PLEASE HELP: I think I need to rehome my bunny

[Teddysowner4]

Hello,

I adopted my bunny a couple days ago, he is a dwarf bunny and I love him a lot. His name is Teddy and he is very sweet and curious. I struggle with severe depression and anxiety along with PTSD. Teddy has helped my depression because waking up and seeing him makes me really happy. I live in a student house and am currently in University. However, as any curious bunny does he gets into everything. I’m really overwhelmed with him and even though I love him so much it hurts I think I need to re-home him. I will admit I thought caring for a bunny would be easy, like a hamster, I did a bunch of research and I know i was wrong in thinking this. Because I live in a university house I can’t really let him free-range, (its a gross old house and I don’t want him to hurt himself) I fear that I took on a lot more than I could handle. I’m panicing because I think I need to re-home him but I feel terrible about it. I’m worried he’ll never find a new home and that people will think I’m an idiot for adopting a bunny. I do love him, it isn’t because of a lack of loving. I just don’t think I can give him a good enough life and I know he deserves so much better. He is in a huge cage, with all the toys he can get and a big water bottle along with bundles of hay. But today he learned that he can fit under the couch and ever since then its been hell. I know that bunny owners hate when bunnys stay in pens instead of free roam but I don’t know what else to do. I feel ashamed for taking him and not knowing if I can properly care for. I so badly want him to have a good life but I don’t think I can give it to him. So, I don’t know what I should do. I have been having this worry for a while and I think that selfishly I want to keep him because I love him, but a large part of me knows that I do not think I can give him the life he does really deserve. Moreover, I don’t have a lot of money and although I have spent a ton of money on making sure he has everything he needs to be able to live an amazing life, I’m worried about expensive vet bills if he gets sick. I promise he is very very safe and cared for right now, but I do not think I can do this. I don’t know what to do, I feel so terrible about this. I really do love him so much, he is one of the best things that has happened to me but the anxiety about him being hurt or getting sick and me not being able to pay for it does not make it worth it.  I did reserach in my area, and I know that a lot of shelters take bunnys and donate them to pet stores so it would not be difficult for him to be rehomed (and hopefully find an amazing home because he deserves it) but I feel so guilty and ashamed. My dad and step-mom are also no very helpful with this either, and I just don’t feel like I can properly take care of him.

[DanaNM]

First off, I don’t think there is any shame in rehoming, and I think it’s very admirable of you to recognize where you may not be able to give the best care. It sounds like there are a lot of options for this in your area, so that’s great.

All of that said, it sounds like you really love this bun and would like to keep him if possible. If you are looking for solutions to possibly help with the specific issues, keep reading . 🙂

I don’t think it’s necessary for a bun to have free-range to be perfectly happy. Lately I’ve noticed a trend on social media that says all buns should free-range, when the reality is this isn’t true, and it can actually lead to rabbits ending up shelters because they were destructive. I’ve had quite a few buns that are not given as much freedom because they just get into too much trouble unsupervised (much like how many dogs are crate trained and are not just given free roam of the house when their owners aren’t home).

The accepted animal welfare guidelines are that the bun should have at least 4 hours per day of exercise in a space that’s around 50 sq ft. That usually means a bunny-proofed room. Couches can be especially troublesome, but I know some people have had success with a few dif things. One option is to attach a thin sheet of plywood to the bottom of the couch, so the bun can’t burrow under. Another is to use NIC cube grids to form a barrier around the base of the couch. Another I saw recently is to use those “toy guards” they sell to prevent kids toys from disappearing under the couch.

There are a lot more bunny-proofing ideas here: https://binkybunny.com/infocategory/bunny-proofing/

I’m not sure where his cage is located, but you can also try attaching a pen or two to his cage for more space that way. I know you’ve already spend a lot of money, so that may not be an option this second, but you can get x-pens for around $40 on Chewy or Amazon.

Vet expenses can be a concern. I try to set aside a little each month, and I also have credit cards I can rely on if there was a bad emergency. I know a lot of people also have pet health insurance, so if you don’t have savings or credit, that could be a good option as well. It’s not too expensive if it’s just for one pet, and can help cover those really expensive vet bills. I’ve had some buns that had tons of vet bills, and others that have had zero problems, so you just never really know.

Whatever you decide, it’s clear you love your bunny and are doing what you think is best for him, so please don’t feel guilt or shame at all.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Meg]

DanaNM’s advice is excellent and I can’t add much to it, but I do hear your overwhelm.  It’s true that bunny vet bills can be expensive and I’d hate for you and Teddy to be in a stressful situation where you fear you can’t afford whatever it is that he needs done (if the good advice Dana gave doesn’t feel like it would cover it in your situation).  I agree there’s no reason to feel ashamed if you do rehome him — it’s admirable that you’re being so thoughtful about what he needs and whether you can provide that.

If you do go this route, you might consider getting a hamster (or even a dwarf hamster) that can live happily in a cage/terrarium and come out for supervised play at times.  I adopted my two bunnies when I was 28 and in grad school; now I’m 41 and one of the bunnies (also named Teddy!) is still with us.  We are thrilled, we adore him, and we’re happy to pay for whatever he needs with vet visits, medicine, special foods, etc. to keep him going at his age, but if you asked me if it was inexpensive I couldn’t honestly say yes.  We don’t regret a penny since you can’t put a price on our bunny and the joy he brings us, but we are thankful we’re in a life stage that allows us to give him what he needs, and it wouldn’t have been easy for me to afford this in my 20s.  Anyway, in my mid-20s I had two dwarf hamsters in succession and it was a great way for me to get acclimated to caring for pets on my own.  The only thing tough about dwarf hamsters is their short lifespans — other than that they’re *super* cute, quiet, low-maintenance, and still give you someone to make you smile to wake up to.  🙂

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

 

 

 

 

[Author]

Messages