“You have bunnies? Wanna adopt another one?!”

[MazzyStar]

It only took a few hours for someone to message me after I mentioned on a public forum that I happened to have bunnies.
I have cats, and I’ve had cats my whole life, and I’ve never had people coming out of the woodworks asking me if I wanted to adopt another. Is this something that happens somewhat frequently to other bunny owners?
I feel for the woman who wrote me and I wish I could help. She rescued him after her neighbors dumped him in the alley – Not the first time they’ve done this. She can’t keep him because she’s raising the first rabbit they did this to! It’s so sad and it weighs on my heart, but do I need to come to expect this to happen from time to time as a bunny owner? Not that I own them or anything… They seem to own me

[Mikey]

I assume she asked because she knows bunnies are hard to take care of, and didnt want to pass him onto someone who has no idea what they are doing If there is a bunny shelter nearby that seems good and well kept, you can point her that way. Poor bunnies. Why doesnt she report the people who keep doing it?

[MazzyStar]

I’d only had my bunnies for 10 days by the time she asked me!
The shelters here are not places you want to surrender an animal, unfortunately. She called local rescues and they’re all full too.
I guess the vet tech who was working the day she brought him in to have his teeth shaved down is interested in him, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
I mean, when she asked me I was like, ‘Do I want to take him? Of course! But should I? No way’. I have two young babies and I don’t have the time or room for any more right now. Poor dude would be living outside and that’s not the life I want for my bunnies.
She won’t report her neighbors because the way their alley runs it would be obvious that she is the neighbor who called. I assume she’s the only one with a view into their yard. It’s sad because it sounds like they have a habit of getting baby animals and abandoning them in the alley when they’re older.

[Mikey]

Maybe she had thought you did your research or had them longer. Its definitely not a normal thing in the bunny community (thankfully)

Thats good that someone is interested in taking him though. She really needs to report them. Having angry neighbors is well worth saving a ton of animals lives

[kiyisha]

I’m with Mikey, people who just ditch these poor babies leave them with problems, mostly mental but still unfair to innocent animals! She could save countless lives, and she can’t exactly take on every pet they ditch… Did you say she has another bunny too? You could try asking if she’s willing to try to bond them, it’ll make the other bunny a lot healthier and happier!

[Dface]

do I need to come to expect this to happen from time to time as a bunny owner

Honestly this happens a lot where I am.
But it’s not specific to rabbits It’s just they happen to be more of a niche pet, so if someone hears you have them, you’ll be the first to mind when one needs a home.
Happened a guy I knew who liked reptiles- within 2 years he’d taken 20 snakes and 7 tarantulas in.

Basically if you own something thats not a dog or a cat, you’ll be the “Go to person”.

On a separate note, those people need to be reported if they dumped the rabbit. Regardless of if they know she told on them, they are throwing living things away like they are disposable!

[DreadfulLullaby]

I was beginning to wonder the same thing! Literally the second day after I adopted my bunnies, I bought a bunch of stuff for them at the pet store and the cashier ended up asking me if I wanted a third…

I think it might just be a thing among bunny people!

[MazzyStar]

I don’t blame people for reaching out to others in the “bunny community” to help take in stray, unwanted or abandoned bunnies but I hope it’s not too common.
Adopting my bunnies was heartbreaking enough. Seeing the other bunnies – literally hundreds of them – was enough sadness to last a lifetime.
I can’t even follow and bunny pages on Facebook because when rescue efforts start it breaks my heart.

[Mikey]

It make sense actually, depending on where you live. I always forget that not all places ‘normalize’ owning rabbits like my town has, so its no different than owning a cat or a dog, or a bird or a ferret

[Azerane]

I think sometimes when people find out how well you keep a pet, they half jokingly ask you if you want another one. I’ve had that a couple of times, but I’ve only had the serious, do you want a bunny question once. That was when a work mate had found one and couldn’t find an owner. They already had a house rabbit so couldn’t keep it, I probably would have taken it since it was after Bandit passed away but Dory’s temporary cage was still on the condo and it just wasn’t good timing.

