I want to help homeless buns…but I’m too young?

[Cassandra]

I did a thread just yesterday about how I wanted to foster a rabbit. Lots of people suggested volunteering at a shelter instead, but that’s not possible as I’m not old enough. All the shelters – and I mean all – require volunteers to be adults. So what should I do now?

 

How can I help homeless rabbits? I really love rabbits but everybody said that I shouldn’t foster…unfortunately.

 

What can I do?

[Elrohwen]

Will the shelters let you help out with administrative stuff? I’ve found that many have a rule against you working with animals if you’re under 18, but will allow you to help with fundraisers, etc. It’s usually an insurance or legal reason in case the animal hurts you, but you might be able to help in other ways.

I don’t think I can ask your age, but are you close to being 18? You may just have to wait a few years. In high school I had to do a certain number of service hours every year (I think it was 20?) and I always really really wanted to work at an animal shelter, but couldn’t because I wasn’t 18 yet. It was frustrating to have to find all these other service projects when I would’ve been perfectly happy walking dogs at a shelter for more than 20 hours. I think I was finally able to find a volunteer position at a local vet’s office doing filing and other things – I didn’t work directly with animals, but I didn’t have to be 18 and I still got to see plenty of cute animals. Perhaps you could volunteer at a local exotic vet’s office.

[corpathina]

i know it hurts really badly not to be able to help when that’s all you want to do. i remember being 13 years old and begging to help volunteer at shelters, zoos, etc. i was absolutely obsessed with the idea of getting a chinchilla at that point, which never happened. in hind sight, i’m very glad that i didn’t get one because with the way high school was and my move to college, i would’ve never been able to care for a pet the way i think a person should.

if you want to help bunnies i think you could always donate money to charitable organizations that help them. i know it’s really frustrating not to be able to do anything, but you can find ways to help. it may not involve fostering or caring for a bunny directly, but you may be able to, in an indirect way, help out.

don’t give up and don’t worry – the years will go by quickly and you’ll soon be able to adopt a bunny of your own when you can properly care for one and foster them. =)

[peepi&warri]

You could make treat bags or toys to give to the shelters. There should be lots of ideas of things you could make in the Habitats and Toys section of this forum. Some things I’ve seen are paper bags filled with hay and treats and paper tubes filled with hay.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

You’ll have to think outside the box Some of the suggestions made are great.

Take a look at this: http://www.freekibble.com/about.asp A twelve year old made this website and it feeds shelter dogs (and cats http://www.freekibblekat.com/) with just a click-she’s fed more dogs and cats then you could guess

Will the shelters let you help out with administrative stuff? I’ve found that many have a rule against you working with animals if you’re under 18, but will allow you to help with fundraisers, etc. It’s usually an insurance or legal reason in case the animal hurts you, but you might be able to help in other ways.

This is wonderful-you could photograph the animals, or do write ups on them, or help in the office, or help with fundraising A lot of things can even be done at a distance now with computers-so you could try doing admin volunteering with shelters who arent’ even in your area-but may let you help out

[TARM]

There was a younger teenager who used to post on this site and lived near me. She wanted a rabbit in the worst way but her parents said no. I took her with me to the shelter I volunteer with. My shelter also requires that volunteers be 18 but since I was willing to supervise and take responsibility for her, and I met with her parents to explain the kind of work she’d be doing and the dangers of working with skittish bunnies (nips and scratches) all parties made an exception for her. She did great work and was an enthusiastic volunteer.

My 11 year old now volunteers with me. Same rules as before, I supervise her and she gets to help, but people under 18 that don’t have me for a mom still can’t volunteer.

Anyway, if you can find an adult who lives nearby maybe you can work out an arrangement like that. Most adult rescue volunteers know that the next generation of rescuers has to come from somewhere…

[Sarita]

Yes, that’s unfortunate, many municipal shelters and other shelters don’t allow it for liability reasons. Sometimes, it’s a requirement of their insurance too.

I’ve heard of many teens collecting money and articles for shelters and donating that way. So there is definitely ways to help even if you cannot help right now at the shelter. Maybe you could do a food drive or supply drive for a rabbit shelter at your school too. I realize that it’s not the same as actually helping hands on with the rabbits but I can tell you your efforts will be noticed and very much appreciated.

Good luck and let us know what you come up with.

[TARM]

There’s been twice in the last year where girls have had birthday slumber parties and cleaned and cut up veggies for the rabbits at our shelter. They got to come hang out and watch the bunnies eat the veggies. That could be fun.

[Laura]

Posted By TARM on 01/21/2010 02:54 PM
There’s been twice in the last year where girls have had birthday slumber parties and cleaned and cut up veggies for the rabbits at our shelter. They got to come hang out and watch the bunnies eat the veggies. That could be fun.

 

Tarm: FANTASTIC idea!  Or do a fund raiser where you collect money and buy food (pellets), treats, blankets, large cage, anything the shelter needs for the rabbits.  My Humane Society doesn’t get many rabbits, but when they do the only person bringing veggies and apple tree twigs is ME.  They need others to bring in items for the bunnies.

My Humane Society allows younger people, but they need to be with an adult.  My neice is 12 and I take her with me to the shelter.

One other thing.  I am currently fostering rabbits for the Humane Society.  I sure could use someone to come to my house and help me.  Maybe there is a way you could hook up with adults that have fosters and you could help them out.

I just kinda repeated what everyone else said.

[Monkeybun]

Thats an idea, Laura. I know alot of the foster bunny people here have a ton of buns they take care of, and allt hey have is themselves to do the caring! The lady I got Moose from has around 25 other buns hse fosters, and she is amazed at how little time she has left every day after taking care of their necessities. I’m sure having someone stop by every now and then to help out would be a great relief to someone like her.

Maybe talk to the humane society there Cassandra, and see if there are any foster people that wouldn’t mind a helping hand with their buns now and then. It may not be fun stuff, you might be cleanign litter boxes, but every bit helps

[Elrohwen]

Wow, MB, she has 25?! The rescue I go to is out of one woman’s home and she’s up to 40-50 at this point, but she has 2-3 volunteers per day helping her out. THe woman you got Moose from must be superwoman!

[Monkeybun]

She’s wonderful! She’s been fostering rabbits for years, some of the ones she has right now she’s for going on 4 years poor things… some others she’s adopted out and they have been returned due to them not being as easy to care for as people thought. She’s a wonderful lady. I should call her up and see if she needs help sometime. I have tons of time, and not much to do with it

[skunklionshow]

I was going to ditto a lot of what was already said.  I completely agree about organizing veggie and/or supply drives.  Maybe you could set up a monthly veggie round up?  Set up the collection and you do all the cleaning and prep.  You can also do a towel/blanket drive.  The municipal shelters tend to have liability rules, but I could see that a foster parent or coordinator that works out of their home, might be EXTREMELY interested in some extra scrub power.  I also agree about making adoption flyers or posters listing names, personalities, pics of adoptable bunns.  The municipal shelters may be open to that, especially since it doesn’t necessarily require direct bunny interaction.  Keep us posted on your work!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Thought of an idea-what if you baked rabbit cookies and sent the profits to the shelter near you? Then you’d really be helping the homeless rabbits

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