How to date when shelters won’t neuter?

[caudex]

Sophie is about 5 months right now, and I’m taking her to a well-bunny visit to get things set up to have her spayed next month. She’s warmed up, enjoys pets and grooming me, but she’s a timid girl, and I think that she would really benefit from the right companion, when the time comes and she’s settled down after surgery.

I’ve made a few preliminary inquires, just to decide how to handle it if I go down this road, and in Maine, each shelter I’ve spoken to has the same policy: none of the rabbits are neutered unless they’re adopted, and when they ARE adopted, they are put on the end of a days-to-weeks waiting list, where I can’t take them home until it’s been done. I can understand; I’m sure the adoption rate of rabbits is low, and the surgery is expensive and they’re delicate animals. But how can I take Sophie to choose a friend if they’re going to be different after surgery, AND they can’t see each other for a month after the fact? Do I choose for her and hope for the best, or advertise for a fixed rabbit, or abandon it altogether cos I’m not taking the poor thing on a four hour drive to choose a friend?

 

[BinkyBunny]

Oye….that is tricky….and nutty!  I have never heard of that –though I understand that for them they don’t want to spend the money to neuter if the bunny may not get adopted (IF the shelter is NOT a no kill shelter — it is a sad reality).  Did you check Petfinder to see if there are any other shelters/rabbit rescues that may have a different policy within your reasonable driving distance?.  

 

It could be so difficult to bond with another bunny that still has all the hormones in tact. I can imagine another male bunny may just want to get busy and want to mount — especially since he wouldn’t have been around another bunny face to face.  That could only make things worse for a “timid” bunny.

 EDITED TO ADD: I would try shelters that have a no kill policy as they would be more likely to spay and neuter regardless since they won’t be euthanizing most animals (unless sick or unadoptable for some reason).   

I found these— have no idea if they are close to you:

http://3bunnies.org/rescues.htm#merabbit

 

[avarismom1]

How far south are you? The MSPCA in Methuen MA spays/neuters everything that passes through it’s door (even the hamsters I just learned). They have a ton of bunny’s and are on the NH boarder and they adopt out of state – or at least did in the past. They have a ton of great buns – it’s worth a call.

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/MA147.html
MSPCA at Nevins Farm
400 Broadway
Route 28
Methuen, MA 01844
Phone: 978-687-7453

[caudex]

Avarismom, unfortunately, Googlemaps says that they are 3 hours away for me. I could do it, but Sophie would be in no condition to meet a new rabbit in a strange place after that.

BB, thank you, that is actually the first place I checked. I have to call Westbrook, as they don’t give the stats on their buns on the site, but the others all say not fixed. The Bangor Humane Society is actually where I tried to get a rabbit before I got mad and went and got Sophie. Had one all picked out, beautiful rex, red eyed, softest thing I ever touched, she let a complete stranger cut her nails without a peep. Conversation went like this:

Me: Okay, I’ll take her.
Manager: Great! When do you want her?
Me: …Now. Here’s the money. I want to take her with me. I’ve already filled everything out.
Him: Oh, you can’t have her today. She’s not fixed yet.
Me: …Why would you put out rabbits that aren’t ready to go? Okay, when will she be fixed, I’ll come back.
Him: Oh, she won’t be fixed until you adopt her.
Me: Okay, if I adopt her, when will that happen?
Him: Well, the vet is pretty busy… could be a week, week and a half.
Me: Well… I could make an appointment and bring her back. I’m not going to breed her, honest, just want to take her.
Him: We can’t do that.

AROUND and AROUND… I was so mad, I was determined to rescue, but they and the one in my hometown made it SO hard, I gave up and went to a store. I comfort myself with knowing what would have happened to my girl if she’d gone to a family with kids. I still think of that poor bun in the shelter though… I heard a little girl say she was evil cos of the red eyes. I cried when I left. Poor baby.

 

I do want to find Sophie someone though. Such a pretty girl. She’ll break all their hearts, I’m sure.

 

[Beka27]

It is possible to bond rabbits who haven’t previously met/dated. We ended up adopting Max without any dates. We had every intention to bring Meadow but it was 95 degrees and a 3 hour road trip… so we decided not to stress her since we were pretty sure we were going to adopt Max one way or another. It took 3 weeks of hour-long sessions, but they eventually bonded.

So while dating is ideal, I know it’s not always possible, and I think the best scenario would be that you pick a rabbit YOU want, you save a life, open a space up for another rabbit, and give a sweet boy a forever home. After neutering and healing, you can work on bonding.

That is frustrating that you have to come back to get the rabbit after neutering, but I understand their reasoning.

[Monkeybun]

My 2 girls were bonded without dating previously, so it is certainly possible. Often a bit more difficult mind you. But not impossible.

[BinkyBunny]

She is a heartbreaker! What a gorgeous bunny. Well, it definitely looks like you may not have the “dating” options. But like others have said, it is not impossible. Male Female bonds are typically easier, but you will find several same sexed bonds too. It’s just that you may want to opt for the generally easier paired male/female option.

Also, once you adopt your second bunny, I would suggest waiting a month after surgery to let the hormones die down. You can use that time to get each bunny use to the other bunny’s scent — switch litterboxes and get a couple of stunt doubles (toy bunny). Make each toy bunny smell like one of the other bunnies. So that they can get use to the other bunny scent and presence. You can get the scent on a toy bunny by rubbing it over the bunny you want it to smell like, or comb your a bunny and put the fur from the comb on the toy bunny. (You can also have the toy bunny hang out with the bunny you want it to smell like for a few days before switching it to the other bunny’s cage).

You don’t have to go through all of that, but this part of pre-bonding may help them feel comfortable with each other before they even meet.

[MissBunns]

I dropped the ball on the “dating thing,” it was definitely more of an “arranged marriage” with Jack and Bunny. Jack needed me, he fit the bill (which wasn’t hard…) and so I went to pick him up and bring him home. I didn’t even get to meet him first!

Bringing them together was a challenge I wasn’t expecting (first time for all of us) but after three weeks, they fell in love So if I can do it, you can!

Just pick a gentlebun that you like, and that you think will fit with her timid personality, and then give it a go! You can do it Good luck!

[tobyluv]

Sophie is beautiful! I have bonded a pair of bunnies three times, without any dating beforehand, and it went very smoothly in all cases. It was always a male/female pairing, and it is my experience with my own rabbits and with the rabbits at the sanctuary where I volunteer, that a male/female pairing offers the greatest success rate.

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