Fostering: New topic from sbunny

[osprey]

Sbunny is having trouble starting a new thread, so I am posting this.

Hi there, I don’t know what’s up with my computer but I have tried several time to start a topic and it is just not letting me. So I thought I would write you personally since I knew you would be one of the people that could best answer my questions. I have been volunteering at the rescue I got my 2 buns from once a week. I love it, but right now there are over 160 bunnies there and it breaks my heart when one has to be turned away due to lack of space. I have been thinking about fostering one or two, to help out a llittle more and free up some space. So I am looking for some suggestions. All of the bunnies I have thought about fostering are the ones whose personalities I adore (but unfrotunatly are also the ones whom seem to get passed by…color, age, red eyes, or bonded pairs) so I’m wondering if fostering bunnies that are not as social but seem to appeal to people looks wise is more helpful (to socialize them a little more) or if its more helpful to get the buns that have less of a chance out to free up space for others. I’m also curios as to how all the foster parents out there keep there buns housed. So if you could reply and possibly repost, it would be much appreciated. Thanks so much sbunny.

[osprey]

Hi Sbunny,

First of all, THANK YOU and two paws up for considering fostering a bun or two!  Foster homes are the lifeblood of a rescue, and anything someone does to provide a temporary, loving home for a bun is a big win.

My approach to fostering is this:  you count too.  If you like certain buns, and think you can provide a good home for them, go for it!  Any bun you take frees space for another, so it really does not matter so much which ones you take.  For me personally, I tend to foster babies for a short period of time, because a long term foster does not work for our lifestyle, babies can be housed in smaller cages, and my kids do an excellent job of socializing young buns to make them more adoptable.  We have specialized foster home in The Rabbit Haven that deal with medical special needs buns, some that deal with buns with behavioral problems, and some that take moms and litters.  Think about what works for you and your family and your lifestyle, then enjoy it!

As to housing, I keep my fosters in a Marchioro cage, and give them run around time in an xpen enclosure.  I have had quite a few overnight fosters that I keep in a big dog pen, but dog pens are a pain for long term usage.  Many of our foster homes use 4×4 xpen setups, some use cages, and others use condos.  You just need to work with what goes well with your home.

Feel free to ask any other questions you might have.  Fostering is very rewarding, but you have to be ready to let them go when they find the right person to adopt them.  Let us know what you decide to do!

 

[JK]

Well be prepared to keep the ones you foster!  I fostered Edson and became so attached to him I would never consider returning him to the rescue after the good life he has with me! We officially adopted him two weeks later.  I got the Marchioro cage too and have attached an xpen to that.  It works great.  It’s so hard to decide on which buns to foster because the ones that seem withdrawn or even mean often are the most incredible rabbits once they become part of a family.  They know no other life than that of a small cage so their personality does not come through. And who knows how they were treated in their past or even at the shelter.  There was one bun at a shelter that everyone was afraid of and she turned out to be such a sweet doll once she was brought to Save A Bunny. They realized she was just really afraid and was acting out because off that. She just needs a real home now. There are countless stories like this.  Good luck and so glad you are willing to foster!

[Beka27]

that’s so great that you can help.  i *wish* i had a bigger house so i could foster (or adopt) more rabbits.  when we move that will be something i’m looking for… space for bunnies.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Beka I totally agree!! When we move we plan to have a room dedicated to the bunnies that is a little out of the way (of my BF at least) that way I can have several pairs YIPEE but that won’t be for a while…

[sarah bowden]

Thanks so much Osprey!
I think I worded the housing question the wrong way. I’m really wondering weather you let the bunnies know that the other one is there. Do you keep them all in the same room or are they completely separated?
I was really surprised to learn that black bunnies have just as hard a time finding a home as the R.E.Ws do.
I was thinking of building a condo in a room that my babies don’t go in just for foster buns. My 2 have free run and I’m not so sure how happy they would be if the door to their condo actually closed on them and then some other bunny hopped around their room.

[osprey]

We keep our bunnies separated from the fosters.  Poop/pee wars would ensue if they got too near each other, so we keep them in separate rooms.

[MooBunnay]

Yes – the poop/pee wars can get quite difficult so I think a completely separate room would be a good idea. I’d also recommend having cages/bowls/litterboxes etc. that are specifically for the foster buns, and then ones that are specifically for your bunnies. That way, you can keep the scents of the foster buns away from yours, because even just the scent can sometimes cause a couple poop and pee wars!

[osprey]

You are soo right, MooBunnay.  Litterboxes/crocks should be separated for disease transmission purposes too.  I also found out the hard way that XPens and tarps pick up the scent of the bunny living near them.  DJ went on a pee rampage because one of the XPens was used to house a bunny being transported for a couple of hours.

