I’m a softie…

[Nelli]

Gosh, I was so near buying a new bunny! My daughter called from school and told me that her friend is selling her rabbit because of allergy. And I actually paused and thought “oh my God, at least I could provide a nice home for that bunny, what if they put it to sleep, or what if they just let it go into the wild, or what…. etc.” It took all my strength to say no, we can’t get a new rabbit. Bonding a new rabbit with Nelli and Malla would be a nightmare, as they are not spayed yet. But the tiny voice still nags in my head …. one more, what could it hurt?

 

Help!

[sleepy538]

your daughter’s friend might be allergic to the hay, not the rabbit. there are several different types of hay so suggest she change to another kind and see if that helps before rehoming the rabbit.

[LittlePuffyTail]

It is very hard to hear of rabbits needing homes. Everyone knows I’m a huge rabbit lover so I’m the first one friends/family go to when they hear of a bunny needing a home. It’s so tempting…but then I remember Bindi’s vet bills the past couple of years.

I agree with sleepy, it’s often the hay and not the bunny. People are way to quick to “get rid” of the bunny because their kid starts having a bit of allergies.

[Beka27]

I agree with Sleepy538. Could you actually talk to the girl’s mom and get the real story? If it’s an allergy, suggest they switch the hay (IF they’re even giving hay).

Like I said tho, talk to the mom (or dad, or whoever is in charge over there). We have enough experience talking to teenagers on this site, it can be like a brick wall trying to get through to them!

Oftentimes, rabbits (and other pets!) are given up because of “allergies”. BUT…”allergies” seem to be the catch-all term for “We don’t want this rabbit anymore but we sound like crappy people if we say that so let’s blame it on a medical issue.”

Do you know if this was an Easter bunny? I’m not sure where you’re located, but I’m in Ohio and the pollen count is outrageous this year. Even people who DON’T typically experience seasonal allergies are MISERABLE!!! So it could be possible that she’s having bad seasonal allergies and it’s being blamed on the bunny since the bunny is “new”. Just a thought!

I think you’re doing the right thing by standing your ground. You have to do what you can for your current pets! If you can’t do it, you can’t do it, period. Maybe offer assistance for them to go through a shelter or rehome on their own?

[bunnygirl]

^ Pardon me Beka,

But not all teenagers are like that. I’d know, of course, because I am one!

[Nelli]

Thank you for the replies! Yeah, I’m not sure about the situation in that family. The girl is “just a friend from school”, so at the moment I don’t know her or her family at all. What was my first thought as well was the hay allergy. The other was that maybe the bunny got into puberty and started acting “naughty”. We have good shelters, but unfortunately many people let the rabbits into the wild, and now our capital city (Helsinki, I’m from Finland) has a major problem with “city rabbits”. I don’t know if I can reach the parents of that girl, but I can tell my daughter to give suggestions. Anyway, I have the feeling that this allergy is really “allergy” to owning the pet instead of getting flu symptoms. :/

Thank you for understanding!

[Author]

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