Advice desperately needed on a foster bunny

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 35sd replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 11 months ago by dmh426.

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- 12/24/2006 at 11:17 AM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  I have recently come across a situation that needs desperate attention. I work wo jobs. Paralegal by day and house manager at our local theatre two-three days a week. One of the girls who works at the theatre is a student (we are affiliated with a large drama college in the area) and she has recently come to me with bunny questions. She has a one year old Holland Lop who she believes is "difficult". She told me that she tried to let him go into the wild and, I quote "the stupid bunny didn’t do anything, he just sat there and shook". Well yeah- he was scared to death. I do foster occassionally for the HRS so I told her that I would take the bunny from her and re-socialize him and adopt him out. So I met the bunny. He’s scared to death of this girl, but was good with me. He’s actually a she, has never been the vet and never had his nails clipped. So, this is the problem. I told her Sophie had a bacterial infection and that I would take him when I could find another fosterer and let her know ASAP. I feel comfortable doing this since he has a huge Prevue cage, his diet is great and for the meantime is just sustaining life. This girl has all the same books that I do and had the potential to be a great bunny mom but somewhere along the way just lost her parentalness. She handed me a printout with pics of the bunny, his condo, and all the accessories that she bought. On the handout was the fact that she wants me to pay her $100 since she spent well over $200 on everything. Ofcourse, she walked away as she handed me the handout but my initial reaction was "are you kidding me? you want me to PAY you for taking this sweet bunny off your hands who has probably never been shown real love" WHAT DO I DO? Let’s just say that I am not willing to pay $100 and thought that I was doing her a favor (and this bunny a favor no doubt).
  
  thoughts???
- 12/24/2006 at 12:13 PM
  Lucy
  Participant
  370 posts
  tell her that the new foster has all of the accessories and such, and that you won’t be needing all of that stuff and since that you won’t be needing that stuff you shouldn’t have to compensate her for the money she spent. Then try to find the pen and everything through someone else or through craigslist.Or tell her that she can sell everything on craigslist and make money off of it. I wouldn’t want to give her the money out of principle.
  
  You can TRY to reason with her that since she tried to just let her bunny “go in the wild” that you shouldn’t have to pay for that stuff. She was willing to let the bunny go and not get anything in return, and since she knew you were a bunny person that she’s hagaling her and putting this creatures life in the middle of it.. I guess just make her feel like a really bad person.
  
  The third.. and I don’t know if I could do this.. but is offer to take the bunny to the vet.. and never bring her back. I mean, she’s a student, right? doesn’t care about the bunny? She’ll be angry you didn’t take her stuff and pay for it.
  
  I don’t know.. I would try to reason with her first, but she seems like a b…..and is only caring about the money. Use the letting the bunny go thing against her….
- 12/24/2006 at 1:11 PM
  Gravehearted
  Participant
  2428 posts
  ooo people like that REALLY tick me off!! I hate people who treat animals like they’re disposable.
  
  Are you going to foster the bun through HRS? I would consider it, so she’ll have to sign a surrender agreement.
  
  I would make it clear that you are happy to help find the bunny a home, but you are fostering / rescuing the bunny and not buying it from her. Most people who surrender their animals donate the supplies to help cover the care the rabbit . HRS will take her to the vet, have her spayed, and general care until you can find her a good home. Rescues do not pay to take animals off people’s hands. Remind her that by bringing the rabbit home she made a commitment to taking good care of her, and since she no longer cares for it’s wellbeing, she should at least ensure it goes to a safe home where they will take good care of it.
  
  if that still doesn’t work – ask her for the rabbit and if she really wants to keep the supplies then she can sell them.
- 12/24/2006 at 1:18 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  WOW, she sure is a piece of work. She even gets my blood to a boil. People!!
  But it is a delicate situation because she seems quite narcissistic – obviously she thinks she generously giving you a bunny.   EGADS! Ultimately, Fujoe’s suggestions are good – tell this girl that selling her stuff on the internet may actually get her more money so maybe that idea will appeal to her. Plus, what was she going to do with all that stuff when she was just going to set her bunny free.
  
  So maybe you can appeal someway to her selfish side and say, I know you must feel as if you spent all this money, and now you’re just giving it away, that must be hard.   But now it must be a relief to not have the responsibility.
  
  I think that you need to let also her know that you are not taking in this bunny because you want another bunny, you are able to provide for HER a service of making sure her bunny goes to a good home, and not be scared, or abused or die out in the wild.   And ESPECIALLY if all your doing is finding another foster, you’re not even taking him.    Educate her how rescue groups work – on donations, and it takes a lot of money to care for rabbits, and make them adoptable and if her bunny is such a "difficult" then it will take even more time to get him to make him "adoptable" . Fostering a bunny costs money – A vet check, and while he’s being resocialized, the foster will need to feed him and take care of him UNTIL he’s adopted.
  They have their own facilities, their own setups etc.
  
