UPDATE: Rhine got adopted!

[AbbyGirl]

Just need to do a little venting.  With Christmas around the corner my husband is working 80 hours a week between his 2 jobs.  We are trying to make every cutback as possible (the new toys for rhine were free) so he can quit his second job and it is just not working out.  I haven’t even seen him in 3 days because he leaves at 6am and comes home at 11pm. 

The other day we decided to get rid of our cell phones to save $70 a month and we already don’t pay for tv.  We were then talking about if we should be fostering because it’s an extra expense.  We decided to continue to.  The next day Rhine started acting up.  Pulling out my carpet and doing things he’d never done before.  I have spent the past few days giving time outs and giving my constant attention to the litte booger.  I can’t even get school done with my girls unless he his locked up. 

I’m taking this as a sign that it’s just not the right thing for me at this point in our lives.  I’ve had a lot of ups and downs and thought I had things worked out.  I’m having trouble keeping up with my house and the girls and their school.  So my family has to come first.  I am going to miss him a lot.  He has helped me not miss Hugo so much and he does the same for my girls.  Maybe it’s time we work through loosing Hugo without another rabbit in the house……

I think I’ll take a break from the boards for a while.  It’s so hard for me to see everyones beautiful bunnies when I am longing for my own so bad.  Hugo was so perfect for me and it is still so hard for me.  I know one day another gentle giant will come into my life.  Hopefully it won’t take too long.  I’ve enjoyed meeting you all and I thank everyone who has put up with me and has helped me through all the trials I’ve endured. 

[Deleted User]

I am going to give my opinion even though I know where you stand on this. I do not understand why you don’t just get a pen for Rhine. If you send him away you may find you feel worse for it. One healthy foster rabbit for a rabbit loving person such as yourself should not be such a big deal. If you cannot afford him, that’s a different story.
If you penned him up, he would still be able to get free-range time but on YOUR terms.

[AbbyGirl]

Thank you Petzy. It’s not that I won’t use a pen. I have no where to put one. If I got a pen it would have to sit smack in the middle of my living room and it would be in the way of where my children play. I really have no room for that and it would be no different than the area he already has. He has been spending a lot of time in his room with the baby gate up. I just tell him to go home and he stays in his room for a while. I honestly am so tired and can’t keep up with it right now.

I do want to clarify that I am not taking him back because he is not behaving. I just can’t keep up with everything I have to do anymore and we can not afford the $20-$30 a month it costs to have a rabbit right now. Especially if it means my husband has to work more hours just so I can do it. I have no clean dishes, no time to put away my laundry because I can’t leave my girls long enough without them fighting and my house is a wreck. I’m just overwhelmed.

I made the decision to foster because I couldn’t stand the thought of not having an animal in the house. I did not put my family first when I did that and I am paying the price for it now. We as a family have not gotten over Hugo and have just masked the symptom with Rhine. I’m starting to see that it is not healthy for my girls as my little one says all she wants for Christmas in Hugo back.

[Deleted User]

I feel what you are saying. I think it is best then to return him to the rescue. Time and space are most needed to enjoy a pet and right now you are strapped for both.

[RabbitPam]

I hear your stress, and it is definitely a time to give yourself some relief.

I am going to ask you to make some tough decisions. I think this is terribly hard on Rhine and will possibly have consequences for him if it doesn’t get resolved with a new forever home as soon as possible. If you are going to give him up again, do so once and for all. He needs one more home and it should be the last one. He shouldn’t even go into another foster home if it can be avoided, with the prospect of more upheaval. He is an absolutely gorgeous bunny, with normal active behavior, so if you can make any extra effort to find him a forever home to go into directly I think it would be well worth it. It will also make you feel much better knowing you did that for him, and that he is no longer available. I would suggest working with the rescue you get him from of course, but ask several local vets, maybe print out some flyers with his photo on it to put in their offices or pet supply stores, or even another rescue, as well as posting his picture on PetFinder, so he really has a good chance of getting adopted. It’s the holidays, and many people will be more willing to take on a new pet right now, especially one that tugs at their heartstrings.

