Bunny trouble

[Kafrn]

My brain is playing tug of war with me… I’m not sure what to do so any help would be greatly appreciated!
This lady came into the shop the other day because she heard I like bunnies and wanted to tell me what had happened to hers. She has 2 “backyard” bunnies and thought they were both female. Guess what, yep, one had babies a few weeks ago. So she took the babies out with their mum and put them in a cage outside. Then 4 days later she found 2 tiny babies even smaller than the other ones coming out of a hole in the ground (2nd litter) I’m really confused about how they survived – infact I just had a thought that perhaps they ARE females, and perhaps both were pregnant, but the babies are a month apart. So she told me all that 2 days ago and now she came and saw me today and wants to get rid of ALL her rabbits because the mum is building ANOTHER nest and preparing for the 3rd litter. And she doesn’t want them. So I gave her the rescue lasts number but she hasn’t called back yet (busy with hot weather bunnies getting sick) and I’m wondering if I should take them and foster them so mum can have new babies in peace, or at least sex mum and dad to see if they. R from 2 litters – what should I do? I’m just worried for the mummy bun because this lady keeps separating babies from mum because the cage isn’t big enough. I haven’t seen them but it’s worrying me.

[Michelle&Lolli]

I think if you feel you could handle fostering all the bunnies, then maybe you should. That way she won’t have to wait for the shelter to contact her and make arrangements, etc. And since she doesn’t sound like she’s even taking care of the babies. Then you could work with the shelter to get the babies adopted.

Ummm….what part of “breeding like rabbits” do people NOT UNDERSTAND?!? Seriously.

[Kafrn]

I know, I feel bad for the babies. How they survived being separated from their mother is odd though. They shouldn’t have to go through that. I have a cage that’s big enough, I think I can do it, but she’s booked the oldest 2 in to go to the pet shop tomorrow. I texted her and asked if she would like me to pick up mum and the tiny ones but with the older ones in there – would it be too much for mum bun because I only have 1 enclosure free at the moment because stu-bob is coming home this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And she needs her own home so I only have 1 spare that has bars small enough for babies

[LizzieKnittyBun]

hoo boy that’s a lot of bunnies…

this kind of thing makes me sad :-/

[jerseygirl]

Hey Kafrn

In my opinion….I don’t think you should take them. For various reasons. I think if the lady is willing you can offer to work with her but I bet you she’s looking for an easy way out of this and that’s not on. tsk tsk!

You’ve said “she came in because she heard you like bunnies…”. How long before it becomes known “you take in bunnies” if you do this?

Beside that, it could put your own rabbits at risk and pressure on you. This should be something this owner takes responsibility for, not someone else. You did. You had an accidental litter but decided to keep all the rabbits.  So by all means, help her to do that but don’t do it for her. If it’s more of a challenge then they might think more carefully before acquiring the next set of animals.

I understand your dilemma though. Do you rthink all these rabbit are at great risk? Perhaps you could visit, sex the rabbits, and help her organise their immediate living arrangement at her place until the rescue or RSPCA is able to take them on.

[Kafrn]

Jersey, that’s a good idea. Maybe I could help her sex them and give her my big cage?

[jerseygirl]

If you think she’s genuine. Be careful she hasn’t been advertising to sell these rabbit anywhere. She could go and sell your cage too. I know it sounds cynical but it’s not like that kind of thing wouldn’t have happened before.

[Michelle&Lolli]

Ok, I agree with Jerseygirl. lol Especially since it now seems like it would be a problem for you. I think it would be one thing if you had the room and everything, but it doesn’t like you do. So it’s best not to stress YOU and your household out by attempting to “rescue” them. Offer specific help if you want but don’t become responsible for her and her actions.

[jerseygirl]

heh heh…but I’d be exactly like Kafrn and just want to take them all. No denying it.

