Gah! Pets are not disposable!

[Taloan7]

I’m part of a neighborhood facebook group and one of my neighbours just posted two bunnies for free on the group.  He said the whole family was just kind of bored with them.  He said they are strictly outdoors and never leave their hutch.  One of my other neighbors expressed interest in getting them for her family and the original owner said they are really easy to care for because they are in a wire mesh bottom hutch so you don’t need to clean it and that you just fill their waterbottle and throw a bunch of food in there every three days.    I’m having a breakdown here at the bad care/information and feel like I should say something, but am not sure how without offending people :/  

[RabbitPam]

Hi, Taloan7, I understand your frustration.
First, the neighbor who is interested in taking (rescuing) these bunnies will be helping them out of a lousy situation. While the owner is sadly misinformed, the new owners don’t have to be. I would recommend you contact the neighbor privately, the one willing to take them. In the most positive terms possible (don’t talk them out of helping) let the new owner neighbor know that you are familiar with pet rabbit care and have suggestions for a better set up for their home. Give them binkybunny’s website and let them know it’s free. They can get great, current advice on proper care and feeding of bunnies. Also we have the store for some supplies. Tell them they litter box train themselves, and a floor on the cage, brought inside, will prevent sore hocks and vet bills down the road. I want them to be rescued from this situation and it’s a chance to politely encourage the new family to give them a better life.

[Wick & Fable]

I would just add a slight caveat to Pam’s recommendation and say litter box training goes along with rabbit’s natural behaviors, so it is possible to litter box train them. They may not automatically do it themselves. Wick sure didn’t haha.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[sarahthegemini]

If the possible new owner is willing to take info on proper rabbit care on board, great. If not, I’d take them and then take them to a no kill shelter that understands rabbits.

[Taloan7]

Well, I reached out on the original post and said “bunnies can actually make wonderful house pets and can be litter trained! My whole family gets a lot of enjoyment out of watching and interacting with our bunny inside with some strategic bunny proofing to the room”.
The one neighbor decided she actually didn’t want the rabbits and the original owner ignored me :/ Not sure what to do from there. I think I will post a link to a bunny rescue and suggest it if he can’t find them a home. Also, maybe he might rethink their living situation after my comment if he can’t find someone to take them. *sigh*. Not sure if there is really anything to do.

[LittlePuffyTail]

It’s very hard to hear about these sorts of situations. I see ads like this often. So sad. I can’t understand how anyone can have animals and not love them as part of the family.

[Author]

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