 

[sarah bowden]

Thanks for all the advice. I just got home from working at the shelter today and have picked a bun that I think I am going to try to bring home next week. He is a mini-rex. He’s all white with pink eyes and he just keeps getting passed by. People all seem to want the bunny that comes right to the door to greet them, but if they would just give him a second glance they would see what a sweet heart he is. Plus I found out that he was found as a stray right near the city that I grew up in (which is no where near the shelter). So I think he’s the one.
How long do you normally foster? Until they are adopted? Do you bring them to adoption events?

[osprey]

I always do short term fostering, so I always let people know up front how long a bunny (or litter) can stay with us.  For me, it is usually 1 – 2 months, after which time the bunnies go back with someone else.  During that time I take them to adoption events, photograph/video them and do writeups for their website/petfinder entries.  I also sometimes talk to potential adopters about them at adoption shows.

[Sarita]

I agree with Osprey – you do need to make it clear with the rescue group what your limits are and how long you are willing to foster. I would imagine that the foster group would have some criteria for the fosters as far bringing them to adoption events, etc…you would definitely want to check on that to make sure you are able to commit to that as well.

I have a red eyed white rex named Emmy and she’s just lovely. I know that your fostering this bunny will help socialize him too. Emmy was a total wreck when I got her but now she’s very nice.

[sarah bowden]

I have been talking to the lady in charge at the rescue and we agreed that one to two months would be ideal. I was thinking I would have to wait to start fostering for a couple of weeks but then I hit the jackpot at my local recycle center and bought 42 NIC at just 10 cents a piece. So I am going to start building the foster condo this weekend and maybe bring a bun home on Monday. I’m really excited. I can see great potential in the bunny I’m bringing home and I think that some time in a home will really bring him out of his shell. Also being able to put up a better description for him on petfinder will help.
Thanks for all your help. I’ll keep you posted.

[JK]

Wow you really did hit the jackpot! It’s fate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sarah bowden]

well I went into the shelter today (it’s my usual day to work) and I had intended on bringing the rex home, but lucky for him he was adopted over the weekend. And just today a momma and her 2 babies were picked up from a kill shelter. So I am now the proud foster mommy of a little family of Polish dwarf buns. I’ll post some pics as soon as I can load them. These little girls are so so cute!

[osprey]

Yay sbunny, babies are so much fun!

[Sarita]

I’m so glad the rex got adopted – that is a great thing. Looking forward to hearing about your new fosters too :~)

[sarah bowden]

Hi everyone…. I know it’s been a while but I just wanted to give an update. The babies were adopted together and went to their new home this past week. I still have momma though. We are making an appointment for her to be spayed (hopefully next week) I plan to let her stay with while she recovers and then she can go back to the shelter. I have to admit though that I have unexpectedly grown very attached to her. I didn’t think I would cause she is such a little bunny and I usually fall for the big guys, but she has such a sweet personality and is really fun and active. She is also really great about the litter box and now that the babies are gone I can give her more freedom, but she always goes back to her pen when she is done running around.
Anyways all in all fostering has been very rewarding. I was so happy to see the babies go to a good home. I refered the guy who adopted them to this site and when he came to pick them up he showed me pictures of the condo he built for them, it was awesome.
In the next week or so I plan to bring another bun home to foster so I will post more pics and fill everyone in.
Thanks again for all your advice and kind words.

[kimberleyanddarren]

well done and good luck!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I have some foster questions too. I WISH so badly with all my heart there was a rabbit rescue in my area or at least in my province. I could and would be so into that organization. Just like Kokanee and Khalua I would Love to start my own but have lack of info and not a whole lot of money.

So I was also thinking about fostering rabbits when my local SPCA is packed (like after Easter). I have 2 concerns however and I would love some input.

1. Is there a danger of bringing a new rabbit into the home if the rabbit seems healthy? I would never want to jeopardize the health of my own buns.

2. I have 4 cats who I do not vaccinate because they never go out or get in contact with other cats. If I bring a bun home that’s been at a shelter with cats, could the bun carry an illness and transmit it to my cats???

Thanks for any help peeps. This is a topic of IMMENSE interest and concern to me.

[osprey]

A lot of this depends on the level of care provided by the vets at the shelter.  In my experience, most bunnies coming out of shelters have coccidia, which is simple to treat, but is very contagious.  Many have external parasites too, like fleas or mites.  Do the buns receive good vet care at the shelter?  Would they pay for you taking a bun to your personal vet for a check up?

I don’t really know about the cats, but I would assume that other than fleas,  there are no problems that I know of that are transmitted between rabbits and cats.  Maybe you could consult with your vet first.

[Author]

Messages