I’m cosiddering a friend for Autumn

[Autumn's Dad]

Hello,

this is a giant step as I have heard so many terrible stories of failed bonds, wrecked homes, bonded pairs becoming distant from their owner/s and the inevitable which has historically put me off. However, each day I look at her and know she’s not getting younger (she’s almost 2 and a free range houserabbit). I would feel terrible to look at her at say 4, 5 even 8 years old and still alone. we have a profound connection that runs very deep. Ingrained in my memory is the time she was shaking and cold from stasis on the vet table, the vet having told me she may have to be put down, when she looked up to me, placing her head against me as if i could make it all go away. Or all the times i woke up to.. blackness, to realise she was flopped and sound asleep, my head as a headboard . But I cannot help but to feel sad for her. I could be moving to a much larger place at this year’s end, big enough for two rabbits to feel comfortable. I would look to find a rabbit at a shelter. I have no real experience with bonding but I have read about it. I’m sorry this is a bit of a pointless post, I guess I’d like some advice  for this situation. Thanks for reading.

A.D

[Berryismyboy]

See if you can find a group that can assist with rabbit bonding. I know chapters of the House Rabbit Society are able to help with bonding rabbits.

[Luna]

If you and Autumn have a strong connection and as long as she is happy, don’t feel obligated in getting another bun. But if you think it would improve her life, then by all means that would be great . Since you are planning on adopting from a shelter, see if they do bonding dates where you and Autumn can meet different buns to see if there is one she may get along with. You’ll of course still have to go through the bonding process, but at least she might give you an indication of what bun she absolutely won’t tolerate and what bun she is willing to accept a friendship with.

[Mari and Lilo bunny]

I think it’s really up to you to decide. My bunny and I are very happy just the two of us and I honestly don’t think she would get along with another bunny. This is just because of her individual personality. However, if you think that your bunny would be happier with a friend and you know that you have enough room (and money) for another cottontail, then you shouldn’t even think twice! ?

[Autumn's Dad]

Thank you for your replies, thankfully I have a good amount of time to decide till then.

Berryismyboy- good idea, that would make things much easier

Luna- we definitely have a strong bond but I think it would improve her life, but it is a lot of work.

M and L bunny- I would say that she can be aggressive at times when her things are moved or tampered with, she may get angry at another rabbit messing with her stuff, but then again I often come home to find she hasn’t moved much (daytime).

[BanditCamp]

The choice to get another bunny solely relies on you as a person. (Opinion) if you feel you can’t give your bunny the social love they need maybe a friend is in good order but if your confident that for the past two years your providing the best relationship you can with your bunny as mine is free roam too at 3.5 months then you will be ok.

There are lots of videos and forums about if your bunny needs a friend and sometime the human is the best friend for your bunny

[Q8bunny]

My heart aches too when I see Chewie without one of his own kind for company. But we’ve tried bonding and we’ve had fosters and he simply doesn’t seem to be a bunny kind of bun. He and I have an amazing bond though and spend oodles of quality time together and the wookie seems very contented with his lot in life.

Ultimately, you know Autumn best. Let her and your heart guide you.

[vanessa]

Have you tried a stuffy? Guinevere and Lancelot each have a stuffy. I used the stuffies to keep them company and help get their scent to eachother while I was bonding them, and now that I have separated them due to Lancelot’s por health, they still have their stuffies. Guin lies next to her stuffy and grooms it. Lancelot just loves his stuffy to bits. Sometimes I dont’ even think he realizes it is not real! He uses it as a prop to help him groom his face, sleeps on it, cuddles it, it’s really cute.

[vanessa]

Have you tried a stuffy? Guinevere and Lancelot each have a stuffy. I used the stuffies to keep them company and help get their scent to eachother while I was bonding them, and now that I have separated them due to Lancelot’s por health, they still have their stuffies. Guin lies next to her stuffy and grooms it. Lancelot just loves his stuffy to bits. Sometimes I dont’ even think he realizes it is not real! He uses it as a prop to help him groom his face, sleeps on it, cuddles it, it’s really cute.

[Autumn's Dad]

Banditcamp- thankfully it seems she happy, and isn’t needy. she likes affection but rarely seeks it out. I’ll have a look, thanks

Q8bunny- It’s amazing how varied they are, and complex being such a small animal, it’s wonderful to see them totally blissful and that’s all I want for her, weather that involves another rabbit or not.

Vanessa- I should look for one, that sounds really nice

Thanks for your replies

[Author]

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