  Is the bunny spayed. Let her know that most rescues, like the HRS, will need to do that first before adopting out, and that costs money.
  
  Plus, going through the adoption process takes time – you have to get calls from people, you screen them, it takes a lot of time and effort.     It not cheap and it’s not quick – it takes time and money.
  
  FYI: When you do find a another foster for this bunny, be sure to share the description of this girl to the rescue group or fosterer     I have seen people who gave up their bunny, and then came back and tried to adopt them once their animal was "emotionally fixed".   When all along it was the owner that screwed them up.   When they get turned down they try and find other ways to readopt.   Hopefully she’ll just be on to the next thing in her life and be too busy with her own issues.
  
  You have a big heart, and I would be doing the same thing!   People are amazingly appalling.   But then there are others, like you, that help balance this goofy world out.
  
  Please keep us updated on this situation. I hope it has a happy ending.
- 12/24/2006 at 1:25 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Gravehearted, Looks like we both saw this post at the same time – ticked us off a the same time! I was writing like mad, and then posted and saw your great advice already there. Isn’t it amazing how though we have both been in rescue for years, how things can just still make us so mad. You’d think I’d be completely desensitized by it by now.
- 12/24/2006 at 6:38 PM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  I ABSOLUTELY will be taking this bunny, but on my own and not as a HRS Member. My local chapter doesn’t take rescues from “in home” situations so I would be doing it all on my own. She would need to be spayed and I just don’t have the $250 it costs around her to do it, and the HRS is bogged down with enough fosters at the moment so it would be all me. I was totally appalled at the situation of me paying her for everything and taking the bunny to vet and never bringing her home sounds like a good idea to me! I am going to have a little down chat with her on Tuesday and just tell her that I am doing this as a favor and that it is out of the question for me to provide payment for the rabbit. I have a cage that will do just fine for her. I just am appalled that she tried to release it into the wild!!! I could have hit her and believe me, am not a violent person. Two people who are friends were standing there as she was telling me this and they said to the bunny abuser with no soul (as I am now referring to her) “you better get out of her before Danielle goes off”. SERIOUSLY. Grr….
- 12/24/2006 at 7:30 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Oh!   Good for you! I misunderstood, but I now see what you told her was you’d find a foster, but you will be actually taking her and adopting her out. I understand about how rescue groups don’t take in rabbit directly from in-home situations. They are focused on saving the bunnies from euthanasia at other shelters, as well as other desperate last minute saves.
  
  I’m not sure what you meant by "taking him to the vet and never bringing him home."
  
  Hopefully she will give the bunny over without an issue.   As much as she really makes you mad, you were smart to not show anger because she could just not give the bunny over out of spite    I don’t know if she would be the type of person that would change her mind, and decide she wants the bunny later, but you may want to type up a quick release form – your local HRS might be able to give you one, and you can change it how you see fit.   You could also call one of your local shelters about how to make sure that once she hands over the bunny, it is no longer hers to claim back.   You would be amazed at the kind of stuff that goes on with that issue.
  
  When you do bring the bunny home, be sure to try to keep her as separated as possible from yours. Not just because she is sick, but the closer they are (especially since the new bunny may not be spayed) you will have a poop war on your hands.      Depending on the reaction of your bunny, you may also need to wash your hands between petting bunnies, because they can even smell the other bunny on you hands, so that can start that reaction as well.    If I forget to wash my hands when I get back from the shelter, one of my bunnies will actually bite me, but the others just poop more.
  
  AH JOY! So it can be challenging, which you can inform her that is what you will have to deal with for a while too, so you certainly are not going to PAY for adding more expenses and challenges to your life. You are doing this because you were helping her out.   Okay, now I’m getting mad at her again too. Better sign off.
  
  Keep us updated. Good Luck!
- 12/25/2006 at 6:27 PM
  Lucy
  Participant
  370 posts
  I’m not sure what you meant by “taking him to the vet and never bringing him home.”
  
  I think that’s in referance to what I said…
  
  The third.. and I don’t know if I could do this.. but is offer to take the bunny to the vet.. and never bring her back. I mean, she’s a student, right? doesn’t care about the bunny? She’ll be angry you didn’t take her stuff and pay for it.
  