[LittlePuffyTail]

This happens to me fairly often. I’ve had bunnies for over 10 years and my bunny love (obsession??? ) is well known. I always feel bad when I can’t help but I try to offer suggestions that may be helpful (about how to possibly make keeping the bunny work for them, help with trying to rehome bun, etc).

It’s even happened quite a few times on Facebook where I get someone message me “Hi, you don’t know me but I heard you have rabbits….”

[jerseygirl]

Im probably more cynical due to my own experiences but just be careful with this. The stories attached to these situations are not always how it really is.

A red flag for me in this particular situation is she approaching someone she doesn’t know to take a rabbit that is needing continual dental treatment. It just doesn’t sit right with me.I suppose she has to try…

I mean good for her if she actually has rescued this and her other rabbit, and is currently seeing to its needs though. Hopefully there is a good outcome.

It’s so sad and it weighs on my heart, but do I need to come to expect this to happen from time to time as a bunny owner?

Unfortunately yes. They are so misunderstood and people just ship them on.

I remember becoming aware of the Rescue situation and rabbit welfare when I was new to rabbits. It can be hard to process.

I like the rescue slogan “If you can’t ADOPT – FOSTER. If you can’t FOSTER – SPONSOR. If you can’t SPONSOR – VOLUNTEER. If you can’t VOLUNTEER – DONATE. If you can’t DONATE – EDUCATE, ADVOCATE and NETWORK”

So many ways one can make a difference.

[kirstyol]

Happened to me one time when I went into a small pet shop for food for Freddie the hamster. woman says ‘oh do you have a hamster?’ I stopped short of saying something about the fact that I was buying hamster food so clearly had a hamster and just said that I did. She says ‘oh I don’t suppose you have a spare cage?’ ‘erm no’ I say she then says ‘oh I was hoping you did because I’ve got a lovely wee guy in the back, someone bought him and he bit the woman so she brought it back, it cant go back in the cage with the others and I just don’t have anywhere else to keep him, I would have given him to you if you had somewhere to keep him’

I never took the wee guy because I genuinely didn’t have a spare cage, but I felt so guilty leaving him there. I have never had anyone ask me to take a bunny though, thank goodness because I would probably have a house full of bunnies by now!

[jerseygirl]

The pet shop didn’t have any where else to keep him ?  Like they couldn’t use one of the cages they sell?

[VivaLaBunz]

Lol my work asked me if I wanted any of the bunnies they’re getting rid of. There is one female lop that I would be interested in but she’s not spayed (and I don’t have the money for it at the moment), she LOVES to dig, and she’s already at least 5 years old.

Plus my bunny seems happy to live as a single bun with my 2 cats. She absolutely loves my cat Martini, a lot more than Martini loves her.

[Love4Bunny]

I’m with Jerseygirl on educating people. I’ll say it again… rabbit lovers are bleeding hearts. People see that and sadly, take advantage. I prefer to equip “Enquiree’s”, because realistically, we can’t save every mistreated animal we come across, though it is tempting. When I post rabbit stuff on social media apps, I try to educate people in snippets. I let them know what the norm is… kinda like breaking misconceptions with a small pick axe. If I had a recurring experience with abandoned rabbits, I wouldn’t hesitate to politely put someone in their place… and even call authorities on them if I sensed something was awry. There’s no excuse. Like Jerseygirl, my “ears” also piqued when I read about the dental issues… cos it’s expensive long-term.

And for the record… guilt is not something devoted animal owners should shoulder. We do the best we can. I think the best thing anyone can do when faced with unintentional guilt-trippers or serial manipulators is to throw the ball back in their court and hold them accountable for their actions. I’m a softie at heart but I don’t like to feel taken advantage of.

Okay. I’m done.

[Author]

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