My opinion is that we really live in a throw away society and that happens with pets too. It always makes me sad that people don’t think further than their noses when getting a pet or try to make any concessions or sacrifices when they do get them (obviously that’s not all pet owners but many). I think I’ve been pretty jaded as well doing rescue work.

I got Hubble from a lady who had found and then neutered him. In hindsight I should have went with a rescue that vet checks and what not. His teeth are going to cost me a pretty penny. On the other hand, I know she did at least care a little, otherwise she wouldn’t have neutered him or even bothered to keep him. I did find it odd that he didn’t have a name, but w/e. I am glad that I rescued him though. He has turned out to be a wonderful rabbit and deserves to be taken care of. She also didn’t charge me a lot for him. Just $20 to help cover the cost of the neuter. I probably wouldn’t get a rabbit from Craigslist again, but I do love Hubble and this lady really was just trying to help the rabbits that were being dumped near her house (she had another neutered male, and a more recent one that she had found a week ago, hence posting the ad). I did direct her to some local rescues as well so she could find homes for the others.

I’ve actually goten 3 of our 5 bunnies from Craigslist! I am always looking on it and for whatever reason, both of these ads seemed sincere!! I did spend about 2 weeks with each ad communicating first via email, then phone, then face to face before making the commitment!! I asked tons of questions and really felt that in both instances that the owners really cared about the buns, but unfortunately were in situations that required rehoming!!!! Both times there were plenty of tears shed as the buns were loaded up and I drove away!!! I have had the 2 lops for almost a year and the Angora for just a few weeks, but I am still in contact with both owners on a regular basis, sending updates, holiday greetings and a picture or two whenever I have then chance – and I always receive responses with requests to give extra kisses from them!!!!!!! I know most people do see pets as disposable, but in some instances, especailly with this economy, some are doing what they feel is in the best interest of the animal!!!! I also respond to lots of ads informing them of the rabbit rescue I volunteer at and encourage them to consider any of the shelters in the area as an option. I think that many people, at least in our area, don’t realize that there are places that will take bunnies!!!!

And by the way, Miyuki, the buns loved the hay!!!! Thanks so much again!!!!!

Most Craigslist ads are short because the owners probably really don’t know much about the bunnies- they were impulse purchases that they tired of.  I work at a vet clinic, volunteer for rescue groups and have worked at our local Humane Society- people become “allergic” to scooping the litterboxes and caring for their pet when it is no longer little and cute and has developed bad behavior from the care they have gotten.  People that move and “cannot” take their pets with them should have considered that before they got a pet- or looked a little harder to find a place that would accept them and ALL of their family.  But the pets are better off being rehomed on Craigslist then staying with someone that is no longer interested in them.  It is not the animals fault- but the owners fault, and there are some genuine owners out there that must give up their pets- but they are not as numerous as Craigslist makes them seem.

There is nothing wrong with getting a bunny from Craigslist as long as the “owner” is not making a profit or continuing to breed to “sell” on Craigslist- just don’t believe what they say about age, speutered or health- as they are looking to unload their pets and might say whatever they need to do so.  Most of us rabbit lovers would not dream of giving an animal back once we get it home and find out that is might be older, not speutered, etc.

I completely agree Julie! With your whole pose, but in particular the ‘once we get them we will keep them’ thing. Getting Hubble though I knew that I would not know the age, and the lady did mention the specific place that he was neutered at (the same place I got Nova spayed in fact!). I suppose that with a spayed female I would be a little more wary though. I would probably shave the belly once I got her home. Haha. Sure, Hubble could have had bits that never dropped, but as he was with another male and they didn’t fight and she said she got them fixed because they were fighting I kind of believed her. It’s just a shame I didn’t know about his teeth. Oh well.

Oh, and for Craigslist, I think sometimes you can find more specific breeds than in rescues, but they come come with more of a risk. Yeah, you can get them in rescues, but I think they tend to be snatched up quicker sometimes there. Already speutered and often adoptable for a lower price than it would cost to do so!

I would get one off of craigslist just as soon as a rescue (figure I’d get it vet insurance anyway) except for a lot of the time craiglist rabbits aren’t neutered and I really can’t shell out the $250 for that that they charge around here… I know some people don’t consider adopting a craigslist rabbit a “real” rescue.

I think sibley that the rabbit is probably in need of rescue. Those associated with an actual rescue will denounce it as such though because all they see is someone putting money into an abuser’s pocket and one of their rabbits not finding a good home. Even I kind of see it that way, but as I mentioned, the rabbit probably does need to be rescued.

Rabbit rescues spend a lot of time to determine that a potential adopter is in it for the long haul. Many CL posters trying to rehome only have one or two requirements (usually the “adoption” fee and that the rabbit will be picked up from their home.) The same rabbit may end up on CL every 3 months for the duration of its life, getting bounced from home to home. Another great thing about rescues, is that there is usually a stipulation that if for some reason you cannot keep the rabbit (no time, money, life situation changes, allergies, etc…) they require the rabbit come back to them. If you ask the same of the CL poster, “If this doesn’t work out, can I return the bunny to you?” oftentimes the answer will be No. Once it’s gone, they don’t want it back. It says a lot about a person if they care to provide the right diet, housing, they spend the money to speuter… The people on here who have gotten a rabbit from CL, those are things that they look for before they will respond. I think it’s also possible to look up previous posts by a user. If you see the same person posting an accidental litter every few months, that’s a red flag. It’s not bad to get a rabbit on CL. They need a home like any other. The problem I see is that it reinforces to some people that if a pet becomes a problem or they’re tired of dealing with it, they can just throw up an ad and have it dealt with by someone else.