[Kafrn]

Lol, I have room, I have a big area for them, just not enough room for the 2 8 week olds to be separated from their mum in a separate room. but I certainly do agree that she should take responsibility! It’s just that she keeps separating the little tiny ones from their mum. That’s worrying and I did mention that to her and she shrugged. Then she asked me to take them because she doesn’t want rabbits anymore. She’s getting rid of the parents aswell. She keeps insisting the tiny babies eat on their own and don’t need their mum. I hope she doesn’t advertise them too early or let the adults go or something .

[Michelle&Lolli]

but I’d be exactly like Kafrn and just want to take them all. No denying it.

Oh yeah, I’d want to scoop them up myself as well! lol But there comes a time when we have to be logical about these things.

This is hard. On one hand, you shouldn’t over-extend yourself. However, if she’s stupid and, obviously she is, then it’s realistic that she will just let the parents go. She obviously doesn’t care at all about these animals. I would give her all resources you can find about surrendering them to a shelter. Names, numbers, addresses, email address, etc. lol Hopefully she’ll do the right thing and surrender them. Then maybe after a couple of days, you could check back with her and, at that point, decide if you should offer to take them. Does that sound like a good plan? I would say offering to take them should be the very last option.

[Monkeybun]

Poor babies

[Beka27]

Posted By Sarita on 11/17/2010 06:02 AM

Never let someone guilt you into getting an animal…put your current animal and yourself first.

Sarita posted this in another thread in reference to someone looking at Craigslist bunnies, but I think it is solid advice. I think you should offer to help her every way you can, larger cage, assistance with sexing parents and babies, references to vets and rescues who may be able to help rehome. BUT… don’t take the bunnies in!!! It’s not your responsibility, and for you to spend countless hours and money raising them, finding them homes, and what if they don’t find homes?

[Kafrn]

the mummy just had another 6 babies! Now she has 10.
I stressed to the lady how important it is to keep mum and dad apart and she said something along the lines of “ohhhh but I feel bad for them, they miss each other! ”
I gave her the rescue number- Sally is going to call her this morning.

[LoveChaCha]

Oh my gosh I hope everything works out.. oh man

[Beka27]

With that attitude, it’s obvious she doesn’t care. She’s going to continue doing what she’s doing.

[lashkay]

Since the lady said she no longer wants rabbits, I’d take the mum or at least the dad, and take him/them to a caring compassionate shelter willing to take them in, neuter / spay them and adopt them out to good homes. To my mind, it’s essential to stop the mating and so he at least they have to be taken from her hands asap. The babies shel’ll probably let grow if they do until they start copulating with each other and the same scenario repeat–countless times. I’d take the babies as well and take them to a good shelter that can take them in and eventually find them good homes. For a person who says she doesn’t want rabbits anymore, her actions are not in her best interests of being without rabbits.

I’d offer to help this lady with the stipulation that it’s understood that she will not be getting any more rabbits or passing on your name to others to bring their rabbits to you. As thick-headed as she seems, it might get through if you are very serious in your tone and at least you will know you did what you could to impress this upon her. I also appreciate the advisory of what jerseygirl and the others feel – that you should not take them from her yourself. It seems good that you are not in a position – have the necessary habitats, etc. to do so, so that you will not be inclined to burden or overburden yourself. You could report her to Animal Control as a rabbit/animal hoarder who is letting her rabbits mate continuously, not caring properly for the litters and letting the babies pile up and advise Animal Control that these animals need to be taken in by good shelter(s)?. Your local Houserabbit Society should be alerted too. But the mating needs to stop pronto – as we type, the next hump could be about to initiate another litter. Just some thoughts of what I would do. What do the rest of you think?

[lashkay]

I’ve been thinking about you and the thoughts I shared in my post, re this situation. As there is the possibility that Animal Control might just intend to euthanize the animals it picks up, scotch that idea. It probably couldn’t hurt to contact your local Houserabbit Society. I certainly empathize with you and echo Monkeybun’s words: Those poor babies. I feel for the doe as well, and any rabbits that have the misfortune of being under this person’s charge. Hopefully this situation will be resolved in a positive way, and the babies and parents rescued to good care.

