My gut tells me to take her back.

I sent an email today and I received one back saying they are going to have her caretaker contact me to talk with me about working with her. But I don’t see talk solving this!

Perhaps it would have gone better had we had a better experience with the rescue and AT the rescue? It’s hard to keep one’s emotions entirely out of things. It’s hard when the rabbit we all liked who seemed to like him was denied us and then we get home and things go off so poorly with the one they assigned us.

All my friends and family say take her back, but I’ve come across a few rabbit people “online” who said it would be horrible and selfish of me to take her back.

I feel like crap.

Thanks.

 She’s a nice rabbit with people and I think would make a great house rabbit for someone with no other rabbits. She settled in quickly and comes when I call or whistle and likes to be pet. But she is not cool with another rabbit!

 When we were at the rescue, even though they had repeatedly stressed that size doesn’t matter, they then said they didn’t feel comfortable giving us a smaller breed female because our rabbit is 10 lbs and might hump her. So it was this bunny or no bunny, so I don’t think they will be willing to try with another.

 We were so excited about all this and are very sad it’s been such a rough experience. I’ve talked to some people who said they spent months bonding rabbits that fought and one even spent an entire YEAR! but I don’t see the good in forcing animals that don’t like each other to fight for weeks or months. Especially when many others said it took days or a week to get good results.

 and if we don’t return her within 30 days there is a $250 fee, and with the money we’ve already put into pens, carriers, travel and hotel expenses I can’t take another hit like that

I actually had reservations about getting a second rabbit. Our boy is to us, like dogs are to most people. he’s totally free with us, comes when we call or whistle, we actually don’t have a couch or coffee table so we have a big space to get on the floor and play with him. But he is so affectionate I worried he would be lonely if I get a job or we leave for a weekend.

I read house rabbit sites and they are very encouraging that nearly every rabbit should have a buddy, so after a lot of reading and thought we took the plunge. But truly, he might be happiest just the way we are. He and I are extremely close, but I will say this, he has not shown any jealousy of her. he hadn’t reacted to her scent on me, or gotten angry that I spend time with her or pet her. I guess he knows his place is secure!

I don’t know if we will try again or not. He actually seemed to like the idea of a buddy, but clearly she feels otherwise, and I am not sure I can take the stress again, at least not any time soon.

Thanks for that. I really do feel crap over this. We went in with the best intentions and highest hopes.

My boyfriend admitted last night at dinner that he’s felt “Big Brother” watching all week as well after having seen them at the rescue center and their expectations.

On looking back over the week I realize that when we were all together during the dates, she was coming to ME for snuggles, and I happened to be right near him. She does like people, and I think if the rescue would bring her to more adoption days she would find a home. Due to her size (she’s a standard rex, by no means huge) they have only brought her to one other, hence her being in foster care over one year. I hope they give her more of a chance. She’s quite the snuggle bunny when one gets down on the floor with her.

We’ve made the reservations at the hotel etc and I let the rescue know we will be returning her. They said someone would call me yesterday with tips (her previous caretaker) but no one ever called. I will try one more date this morning, and see if there is any hope. I still have until tomorrow to cancel the hotel if I must.

Like you say, a well meaning experiment. And truly no harm done. Both rabbits are unscathed.

I spoke with the woman who had been caretaking the rabbit and she says she is quite a Queen! so my assessment of her personality is spot on.

Well, thing is that we aren’t supposed to allow even scuffles…seriously, the women there during the adoption session were hyper about any sign of a scuffle. So while I know it’s normal….the thing is she is THEIR property and if I let anything happen to her…I’m in big trouble. Well $250 and reported to animal control for abuse.

The fight yesterday was a real knock down drag out, not a scuffle. I’ve been keeping rabbits for decades and these two meant business. And they are large breed bunnies, so they can do a lot of damage, even the little one’s can, but two ten pounders of furry fury….watch out!

The woman who kept her told me she had another rabbit like this one and it took her a YEAR to bond with her male. I am not the woman for that type of a responsibility.

My boyfriend and I are talking about it and think maybe we should leave things as they are and let him be a bachelor. Because honestly I dont’ know if I can tell what a promising match would be or not. The one we thought looked great they called foul on, so maybe I just dont know what I’m doing.

I don’t think they are at all associated with HRS.

That first gal liked him, and he liked her and we liked her…I nearly can’t figure out how we ended up with this gal! AND when I spoke with her caretaker yesterday, she didn’t seem at all surprised it wasn’t working out. That bunny is not the sort she thinks would bond easily, said she had another with a similar personality and the bond took a YEAR! She also told me she NEVER used that method to bond rabbits and that she lets her buns run in the garden…when I had to sign a contract saying I never would, and agree to their bonding methods?

They want me to try with some other females this weekend, but the carrier, pen etc etc all will smell like her. And with females being territorial, it doesn’t seem a good way to start things off.

Boyfriend and I aren’t keen to sign another contract with them….so not sure what we will do. There is one other rescue in that city and after reading all their stuff over and looking at their site I got such a vibe from them I didn’t even go any further. The other rabbit rescue in the state is over 6 hours away, so that’s not happening.

I truly don’t know WHAT this rescue expects as far as rabbit behavior, but they got very concerned when he humped their females and said “no way” when there was that scuffle, then comforted the female as if she’d been attacked by rabid dogs. Perhaps it’s love at first sight or nothing?

I will be glad when this is over.

I am in AZ and large cities are rather far between and I don’t live near any major ones.

It’s not a bad rescue, as far as the buns go they take very good care and are clearly careful about screening the owners. But yes, the contract feels a bit daunting. And the particular people we saw that day certainly handled things oddly. But I would hate to make it seem they are horrible or steer anyone from adopting a bunny looking for a home.

It seems that the Humane Society in that city does do rabbits, but they have few (I assume most end up in one of the two rescues). I spoke with them yesterday and the first off thing the woman said is that rabbits are extremely territorial and I should think long and hard about trying a bond because they are likely to fight.

I thought, oh dear, don’t I know it!

A friend said I should get a kitten, they can be company, but are less likely to fight.

We won’t but I can see her point.

It’s not a “rent to own” situation with them, we would NEVER own the rabbit. We would pay a fee then sort of foster it (that’s not the wording they use, but basically it is what it boils down to) and I agree that the $250 damage fee is an odd thing. But this rescue has been doing this a long time and have rehomed close to 1300 rabbits since they began so it’s not my place to tell them their business.

 What I have learned over the past few months, and reading on perhaps dozens of rabbit sites is that each group has their strong opinions on things. And it seems that the buns do pretty well in a vast variety of situations and ideologies. A safe home, good food, access to health care and kind keepers…the rest is up for grabs.

Basically I will be cheered by someone and damned by someone else no matter what I do, or don’t do. That doesn’t matter, it’s just been interesting. The bunny’s well being matters. So far, no harm, no foul. All are safe and well cared for, and I have learned a LOT.

 I really appreciate the thought and time people have shared with me, it’s been very helpful.