Need some advice: long lost sister

[Princess*Smudge]

So first I should apologize because this might be a little bit of a long explanation hehe. I wish that a year ago I knew more about the bond a bun can share with another and maybe I could have prevented this.

Okay so here goes…

Smudge (my bun) has a sister named Sadie, when they were 6 months old their owner decided that the best thing for Smudge would be to find her a new owner because as much as she tried she could not get close to Smudge to touch her or feed her or anything and she felt horrible that Smudge was spending her time in her cage. Their owner and Sadie had already formed a relationship and were doing quite well. Enter me, I was looking online at shelters and sites that people could post about pets needing new homes when I received an email from Smudge’s owner. The next step was to meet her and we hit it off. Her owner asked if I would be interested in taking both girls but I was new at this and decided two buns might be too overwhelming. She decided in the end that she would prefer to keep Sadie as she has a good connection with her, it was her boyfriend that thought there were too many rabbits in the house (besides the girls there were 2 more).

I took Smudge home and she showed no depression or loneliness, she was shy at first but adjusted quickly and became very social with me. I emailed her previous owner with updates and asked about her sister, Sadie it seemed was a little saddened by the loss of her sister but she had made new friends with another bunny there and was doing great. I thought all was well.

Awhile ago I was browsing my local Humane Society site I decided out of curiosity to view the pictures and stories of the buns there. Much to my surprise I found Sadie and her new friend Little Buddy (a dwarf lop- and incredibly small even by dwarf standards). A thousand things ran through my head. I told my mom and she said okay go and get Sadie, but Sadie and Little Buddy have bonded and need to be taken home together. I talked to a friend of mine who worked at the shelter and she told me the buns will have a long time before they are in danger (I can’t even think about that). They are still there, and I know that most of the people looking for buns are going to the chain stores. I’m worried and feeling so guilty that I had spilt the sisters up in the first place because of my lack of knowledge. I feel like I could have avoided all of this. Now here is my dilemma…

I know the likliness of Smudge and Sadie remembering each other is slim. But I can’t help but feel like I need to do something here. Now the advice I was looking for is what do you guys think the chances of Smudge who had a bunmate before and hasnt for a year taking to having two more bunmates? As I WILL NOT split up Sadie and Little Buddy, I know of course I would have to have them all meet and test the waters but hypothetically if the meeting went well? I don’t want Smudge to feel jelous, or neglected by me for bringing in 2 new buns. Right now she receives all my affection however I have been noticing that while inside her cage she rarely plays with her toys or does much of anything. I spend tons of time with her outside of her cage but as soon as she goes back she seems bored/upset. Could some playmates help her with this? She does enjoy cuddling she has a stuffed bunny who is her best friend (I don’t have the heart to tell her its not real lol) they sleep together and she “tries” to play with it but gets bored and leaves when it wont play back.

The space is not really an issue. I was planning on building Smudge a large NIC cube cage this summer and so adjusting for her sister and other new friend would not be hard. Sadie is the same size as Smudge (almost 4lbs) and Little Buddy is itty bitty (tiny enough to fit into two cupped hands). My other question is – how much more work do those of you who have multiple buns find? Pros/cons? I know that obviously there will be more litter to clean and more frequently cleaning the cage. I’m not worried about that so much as how do you give equal time to all buns and make sure none of them are feeling neglected or favored?

I’m so sorry for this long post, I’m just unsure about what to do. I know its possible that Sadie and Little Buddy could be adopted by a nice family and I would love that very much. But they have been there for about 3 months now and maybe it’s just my human guilt getting the better of me but I just feel like I could be that family for them. But I also want to do what is best for my baby girl. I don’t know how a buns memory works, I know they base alot on scent. Would she remember her sisters scent? would there be something specific about it? Would there be feelings of jelousy and feelings of “hey wait I used to be your only one”? or when a new bun is brought into the family do they become friends and enjoy each other AND their “slave” of a mom’s attention? Any advice you could offer me would be great. I’m going to volunteer at the shelter, I want to be able to help with the other buns there and they are in desperate need of some bunny helpers. An added bonus to this is I can see Sadie and Little Buddy and keep an eye on them. I’m also trying to find a home amoung my family and friends for them in case I can not take them. OH and they are all spayed/neutered – I’m sure this would make a difference. And they are all a year and a half old – not sure if age makes a difference?