  I’m sorry- I hate people. How can people be this way… you try to trick her … I swear I’m not a bad person, it’s just the let-down that humanity has given me..
- 12/25/2006 at 8:28 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  AH, i get it now. There is legal problem with that though. There is even problems when someone gives over an animal and doesn’t sign a release. So I’d be very careful going this route. She could turn around and file a complaint that her bunny was stolen, and then the whole thing would be a huge mess.
- 12/25/2006 at 9:19 PM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  My second job is as at the theatre. My “REAL” job is a paralegal, believe me, I know the legal ramifications of kidnapping someone’s bunny. I borrowed a release form from HRS and made some changes on it especially for this situation. But in my head, i want to kidnap all the bunnies who aren’t loved. I agree Fujoe, i hate people sometimes too. I adore my rabbit so much that the thought of someone who bought the right age, feeds the right food, owns all the right books and SUCKS so much as a bunny owner just aggravates me even more. I mean, this rabbit that I am rescuing has a better condo than Sophie the most spoiled rabbit ever to possibly live. THAT KILLS ME.
- 12/26/2006 at 1:15 PM
  Lucy
  Participant
  370 posts
  can’t you make some changes in fine print that you can just take the bunny?
  
  I mean, I can’t get over the fact that she tried to let the bunny go, and then asked for money. I’m so confused… I wish her parents had tired to let her go when she was a child….
- 12/26/2006 at 1:32 PM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  I think some people should be drowned early on in childhood and this girl is one of them. Yes, she wants money for everything that she purchased. She also informed me over email today that she is getting a puppy once I take the bunny. Yes, that’s right, another helpless animal will be in her clutches. A designer puppy no less, one of those maltipoo’s that’s a cross between a maltese and a something or another else that is a little dog and yaps. (ops- I didn’t say that) You should see this contract I plan on having her sign…hahahaha….no legal way for her to come back and get the bunny once I take it, which will be this weekend. I am having one of the lawyers I work for look for any loopholes in the “surrendering contract”.
- 12/26/2006 at 1:37 PM
  Theresa Moan
  Participant
  249 posts
  How old is this ‘girl’? Is she old enough to sign a legal contract? Is she young enough that you can involve her parents to try to stop her???
  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr………
- 12/26/2006 at 1:41 PM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  this “girl” is 19, so in the state of New York a legal contract is binding. Even better, I am having her relinquish custody to a friend of mine in HRS and I am going to notarize the document (I knew being a Notary Public would come in handy one day). Unfortunately, I don’t know her parents and I don’t believe they reside locally although I am trying to get mutual acquaintances talk her out of getting another animal when she clearly couldn’t take care of this one.
- 12/26/2006 at 1:43 PM
  Theresa Moan
  Participant
  249 posts
  Geez………She sounds like she has Paris-Hilton-disease…
- 12/26/2006 at 1:59 PM
  Lucy
  Participant
  370 posts
  yay! You use your legal power! That’s awesome that you have one of the lawyers helping you out. Ya, I’m curious now too… how old is this person? Once a brat, always a brat though.. it’s ridiculous how people were raised and continue to act… I used to work at starbucks and people would get soo fussy over the weight of their lattes.
- 12/26/2006 at 2:10 PM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  ooooh Theresa! I think it’s a disease too. yea!!!! Thank God I don’t know anyone else who suffers from it though. Maybe she should be put down and put out of her misery? LOL.
- 12/27/2006 at 6:10 AM
  Theresa Moan
  Participant
  249 posts
  the selfish, lazy, egotistical people who just want an accessory rather than a pet….
- 12/31/2006 at 5:18 AM
  KOKKINIKLOSTI
  Participant
  60 posts
  That’s really what she is!! Anyway, has she adopted the bunny legally? I mean, does she have papers for it? Because here (Greece) it is not nessesary to inform the authorities that you have a pet, in any way! and since she is a student it is very possible that things are that way! So, if the bunny is illegally adopted you can take it, adopt it legally and then there is no way she can claim the bunny back! And i think that your prime priority is to take and keep the bunny! Spaying is something that can be done later!
- 12/31/2006 at 9:30 AM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  Here in the states, all you have to do to legally adopt a bunny to buy one. There are no papers. Trust me, we are working on getting this bun out of there!!!!
- 01/01/2007 at 6:00 AM
  KOKKINIKLOSTI
  Participant
  60 posts
  Then there shouldn’t be any problem with the paperwork! Good luck with it and Everyone have a happy new year!!!
- 01/03/2007 at 9:22 AM
  jacki fullerton
  Participant
  79 posts
  I’m curious, do you have the bunny now? I’m worried about her. Thank goodness you care!
- 01/03/2007 at 10:50 AM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  I was just going to ask the same thing. Wondering what happened with that situation.
- 01/03/2007 at 11:00 AM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  I am happy to report that on January 1, 2007, Puck (who turned out to be Puckette and will probably be renamed something girly here in the near future) began her new life with her new foster mommy who is working on resocializing her. By all acounts, even though it has only been two days, she seems to be thriving. I think she was dropped at some point or not held in a way that she felt secure. I bunny burrito’ed her and she just laid there and let herself be loved. She seems to have fallen in love at first sight with her foster brother Starsky, so I am thinking that my friend might keep her. She had her first vet appointment last night and is due to be spayed in two weeks. I’ll keep you updated. I have finally purchased a digital camera (it is 2007 so I thought it was time) and will be sure to take some pics when we have our first play date together after her spay surgery and she is feeling more comfortable in her new surroundings.
  