Please accept your situation for what it is, knowing it is right for your family for now and that’s the way it has to be. You need to just focus on the kids for a while, enjoy your home free of the worries of a pet, and relax if you can. Don’t feel guilty if you feel relieved. But please, please, before you take on another pet, put yourself in their place and ask yourself honestly if you can commit to them for several years from the moment they enter your door. It is very generous of you to want to foster, but I think it’s just not working out.

I understand your not wanting to see our rabbits, but know that you are always very welcome here anytime. I find seeing other rabbits comforting, even filling that hole of missing a bunny after my first one crossed the bridge. It hurt to not ever hear about a bunny on a daily basis, so I found it helpful. But it is painful too. You will always have a spot for Hugo.

[AbbyGirl]

Thank you for all your support RabbitPam.
I did not give him back the first time. They asked for him back because he had a potential adopter and they wanted me to take Bonnie and Clyde to see what they were like. Otherwise he would have never gone back the first time. The good thing about this shelter is that they do not have a shelter. It is all done from their 2 homes and foster homes. It’s kind of like they are all fosters. He is on Petfinder and I have been helping them with putting some of their bunnies on craigslist. A few people have asked about him but never follow through with anything. I have been trying very hard to find him a home since the day I met him.

I know I need a break. It has been a very stressful year for me. I have no intentions of bringing another bun in our home until I know it is the one we want to adopt. I am going to continue to work with and help the shelter in any way I can. Even if I just help them list their rabbits.

[AbbyGirl]

Rhine got adopted!!!!!!

I got an email last night and called a lady who instantly fell in love with him. So I called her and we talked for a long time. I told her all about him. She is studying to be a vet tech and has rescued other animals. She said he is not a pet but part of the family and will never be in a cage and will sleep in bed with them (if he wants to). I am so happy for Rhine. He is going to a wonderful home and will have 2 little girls to love him! =)
He will be in his new forever home for Christmas!!!

It’s funny how things work out. Had I not decided to take him back this morning she would not be getting him this weekend due to my husbands busy work schedule. I also found out last night that my husband full time employer has guaranteed him enough over time that he can quit his second job! He gave his notice last night and will now work 10 hours of overtime at his job instead of 25-35 hours at Walmart.

I’m still definitely taking a break and will help the shelter with the things I can do from home on the computer. So for now I will wait patiently for the right time to have a rabbit again.

[bunnyluvr]

Hooray for Rhine! I am so happy for him! That is so perfect that he found a forever home just as you needed a break. Things usually work out the way they are supposed to.

[Beka27]

I’m so happy for Rhine. He deserves some stability.

[RabbitPam]

That’s wonderful!
I can’t believe it happened the day after we chatted about it. Woo Hoo!!!!
Happy New Year to you, your family, and to Rhine. I hope his forever home brings him a long, healthy, happy future.

[Sarita]

Yay, I’m so happy for Rhine. He’s a special rabbit.

[Monkeybun]

Yay!!!! Sounds like he will have a great home

[Michelle&Lolli]

Awe! That’s so great that he got adopted! Yay!

[AbbyGirl]

Rhine went to his forever home a few hours ago! I am soooo happy for him. I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas gift! =)

[mocha200]

Yay for Rhine! Merry Christmas to you, Rhine, and your family!

[lashkay]

That’s great that Rhine will have stability in such a loving home. You were a great foster mom for him in the meantime. You will find another gentle giant to bestow your love on, hope it isn’t too long a wait.

[bunnytowne]

wow   life is amazing like that sometimes

thats wonderful and yu can let him go with joy at his prospect

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so glad to hear he has found his forever home!

[AbbyGirl]

I’m so happy he has a great forever home for Christmas! I even got to meet her and she called me on Sunday to tell me how he was doing. She emailed me pictures last night. He looks so happy and just made himself at home in no time. Laying in the middle of the couch, laying on them while they tried to lay down and jumping on their bed. She said he instantly loved her son. Funny, he seems to like little ones. Just thought I’d give an update. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

[jerseygirl]

Great news! Beautiful Rhine deserves to finally have a forever home.

Happy Christmas to you and your family too Amy!

[Author]

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