I understand that you feel like Bella is lonely but I do think it would be best to wait to get her spayed.

The fact that they won’t let you bring Bella does pose a challenge though. I know you are quite a ways from Chicago but they do have the Red Door Shelter there and I’m certain they would let you bring Bella for some dates with some male rabbits. There is also a House Rabbit Society as well in Chicago I believe.

I know it is hard to wait, but I really think it is best all around to wait until after Lulla is spayed.  If you don’t wait, then she can go through false pregnancy which often causes the female to ward off the male suitor and keep him away until after she has had her phantom litter.  Then bonding basically starts from square one.  Then ideally, it is best if she is left alone while recovering from a spay, a spay will also cause her hormone levels to change and her attitude as well until she becomes the bunny you will get to know and love. 

While it is true that rabbits crave companionship, you can substitute that role a bit with love and attention.  May I ask what behavior makes you think she is lonely? She could be expressing something else too.  I find that us humans often impress upon rabbits human emotions and we speculate what they might be thinking, not necessarily what they are really thinking and feeling. Try not to feel the "guilt" gene and wait until the best time, after a spay.

As for finding her a husbunn, I think driving out to a Red Door chapter is well worth the effort and extra gas to find a sure-fire companion that you know would work, rather than a shot in the dark, no way of even trying her (that IS really odd), no returns and you could be stuck with two rabbits that you have to keep seperate. Plus, with Red Door, you know her suitor would be neutered already, litter trained and the best part, Lulla gets to pick her own guy! What gal could resist that?  

You’re welcome!  I just really want for you to make the best decision all around and not regret anything either.  Hmm, does Red Door offer bringing a potential mate to you and/or will they keep Lulla until she is bonded for you?  Oh hey, another thought, maybe you can foster a male bun to see if it will work out if you really aren’t sure? Wow a 2 1/2 hour drive (Bless you for keeping that option open!). I would definately see if they have pictures available of suitors and make some phone contact with them about potential mates so they can keep their eyes and ears out for matches they think might work. Of course, this would not be until after the healing from the spay surgery but I am so excited for Lulla!

a lot of you guys do rescue work and such.  would it be outta line for xnovalentine to contact her local shelter after going to the Chicago one and tell them that she went to another shelter that did allow "bunny dates"… it was a success and they may want to consider implementing that system into their shelter.  and could she also say that her donations will be going to the Chicago shelter from now on…  kind of let them know that they have lost her business because of their policy.  would that be way out of line?

Well, while it seems like a good idea I’m certain this shelter has a reason for not doing this – could be that in the past they’ve had problems (injury, diseases) or it could be that their liability insurance does not allow it. I am sometimes frustrated with how shelters work too but I feel like they have hopefully good reasons for their policies and procedures to protect themselves and the animals in their care.

I wouldn’t want to threaten them however with not receiving donations – I don’t think that’s helpful and it would make them more defensive rather than open to suggestions.

It is an unfortunate reality that at most shelters, rabbits are an afterthought.  Shelters are built and staffed to house dogs and cats; there is often little training given to the people who work there about how to care for rabbits.  Shelters can also be very political places, with entrenched bureaucrats defending their turf.  It is very difficult to change their way of thinking.  I am disappointed that the people at the shelter near you do not understand that rabbits need to bond, but this is unfortunately not uncommon.  I think a head first approach will only get you more frustrated.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that the shelters we deal with are not only staffed with employees who work for the shelter, but also by volunteers and advocates who are rabbit specialists.  They often know much more about rabbit care than the actual employees do.  Something like a dating appointment would be handled by a volunteer, probably off site.  We do adoption shows every two weeks in which we show our own rescued bunnies plus bunnies from local shelters.  We will do bonding appointments with shelter bunnies as well as with our rescues.  Maybe your shelter has a program like this, but the person you spoke with is unfamiliar with it?

You could send them a couple of articles from the House Rabbit Society about bunny-dating to see if that helps, but yeah – she has no idea what she’s talking about.

If you do decide to come up to Red Door, let me know – I live about 1/2 mile from there

That’s true what Osprey says too about shelters. I don’t always get the same information from everyone at the shelters. We don’t have a system set up like that unfortunately in our shelters like Osprey does, but I think it’s great! Sometimes it’s easier to talk to them in person than over the phone too depending on the shelter. I find municipal shelters can be understaffed and overworked too so you are dealing with a great amount of stressed individuals here who have to take each and every animal that comes in and has to deal with people dumping animals and stray animals and you name it – stress city. In some of our cities the city shelter is under the police department too. Some shelters I’ve seen are not even adequate for dogs and cats.

Is your shelter a municipal shelter?

in any case… i do hope this works out for you and Lulla, whatever you decide to do.

I have found the same thing as Osprey – that most shelters focus the bulk of their attention to dogs and cats. However – some of the local shelters have volunteers associated with our rescue who come in to specifically help with the rabbits, like Osprey mentioned. This greatly helps the rabbits become socialized and someone is keeping an eye out to ensure they’re getting proper care. When I was volunteering at the SPCA I helped bring about some good changes – like making sure they weren’t using pine shavings for litter and dietary – by bringing fresh greens and ensuring the other staff weren’t giving them heaping bowls of pellets every day. I also put in several hours a week playing with the bunnies to help socialize them. It’s very difficult to adopt out bunnies who are terrified of people.

You may not have the time or inclination, but it really would be a huge thing if you could donate even a few hours a week to help the bunnies at your local shelter.

So you said that the lady at the shelter said they do not allow anyone to bring any of their animals in the shelter because the pets are “in cages anyway” (whatever that means) and she “didint think it would mean anything anyway”

So they don’t have rooms where adopters can meet with their potential animal companion? They just have to make their decision based only on what they see in the cage? I’ve never heard of that. I just can’t imagine that is the way it is. I bet you they have those rooms, and while those rooms may have been meant only for human animal introductions, I don’t know why things couldn’t be changed to include human, animal and animal introductions. (unless they just don’t have a knowledgable staff that can read body language to prevent fights)

I think you your point about the fact that they could adopt more out and keep their animals safe if they were more open about all of this, and looked for ways to make it happen.

Reading your reply BB, I am reminded that dogs for sure and maybe cats (not sure there) have to be introduced to see if they are compatible.  Some dogs are very aggressive to other dogs, and an adopter who already has a dog would have to know this before adopting.  Do they no allow dog introductions either?

I am seriously wondering if this shelter has had problems in the past with diseases and they are worried about infecting someones existing animal with some horrible disease.

I think it might also be a matter of their liability insurance too. It could be ignorance too. There is always the issue of parvo and other diseases too.

And who knows if the animals that the pubic would bring in to have “bonded” are up to date on shots and are spayed and neutered. Most municipal shelters don’t screen their adopters like private shelters either.

That’s excellent!  I hope something works out for Lulla.

I’m really glad to hear you found a shelter closer, and although Lulla would like a friend, I’m glad they’re not overcrowded with bunnies!

YEAH! Keep us updated! Did they say how often they get bunnies in? Do they spay/neuter them first? (if they are not already)