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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Classroom Rabbit

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    • Katie
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        Hello! So I’m new to this forum though I’ve consulted it before on care questions . I’m finishing up in college now and I’m going to be a high school chemistry teacher. I also am the proud owner of a rabbit that I’ve had for around 2 years since I rescued him from the humane society. My question is, do you think bringing him into the classroom is a good idea? The plan I have in my mind is to have a large cage in the classroom that I will bring reggie to every day (maybe most days if I’m running late). The goal is that the students will bond with him and he will be less bored during the day. It could even be a reward for good behavior to let him hop around the classroom. Most concerns I’ve read on classroom rabbits have to do with leaving them overnight or over the weekends and he won’t have that since he lives with me. My main concern is the stress of moving, do you think he will be upset moving during the weekdays? As far as getting used to the classroom, I would introduce him in the summer before school starts, that way he could get used to the area. Reggie typpically loves people and whenever I have parties he hops around happily so he’s social. In your opinion do the pros outweigh the cons? I’m not sold on the idea, just playing with it in my head.

        Also don’t judge me, wouldn’t you take your bunnies to work daily if there was no harm coming to them??


      • Odette
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          I don’t judge you at all. I also would never take my rabbit to work or want to do so. In my field, that would be unprofessional and a sad, overstimulating environment for Odette. Yours is different, but I’d still shy away from every day– mainly for stress reasons.

          Why not bring Reggie once a month?

          I know you keep your chem lab closely controlled, but there is always chance for chemical transfer or irritation. More than that, the daily back and forth sounds stressful on even the most easy-going bunny. And, one spook (even in the large cage) and you could have a severe injury. School floors are hard too. Either way, daily is tough. I see no harm in occasionally bringing Reggie.


        • Luna
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            Of course I would ‘want’ to, but it just wouldn’t be practical for me (or Luna). Even if Reggie wouldn’t get stressed out, I would be worried about the chemicals as Odette pointed out, and any potential negative interaction a student may have with him (ie. a jerk who wants to poke at him or something when you are not looking or not in the classroom – it is high school after all). Also, some students may be allergic to him/his hay. Maybe Reggie isn’t as bored as you think? Buns are crepuscular – active around dawn and dusk then sleep during the day – so he is probably just relaxing most of the daytime that you will be working. 


          • Mikey
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              I would say no because you dont know what allergies the students have. The students may not even know they are allergic to rabbits (or hay) until they enter your room or interact with him. You dont want to be responsible for sending a kid into an allergic reaction, even if it not intended. Thats a sue waiting to happen


            • Katie
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                Good points! In most of my classroom experiences the lab is separate from the classroom so I would be less worried about that.

                Student allergies are a real problem though as well as jerk students

                Most important though is his stress level, I wouldn’t want to stress him out!

                Thanks for the input


              • tobyluv
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                  Besides the cons that have already been mentioned, I would be afraid that one of the students would feed him something he shouldn’t be eating – either out of ignorance of a proper rabbit’s diet, or because the student thought it would be funny or cool to give your bunny a piece of a candy bar or gum or anything that could be harmful. You mentioned even letting your bunny run around. With students walking about, the bunny could get a paw stepped on or he could get underfoot and trip up someone. My bunnies are bad about that.

                  The Sanctuary where I volunteer has taken in some classroom rabbits over the years, and I realize this is a different situation – you are the rabbit parent and not a teacher who will be looking to get rid of a rabbit when the school year ends or when the rabbit displays bad behavior toward the students, such as nipping them (which they likely deserved). All the classroom rabbits we have taken were in poor health – one was fed French fries and other stuff from student’s lunches, plus he never was treated for skin mites. Another was aggressive from being grabbed at by students, and she had an eye condition and a heart condition that was never treated. There were others, and none showed up in good shape, so I automatically have negative thoughts when I hear about classroom rabbits. I want to repeat that I know the situation is different here, since you are talking about your much loved rabbit. But I know that most rabbits are homebodies and that they will likely be far happier in their own home environment, plus the fact that accidents could happen and I don’t think a classroom is a good place for what can be a fragile animal.

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              Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Classroom Rabbit