Classroom Bunny

[Caroline]

I looked at the search forums for classroom bunny posts already, but I am looking for some good experiences of people who have had classroom rabbits. I adopted Alfonso a little over a month ago, hoping he could possibly be a classroom pet in my kindergarten classroom. I have read all the horror stories about poorly treated rabbits, and I understand why people say it’s not a good idea in those situations. However, I am not a careless teacher looking for a novelty in my classroom. I am looking to show my students responsibility and to give them an experience they may never get the chance to have. 

I live about 35 minutes away from work, and my plan was to either have him live in my room during the week (taking him home on the weekends and holidays). I’m not sure if driving him back and forth everyday is an option or not. He’s been on two hour long car rides already to get to his vet (1 hour there and back, but I’m changing vets because that’s too far) and then we went on a 20 minute drive to visit my mom once as well. He does sit still and curls up in a ball most of the ride, but I leave the door cracked open a little on the passenger seat and he sticks his head out and sniffs around a little bit, too so I think he’s somewhat comfortable with car rides.

I have been documenting his “active hours” for the past few weeks and he is most active from around 5:30AM-7AM (which is when I am working out/getting ready in the morning so he can be out of his cage and running around), 11PM-1PM (only for about 30 minutes during that 2 hour time period, it just depends on the day) and then he is pretty chill in the evening, getting active some days and not others, depending on how much he’s been out during the day.

As far as the students feeding him, my students are never in the classroom without a supervised adult. I would keep Alfonso back by my desk (in the “teacher area”) where my students don’t normally go anyway unless instructed by me. I would have my students feed him his pellets in the morning as the students are arriving (9AM) and then veggies at the end of the day (4PM) or vise versa with water all day. 

I’m trying to run through all the things that could “go wrong” before bringing him in. Obviously allergies are a problem that I thought about, but my principle said I could have a wavier for parents and obviously inform them ahead of time. If parents don’t agree to allowing their child in a classroom with a rabbit, the rabbit stays home with me. 

I apologize for the long post, I just want to do what’s best for Alfonso. Being a teacher, I am at work for most of the day, and I just want to make sure he’s being taken care of in the best way possible. If he stays at my apartment, he’ll most likely be by himself for about 9 hours of the day, which is a long time.

[sarahthegemini]

Personally I don’t agree with the concept of classroom pets but that’s not what you’re asking. Will you have enough space for an appropriate size enclosure?

[kirstyol]

What if he becomes unwell overnight and no one is there? what if the building becomes too cold because there is no point in it being heated when no one is there? What if the poor wee guy is terrified with all those different young children prodding at him? I’m surprised they still allow this in America actually, you would never see it over here in the UK.

Can he get out and run about the class room every day? (I would have thought not) or is he going to be locked in a tiny cage all day? It would be much better to be alone for nine hours in a big enough space than to be stuck in a tiny cage in a room full of unfamiliar noises and smells.

I’m not trying to be horrible, but you say you want the best for your bun, making him a classroom bun is definitely not whats best

[Mikey]

Rabbits need atleast 30 hours a week of exercise time outside of their cage. Their cage also has to be a minimum of 18sqft. The kids would also have to be rather quiet, as loud noises can scare and even harm a rabbit (sensitive ears). Can you do that in your class room, have enough room, free roam the room, and silence the children?

Whats best for a rabbit is not a room full of noisy people grabbing, poking, and pulling on him. He would have a better, happier, healthier life at home. At home, bunny proof a large area around his (18sqft) cage, and attach a large xpen. This will help him get the exercise he needs while you are away

[sarahthegemini]

Another thing to consider is if the kids transmit something from their pet to your rabbit…fleas, mites, anything

[BuckyLuna12]

