Advice for neutering my sisters bun?

[foreverfluffle]

Hey everyone!

A bit of background:

• Mama to Aurora (fawn mini lop girl) and Auntie to Charlie (black unknown breed boy). 
• Currently a student in a foundation course for nursing. Not a lot of money… Applying for all part time jobs I find. Have just started getting student allowance.
• Messy and noisy big family squashed in the house, share bedroom with sisters, five siblings running around = unable to house bunnies inside until I leave home. Although when home alone, I do bring her in sometimes.
• I would love to leave home and board or be a flatmate next year, and I won’t leave without Aurora. I just need to catch a job first. (Having trouble getting a job in my city –  older people who have work experience are favoured every time).

Aurora and Charlie are currently both unaltered, and each have a different hutch. In the beginning we thought that Charlie was a girl, and all bonding sessions were really good. Since we discovered Charlie to be a him; they still see each other every day, there hutches are close, and when one is having a run they always spend a lot of time visiting the other one and kissing through the wire.

Now, my concern is for Charlie. My sister really doesn’t care about him. She doesn’t clean his hutch, she doesn’t change his water, she doesn’t make sure he has lots of hay… So many times I’ve opened his hutch and found it a disgrace. At first my mum discouraged me from caring for him, and told me to tell my sister to do whatever needed doing. I can’t trust her to give him hay if I tell her to, or change his water. She’s not responsible at all.

My favourite solution, is to pay for him to be desexed, so I can continue strengthening their bond, and care for them in Aurora’s hutch until I leave home. (I also feel Charlie’s hutch is too small). The cheapest price for neutering a rabbit in my city is $190. I do want some support for this though, because my parents will think it’s foolish of me, especially since I don’t have a job yet. And would it be wrong to use part of student allowance on this? I feel it might be. I asked my sister if she would pay half, but she believes she is a responsible pet owner :/ I feel I will be in turmoil about Charlie until I do something. 

Thank you!! 

(I hope this isn’t too long)

[BanditCamp]

Sound like your having a life issue rather than a bun issue. Your sister not caring for the rabbit bothers me but as an adult I can give one piece of advice, do what your heart tells you. Money can be replaced, a life cannot, if you think what you need to do for your bun is right than you go do it. Don’t let others see that they get to you and carve your own path.

There gave been lots of times where I was broke cause I did the right thing and I still have no regrets. The same when my own mother told me a rabbit in my apartment was stupid, well I dived in and couldn’t be happier.

[Wicket the Ewok]

Sometimes,if there are rabbit rescues near you, they could maybe provide a voucher for a cheaper neuter. Ex: The local rescue gave us a voucher for Chewie’s neuter, so we had to pay$65 instead of $235. Hope this helps!

[Hazel]

That poor bunny, how sad that your sister won’t take care of him. He’s lucky you’re there. I agree that he should be neutered, but even then you won’t be able to keep them in the same hutch together. Rabbits can only be bonded once both have been spayed/neutered. Otherwise they will be going nuts with hormones and fight. Also, they can mate through cage bars, so you might want to put up a second barrier so they can’t have physical contact when one of them is out. And keep in mind that males can still impregnate a female for at least one month after their neuter. If you only have enough money to get one of them done, I would spay the girl first. I don’t know how old they are, but a female’s odds for developing reproductive cancer become astronomical after a couple of years.

[SeeShmemilyPlay]

^Well, that’s not necessarily true, about them not being able to bond unless they’re both fixed.
Having both bunnies fixed is the best idea, and it can make it easier (especially since unfixed females are supremely territorial), but I have seen it work out a little more than half the time.
At some point you’ll want your female spayed, though, for health reasons. But I do get that at the moment you’re short on cash. I think it’s wonderful that you’re going to neuter/take in your sister’s rabbit, and you’re doing what you can with your resources.
I think if you’ll be able to survive without that money, then book the neuter appointment.

Keep in mind that after he’s neutered, he can still impregnate your bunny for up to a month after the surgery! (Edit: I just saw the person above also said that whoops)

[foreverfluffle]

Thank you for your encouragement everyone, you’ve all helped me to be become solid on the idea. I love Charlie, and I have a strong feeling of how incredibly irreplaceable he is. I want him to have a long, healthy, happy and well cared for life  

Both Aurora and Charlie are adults, have never expressed raging hormones, and they are partially bonded already, so I’m not sure there will be rampaging hormones a month after Charlie’s neuter?

(I found out the cheapest neuter price in my area is actually $190, not $140. Also, I just found a vet that does it for $115, but it is an hour’s drive away, and that might end up more stressful than the closer, more expensive option.) Wicket, good idea But there’s no rabbit rescue near me.

Now all that’s left… Persuade my parents  They say “a big waste of money” and “I thought you were saving.” Oh dear…

[SeeShmemilyPlay]

I would go the to the hour away vet. It’d save you a lot of money (even with the added gas total)

[foreverfluffle]

I’m hoping this was a good idea, but my sister won’t be very impressed 

I’m expecting my parents to be closed minded about me getting Charlie neutered; because already they think it’s a stupid idea. I made a document to give to them, so hopefully they will see things more clearly, and not be so bothered about me using money on his neuter. To make it more official, I’ve also chosen a date April 21st. So I have a few weeks to persuade parents and book him in. 

