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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A My family doesnt care about my bunny

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    • marinabunny
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        Atleast that’s what it seems like. I am the only one who truly cares about her and shes been alive for the past 3 years because of me. I buy her food, her supplies, and everything whenever I can. At first my family used to buy her things but now it seems like they lost interest and I have to pay for her myself. I don’t mind paying I love her very much, but now its becoming a problem. Im in high school and I don’t have a job. I use the money saved up from birthdays and chores, I literally have to BEG them to buy her something if I don’t have the money! They always use excuses like “oh I don’t have money right now” yet they can go shopping and spend on things like clothes and expensive sunglasses etc. We are kind of low-income and I get that sometimes there isn’t a lot of money but once in a while they can buy a $10 bag of bunny food… And its not like I ask everyday , I try hard to pay for whatever she needs by myself. Now I need more hay and they are ignoring me… I have no money AT ALL right now and im trying to get a job so I can save up and get her spayed (b/c obviously they wont pay for that either). Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and they are not abusive towards my bunny. I just wish they would pitch in sometimes and not leave it all on me. I’m not trying to evoke sympathy or anything like that either. I just want to know if there are any programs out there or anything that can help people in my situation? Anything that can help with vet bills.. she has not been to the vet yet but I am afraid if there is ever a big problem I wont be able to do anything, and it just breaks my heart thinking about it. Is there also anyway to convince my family to help contribute to my bunny’s care???

         

        Of course once I get a job, this will not be that big of a problem. But I have no work experience and no one is getting back to me… Until then I need a solution. And btw I really don’t want to give her away, that would be my very last resort!


      • LongEaredLions
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          When you got your bunny, did your family agree that they would help pay for her needs? If so, I would seriously talk to them about their agreement can seriously affect the health of your bunny. As far as the hay, she does need hay, could you ask your parents if you could do extra chores or something to earn extra money? Could you ask if they would loan you the money if you could pay them back? If she does end up needing to go to the vet, there is a program called care credit-here is a link http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/
          Could you find a small job like babysitting or dog walking to earn extra money?


        • Stickerbunny
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            There are insurances for pets, I am unsure what is available in canada, but if a vet bill comes up insurance does help.

            As for hay – look for baled hay instead of stuff like oxbow. I can get a 80lb bale for $5. If you are unsure where to look, check the newspapers or ask anyone you know that has a horse, or ask a local horse lesson place or anything like that where some hay may be available to buy. It’s a whole lot cheaper than $50 for a box of oxbow, or those $5 little bags of oxbow.

            Another thing to consider is shopping online can sometimes be cheaper for pellets and such. I buy 20lbs of pellets for $32, which lasts a while and I use oxbow.

            Supplement greens with stuff you can scavenge – know a person with a front yard that doesn’t have pets or use chemicals on their lawn? Ask if you can come over and cut some of their grass or take some dandelion greens for your buns when it’s warm. Free food!


          • marinabunny
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              @Longearedlions My sister got me the bunny as a birthday present back when I was 14. My mom was never fond of the idea and i knew that, so i guess that’s my fault. I also didn’t know much about rabbits at the time. There was not really an “agreement” me and my sis kinda got it without my mom wanting us. But now my sister doesn’t even care. I texted her when she was outside to pick up hay and told her how I feel. She said “ok fine shut up ill get it.” So u see they do listen if i beg and cry, but I really don’t wanna go on this way. I want them to feel a slight responsibility too.

              Does care credit work in Canada too? I have tried finding pet insurances in Canada but there are none for exotics. Also I live in the city not sure where I can get baled hay im pretty sure my mom won’t wanna drive out of the city for it…


            • Sarita
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                They don’t have Care Credit in Canada and besides it’s a credit card…

                I think it will be hard to convince your parents to help if they weren’t on board to begin with but you have the rabbit now and all you can do is ask for help or perhaps ask if there are extra chores you can do to make more money.


              • mia
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                  Go learn a craft if you don’t already know some and sell it. With the internet, it’s easy to make a little here and there; maybe not enough to cover everything for your bun but at least something.


                • Deleted User
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                    How old are you now? You live in the city… Here in Australia you can work at 14yrs and 9 months – myself at that age along with 2 of my 3 children all got part time/casual work at that age while in high school. For us it was Kmart and Woolworths and their friends, fast food places like McDonalds, KFC, etc., and being in the city it should be(?) easier than the suburbs (?). Hope this suggestion helps out, and I feel terrible that you have been left in this position. Another idea – you mentioned your family likes to spend up on certain items? Maybe do a trade off – say instead of buying me this new dress (for eg.) can I have the same amount spend on rabbit food? Good luck, I’ll be thinking of you both.


