Saving a bunny opinion

[Caroline22]

Okay so to start off my guilty pleasure is looking on Cragslist and Petfinder for bunnies in my area. I’m not trying to get another bun, but I’m always just curious about the other ones out there looking for new homes. Anyways, as I’m scrolling through Craigslist, I see the saddest looking lionhead rabbit. His fur looks super matted, like it hasn’t been groomed ever, and he has shaving stuck all over his face   The description says that he was a child’s pet and now their kids have no interest in him (of course). He just looks like he’s in horrible shape and he’s only 3-4 months old! So my question to all of you (since I think you all have excellent opionions) is should I go and pick him up? I certainly can’t keep him myself, but the two main shelters in my city take really good care of their bunnies and they get adopted out fairly quickly. I would contact my local rabbit rescue, but it seems like the buns they have never leave their foster system and get adopted out! I really can’t just see this littlle guy end up as a breeding rabbit or worse.  Because at least if he’s at shelter, he would get neutered and if he has any health problems they would be treated. My heart just aches for this little guy! I would include pictures, but since he isn’t my rabbit, I don’t know if that would be okay or not. 

[Roberta]

You could but be prepared for the fact that once you hold him you may not be able to let him go.

[Roberta]

Others have also shared pics of bunnies from Craiglist and petfinder. As long as you aren’t discussing the taboo subjects like breeding etc it should be fine.

[Sarita]

Hi Caroline, here are the forum rules:

C. Rehoming Rabbits : Our forum cannot be used as a resource to rehome your bunny. The Rescue section is meant for Rescues and Shelters, and Fosters from a Rescue/Shelter only. However, you can ask about how to deal with some of the challenges that are making you consider rehoming. Our main goal will be to find solutions so you can keep your bunny. If you are an individual who may be in a situation where you are not sure what you should do with a challenging situation – moving, new baby, busy schedule, etc, we can help you find solutions in the Q & A Forum.

Craigslist Ads: Please don’t repost or copy and paste, or link to Craigslist ads that are focused on individuals who are looking to rehome their bunnies. If you spot a Craigslist ad that grabs your attention and tugs at your heartstrings, you can always contact the poster and offer up this site as a resource for education.

Feel free to email a Forum Leader if you have questions concerning them.

[Beka27]

Once you take him, you become the responsible party. I don’t think any rescue would take him from you. Rescues generally focus on taking in rabbits from overrun city shelters, who in the case of overcrowding would otherwise have to euthanize the buns. Rescues just don’t have the resources to take in shelter bunnies AND Craigslist cast-offs.

If you take him in, expect to have him long-term. Expect to have to get him groomed, vetted, AND neutered yourself. He is at prime hormone age! A rescue *might* be willing to allow you to “foster” him, on the condition that you pay ALL food and vet expenses. They would then list him on their site or Petfinder.

But regardless of what you decide, please, please, please STOP looking at buns online. Truly, little to no good can come from it. You cannot save all the rabbits, and you will only get yourself upset because of your limitations.

[tanlover14]

Do you have the possibility of bringing him home yourself and then try to rehome him yourself also?

I would also TALK to the rescues in your area. This same thing happened with Nora (pet store bunny). We contacted the local rescue we had adopted our last bunny from – told them about her and what we should do. They only accept bunnies in NEED of help BUT they were willing to pay for her vet bills if we would foster her for them. So we foster and they paid for everything. We ended up deciding to keep her but I think you may be able to work something out with a rescue if possible for you. For example, we decided to pay for all her food, litter, ect. (even when we weren’t sure about keeping her). Since we’ve decided to keep her, we are paying them back for all of her vet bills also. But the good thing was – they were willing to accept her in as a rescue bunny if we could foster her. If we decided not to keep her, she would be adopted out through them.  BUT we made the agreement to foster UNTIL adoption.

[tanlover14]

By in need.. I mean “sick” “disabled” or being completely “neglected”. Also be aware that in most states, as long as they have food, water, shelter they can’t be deemed as “neglected” – no matter how bad they look.

[Hazel]

I’d take him off your hands if you wouldn’t live so far away.

[Stickerbunny]

When you take in a bun from craigslist it is either to adopt it yourself, or be the one that rehomes it. Rescues as Beka said typically do not take from individuals. They don’t have the room. I have taken in animals and rehomed them and if there is anything wrong with them, it can become pricey. And potentially dangerous to other pets, if you don’t take proper quarantine procedures into account. My last rescue-to-rehome I did by myself was a puppy that we found on the street that had mange, badly. It never spread to any of our other pets. So it is possible to do, if you have the time and resources. Just be aware you can’t take a pet like this and then give it over to a rescue UNLESS you are already in contact with them and they are working with you to save this bun.

[Caroline22]

 Thanks for all of your reponses everyone! Tanlover, I was hoping you would comment on this, because I knew that you had done something sort of like this recently. Since I’m not posting the ad and not trying to rehome him through BB, here are some pictures. 

This little guy does NOT look like he’s in good shape to me. I don’t know a lot about lionheads, but I don’t think their fur is suppose to look like that…. I’m going to contact my local rescue and see what they have to say about this. 

[tanlover14]

Is he posted as a Lionhead? He definitely looks like an Angora to me!! His fur looks a lot like Noras when we rescued her and underneath all her adorable fur was a whole crapload of mats….so I can only imagine what that poor boy has. He obviously has sawdust/pine chips or something in his fur which is what caused all the mats on her…

I really think the rescue will work with you if you explain the situation. With ALL 4 of our local rescues – the problem isn’t taking care of the bunnies, it’s more not having enough room for all the ones that need help. Which is why they must pick and choose. I think if you approach this in the right way (and offer yourself up as a foster) you will be surprised how much they will work with you.

[Caroline22]

Okay that’s what I was thinking too. He was labeled “pedigree lionhead.” Sooo I don’t know if they got him from so backdoor breeder or if they’re just trying to talk him up by saying he’s pedigree. I was thinking he had a little too much fluff to be a lionhead.

I just emailed them asking what they think I should do about the situation. If they say they don’t have room for him, then I’ll definitely offer myself up for fostering. I would definitely want to foster that little cutie!

[Caroline22]

Just to keep everyone updated, I contacted my local rescue and they were really helpful! They gave me two options, either I can take it to the shelter I adopted Lucy from (they work closely with them), but there’s a chance that they won’t have room for him or I can foster him myself and they’ll supply me with everything I need. I’ve been interested in fostering for a very long time, so maybe that’ll actually be a good fit?

[Caroline22]

Just kidding, I finally got through to the people that posted the ad and they already gave him away to someone else :/ hopefully his new owners will take good care of him!

[tanlover14]

Awww, well at least you tried!!

Hopefully the bun is in a much better place now. Hopefully someone said the same thing you did and went and got him to clean him up and give him a good home. Poor boy. Sending vibes your way, Bun Bun!!

[Author]

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