You are in a tight spot there, and I feel for you.
What are your options? I did read all about how you got the babies, mom, etc and know the story.

It seems they want to be rabbit owners but yet whenever they get in a bind they peter out.

Can you just say NO? Is that too hard in your situation? being kin and all?

Otherwise can you do a white lie? for the best of the bunnies and say they are sick and need lots of treatment to
scare them away from wanting them back?

I know that’s tacky..but…will you end up in this situation just a few mo’s down the road again when they run
into yet another problem they don’t want to “deal” with.

good luck, and huggsssss across the ocean from North Carolina.
Martie

Are you just wanting to move the whole family (mom and babies) to a safer place? I think it should be fine now – the sooner the better.

I think you should speak with the aunt about the whole situation – tell the 9 year old you will only speak with her mother about the situation. The mom might be grateful that you are taking this on too.

I would move the babies in with their current nesting – mom may choose to change it up a bit but that is her choice :~)

aww, I can appreciate your shyness, at some point in your life though you will need to assert yourself. This may be a good opportunity for you to grow with your shyness and practice. I wish I lived closer, I’d speak for you!
Can you find other homes for the buns, better homes w/out too much difficulty where you are?

I certainly wish you the best no matter what and will be hoping the best for you and the baby bunnies.
GOOD LUCK Charlie

i also think you should talk to your aunt.  i’ve read about the situation in your other thread as well.  i dont think it has to be a confrontation – at least at first – because you can simply explain that you are in touch with a forum & a vet about caring for the buns.  i think if you explain that it’s fairly involved your aunt will not demand them back.  i forget… didn’t you originally take mum from her with her permission?  if so, i’m sure she can appreciate that when you did you began to make arrangements for them & that unfortunately a change of heart on her end is too late now.  like sarita, i think it’s a mom’s job to explain that to her child & not yours.  good luck moving mom & the bubs!

edit to add…. oops.  just re-read your orig thread & see that you had the mum while she was on holidays.  i still think that you do not have to hit her with ‘you can’t care for them properly’ which will certainly ruffle feathers, but rather explain that it’ll be a while before bubs can be weened and longer still before they’ll be able to be fixed.  surely sh can understand the importance of spays / neuters now?

hmmm.  i know it’s long in the future… but were you thinking of spaying and neutering the baby rabbits yourself?  if so… you could tell the cousin that the babies her friend wants, will not be ready to go to her for about 6 months.  if she still wants them in 6 months, let you know.  most kids don’t have that long of an attention span and they would be most likely forgotten by then.  or if she wants them she has to reimburse you for the surgery cost… call it an adoption fee.

if push came to shove and you said no, can’t have them, i would think she’d need to involve the police to force you to give them back.  but when you told the police what happened, or involved the humane society, they may side with you.

i would tell the aunt you’ll maybe give the father back.  i also am thinking she just wants to have the babies around b/c they’re cute and small.

Well I also hate confrontations but you really have to think about the welfare of these bunnies over anything else.  You do need to talk to your aunt.  If it’s really hard for you to talk to her in person, could you write a detailed letter or is that too weird????  Trust me, you will feel SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better for doing this. I’m sure you are sick with worry and that’s not healthy for you!  You have done such a wonderful job! I personally think you should not give any of them back.

It is possible that your aunt is avoiding the conversation w/ the cousin and wanting you to be the "bad guy".  That way she can look good and you can look mean.  I like the wait 6 months thing b/f placing the bunnies, but I do think that you may be able to work out a compromise.  I’m a big fan of behavioral contracts and behavioral charting (its the psychologist in me)…can you work out a system where if the cousin agrees to work x number of days a week caring for the pets in your home, then you can work out some kind of deal, but only after they are fixed?  I believe in giving people the chance to prove me right or wrong depending on how you look at it.  I also like the telling the cousin that the issue is really between you and the aunt and that you can’t really discuss it w/ her, since auntie is her mum.  I think you can come up w/ some ideal solutions using a blend of all these tactics. 

Would it be possible that you could offer a bunny education course and once the education and requirements are completed then people could earn a bunny?  I think as long as the guidelines are clear w/ each persons responsibilities and requirements and what the end all result is….you would be providing everyone w/ a wonderful service, while feeling comfortable that people can care for these rabbits.  That way, if people can’t complete the requirements you set, they can’t have a bun.  In the US possesion is 9/10ths of the law!  I really doubt that your aunt/ cousin would know what the law is..if they are barristers, did they break the law w/ animal neglect/ abandonment?  I may be ranting at this point so I hope this makes some type of sense.  Sending you lots of confidence across the pond.

i understand your points skunklionshow.  like i said before, if she wanted them back that badly, she’d need to involve law enforcement to come and get them.  i doubt she cares enough.  and i think i remember you saying your cousin is very young?  far too young to be solely responsible.

I am also not confrontational, but when it comes down to it I certainly would get the courage up when it comes to animal’s welfare.

It sounds to me like the mom just wants to appease the girl and says “oh we’ll see – we’ll ask and see what happens” and is fully HOPING that you will say no! Saying that you want to wait until they are neutered, or until they are old enough to not need “special care” is a good idea, because then they will be older and bigger and maybe she won’t be so excited about it because they aren’t babies anymore. When you talk to the Aunt, find out what she really wants, she may just be non-confrontational herself and not want an argument with a 9 year old

You could also tell auntie that these buns are sooo much work and they are peeing, pooping and spraying all over the place! And so messy and rambunctious! Maybe that’ll scare em off!

Hi,

After reading all the posts, if i was in that situation the welfare of the bunnies would be what comes first…if that means you have to say NO then thats what needs to be said… might be mean/harsh but in your heart you know thats the right thing to do.

In terms of how old the bunnies to say with their mother its suppose to be a minium of 8 weeks (because they need mothers milk until that age) alot of people seperate the babies from their mother before that but its not good, more prone to being sick/weak and having health problems. I think its a good idea to move them all together with the mother into a bigger space as you wanted.

I volunteer at shelter where i deal with abandoned, neglected, abused rabbits its soo sad sometimes im in tears these poor innocent animals end up in horrible situations like these, i believe education and responsibility is key. If someone i knew was neglecting an animal or not properly taking care of it i would not give it back to the owner… and explain to them your position.

As we all know a rabbit for a child is not a good thing they might want it in the beginning but they grow out of it, while the animal suffers. This is sad but reality. I believe you should speak to the mother and let her know exactly what responsibilites and care is involved.

Having rabbits as pets is wonderful thing, but i believe it is only for people who are responsible and willing to take care of them meaning socalizing, proper diet, taking them to vet when sick, and getting them spayed or neutered if needed.

keep us posted!!

your instinct to wait until after they’re neutered or spayed seems like a very wise idea, I think if at that point you can better ascertain if they’re truly willing to make a serious commitment to the buns welfare and care. I know how terrible confrontation can be, but I also can tell how upset you are over the whole thing.
sending you lots of supportive hugs!

Charlie, I think that honest talk with the aunt is a stellar idea. I don’t like lies either and I am thinking the only reason the cousin wants them back because she it getting a LOT of attention from her peers and others too because of the allure of BABY bunnies. She wants the mum and babies because well, the babies have to come with mum and I think she knows that.