Hopefully I’ll be able to leave home next year, and if everything works out I’ll be able to take them together

*It says file type is not allowed for upload :/ It won’t look pretty; but here’s what’s in it:

Absolute Basic Needs of Every Pet Rabbit

LOVE

 Affection and attention (rabbits suffer when ignored, shut away and forgotten)
 Fun (rabbits need to be provided with activities and toys to play with and explore for mental stimulation)
 Social (rabbits are very social creatures, both with their own kind and humans)

DIET

 A constant supply of fresh, dry hay
 A constant supply of fresh, clean water (Lack of good hay and water is critical; leading to death by dehydration or GI stasis, and contributing to other problems)

HOME

 Access to a safe, clean and sizeable living environment.
 Let out in a safe, supervised place to explore and exercise every day (especially important for hutched rabbits)

Charlie’s Welfare Status: Critical

I firmly believe Charlie’s current owner Miss J. should not have rights to his ownership, nor be allowed second chances. I stand on this as:
 She has failed repeatedly and regularly to adequately provide for his basic needs.
 She has already been threatened multiple times by parents that he would be taken to SPCA if she did not start being responsible for his care, and she chose not to make any changes.
 She makes excuses to care for him, including paper run, and homework. This is not okay. Charlie needs to be looked after regardless.
 Charlie is ignored for significant periods of time. This shows neglect and apathy to his needs.
 Charlie is not provided with a constant supply of fresh, dry hay and clean water. Very critical
 Charlie’s living environment is not regularly maintained and is not a clean, healthy place for a rabbit to live. Frequent instances of extremely unclean living conditions.
 Charlie is rarely taken out of his hutch, and is denied the right to run around as a rabbit should.

Proposed Solution

I am very concerned about Charlie’s welfare in Miss J.s hands. Rabbits need a totally responsible owner, not an occasionally responsible owner. Charlie’s basic needs are not adequately met by Miss J. excepting conditions of when she feels like it, and when it suits her.

Currently, Charlie has no priority in Miss J.s life. He needs more responsible ownership; and I will take that on by paying for Charlie’s neuter April 21^st, and bonding him with Aurora. This will give him a much better chance of having a long, healthy and happy life.

Money is replaceable, Charlie is not.

Miss J. will still have access to giving Charlie any affection or attention in future as she wishes, but it will no longer be required of her to provide for him and his needs.

Last word to parents of myself and Miss J:

Creating this document made me feel like a lawyer! Thank you very much for keeping an open mind to my views on the situation. I believe I have outlined my concerns for Charlie and reasoning’s for taking complete responsibility of him successfully, and I hope you can see this also and respect my proposed solution. 

§  

[SeeShmemilyPlay]

Rabbit-savvy vets are very busy especially around this time of year. I made an appointment for one of my rescue bunnies and their next opening is in a month! So make sure to actually book the appointment with the vet first.

[sarahthegemini]

I don’t get why your parents wouldn’t be okay with you using your money to neuter him?

[foreverfluffle]

Don’t worry – I just used the date April 21 to kind of push me into action; it doesn’t have to actually be that date

Unfortunately, my parents are a real barrier to me using my own money yes. I am a minor, and I don’t have a car. If they are against it, it’s still possible, but it will make things harder.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I’m hopeful.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By foreverfluffle on 4/07/2017 4:01 AM

Don’t worry – I just used the date April 21 to kind of push me into action; it doesn’t have to actually be that date

Unfortunately, my parents are a real barrier to me using my own money yes. I am a minor, and I don’t have a car. If they are against it, it’s still possible, but it will make things harder.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I’m hopeful.

That’s a shame

[BanditCamp]

Holy fluff as as former cop that paper looks like a legal statement. As for using your own money it’s just a part of growing up as your parents need to be able to understand that your and adult and need to take care of your own decisions. They most likely are worried about you taking two bunnies especially if ones not “yours”. But don’t let up if you want to take your two buns then go for it.

Even if you don’t have a car uber or lyft are great alternatives to getting around and even as adults we use it too.

Best of luck !

[LBJ10]

I removed your age.

Personally, I think it’s admirable that you want to do what’s right for Charlie. Neutering him is the first step. Perhaps you could frame it like this:

It’s easier and less expensive to care for two bonded bunnies than two bunnies housed separately. In order for them to live together, Charlie needs to be neutered. That way there will be no baby bunnies.

I think that might speak to your parents more.

[foreverfluffle]

Thank you 

I’m a little embarrassed about writing all of that; although I’m also a tiny bit proud of how it looks like a legal statement 

I guess it’s all because of how it’s making me nervous  I felt like maybe, if I wrote really seriously and in depth, I might have a bigger chance of getting acceptance. But I don’t mean to offend my sister either; I’ve made it more friendly.

Don’t be mad. You will get to kiss, cuddle and play with Charlie as much as you like. But you won’t have to spend a penny on litter again. And when you have a paper run or homework to do, you won’t have to worry that Charlie’s needs haven’t been taken care of. 
You will get to see your dashing bachelor son on romantic dates; and soon he’ll be getting married to the bunster bride of his dreams!! Let’s get started on the wedding plans

[Hazel]

It’s great how you’re determined to do what’s right for these buns, even if everyone around you is being discouraging!

Is there any chance you could get the female fixed?

[Author]

Messages