Any advice is welcome whether it’s for or against. Thank you all so much in advance. 

[JK]

First of all welcome! Secondly, I LOVE that you are writing such a detailed post because it shows so much how you care and want the best for everyone.  I only have one bunny so I’m not an expert at all. I have no idea if a threesome would work or not.  Please don’t feel guilty that you did not take Sadie at the time. That’s more the fault of the person who you got them from for separating them in the first place. If you have the space, time, $$$ and energy I would probably want to rescue Sadie and her buddy.  If the 3 of them work out, great – if not, then Sadie & friend can be together somewhere else in your house and Smudge still has you. Work?  As long as you have the “system” down I think it’s manageable.  You sound like such a great bunny mom those 2 would be lucky to come live with you. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

[kimberleyanddarren]

welcome! i can say that going from 1 bun to 3 is quite a jump, but it is no good us answering for u, u already know what u want to do right? u know in ur heart what is right, follow that.

[Beka27]

the most important thing is to recognize your own limitations. each bun needs the proper diet, vet care, and enough room/activities to keep them from getting bored. it is possible for a single to be bonded with a pair, but i’m not sure how hard it is and how much time you are able to put into the process. please don’t feel bad about not taking Sadie… you did what was best for you and your bun at the time. and honeslty, them being sisters has nothing to do with whether they will or will not get along. every bun is an individual and sometimes siblings are best of friends if brought up together, sometimes they fight even if raised together.

[kimberleyanddarren]

i must say the only big difference i noticed from going from one bun 2 two was the difference in pellets i needed other than that i found it not to be too much more work, the cleaning out and things didnt jump as massively as i had expected, but again its u who needs to decide

[Princess*Smudge]

Thank you all so much for your input. And thank you Beka, one of my biggest worries was wondering if them being sisters had anything to do with it but it’s good to know that I shouldnt just expect them to get along or be worried if they decide they don’t like each other, if I do decide to increase my bun family

[Hannah]

I hope these bunnies get a good home– whether it’s with you or someone else! Do what you think is best (although it sounds like you’re leaning towards getting them– they’ll be lucky buns!) From experience, though, if you do get them, expect to be buying a LOT of food. That’s really the only big difference I’ve found between one and three bunnies– the cleaning/etc isn’t really that bad, but I’m buying greens constantly– three bunnies eat LOTS of parsely and lettuce and…everything. It’s like having three tiny fuzzy teenage boys.

[Princess*Smudge]

UPDATE: Smudge’s sister and this other little fellow are no longer at the humane society, they have been adopted! I was still unsure about my feelings on taking another two bunnies in and I don’t like to act unless I’m 100% sure about something, as it turns out things worked out for the best! I hope that they are very happy and healthy and enjoying life with a wonderful new slave . I was so happy to find out that they were safe. I guess it wasn’t meant to be that I would be the one to take them but perhaps that is because somewhere there is a bun who is meant for me and Smudge to rescue and add to our family. Who knows, I like to believe I’ll know him or her when I see them. Thank you all for your support and care! I honestly don’t know what I’d do without all your advice all the time I always have so many questions!

[JK]

Oh that’s a big relief to you I’m sure! It obviously was not meant to be! So glad they got adopted!

[Sage Cat]

Sorry it did not work out – but glad they got adopted.

It seems to me that pets just show up in our lives at the right time – Smudge’s “Some Bun” is out there & y’all will find each other when you are ment to.

[Beka27]

oh good! i’m so happy they found a home!

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