Bunny Boarding

[Lucy]

so, I’m going to LA to visit my family for the holidays, and my boyfriend is going to visit his mom in arizona. That means our Fujoe baby is stuck in chicago. (will be gone about 12/20/06-1/2/07 give or take a day)

I don’t know what to do. I’m trying to find a place for him to stay, but the thing is i don’t think I can afford a lot of the places. Not only that, but a lot of them are extra for a " daily massage" I couldn’t imagine paying someone an extra $7 a day to pet fujoe for a few mins. Does anyone have any reccomendations? anyone I should call? I really want him to be let out at least an hour every other day, and that’s pushing it cause he’s out here for a good 6 or so hours a day.

Do you think I should try to bring him to California and then back? or is that too much? I know it won’t be cheap on the plane or anything (4 hour flight).

any help would be great! Thanks!

[Gravehearted]

I’d recommend calling your local rabbit rescue or HRS. Many rescues do pet sitting as a fundraiser. Generally the bunnies stay with one of the volunteers – which means Fujoe will likely be happier to have other people around and will get more attention than someone coming into your house or a traditional boarding place. The other thing is – that your bunny is being cared for by a bunny person – so they’re much more likely to notice any health issues. Plus you’re also helping the rescue.

it looks like there are 2 rescue groups in your area – they might either do pet sitting or have a good recommendation for you

http://www.hrschicago.org/index1.html
http://www.reddoorshelter.org/

Flying is really stressful on all animals – so for that short of a trip I wouldn’t do it, myself. Plus – what about a cage and all the supplies when you get to LA?

[Lucy]

well, i bought the plane ticket so no bunny on the plane.. he’s gotta stay here

[wendyzski]

Like I said in my e-mail, I’d be willing to try, but since I have a small apartment and Pepper is usually free-range, it would take some careful coordination. 

I don’t really have a room I could block off for Fujoe, so she’d have to have a pen in the kitchen – there’s certainly room for a nice big one – you could either buy a puppy pen or make one from NIC cubes – 2-high seems to work to keep Pepper out of my bedroom. 

 I could let her out  to run around for a couple of hours in the evening and cage Pepper during that time I suppose.  I’d ask for you to BYO greens and pellets, so everyone gets what they are used to – also her litterbox and dishes.

[BinkyBunny]

Just a couple of tips when you are bunny sitting for someone else.  Be sure that if you do have a puppy pen, that they can’t bite each other’s face through the bars. I know some pens like xpen, are wider between the separations and it’s just enough room that they can still hurt each other through – you can get a thinner netted type of fencing that you can wrap around the pen.

Also, be prepared that your bunny may start marking as Pepper realizes their is an "intruder".  One way to help prevent this is to vaccum after the "intruders" outing.  Even if there are no territorial markings, they can still smell where the other has been.

The best is if you can place the visiting bunny some where else where you bunny can’t really see or smell him so much –  like the bathroom or bedroom and close the door. 

You may find that Pepper is fine with a visitor, but most bunnies, even when spayed or neutered,  will feel the need to become territorial with a visitor.

[wendyzski]

I posted on the bunnyowners LJ for advice as well – Unfortunately there really isn’t another room I can use as my bedroom/sewing room is already off-limits because of pins and equipment that needs foot-pedals, etc.

A suggestion was made to use a playpen and zip-tie cardboard over it to prevent biteys thru the bars.  That would combine the most room for Fujoe with protection.

I expect territorial pooping – I heart my Roomba!

Like I said, this is doable, but will take careful planning

[Gravehearted]

i tried to reply to your LJ post yesterday, but it ate my reply – so I’ll post here instead….

Since Pepper is going to be out when you’re not home, it really is advisable to create a barrier between them. I’d likely do an x-pen (or whatever cage she uses) and then barrier with cardboard, as suggested. But you’ll also want to make sure Fujoe isn’t a high jumper – since 2 unbonded bunnies out when you’re not home is dangerous.

Where is Pepper’s cage now? I think putting Fujoe in the kitchen is a good idea, esp if Pepper’s homebase is the living room area. I think you’re much more likely to have bunny territory war, rather than worrying about them bonding in such a short amount of time. I’d guess you’ll have the roomba running every day – but there likely will be some weeing too over the territory.

[Lucy]

wow. this is really sweet everyone. I don’t want to cause a commotion or anything.

wendyski: i still want to meet, we should try for an evening, either you can come here and meet fujoe or I can come there and meet pepper- that way we know how eachother’s bunny acts. I didn’t reilize you lived in a small space and I totally don’t want to intrude to pepper’s territory. I live in a two bedroom, and could host a bunny in the studio if need be (for my boyfriend’s birthday we had a little party and put fujoe in there with his x-pen)

everyone else: I know Fujoe is very territorial, and is defintly the head bunny. I really don’t want there to be any fights. One time my friend brought over her dog (10lbs or so) over. We decided to go to the grocery store abd to leave the dog and bunny together. we barricaded the dog in the kitchen and fujoe was in his xpen. When we got home the barricade was down, the xpen was pushed in, the rabbit was sitting straight up in the middle of the pen and the dog was cowarding in the corner of the dining room (the room next to the living room where fujoe’s pen was). It was bad, really funny, but bad. We had no idea what happened, but everytime the dog passed the rabbit’s pen he would sulk by with his tail in between his legs…