I would not suggest buns as classroom pets especially to kindergarteners. Some of my parents friends came over with there kids once, (whom are in preschool and sencond grade) and they immediately wanted to see my Bucky and Luna. I let them and they immediately started talking loudly and they even squealed. My rabbits were very scared, and I like to consider them very used to sound ( I have two other sisters and three dogs) but these kids scared them. They wanted to hold them and pet them, but of coarse I didn’t let them. There oldest sister, who is about 9, wanted to hold my male, Bucky, and I let her thinking it would be okay. I got him out of his cage and gave him to her and she immediately dropped him. You can image how scared both Bucky and I were. This experience and other things, like how bunnies need lots of attention and space and care, suggest that having one as a class pet would be a very bad idea. Also the fact that you would be leaving him at the classroom at night is a bad idea, likekirstyol said. Also take in mind what Mickey and Sarahthegemini said. All these things point out that you should not have a rabbit as a classroom pet. Maybe a hamster or fish?

[sarahthegemini]

^ A hamster wouldn’t be any better to be fair.

[BuckyLuna12]

Yeah maybe fish. Or a lizard

[LBJ10]

I know there are exceptions when it comes to anything. But there are just so many variables, especially when it comes to something like a classroom pet. Ideally, it would need to be an animal that enjoys going to and from work every day. Or it needs to be an animal that would be OK to leave overnight. Unfortunately, a rabbit isn’t a good candidate for that. I think I heard just one story where the teacher was able to take her bunny to and from school every day, but she was within walking distance of the school. The vast majority of rabbits would not enjoy such a routine. But you can’t really leave a rabbit alone overnight either. I mean, I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving my rabbits alone every night. I do go on vacations and have my parents come feed them. But really, all I do is worry the entire time because no one is there to observe them and recognize that something is wrong. Rabbits like to become ill at night for some reason.

What about seeing about getting a therapy dog for the school? A therapy dog would enjoy going to work with someone every day and they would be good with children. I know they are becoming more and more popular. A few elementary schools where I am have them now.

Otherwise, a “safer” classroom pet might be a fish or reptile. Although not all fish or reptiles are the same. Some are much more delicate than others, so you’d really need to do your research and make sure you have the correct setup. I worked with animals at my old job and it seems native species are more adaptable. Tropical species have all kinds of special requirements and setups can be quite costly.

[Q8bunny]

Rabbits are not suited to being classroom pets. It’s as simple as that. Please consider a fish or a tiny rodent with a big habitat.

Can one find stories of healthy(ish) happy(ish) classroom buns? Probably. But the stories were likely told by the teacher and history is written by the victors.

Rabbits need space. Lots of space. And safe exercise. And regular feeding times. And a stress-free routine. And quiet without disturbances. Which is why they don’t make good pets for a pigmy. Let alone a classroom full of them.

[Boston's Mama]

A fish would be a good idea – a non sensitive one , and a common type and colour since death of one may be hard for that age group given that experience with pet death may be dealt with differently family to family (?)
Also allergies would be no issue . The feeding times would be appropriate and lights off the tank times. You can get very cute kid themed tanks to.

I agree with others above about bunnies – I have 2, and I have 4 children ( 3 are pre schoolers )
My bunnies can’t be free roam with even 4 kids – its too risky in my household. It can be difficult to keep watch of with their interaction with the bunnies even with the buns enclosed – that’s 8 hands – 40 fingers – 4 excited voices / squeals.
My bunnies are in the lounge so I can keep constant eye – and my kids are used to animals and well behaved – but there are still times they will be talking to the bunnies then someone will try poke their finger in to pat ( which we do not allow as it could encourage biting of they still have lunch scent on their fingers or they could accidentally poke buns eye or something )

Bunnies also sleep school / work hours – they prefer it quiet then. Kids are at their noisiest then obviously.
Your bunny would be quite ok home sleeping while you work and you could provide out time and bonding time with you in the early mornings and the evening when you get home.
Mine get time in their dog sized pens in then evening from 7pm ish till whenever I go to bed – sometimes 11 sometimes 2am. The weekends we have the pen out even more -the kids know they can sit by them and watch but no hands and no being loud but again even with 4 its work to make sure.

