents won’t be too supportive. (Don’t misunderstand, they will be well taken care of, but I’m afraid they won’t be entertained too much.)

If i bring a bunny, it will live indoors, with an indoors cage, but with access to wander around in the (bunnyproofed) apartment. At home, the bunnies live in a hutch outside, while they are braught inside to play etc for atleast two hours a day and occationally being taken outside in the garden to run around (which i will also do where i’m moving). 

I think that i either need to bring both of them (which would crush my sisters heart, so it’s not really an option), or leave them both behind so they’ll have company in each other. Also, I’m not sure i have the capacity or room to take care of two rabbits in my apartment (one will work, not sure about two). If i leave both of them behind, I’m wondering if i could get a third, new bunny and bring that one with me. I think that might be what’s best for the two brothers. But at the same time, i dont want to replace my little bunny with a new one.. I would feel so bad, and miss him like crazy, he’s my little baby… Gah, I reaaaally don’t know what to do! Please help me! 

Sorry for the long post, hope somebody read it  

[Monkeybun]

If they are bonded, it is rather cruel to separate them

[Svandis]

Yes, they have been together since birth. I really don’t think I am going to do it. But I really want a bunny with me. Would it be irresponsible of me to get a new one? My sister loves snuggling with my bunny, so she could kinda “adopt” him from me.. But it would be sad though.

[Svandis]

I have arranged for everything, i have the cage, i have bunnyproofed everything in the apt., and I’ve even bought food and toys. Just missing a bunny

[Svandis]

By the way, they are only about 4 months old, so my bunny would still be able to bond strongly with my sister, and the others still at home.

[Sarita]

I would not separate them. I doubt too that you will be allowed a pet in the dorm room. I do think you should not consider getting another rabbit either – you are going to be busier than you can imagine with going off to school. You may miss them, but you have to think what is best for your rabbits and their care. It’s hard not to be selfish, but you have to be grown up and be selfless :~) and think what is in the best interest of your rabbits.

I do hope your parents will make sure they are taken care of because a 5 year old is unable to care for herself, much less a rabbit.

[Svandis]

It’s not a dorm room, its a private apt. and i have gotten permission from the owners to have a rabbit there 🙂

Yes I know, it is sooo hard to not be selfish about this. On the other hand, I really do think I could take good care of a rabbit. The best thing I can do I think, is to wait untill school starts and see then if I have the time to nurture a rabbit.

[Roberta]

Have you discussed it with your parents, just to get an idea of how they feel. If you are moving out it will make them 100% responsible for the well being of the buns as your little sister is only 5 and though she loves them very much should not be placed in the position of being fully responsible. ( I always cringe and grit my teeth when I hear a parent say to a small child, “This is your responsibility not mine”)
Your parents might surprise you and be more than willing to take charge, alternately they may prefer that you take both buns in which case your sister may be upset but not as upset if something happens and she is unable to help them and not supported.
All in all a very difficult choice to make but as it is your parents home they really should have the final say in whether the buns go with you or one or both stay with your sister.

[Svandis]

I have talked a little with them, but they are not at home atm, so its hard to have this dialoge and make a firm desicion right now. But yeah, ofc they would take responsibility, they should understand that my sister is totally unfit to take care of them on her own. I would feel really bad for her if they expected her to take care of everything, and if i thought that would be the case I would def. bring them with me. But i do believe that they would step up to the plate And i will not be seperating them.

[longhairmike]

leave them at home together,,, i’m sure your parents aren’t paying 20 grand a year to have tons of free time to play with your bun.
you’re going to be too busy

[peppypoo]

How old are the rabbits? Are they neutered?

I agree that if they are bonded, it is best to keep them together no matter where they go. From experience, taking care of two rabbits isn’t much more work than taking care of one…you just tend to run through supplies faster. Also, if you end up with a bunny, no matter how many, be prepared for emergency vet bills that may come up.

If they stayed with your parents, is there any way you could convince your parents to let them live indoors? The bunnies could have more attention and be more a part of the family that way.

[Svandis]

They are just 4 months (soon atleast), så their relationship could change a great deal during puberty. As of now they go great together. They are not nutered but they are going to be. 

They’ll stay together. And yeah, I have a little saved up in case of an emergency

I have tried to ease the idea to my parents, but they don’t seem keen. If it were up to me, they would stay inside. But yeah, I will keep trying to make them reconsider. 

[Svandis]

Paying 20 grand for what? school? I am paying for everything myself. I have a scolarship and i have saved up enough money from working during the summer.

As for having enough time, classes are 4 times a week, just a couple of hours. So yeah, i’ll pretty much have more time to play with them than my parents will. Also, my boyfriend is moving in with me, so it/they won’t be alone too much. 

But I really get where you’re coming from. I just want to weigh up the pros and the cons. 

[Roberta]

Posted By Svandis on 08/03/2012 12:17 AM
As for having enough time, classes are 4 times a week, just a couple of hours. So yeah, i’ll pretty much have more time to play with them than my parents will. Also, my boyfriend is moving in with me, so it/they won’t be alone too much. 

But I really get where you’re coming from. I just want to weigh up the pros and the cons. 

 

Sounds like you’re doing the right thing. Looking at all the variables and making a decision based on fact.

In the end its whats best for all, your sis, you, the buns and your parents. You’ll know what is the best move in the end.

[Sarita]

You sound very mature and very smart. I think they idea of leaving them at home your first semester so you can acclimate to your new life is a good idea and then you will be ready for the pair on your second semester. I understand your little sister may be upset to see them go, but she is young and she will forget about it eventually.

[Elrohwen]

I think it’s a great idea to leave them at home for a semester or so, then bring them up. They are very young and still unfixed, so it’s quite possible they’ll need to be separated anyway when they go through puberty. If they don’t fight and remain together, then I agree with the others that they shouldn’t be separated and you could take both. Your sister is only 5 and unable to care for them on her own, so I don’t think it’ll be too hard for you to take them away.

[scatterbunny]

I had to make a simmilar hard decision when i moved to college, I had a cat for 6 yrs who was very much my cat (ignored everyone else but followed me arround) but the family had another cat who was 3 but very attached to my cat. eventhough i was going to be living with my dad and bringin my cat could have been worked out, i left her behind with my mom for the welbeing of both cats. Would they have survived being separated? probably was it best for them? no. Infact 5 years later the younger cat died less than 6 moths after the older cat, never showed any signs of illness, mom came home from work and found her body.

At the very young age of your rabbits they would probably do ok, but i would probably still leave him/her with parents if they are willing to take care of them, I would make sure that you have an agreement with your parents that if they decide they cant handle it and decide to get rid of the rabbits they give you time to make arrangements to get them instead of just rehoming (not sure how far from home you will be, but you dont want to get home on vacation and find out oh, by the way…).

[BinkyBunny]

I had written up a whole thing yesterday about the idea of you bringing them with you and then when I went in to edit I deleted it somehow or it was a strange glitch since I was using my tablet. Anyway, I am glad to see a couple of others suggest it and I ditto Sarita and Elrohwen about the possibility of bringing the bunnies up later once you have settled in

[Svandis]

Thank you all so much for your answers!
I have decided now to wait untill they are nutered and see if they still go together after that. If they have to be seperated, i will bring my bunny, if they don’t, then I’ll bring both I think it will all work out fine

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