                  • Roberta
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                      Hi Marinabunny,
                      Check your immediate area for Stock Feeders, if you are not in the city CBD there may be small Stock feed suppliers near you that carries bales.
                      You can grow several vegetables from stumps too, celery, bok choy, pak choy (there’s several good pages on line that shows you how) etc…. If you have the area you could put in a small garden, other herbs can be grown from seed. Try joining some of the online seed saver groups and you may be able to get the seeds for free especially if the other members know why you need them.
                      Do you have a local swap meet, second hand market or car boot sale that happens regularly… It’s great place to sell off stuff you don’t use or have made and I am sure that your family would be willing to give you their old items like books, toys and jewellry (as long as they realise they don’t get a cut of the profits)


                    • Lucky Star
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                        Have you tried neighborhood chores? Petsitting, babysitting, and mowing the lawn can get some good cash. Since it is winter, shoveling snow off of drive ways might be a good idea to earn extra cash.


                      • marinabunny
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                          Thank you guys for the great ideas. I really like the idea of growing vegetables, we already grow mint so i will try others in the summer! Im (MOD EDIT), definitely old enough for work. I gave in my resume at the library i hope they get back to me. If not, I will have to find something else because i really want Fluffy spayed before her 4th birthday which is in 4 months


                        • Deleted User
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                            Good on you marinabunny! And guess what – I am going to try and grow some veggies/herbs for my Henry too. It will cut down on cost, give variety when the store runs out (my fruit and veg shop keeps running out of Kale), but mostly, I reckon it will be fun. 
                            Your age – perfect! Good luck with your application to the library, but apply everywhere all at once – not one at a time. Not so much me at the time (no internet) but my kids spent the whole day applying (online – how most applications are accepted here) and within weeks they were asked in for interviews, and were employed within days of that. Even then, they got to choose between 3/4 offers. At that time, they both chose Woolworths cause the hours were better and it paid slightly more than the fast food outlets. Oh and there is 5 years between them, so it wasn’t a one off.
                            What a fantastic pressie to give Fluffy for her birthday – spayed!
                            Good luck with your new idea’s! Hey, make sure you let us know how you go….. I’d/we’d love to hear. Cheers.


                          • Beka27
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                              Marinabunny, I had to edit your age out of your last post.

                              AndHenry, minors are not allowed to post their ages, and because of this we don’t even ask people’s ages on the forum. When you get a chance, please read the forum rules about what is and is not permissible on the site.

                              Back to Marina… You’ve gotten great advice so far. You’re in a really tough spot, and I think all you can do right now is just continue to be a thorn in their side (in a nice way!) to get what your bun needs. Whether they like her or not, she is a living creature who deserves to have her minimum needs met at least. She is technically your parents responsibility since you are a minor, and if she did end up being neglected or abused, they would be the ones held responsible.


                            • Deleted User
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                                Sorry – my fault! (AndHenry).


                              • niniliefie
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                                  Hey! I’m new with the bunny-love, but hay was my biggest problem! I live in SA- so we have lots of fields etc still(but I don’t have lions in my backyard-only my dad does that!hahaha) , but that was too much of risk, so I went to vets and pet shops and couldn’t find anything! Then I went to a “horse-petshop” and they have tester drums for the horse feeds so the breeders etc can try the feed on the horses and also for quality control! They give me hay for free cause I only need one medium bag a month(its about 2-3 kg of hay! Maybe ask anyone who has horses! Even the mounted unit at your local police station may be willing to help you out with a bag full every now and then! I don’t know how things work in canada, but here the police(depending on who you talk to) wouldn’t mind it.
                                  Also, you can plant herbs inside all year round if you use a UV light( about 2$-3$ and you can put it in a normal bedlamp etc)

                                  My one friend also plays it smart with veggies(I’m too much of a control freak). She gathers everything whilest she cooks! Carrot peels, pieces of lettuce, etc! And then cleans it and feeds it to her rabbit! He seems to LOVE it! (Although he is only 6 months old and already a bit overweight-so maybe do portion control)

                                  I am very suprised at what yall pay for your foods! I buy 3kg of pellets for R23(+- 2$) and a hole kale, bag of carrots, box of mint and box of basil for another 2$(for everything). Hay is more expensive about 2$ a bag(400g). But SJOE! You pay almost double!


                                • Zombie-Sue
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                                    When I was young, babysitting was my main way to make money. I think that’s the best opportunity. Start begging around your neighborhood lol!


                                  • marinabunny
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                                      AndHenry- thanks, I will use your advice on applying all at once!
                                      Niniliefie- I would love to know where you buy your stuff from. I have to pay $15-16 for a 5lb bag of pellets, $8-10 for hay (bagged not in bales), and around $3-4 a week for veggies. Maybe I wouldn’t have this problem if i paid as less as you!


                                    • niniliefie
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                                        Sadly I’m in South Africa… So you won’t be able to buy from same places as I do… Maybe online?


                                      • Megabunny
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                                          Wow! great ideas! When I was a kid, my dad said he couldn’t afford to buy rabbit food in the summer when our yard was full of it. To this day I take a ridiculous amount of pleasure from going out and collecting greens and apple branches (they LOVE the leaves and bark). Obviously, not this time of year, though.
                                          Also, if you can find out if any of your teachers has horses, you could confide your plight to them and ask if they had anything affordable in hay and I bet they’d give you bags no charge.


                                        • MGHo2003
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                                            niniliefie I’m also in South Africa! I’m also saving to get my Honeybunny neutred but I’m not dure how much it costs in SA.

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                                        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A My family doesnt care about my bunny