  I don’t know who was happier to have saved her from her “Paris Hilton” wannabe mother, her or I!!!!
- 01/03/2007 at 1:05 PM
  KOKKINIKLOSTI
  Participant
  60 posts
  Hurray!! That’s great news! That must have been the greatest chrostmas present for the bunny! Can’t wait for the pics!
- 01/03/2007 at 1:17 PM
  Lucy
  Participant
  370 posts
  has the paris hilton figure been upset? has she asked for the rabbit back or anything?
- 01/03/2007 at 1:17 PM
  MooBunnay
  Participant
  3087 posts
  Yay!! Thats FANTASTIC!! You have lots and lots of good karma now Congratulations on a successful bun rescue!
- 01/03/2007 at 2:08 PM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  Paris Hilton as she will be known on this site, didn’t even ask about her bunny when I saw her at work today. NOT A WORD. Just goes to show you….some people shouldn’t be allowed to be pet parents. I swear, there should be a test or something…
- 01/03/2007 at 2:36 PM
  osprey
  Participant
  2065 posts
  It sounds like this worked out for the best. "Paris" no longer has to deal with the dumb icky rabbit who did not even know how to run away, and you got to personally rescue a beutiful animal. Good deal!
- 01/03/2007 at 3:41 PM
  Theresa Moan
  Participant
  249 posts
  Posted By dmh426 on 01/03/2007 2:08 PM
  Paris Hilton as she will be known on this site, didn’t even ask about her bunny when I saw her at work today. NOT A WORD. Just goes to show you….some people shouldn’t be allowed to be pet parents. I swear, there should be a test or something…
  
  Wow. The next time you see her at work, tell her that she inspired you to name the bunny Tinkerbell, and see if she gets it.
- 01/03/2007 at 4:31 PM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  aw Theresa that’s funny. I hate to use good material on people that don’t comprehend what I am saying though! I’ll try it though and see if she just has that dumb look on her face… LOL
- 01/03/2007 at 9:09 PM
  Gravehearted
  Participant
  2428 posts
  ooo I am so happy to hear that you got her away from Paris and that she’s somewhere much safer and happier! go you!!!
- 01/04/2007 at 2:52 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Did "Paris" insist on payment, or how did she end up responding to not getting paid?
- 01/04/2007 at 3:27 PM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  Oh yes- “payment”-she ended up giving me the $200 cage, x-pen, travelling cage and all the accessories for FREE. I have seen this girl 3 times this week (remember she works for me) and she has been all chitty chatty but hasn’t asked ONCE about her former pet. I can’t tell you how much I have to just paste a smile on my face until I can get away from her. Her designer puppy will be coming with her in 2 weeks. Gives the phrase “Lucky dog” a whole new meaning, doesn’ t it?
- 01/04/2007 at 11:28 PM
  Lucy
  Participant
  370 posts
  she GAVE you everything?
  
  ok.. here’s a rant…
  
  I HATE PEOPLE!!!!!!!! what is wrong with them? How old is she, 20? And she has a disposable income? How come people like that, people with black hearts are the ones who have all the money? All they want in life is to consume. Then there’s the people, like us, or at least like me, who has to budget and work two jobs to be able to go to school to someday hope only to work one job.
  Granted, it could be worse.. I have a computer and am able to read and write, but my goodness. People like “Paris Hilton” should be eliminated from the world. Maybe then those who deserve to survive could.
  
  I guess that was a mini rant.. I’m sorry. Good luck with the bunny and all of its acessories..
- 01/05/2007 at 5:55 AM
  dmh426
  Participant
  433 posts
  I hate people as well. Let me assure you, she is a 21year old student at a major Northeast university (check where I am from, that will give it away). MOMMY AND DADDY pay for everything from the bunny cage to her toothpaste. She works for me, as a work study, so I know she’s not making anything more than some drinking and shopping money. I think she asked for $200 just to see if she could get it.
  
  Bye the way- I work a fulltime job at the law firm and an almost fulltime job at the theatre. I do it so I can have disposable income!!!
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