Argh! A “rescue” seriously sent me this!

[Lis]

I’ve been sending emails to rescues lately, politely asking them to notify me if they ever get Flemmies in, since we have room in our home for a second bun right now.

 

First of all, this is my email to him, modified to eliminate my info/the rescue’s info: 

Hello,

My fiance and I recently lost our Flemish Giant to EC and an infection and we’re looking to adopt another. My fiance wants a full Flemmie (and it’s his turn to pick the rabbit). We don’t have any age or personality preferences. 

We currently have a 1 1/2 year old spayed female Lionhead which we intend to bond our new family member to, as she was bonded to our Flemmie. She is healthy aside from possible blindness. Our vet (Dr B of my Vet in nearby town) says her eyes dilate and she does not have glaucoma, but the fact that she runs into things indicates that she either can’t see past her mane or she has some vision impairment.

I know our location of (my town) is a little far from (rescue’s location 4 hours away but still in the state), but we’re more than willing to drive somewhere to adopt and provide as much information on the housing as you need. 

I know that it is uncommon for rescues to get full Flemmies in, so if you do not currently have any, could I ask you to let me know if you get any in?

(Insert my contact info here)

 

His response, copied and pasted in it’s entirety:

 

I know were you can buy one, but we never get trhem at the rescue

 

 

 

My reaction: 

*blink* *blink* *blink*

Are you serious? Did he just advocate buying a rabbit rather than adopting, simply because they never get the breed in? And he calls his organization a rescue? RAAAAGGGGGEEEE. 

[LoveChaCha]

*jaw drop*

And look at that horrible grammer…

MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!
I’m so sorry you got this email Lis

[Tate]

Maybe it’s a (stupid) volunteer? Could it be worth calling them and talking to some one? Do you have other rescues that you have contacted?
I’m really hoping it was just an inexperienced volunteer.
Keep looking! I’m assuming you’ve checked out PetFinder as well? There will be one waiting for you when it’s time.

[Lis]

I emailed the adoption coordinator of the rescue. It appears to be a couple in charge (based on the fact that they share a last name) and you have to contact either one of them – there is no other contact info aside from their (apparently personal) emails.
And yes, I have also sent messages to both Friends of Rabbits and DC/MD/Northern Virginia HRS. Both of those are bigger rescues and more local to me, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to send this rescue an email – boy was I wrong.

[Lani]

Ugh, that is so frustrating and disturbing! The bad grammar doesn’t help either. I just noticed in your profile that you got Navi from the Virginia Beach SPCA which is where I got Oreo. I really hope the rescue you emailed isn’t in this area. I know there is one around here but I’ve not sought them out yet and if it’s the same place, I’ll be glad I haven’t.

And Tate is right, the perfect bun will come to you when it’s the right time

[Lis]

 Lani – Let’s just say you should stick to dealing with VBSPCA, Norfolk SPCA, or if you really need a rabbit rescue, one of the ones up here near DC. 

That said, VBSPCA is awesome and takes GREAT care of their bunnies for a shelter. I was throughly impressed. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with them. Every once in a while, I post a picture/update of Navi on their FB page to keep them in the loop, because I know a lot of the rabbit volunteers there wonder what really happens to their buns. 

[LizzieKnittyBun]

That’s bizarre… I guess he said that on the assumption that you would only ever adopt a flemmie and would rather buy one than wait?

Who knows. I imagine shelter owners themselves probably get frustrated thinking that most people will only ever adopt a particular breed, when a lot of their bunnies are mixed. He probably assumed he’d never get your business and decided not to take the time to talk with you (or proofread his email).

I would try not to get too upset about it. It’s good your checking shelters, which is more than many people would do.

[LittlePuffyTail]

That’s very unfortunate that he would write that and the fact that he’s basically saying “buy from a breeder” which should be the last thing a shelter worker should ever say.

ps. Don’t let DigMeNow get a load of that bad grammar! She might e-mail him back.

[PuddleJumper]

Oh my that is just terrible! I ran into alot of shady “rescues” when I was looking to adopt after losing Basil… I had some replies just creep me out! I had one LAUGH at me yes LAUGH through a E-mail! when I asked about their bunnies being litter trained! They replied
“hahahahahaha we are a new at home shelter for rabbits… They are not cats! they are not smart enough to use a litter box ”
I was disgusted!
When I finally found the most amazing shelter EVER it was a “backyard” shelter, A lady had a massive sun room adjacent from her house and she reconstructed the entire building for rescue bunnies! It was awesome!

[Lis]

Another email from him, as a response to my polite “thanks but no thanks” type response.
“I admit I just purchased one as I love these guys and could not find one anywhere. I us a breeder in (x town); those here I did not like. Need more details let me know”

[Stickerbunny]

Ergh. Rescues shouldn’t be promoting buying a bunny! Though, I was on another forum before this one and … about 90% of the members there believed buying a bunny from a breeder and adopting one was the same because you had to “pay” the shelter for a rabbit. And because “breeders need to find homes for their buns too, or they become snake food, so you’re saving a life”. And a lot of them were involved in rescue/adoption.

Hope you find a good rescue with the perfect little (well, not exactly little) flemmie

[Silly Sungura]

It seems ridiculous for him to say they “never get them at the rescue.” It’s a shelter; you just never know what might appear. He should’ve just said he’d put your info in their records and if they got what you were looking for they would contact you. It’s despicable that he actually got a bunny from a breeder when he could have given one of his rescues a home!!!!

[LittlePuffyTail]

It’s despicable that he actually got a bunny from a breeder when he could have given one of his rescues a home!!!!

I agree. There are so many wonderful bunnies at shelters. How sad. Buying from a breeder is supporting the overpopulation of animals.

[Author]

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