Even if your class only has 12 kids – that’s 3 times what I have – that’s 24 hands – 120 fingers – I can’t even bare to think about how that will effect a bunny at his nap time

[Boston's Mama]

If it’s the pet experience you want for them how about doing some mini studies on the care of pets ? So they can learn what a bunny needs , eats , likes, sleep patterns , exercise.
Maybe you could do a study on it over a couple of weeks where you can cover different common pets – it might give them insight on how to understand their current pets better and may encourage them to get more involved with their parents help at home.
Maybe you could have photos of your bunny in a binder book as a visual for what it takes to be a bunny owner – photos of his vet visit , nail trimming , veges , limited pellets, him sleeping during the day , awake in the evening playing , you cleaning his bowls and litter tray and cage ect and short descriptions to go with it

That would bring about the learning you are wanting and the experience without putting bunny in a not so good environment for him

[Vienna Blue in France]

Golly, i am so for showing kids this kind of responsibilty and yet somehow agree with the above comments for a kindergarten situation…
I have two buns, one is jumpy and the other is so chilled out she’d prob be ok for that sort of thing. But ALL the kids would want to stroke him (i don’t think poking would be allowed…. ) and can you be sure he won’t bite or even just “nibble” which would create a screech from one kid.
Also, the whole “picking up” thing…
… Bunnies are sooooo soft and cute and yet tell a kid they can’t pick him up….. temptation will be too much.

Warning… I’ve got lots of “ifs” coming up …..
If you had a big xpen area that bunny could run around in and a hutch he could sleep in… and if the kids never saw you pick him up so they would try to do the same thing….. and if you took him home with you each day…. and if maybe you only brought him in to school on one or two days of the week (something for the kids to look forward too)… and if the bunny turns out to be a calm dude… or maybe you have a baby bunny that is “born” into that situation and so is used to the noise and movement around him….

But i would SO want to be a teacher with a chilled out dog in a classroom….. how cool would that be!!!

[Deleted User]

I have to say that I agree with everyone here. If you want to do what is best for him, no doubt that staying at home is best. I’m sure you have more room at home for a bigger enclosure than would be in the classroom. Rabbits can even be litter trained and allowed to roam the house while you are away, given that you have “bunny proofed” any hazards such as exposed wires. A reptile would be a better class pet, I have known lots of teachers with snakes as class pets! My husbands uncle actually acquired a boa from a teacher and all the kids loved it! So you do not have to go with a rabbit just because they are ‘cute and cuddly’. In fact, this misconception bothers me because people have these expectations about rabbits when they get them and it’s just untrue. He will not be happy in a small cage being around loud children and being constantly handled by the less-than-careful hands of young children. Are you set on having a class pet or was this only an option because you are afraid that he will be alone as you work all day? I work 9 hour days as well and I leave my bun home (she has free range of the apartment). I think as long as you make a consistent effort to spend time with your bun then they won’t really be bothered by the time alone. My bun actually lounges in the space behind the couch during most of the day, so even when I am home on weekends she doesn’t spend much time out with me between 9am-4pm. I try to spend 30 minutes with her in the morning before work and then at least 2 hours when I get home. She is always happy to see me

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m 100% for teaching kids compassion and responsibility, but not at the expense of an animals well being. I agree with the others. Bunnies don’t like traveling or change and I think this situation would be stressful for your bunny.

Certainly not as exciting, but the kids might enjoy pretending with a stuffed bunny. Get a little cage and have one of them feed him everyday (and when they go out for lunch, put the food back in the bin). You could let them name it and focus on a different theme of care each week and do a little project or colouring sheet.

[Deleted User]

LittlePuffyTail has a great point!! In kids that young, you could just use the principle of it alone as a lesson. You could get a stuffie, explain to the class that this situation would be stressful for a real rabbit, but use the stuffie to teach them all about rabbit care so you still envoke that sense of responsibility.

[Author]

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