Getting my first rabbit

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Hello! 

I just stumbled across this forum and was hoping I could get some help! Lately I have been looking into adopting a rabbit and have been doing a lot of research. I have found two female rabbits that I think would be a good fit for me. Both of them are young (somewhere between 4-6 months) and they both appear to be friendly and calm. One of them has already been spayed and is currently in a home that takes excellent care of her. The only reason that they are finding her a new home is because she is owned by a girl in high school who is going away over the summer and her mother is forcing her to get rid of her rabbit. The other option is a rabbit that has not been spayed and is currently in a home where she is being more or less ignored because the owner works two jobs and says she never takes her out of the cage anymore. 

I found a rabbit-savvy vet in my area and his clinic quoted me $125 for a spay plus $50 for the vet check up. I would be able to afford the spay next month and could have it done for the second rabbit.

My dilemma is whether I should adopt the well-cared for and spayed female or if I should in a sense “rescue” the unspayed female, spay her, and give her a good life that I know she otherwise wont have. What would you do in my situation?

[blubudgie]

This would be a hard decision for me. I think I would consider how much time I had available to work with a rabbit that may not be litter train or sociable before adopting the one that is neglected. I would also the consider the cost of a spay. I think $125 for a spay is very cheap and the vet check up is something that would have to be done with either rabbit.

Ideally I would take the neglected rabbit because that just sounds like a sad situation for her But I think it’s important to consider time/money/work too. 

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Posted By blubudgie on 5/19/2015 8:10 PM

This would be a hard decision for me. I think I would consider how much time I had available to work with a rabbit that may not be litter train or sociable before adopting the one that is neglected. I would also the consider the cost of a spay. I think $125 for a spay is very cheap and the vet check up is something that would have to be done with either rabbit.

Ideally I would take the neglected rabbit because that just sounds like a sad situation for her But I think it’s important to consider time/money/work too. 

Thanks for your input! I’ve been thinking it over all day and I think I will be adopting the neglected rabbit. I feel like the high school girl will have high standards when rehoming her rabbit so I’m sure that bunny will be able to find a good home. The other rabbit may not be able to find a loving home so I want to give her one. I only work part time in the summer so I have a lot of free time to work with her. I will be her 3rd home in just the few months that she has been alive. She was first bought by her current owner as a present for the owner’s niece, but when the little girl’s mom didn’t want to take care of her anymore she was returned. The current owner is really busy and it sounds like she is not at all able to take care of a rabbit. The rabbit’s name is Alice and apparently she knows to come when called and is friendly. I just ordered a puppy play pen and am going to start getting everything ready for her! I’m looking forward to being a rabbit owner

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I did decide to get the “rescue” bunny and she is very sweet! She’s a little bit skiddish but has been taking hay and pellets from my hand. She had a really fun time running around in my furnished basement before I put her back into her cage for the night. The cage that came with her is a ferret cage but she seems to do okay in it. I ordered a puppy pen and will be setting up a little living area for her on Friday  

Does anyone have any ideas what breed she might be and how big she is going to be fully grown? The girl I got her from said she is either 4 or 5 months old.

[blubudgie]

She’s so cute! I’m not good with rabbit breeds, hopefully someone else will know.

My friend’s first rabbit would come when you called his name. It’s something thats easily done if you have the time. She simply called his name, and showed him a carrot. He would come running and he would get the carrot. So he kinda associated his name with a carrot, but oh well LOL.

Definitely need that puppy play pen, I think rabbits need more flat space rather then upwards space.

[LBJ10]

This post was from last month, so sorry no one replied. Thanks blubudgie!

Oh gosh, what a cutie! Well, there’s some lop in there somewhere. Just look at those helicopter ears!

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