[jerseygirl]

lashkay, I do agree on your stance of “get in there and stop the cycle” especially given news of this last litter. *sigh*

We are a bit limited in what to do here (Kafrn is in Aus also). Having the lady that runs the only Rabbit Rescue here should get things moving. From what I gather she’s a take charge sort of person. We do have RSPCA that adopts out rabbits but generally here, rabbits are not highly regarded and considered a pest. The domestic breed is the same as our ‘wild’ rabbits. I’ve contacted RSPCA before regarding a local who was breeding rabbit and it resulted in a feral population. They told me there’s nothing they can do. Basically, if you catch them and bring them in they may take them on but that’s it. We do have local law here that prohibits release of pet rabbits – so making people with those intentions aware of this might deter them.

[MimzMum]

I’m all for helping out rabbits in need, but my main concern is that Stu-Bob is coming home still infirm. And you don’t know if any of these rabbits is carrying myxomatosis or other disease since some of them have been running loose. Do you have the ability to make sure Stu stays in a sterile area? Where would you keep the fosters?
Plus that about quintuples your workload. How many bunnies are we looking at total?
I would only get personally involved if there were other officials to assist you. Hopefully someone who would be willing to do some mercy speutering.

I don’t mean to sound cold to these poor bunnies, they do need help, but I’m worried about Stu too.

EDITED TO ADD: Okay, the post where you said mum has ten babies now just came up for me. Dang! I sure hope your rescue group can come through for you, this is beyond one person.

 

[lashkay]

Within the limited options available to you, try not to underestimate what you can do to help her and moreover, help these animals as well. This lady came to you wanting you to take her rabbits, it sounds like she thinks highly of you and, from the exchange with her you’ve reported, likes you and wants to keep it friendly. Try to be friendly and positive with her, misguided in their care she may be, but she probably like other people got the rabbits initially as pets, and as exasperating or maddening as the situation may be,I would focus your investment of time and effort on this, on doing what you need to do to serve your goal of helping the rabbits. Guarding that you don’t take on a situation that burdens you, I think what jerseygirl said about the lady with the Rabbit Rescue being a pro-active person is cause to have high hopes for these bunnies. Try not to let any obstacles like a There’s nothing we can do-response discourage you from trying other resources, like the other one jerseygirl mentioned. Obastacles and roadblocks are usually par for the course in many endeavors, but I’ve found persistence in working toward your goal, keeping your hope alive and working for you, usually pays off. At least you know you have people in your corner who have been there, and want this to be resolved asap for the good of the bunnies.

[jerseygirl]

Ditto about keeping it friendly. You’ll likely get further with her that way. Plus it’s not gonna make you feel bad.

misguided in their care she may be, but she probably like other people got the rabbits initially as pets

So true. I had limited knowledge about rabbits when I got my 1st and no idea about rabbits in shelters. Once learning about that, my whole perception on things changed. But it is good to remember plenty people out there are just none the wiser & make honest mistakes. There is an opportunity for this person to learn, go forward with new knowledge and share that with others.

[lashkay]

You’re so sweet in your best interests for the health of these bunnies. Have a great Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving!, everyone reading this!

[Kafrn]

Now that she has 10 babies, this is a bit out of my league. I was happy to take them before she had the babies, so that she could be moderately settled for the birth, but now that she has given birth, I wouldnt even thnk about moving the pinkies incase it stresses their mum and she gives up on them. I know that the oldest 2 were going to the pet shop this afternoon. Im still going to offer help and support etc,Ill even go and clean them every day if she wants to, but Im not keen to move the nest.
Im going to see Sally and pick up Stu tomorrow morning so I will find out what happened then.

[Beka27]

Any update on this situation? I really hope, for everyone’s sake, she can get this figured out.

[Author]

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