Bunny is terrified of me(and need some other advice)

[Melenaire]

Hi! I’ve had my lion hare for about six years now. Which I know is a devastatingly long time, but I can’t do it anymore. This post might be a little different, because when I got him I myself was only 10 or 11 years old, and I didn’t know how to take care of a rabbit then, and my parents are never any help when it comes to the little guy. The only reason I now have a rabbit it because he was a gift for Christmas one year from relatives, who supplied us with nothing but a dog kennel cage to keep him in. My parents don’t want him in the house because there isn’t enough room, and rabbits can be messy. But we also can’t keep him outside because our fence is severely underdone and made of wire, so dogs could get in. So my parents resorted to just keeping him the garage which makes me feel as if I’m just abusing him or something by keeping him in there. He is very clean though, but I’ve never even cut his nails and they’re so long.

I don’t really know what to do, but I always feel so guilty because of this. He will run up to me though, and eat treats from my hand but most of the time he runs away if I try to pet him, and every time I have had to pick him up resulted in him being even more terrified. I’m contemplating just finally giving him away because I thought that maybe when I got a little older then I could somehow get some money to take better care of him and make him happy but that’s not gonna happen because I’m not allowed to get a job until another year or two. My parents are not willing to pay money for a vet for him. I just want him to be happy, but I’m also a little scared that I might accidentally give him to somebody even worse if I do give him away. The first time I tried to pick him up was when he was a baby, and because I was so young I didn’t really know how. He started to squirm in my arms a bit too much, and I lost my grip and accidentally dropped him as a baby. He recovered quickly, but now if I try he runs as fast as he can to get away. When I put my hand near him, even slowly, he tenses up and cowers. I give him plenty of attention, try to let him know that I love him. But it doesn’t work very much. He’s used to people being around because my parents work in the garage a lot with paperwork and boxes. What can I do to take better care of him? I don’t know what else to do.

[bonilla&BUB]

Hey!

You can buy nail clippers off of amazon for a relatively good price. You should really trim his nails. My buns aren’t messy. I clean their cages often and litter boxes everyday so there is no smell. After play time, I immediately clean up all of the pieces of hay. If you do this, you could show your parents he isn’t all that bad! If the garage is warmed, this could be the perfect space for him.

This is so sad for me to hear. I would definitely consider finding him a better home if you don’t have the money to take him to the vet. Rabbits are very sociable animals that need love, and to be part of a family, like us or any other domestic animal. Spend some more time with him, 1-2 hours every day, and make him some toys. Please watch both of these youtube videos for some awesome ideas (toys and nail trimming). He should warm up if you are consistent. It sounds like he needs to bond with you again. You will know this is happening if you hear the tooth purr!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-1faBh7DIs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9KemnaTGIs

Do you ever let him out of his cage to get some exercise?

[bonilla&BUB]

Oh, and I use a dog kennel cage to keep my bunnies in, have you thought of building him a second floor with a ladder within the cage? Ask your dad for some help, he might love that!

[Melenaire]

I never thought of building him a second floor, but that’s a good idea! It’ll give him more space. And no, I don’t ever let him out but I’d like too. We don’t have a whole lot of space in my home, and I can’t quite trust him enough to let me pick him up when it is time for him to go back to his kennel. My house has a pretty big yard but because the fence is broken I can’t let him run around outside due to stray dogs that roam the nieghborhood, and I have an outside cat. I am thinking of making him his own little space in the yard where he can run around, but I have no idea where to start with that idea.

[Hopper]

I made an outdoor enclosure with just garden wire and garden stakes. Make the out line with stakes and line with wire. Make sure you are always with him though. It is pretty simple and it is adaptable.

I would see what you could do with him before resorting to giving him away. Begin longer bonding sessions. Can you bring him to your room? Littertrain him if you haven’t already, bring his litterbox to to your room and let him play. You can also hand feed him treats to help bonding as well as brushing his fur which can resemble grooming.

I would look up videos to clip his nails. I would recommend it to be done since they can tear and bleed which would cause unnecessary stress.
https://youtu.be/SOk67fRCyzg
https://youtu.be/uaBCI0mMIyA

[Sr. Melangell]

I’m sure bunny knows you love him, my bunny knows I love him a lot, he doesn’t let me pick him up, not all bunnies like to be picked up and I had to learn to accept that with this bun bun I have now, but bunnies that don’t like to be picked up like to be talked to and stroked and some like a kiss on the nose, Olly does and gives me a kiss sometimes, if you are planing on keeping him outside in a garage that is OK as long as a car won’t be started or driven into the garage.

[bonilla&BUB]

That’s a good point Charlies Angel!

And I hand feed my buns their fresh veggies (as Hopper pointed out), so I make it a bonding time. I let them stand (I say “up!” as a trick) and call them to come to retrieve their greens. It works really well for bonding time.

I have a mini play pen fence from PetSmart, that is moveable and you could maybe put it around his cage so that he has some space to stretch his legs. As my bunnies are free roam in the house I use it to block off certain areas. In your situation it would make a great addition to his cage area. You can even use it outside as it comes with stakes. I am not sure if you have a PetSmart where you are from, but any pet store should have something similar. The brand I have is All Living Things, you can see it here: http://www.petsmart.com/small-pet/supplies/cages-habitats-and-hutches/playpens/all-living-things-exercise-small-animal-playpen-21861.html?cgid=600024

[Hopper]

Maybe, since you’re afraid you won’t be able to put him back in his cage when playtime is over, you could use a carrier. Buy/use a cat carrier that you can find online or in a pet store, place some of his favorite treats in there, and show him its a friendly place. You can then usher him gently into the carrier when it is time to go back. Meanwhile at playtime you can begin petting him and (while sitting on the floor) scooch him onto your lap. After a few days of him becoming comfertable with that you can begin (slowly) picking him up. Also, to avoid frightening him, always approach from where he can see you and try your best never to approach from the top because predators would lift a rabbit from above.

[DorothyTheMiniSatinBun]

I’m so sorry about your bunny’s situation. Poor guy. Where do you live? I would try to find a local shelter that cares and understands what it takes to take care of a bunny and tell them your story. If they can’t take him as a surrender, I am sure they can give you some suggestions of places (or maybe even people) that will. One thing I learned from owning a bunny is that current and former bunny owners are more prevalent than you think! They are everywhere! There may be a vet clinic in your area that will help trim his nails since they are probably very long at this point. Please don’t feel bad, a lot of people get into situations where they own a pet they were not prepared to take care of. Just please don’t put him out on the street because that’s the mistake a lot of owners make – he wouldn’t be able to fend for himself. Maybe if a shelter doesn’t work, an older friend or family member with the means to take care of him can take him in?

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