can't decide... adopt or foster a bun?

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

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.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 11sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 3 months ago by Scarlet_Rose.

Viewing 11 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 11/19/2007 at 6:33 PM
  babybunsmum
  Participant
  3896 posts
  i contacted rabbitrescue.ca today inquiring about being a foster parent. before i heard of fostering in this forum i had also considered trying to bond a second bun into my household. i have plenty of room and am all set up for bunnies (or willing to adapt as needed). i was waiting to see how baby healed from her surgery before seriously exploring this. now i can’t decide between the 2 options!
  
  my girl bun – Baby – is 7yrs old and unfortunately not spayed (my vet at the time i adopted her told me rabbits weren’t typically spayed / neutered… i didn’t know enough to ask around at the time .) i have room to keep a bun separate from Baby & Bogart (my dog) while either bonding or for a foster period.
  
  any thoughts? for those of you with foster experience… how long are foster periods typically? any comments or insights welcome!
- 11/19/2007 at 7:24 PM
  Scarlet_Rose
  Participant
  4293 posts
  You can foster with the intent of trying to bond Baby too. I would definately call the rescue you wish to foster for and discuss options (a lot of times they will come visit you and inspect the potential foster home). As for the length of time, sometimes it can be a few months or more if it is for socialization and for others it is long-term like for special-needs bunnies that are hard to adopt out like elderly, ones that need meds, have an amputated limb etc. It really can depend. Maybe some others can give you some insight as well.
- 11/19/2007 at 7:52 PM
  babybunsmum
  Participant
  3896 posts
  thanks Scarlet_Rose. i emailed Rabbit Rescue requesting a foster application to start with. i think i’ll see what the qualification process is like and get to know the organization this way. initially at least. i was thinking that an adoption would make for a companion for baby but oh my goodness… special needs bunnies? poor things! i want to help them and i’m just guessing but, they probably don’t need the stress of bonding.
- 11/19/2007 at 8:32 PM
  MooBunnay
  Participant
  3087 posts
  Its so nice of you to consider fostering OR adopting – either one really helps out the homeless bunny population of the world. I would say – as a warning – that I have yet to adopt out a single one of my fosters, Kramer (who is mine now) was a foster, Raymond (who is mine now) was a foster, and Grace (a special needs foster) is mine now! It is very hard to give up a bunny once you form a special bond with them, so I think fostering, with allowing the option of adopting open, is a good way to go
- 11/20/2007 at 2:39 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  MooBunny it the nail on the head for me….I would not be able to give up a foster bunny once I have cared for them.
- 11/20/2007 at 6:40 AM
  babybunsmum
  Participant
  3896 posts
  thanks for the heads-up… i can totally see that happenng! my brain is scrambling with the logistics of… do i foster & keep the new bun totally separate from Baby bun or do i proceed & try out some speed dating? i definitely see the potential to adopt a foster myself – especially if its a special needs bun who’s harder to place – but then the bun will not neccessarily be bondable with Baby. now that i think more about it (with a fresh cup of coffee) it doesn’t seem to matter. i can just keep the buns separate indefinitely to avoid pee & poop wars.
  
  i’m so excited
- 11/20/2007 at 7:27 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  who knows… the foster may surprise you and be bondable to Baby… i don’t know, but i wonder of they woud foster out a special needs rabbit to a first time "fosterer"… good luck with the application process…
- 11/20/2007 at 7:48 AM
  babybunsmum
  Participant
  3896 posts
  you’re probably right Beka… i’m getting a little ahead of myself! i tend to do that. while i await the application i shall use all of this energy to straighten up / bunny proof the spare room.
- 11/20/2007 at 8:34 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Well, I have fostered many many rabbits and it is actually extremely rewarding to find good homes for them and I have not regretted doing this at all.
  
  I think when you make a commitment to foster you need to keep in mind that you are just that a foster and that if you find a good home for your foster then you will be able to save another rabbit from the shelter. I have loved all my fosters and know they are special but my whole intent on fostering was finding homes for my foster buns. Obviously this will be the job of the Rabbit Rescue to screen and find homes for the foster in this situation.
  
  You will most likely have to explain the situation with not having Baby spayed – I know your reasons are valid but keep in mind they will want to know why too and most likely you have explained it on the application and they will accept that. I know you would be an excellent foster home myself.
  
  Please keep us updated.
- 11/20/2007 at 8:52 AM
  MooBunnay
  Participant
  3087 posts
  Hello – yes, as Sarita mentioned, some groups can be quite protective of their buns, so keep that in mind if you get some follow up questioning about either your dog or the fact that Baby isn’t spayed. Don’t be offended, they just try to make sure to do their due diligence in making sure that the rabbits are as safe as possible You may have to go into the rescue so they can meet you in person, sometimes that helps when they see applications with homes with dogs, just because many rescues have seen the worst happen to rabbits they start to get quite cautious, so if they meet you and get more comfortable with you it might speed things along. I just warn you because I’ve seen some people get turned off to rescues for being so cautious, and I just wanted to let you know that they don’t do it to be rude. I think you’ll be a great foster mom and/or adopter!
- 11/20/2007 at 9:50 AM
  babybunsmum
  Participant
  3896 posts
  thanks so much for the input! i just sent off my application & hopefully i have done a good job explaining about baby not being spayed. i have a fair bit of guilt about that.. i wish i had not taken that vet’s recommendation as ‘the gospel’. ah well… live & learn.
  
  I completely respect recues being stringent. and i understand why they need to be, judging by some of the stories i’ve read in the rescue forum. poor buns! I’m glad you mention that this, and the dog, could be a potential reason i am not suitable to be a foster. it’s good to be prepared. ultimately i respect their decision since i don’t have experience in rescue.
  
  if the foster doesn’t work out i will definitely look to adopt through this organization. they will know more about me and hopefully help me find the right fit!
- 11/21/2007 at 7:36 PM
  Scarlet_Rose
  Participant
  4293 posts
  You’re welcome babybunsmum! That’s a great outlook you have on things if it does or doesn’t work out and now it’s in their hands. I really hope they do decide to place a foster with you and I’ll keep my fingers crossed!
Author

Messages