Bunny sitter questions

[scatterbunny]

So i am still looking for a pet sitter for Scat.  I will be looking at the vets boarding facilities when he goes in to be neutered on thursday but that is still pretty much a last resort.  My sister who was a slight possibility wont be able to do it, her appartment complex has recently adopted a NO PETS rule extending to caged animals as well.  I found a pet sitter on the NAAPS website in the town where my parents live (also in the town where his vet is) who is willing to keep him in her home.  I will be interviewing her later this afternoon and will try to set up a visit next week while i am waiting for Scat to be done at the vet.

What are some questions you ask when interviewing a potential pet sitter?  What are some things to look for when i visit? (obviously inside, relatively quiet). 

So far she is the only professional pet sitter i have been able to find in the area, there are several on craigslist, but im not sure i feel safe going with any of them. I am trying to keep my options open and really want to avoid leaving him at the vet for 2 weeks, but i want to make sure he is propperly cared for.  Fortunately i have a month to look, but i wouild feel so much better if i got this settled.

[BinkyBunny]

Have you seen our bunny sitter guide?  It might br helpful.  

https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO…fault.aspx

I think you would have to see if there are other animals that would be a problem and warn her about any bunny proofing issues she may encounter ……plants,wires, etc.  I have had friends with little bunny experience but they paid attention to my instruction and things to watch for health wise.   (Thats how I developed the Bunny Sitter Guide…to also provide guidance for sitters that may not be rabbit  savvy.)

[Beka27]

Would you be able to keep him in his environment and have a petsitter (or your sister?) come to your house to take care of him? It’s preferable if he can stay in his space, it’s much less stressful.

[scatterbunny]

Unfortunately all of my family lives in a larger town about an hour away so no way they could make 2 trips a day, I have posted on facebook for help among my friends (even offering to pay) but unfortunately no one is interested.  I dont really like the idea of him being left alone for two weeks exept for quick visits, plus if anything went wrong whoever was visiting him would have to drive an hour to his vet (same town as parents/sister) though i know it would be less stressful than changing envrionments.  Which would be better, being esentially alone for 2 weeks except for short visits or changing environments?  Thats one of the questions i am struggling with. its unlikely anyone visiting would be able to give him much time. 

Also with the pet sitter/vet scenario which is better? a petsitter without much rabbit experience (once or twice) where he will have a 4×4 pen or an exotic animal vet where he will be confined to his 40×18 inch cage?  At home his run is about 6-7 feetx40inches, (he is out 3-4 hours in the morning 30min-1 hour when i come home for dinner then 30min-1 hr when i get home at night/early morning) i attached the “pen” to the front of the cage to give him more running room.  The vet will be 14/day a day, the petsitter will be 20/day but he will definately get social time.  I am going to inspect the vet facilities and ask questions when i take him to be neutered on thursday. 

I’m just not sure what to do. I live in a VERY small town so not petsitters here. There are two people i work with i will try to talk to this week who may be able to come visit 2x/day for short periods (30 min or less), we didnt have any days in common this week. 

I live in Texas but the rest of my family except for my dad lives in North&South Carolina so I travel there atleast 1.5-2 weeks 1-2 times per year.  Since this will be a long term relationship with whoever i choose, I wouldnt mind using the petsitter since i knew pretty much zilch about rabbits until shortly before I got one so it would definately be worth my time to develop that relationship and educate her. She has also been doing this since at least 2008 and was on the board of the Wichita county humane society.

Sorry if I’m not making much sense I’m just not sure what to do or which option is best for him.

[Beka27]

Twice a day shouldn’t be necessary. Just coming in to feed and water and spend a few minutes should be enough. It’s only for a short time. Having his own space and normal exercise area should allow him to be very comfortable.

[Author]

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