Granted, I hope nothing is going to happen like that again. I’m calling a few friends who might be staying in Chicago (being a student, most people you know end up going back home for the holidays). I got a few quotes and it’s going to be over $200 for the 10 days if we want fujoe to be petted… There is a family who said they board "small animals" for $10 a night, but I’m afriad since they consider fujoe a "small animal" that he’ll never be let out. I’m still trying to figure out what would be best for him…. I ideally I would want him to stay here in the apartment, have free range of the living room and dining room, and have someone come once a day to clean out his cage and feed him and pet him. That way I know he won’t be stuck in his cage- cause he goes a little crazy. He’s much less agressive now than he used to be and I think it’s because We changed his cage… he now lives in a 4 story cube orginizer thing with an xpen around it.

I don’t know,…. i want the best for my fujoe… anyother options would be greatly appreciated.

[Lucy]

i’m going to call red door and rhs tomorrow..

[wendyzski]

How near are you to the ‘el?  Cuz if it’s not too far I could stop by on my way home from work for a bit to feed, clean, and pet.  I work in River North.

What are you doing Saturday lunch-ish?  I’m getting my flu shot and then putting in a couple of hours at the office to make up the time I need to take Pepper to the vet Friday morning.  (She’s been sneezing a bit of late and last night her nose started running so I’m taking her in.)  I could drop by your place and we could go someplace for lunch.

[Lucy]

i live in-between the addison and belmont stop (red line). so you can get off at either stop but then it’s like a 6 block walk, which is pretty intense in winter… that or you can take a halsted bus- and i would pay for all of this and compensate for your time. we’ll see if i can get a few people to split up the 10 days, so you would only have to come here for 3 of the days or something.

i can’t on saturday- i’m having a friend over for lunch whom I haven’t seen since she took fujoe and i to the vet to get him fixed (june??). What about sunday? I’ll email you and we’ll talk about it.. yes?

[BinkyBunny]

We just got a Roomba!   The one you can schedule.   It’s great!  We do have to make sure speaker wires and such are off the floor, but other than that, it’s a really saves me from the tedious chore of sweeping up.   I still do an overall vaccuum, but it really helps keep things tidy between the times I bring out the big guns.

I’m so excited that a couple of members from here will meet up.   What fun.  I hope it all works out with the bunny sitting.  Keep us updated. 

[Lucy]

Ya, as of right now plan is to keep Fujoe here for the 10 days. Just totally bunny proof the living room and dining room. I was at home yesterday, painting, and he hung out on one of the dining room chairs for like 8 hours. I think he will be much happier here than in a cage somewhere…

So if I can get 3 people to come over for like 3 days each, that should be ok, right? Wendyski can be one (yay!), I can hire one of them, and my boyfriend and I are trying to ask people in class if they are willing to do it.. I’m going to try to ask my boss since he lives 2 blocks away, but I don’t know if he’ll be in town either. So ya..

Binky (or anyone else) do you think this is an ok idea? It’s always warm in the apartment… the temp ranges from 72 to 80 cause the radiators go on automatically. That and Fujoe has a space heater near his area that comes on when it’s colder than 75-80, and then turns off.

so, ya..

[wendyzski]

Posted By BinkyBunny on 11/02/2006 12:05 AM

I’m so excited that a couple of members from here will meet up.   What fun.  I hope it all works out with the bunny sitting.  Keep us updated.

Yep – we’re gonna have lunch on Sunday and I’ll get to meet Fujoe.

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By fujoethebunny on 11/02/2006 7:29 AM
Binky (or anyone else) do you think this is an ok idea? It’s always warm in the apartment… the temp ranges from 72 to 80 cause the radiators go on automatically. That and Fujoe has a space heater near his area that comes on when it’s colder than 75-80, and then turns off.

so, ya..

That sounds like a great plan.  I actually had to do that before too.  Worked out great.  I left the radio on low, and a low (brightness) light on nearby.

  I have a bunny sitter’s guide  if it’ll help.  It’s what you would give to or leave for the sitters:
.https://www.binkybunny.com/site/BUNNYINFO/bunny%20sitter%20guide/tabid/66/Default.aspx

I think one of the most important parts of the guide is that it helps even a sitter who is not experienced in bunny health recognize any sudden health issues.  

Also, 75 – 80 is rather warm for a bunny, but it sounds like you are at the mercy of your building.  Does it get really cold where Fujoe is? Is that why you have the space heater?.
Bunnies actually do better in cooler temperatures.   But if you are in a building that gets cold quickly and the actual temperature of 75 – 80 isn’t really the full blown temperature where Fujoe stays than that’s understandable.   

[wendyzski]

Posted By BinkyBunny on 11/03/2006 12:43 AM

Also, 75 – 80 is rather warm for a bunny, but it sounds like you are at the mercy of your building.  Does it get really cold where Fujoe is? Is that why you have the space heater?.

Most older Chicago apartment buildings have radiators that are either ON or OFF.  I have often had to adjust my heat by opening the windows.  In January.

That’s part of why I build Pepper’s condo next to the window – she can go get cool next to the window if she gets overheated

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