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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Need advice

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    • luvmyhunybuny
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        I am not sure if this is the correct place to ask this, so I understand if it needs to be moved. A little about the situation before I ask for advice. I use to be part of a bunny rescue (was one of the founders) and at the time I rescued a little 6 week old lop (named Scout). The plan was for me to keep her at my home, get her spayed and then adopt her out. During this time the rescue ran into problems and it fell apart. I have 4 other bunnies so decided to try and bond her to one of my pairs. Well, Scout does *not* get along with females. In the mean time I started helping out another local rescue. After a lot of thought and tears, I decided to ask the rescue to put her on their Petfinder. They did and she was adopted to a home with a male bun. That went over like a lead balloon. The adopter did not follow the advice given to her on how to successfully bond a pair. She did everything I told her not to do and returned Scout to me.

        In the mean time the rescue decided that Scout needed to go to the rescue (they frown upon fosters). I am not okay with this as they will put her in a wire bottom cage, though hopefully only temporarily. However Scout hates being caged. I then worry about where she will go. Will they give her the best care? Cage her? Right now she lives in a very large xpen’d area (large enough to zoom, binky and be a bunny) in my game room, which is where one of my bonded pairs lives (so she gets to see bunnies).

        What I need advice on is do you all think it is better for her to go to a home, which she may be a single bunny or she may be bonded with a mate. Or stay here, alone, in an xpen? I cannot take in a 6th rabbit at this time (we have 5 dogs and 3 guinea pigs. The potential vets costs scare me). I love this bunny so very much and only want what is best for her. Of course my irrational mind thinks that only I can love her the best, but I know rationally that someone else can love her just the same.

        Any advice is appreciated.


      • Stickerbunny
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          Why does your rescue frown on fosters? That seems a bit odd. I’d rather a bunny be in a home being loved than in a wire bottom cage. o.O

          Is there any way you can find a good home for Scout yourself? Though, I think she would be fine if she was a solo bun, as long as you have time to give her in the evenings. Powder at times seems like he was happier solo than he is now. lol I guess the question is do you trust the rescue to interview the new owners enough to give her a good home? And how upset would Scout be if she had to stay in that wire bottom cage for a bit, would they give her exercise time and such? Powder was in one of those wire cages at the shelter for nearly a year, so I understand your reluctance to put her there. Only you can decide what to do with her though. If you trust the rescue and think she has a better chance at being given a spoiled house bun home there, then go for it. But, if you don’t, rabbits are not _required_ to have a bond mate to be happy.


        • luvmyhunybuny
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            Stickerbunny~
            I think it has to do with control. The person who runs the rescue has been doing it for many years and is very set in her ways as well. Whatever the reason it is frustrating that she just can’t hang out where she is most comfortable until the perfect home falls into place. I don’t even know where to go to find her a home. I do not like Craigslist. I do feel sorry for her as she seems to like my male bun (he even grooms her through the xpen) so I can’t imagine her being alone for all of her life. I know every Sat they get the buns out of the cage and hold them and such, but not sure how exercise time goes. I do trust them, but again it is the time in between where she will be confined to a relatively small cage. It is also so incredibly hard to let her go. If I KNEW the person and exactly where she was going I would probably be better with it. It is the unknown that kills me.


          • LBJ10
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              Just from reading what you wrote, it is clear that you love her very much. If it is this difficult to let her go, then you have to ask yourself if it is really worth it. If you are able to make the time, then it seems better (at least to me) to keep her.


            • Roberta
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                I agree with the others. If you can do it then I think Scout would be better with you then in a wire cage probably getting only a fraction of the attention she gets now. Probably a very restricted diet and no treats as most rescues aren’t in a situation to provide buns with the treats and cuddles we give them. If a home comes along with someone you know and trust perfect but until then I think she would be safer and happier with you. I currently have a foster in a separate penned area in another room, he socialises with the cats and is quite happy. I have to have Nermal in a separate Xpen in the main bunny room but having been a single rabbit when she was adopted prior to her return it does not seem to bother her not mixing with the others. In fact she is particularly defensive of her bacherlorette pad.


              • Roberta
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                  Oh, Bunspace has an adoptables and rehoming section and you know you will be dealing with bunny people. I would check out some of the other rabbit sites as they may have lists of places that you can place rabbits for adoption that is only being seen by house bunny people.


                • luvmyhunybuny
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                    I do love her very much, which is why making the decision is so difficult. The pic below is her enclosure. I hate caging my buns and question whether this is what is best for her for her life. When she got adopted the first time, it was hard the first few days, but then we all adjusted to her being gone. I really wished that had worked out because it was a great home and she would have had a mate. But the adopter just did not want to listen to the advice of how to properly bond the buns.

                     

                     


                  • luvmyhunybuny
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                      This picture is actually more recent. I took apart the condo you see at the far end and extended her area some.

                       


                    • LBJ10
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                        Wow, that is a really nice set up! I think she will be fine. =)


                      • Roberta
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                          That is an awesome space… I could not possibly take one of my buns from living in a beautiful area like that and condemn them to months or possibly longer in a wire bottom cage barely a fraction of the size. I think they would be traumatised..


                        • Beka27
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                            I would continue to foster her. You can tell the rescue person who wants her to go there that this isn’t an option. You’ve had her this long and you will continue to house her until another potential home comes along. Tell them you will cover all food and any vet care that might be necessary in that time. All they are doing is just listing her and screening adopters. If they have a problem with that, there are other rescues out there that do accept foster homes.

                            Rabbits do not absolutely have to have a mate. There are many rabbits who are single buns, either due to personality, disability, or the owner’s limitations. And they can still live long, healthy lives.


                          • LittlePuffyTail
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                              That is an amazing bunny area. Most bunnies can not even dream of a big area like that. I think if you love and can afford her, you should keep her. Bunnies can be happy as solo buns.


                            • luvmyhunybuny
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                                Beka~

                                They won’t put her on Petfinder unless she is actually IN their facility. She won’t bend at all. The only other rescue in my area is bad news and I want no connection with them


                              • tobyluv
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                                  I think that Scout has a wonderful area to live in at your house. There are so many bunnies who spend most of their lives in those horrible small cages that pet stores sell – they would love to have a spacious area like Scout has. I know that bunnies love being with their own kind, but many are content to live alone as long as they have affection and time from their caretakers. I know that you love her and give her the affection that she needs. I think she is much better off at your house than going to that rescue.

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                              Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Need advice