Should I rehome my rabbit or get him a friend

[EBrath]

I am struggling with this debate at the moment if I should rehome my rabbit Ralph I originally adopted him and his previous owners didn’t want him anymore or if I should get him a friend.
i absolutely love animals and I have quite a few and the other people living in my house are not huge fans of them however they are okay with them. I originally started looking for a friend for Ralph and he has now been neutered etc and he is starting to act lonely.
i just don’t know if it is the right thing to get another rabbit as I have other pets or rehome him.

any advice appreciated!

[Wick & Fable]

To overly simplify your options, you are deciding between 1) giving yourself more work, responsibility, etc. (i.e., getting a second rabbit) or 2) relieving yourself of work (i.e., rehoming). While cold-hearted to frame it like that, I hope this framing captures how very different these decisions are, not only on their impacts for Ralph, but also your life moving forward.

Getting a friend for Ralph may be a substantial amount of work, depending on resources available to you. If you do not have a rescue around that will bond your rabbits for you, then you will need to create space in your home to bond rabbits, which can take a couple weeks to months. If, on top of no bonding services, you also are unable to “speed-date” Ralph with rabbits before bringing one home, there is always a chance that the rabbit “friend” you chose is not compatible with Ralph, so now you have two rabbits who need to live separated, permanently in your space. Speed-dating and having experienced bonders do this process for you greatly maximizes your chances of a successful bond. If you have a rescue that will speed-date and do the bonding for you, it sounds like this would be much more compatible with your current situation (though keep in mind another rabbit means needing more space).

Ultimately, if you feel you cannot care for Ralph, rehoming can be a tough and the best decision. There are things you can do to help ensure Ralph is rehomed to a great place: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Rehoming_your_rabbit

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.

[EBrath]

Thank you so much for the advice. After sleeping on it I think I’m going to rehome him as he deserves the best life possible and I feel I am questioning if I can give him that

[Author]

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