How old are you? I have a 14 year old and an 11 year old and when I tell them “no” to something they want I generally have a good reason. Maybe they think you have enough on your plate with the GPs. Maybe they don’t want to sign a contract stating they will care for an animal they don’t want since, if you’re a minor, you can’t sign a contract. Maybe they don’t want the financial responsibility of buying more greens and litter. Maybe they don’t want another big cage in the house.

Unfortunately they call the shots and if they don’t want a rabbit in the house it’s best not to push it. Sometimes parents give in and say OK but then regret it later. You wouldn’t want to have to give up your bunnies, or kick out a foster if they were to agree and then change their minds later.

The best time to take responsibility for another pet would be after college, when you have your own place. Then you’ll call the shots and you can fill your house with as many critters as you want.

It does sound like your folks have taken a strong stand on this. Do you know why they said no to fostering? What their reasoning was? They might be afraid that since you REALLY want to have a rabbit, that bringing in a foster is going to be a disaster – you getting attached to the foster and then begging them relentlessly to adopt it. (And honestly, I have fostered – I get VERY attached.)  I have done a couple of days where I am just a safe haven for a rabbit for a few days while the permanent foster is being prepared…..but any longer than that, I discovered, I am useless. Jack was a foster…. so, I learned right off, I’m a terrible foster parent because I get too attached.

Even if you did convince your parents to foster, can you really see yourself saying goodbye to a bunny after you’ve cared and loved it for many months. This is VERY hard.

So maybe the next best step would be to continue to seek to volunteer at a humane society or rescue group. It’s alot of dirty work- cleaning cages, etc, but I never minded it because all of the cute faces and the quick little head scratches while working was worth it.

TARM and BB have excellent points. So often, “fostering” becomes “adopting” b/c you do get attached. Maybe your parents realize you will get attached and they are trying to save you the heartache.

I would maybe try and calmly ask their specific concerns. If the problem is money or space, that’s a big problem, and one not easily fixed. If it’s a rabbit misunderstanding, that can sometimes be explained. For example, many people think rabbits smell. The reality is… MOST do not smell if they are spay/neutered and their area/litterbox is kept clean. So finding out more info on the “why not” will help you if this is something you are serious about. But as someone who is a parent, I agree, that it may be better not to push on the matter.

It sounds like you are getting all the information you need now to be a great rabbit slave in the future. Right now, you are under your parent’s care and must abide by their wishes, just as a bunny who wants to go into forbidden zones to have a nice chew needs to abide by the wishes of their humans when they say no.

If you have more free time than expected, I suggest (if you can’t volunteer at a shelter which would be great!) you focus more on your piggies. Give them some more play and cuddle time with you. They are harder to train, but can be very great pets with a lot of attention. I grew up with them so I know. Research more on the pigs to see if there’s something you can expand on or build for them that would be fun for all of you.