I am so sorry to hear you had so many pets go to the Bridge, Liz. I had no idea there were more than just Rose. ((((((((hugs))))))))

I would say my only advice would be to have the bun get a full check up PRIOR to bringing it home…even if it is domestic, you can’t be sure it doesn’t have some disease from the wild, which you certainly don’t need to have crossing to Hammer or Lucy.

Um…who is #5, if you don’t mind my asking? I’ve been close to losing a few pets myself lately, and I can empathize with the frustration.

Of course it’s not crazy! You know your stuff and you know you can see to this rabbits needs the best. I agree with MM, get it checked out and quarantine if possible. If your vet has a boarding option, maybe look into it staying there until test results are clear.

What would it take to negotiate with your Mum in having another rabbit? Is she concerned for you because of the loss of pets you’ve been through? Or is just a financial thing?

Liz, you’re great – not crazy!

I would be careful with fleas and ticks on a bunny that is caught outside.

About 3 years ago there was a big REW (ruby eyed white) hopping around in our subdivision- my neighbor caught it and I came inside and got a cat carrier.  Just from looking at the bunny after he put it in the carrier- I could see fleas all over the nose.  There was no way I could take the bunny in my house so I took the bunny to the vet clinic where I work after hours- and had the person doing nightly treatments help me pull all the ticks off- over 2 dozen and I treated for fleas.  The next day I called animal control to come pick it up- and they would not, I had to have my husband drive it to the Humane Society.  I would rather see a bunny go the the Humane Society than be as parasite infested and skinny as that poor bunny was.  It took about 6 months but it was finally adopted. 

Maybe have your Aunt tell them you’re working on it so they don’t get rid of it beforehand – just in case.

I have to voice one other concern, and that is Hammer.
He is already, possibly, grieving one bunny friend and another suddenly arrived that he is not interested in and may yet show some jealousy towards. I would just give it some serious thought simply because we don’t want to overload his already stressed situation. Has he eaten any better or shown any signs of coming out of this funk he’s been in since Rose passed? (And no, I don’t think it’s been long enough yet to finish grieving for either of you.) It’s possible to find he is interested in the new bunny if it arrives and that is the catalyst for his return to normal, or what I fear is if that would only push his mood further into hostile territory?

Just a thought to consider. I completely understand the need to rescue. Here’s a story that may give you a laugh.

When I was about 5 or so, my mom and I went to the grocery store about half a mile from our house. Now this is back in the late sixties, so naturally there is, outside the store upon our finishing our shopping, a Volkswagen van with a couple of hippies in it…and I am talking serious hippies…Jerry Garcia/Grateful Dead-serious.

The guy walks up to my mom with a ginger tom tabby in his hand and shoves it in her face rather inelegantly and asks, “Hey lady, do you want a kitten?” (Apparently there are others in the van, just haven’t seen them yet.)
My mom recoils in distaste and revulsion (she was a very proper lady) and yells, “Ugh! Get that thing away from me, I hate cats!”

So she turns away, thinking she’d put the guy off and finished with him and begins loading groceries in the car. While she has her back turned (the whole time I was looking at the poor kitten, wondering who was going to give it a home) the hippie looks at me, grins and puts a finger to his lips in a “Shh” motion…then plops the kitten into one of the grocery bags my mom had already loaded in the front seat and then winks at me and walks away!

Being a stupid 5 year old…I’m dumbfounded. What do I do??

So my mom finishes loading groceries and tells me to get in the car and she closes the door and we drive off. I am sitting in the seat in front of which the bag of groceries is that contains kitty…and a nice big batch of fresh strawberries, amongst other things.

We are almost to our driveway, when suddenly the strawberries go, “Mew!”

My mom about puts her foot through the floor on the brake, “WHAT is THAT??””

I kind of look at her like I have no idea how it got there and said, “A kitten?”

She was going to turn around and get a cop and find this hippie and shove this cat back in his face, threaten him with any charge she could think of and I think I said something like, “Won’t the frozen stuff go bad if we go back now?”

By this time, I had the kitten in my arms as he’d climbed out of the bag and I guess the picture of young child and tiny kitten was too much for her.

“Mom…can’t we keep him….PLEEEEZE?” *eyelash flutter* “Those people don’t want him!”

His name was Peanuts. He was my first cat. And my mom ‘litter’ trained him in the shower stall with my favorite baby blanket.
Then he became an outside cat. He lived side by side with my mutt dog who treated him like her own puppy.

When he was six years old, we had moved to a different town and he had been bitten by something and passed away not long after that. He had never been a ‘lap cat’, but was about the coolest tomcat you would ever want to meet. Kind of like Thomas O’Malley, I would say. And he and that dog loved each other…slept int he same bed, ate from the same dish, drank from the same bowl. Inseparable.

I’ll never forget him. His entrance into my life had to have been the start of my wanting to give any animal who wandered my way a good home.

Bunnyliz-I’m so sorry-your heart must be aching. *hugs*

Tons of great advice already, but if you have any questions, we just took in some ferals at my sheltr so hopefully I can help!

I’m sorry Liz, I was not trying to make light of your losses…I do apologize and wish to say, I am so sorry for all these little ones lost.

I guess it just made me nostalgic…I was remembering all the ones who have agreed to walk my path with me. I miss them too.

Lots of hugs for you, kiddo! (((((((((((((((((((((((BunnyLiz)))))))))))))))))))))))

BTW, shelters don’t have extra room at Easter time. People go out and buy the cute, baby bunnies – the ones that probably are too young to really be away from their moms. Then 3 months later, no one wants to take care of it – especially when hormones hit – and THEN the shelters are packed.

Oh No! I really wish it had gone with you! Well if there are any channels of communication open, maybe send them some “helpful” info. Grrr!

Grieving is different for everyone.  I had a hard time talking about Laith for 1 whole year.  Finally I can talk about him now .   Some people work through grief faster than others.   Grieving is normal.  However long it takes that is what is normal for you.

I say go for it.  Poor bunny needs you.  However do you mind missing out on the trip was it for graduation?  Is it like a once in a lifetime thing?

OH gray is so beautiful on a rabbit/cat etc.  I don’t know why I like gray animals so much.  

If you can take the little bunny which I hope you do  yes be careful about fleas ticks and other diseases.  That little bunny sounds like a real sweetie.  Even being dumped it is still craving affection from people.  Sounds like a special little baby