Do people give up their rabbits too easily?

[abbymarysmokey]

I know that occasionally people have really bad stuff happen in their lives that means they can't keep their pets (e.g. illness)

...but does a new baby, new job or moving house really mean that pets should be given away or put into rescue? :(

I have personally seen this happen more and more often...perhaps because our society has become more transient...perhaps because relationships are more likely to break up nowadays....or perhaps for a number of other reasons :?

I'd be interested to hear what other members think.

Amy

[GemmaH]

I think it's a difficult one. I guess that sometimes people will be looking for the slightest excuse to rehome a pet that they have perhaps got a little tired of but then I'm sure there are lots of genuine people out there. Although it may be the case that they could still care for their pet if they kept it, they are perhaps in a position where they aren't able to give it the amount of care and attention that they did before their circumstances changed and so they feel it would be better for the pet to go to a home with somebody who can.

[Jack's-Jane]

Well I find it hard to imagin ever giving up my Buns. Not physically being able to care for them is about the only reason I can think of that would make me give them up. That and my death!!

I suppose its yet another issue that is very much down to the individual. What one person sees as 'unmanagable' another person sees as 'just needs a bit of extra effort'

What REALLY ticks me off is people who keep taking on animals, then rehoming them and then getting yet more a few weeks later.

Janex

[mystic.kitty]

I have known a few people give up pets because of changes in circumstances, such as having a baby. I don't think having a baby should ever be used as an excuse for getting rid of a pet. We never got rid of any of our pets when we had children. The cat has been quite a trial but we battle through her tempermental nature and love her just the same. The kids are now six and three and adore all our pets, even the cat! The baby stage doesn't last forever so should never be an excuse for getting rid of pets in my opinion. As for other circumstances well I guess I'd have to walk a mile in their shoes before I can judge, I can only comment really on having children.

[ZakuraRabbit]

I guess it would all depend on the person.

I know someone who gave away her rabbit when she was pregnant, as she wasn't feeling she could look after the rabbit and love it as much as before, and after a while decided the best (for the rabbit) was to give it a new home.
People react to pregnancies (and new babies) differently, some babies are more demanding than others too. If you get quintuplets and at the same time have two or more rabbits you have to care for it might get difficult:shock:

As for moving; unless you're moving abroad or to somewhere rabbits aren't allowed I don't consider that a good enough reason to rehome it...but I wouldn't be able to live in a house pets aren't allowed at all:shock:

New job would once again depend on the job...if you're away from home for a very long time and no longer have time to see your pet or care for it properly I guess the best option would be to rehome it. (I would be looking for a new job:lol:)

[abbymarysmokey]

It seems strange to give up your pets because they don't fit into your new life :(

My sisters cats stayed with her through a marriage break-up, long-term relationship break-up, a period of unemployment, starting a new job... and at least 6 house moves! :shock:

Never once did she consider rehoming them.

[Lauralou]

i read about a rescue in the local paper not so long ago and they had taken in a dog ..... it was given up because it didn't go with the NEW WALLPAPER. :roll::roll:

[ZakuraRabbit]

i read about a rescue in the local paper not so long ago and they had taken in a dog ..... it was given up because it didn't go with the NEW WALLPAPER. :roll::roll:

Fashion accessory is the first word that comes to mind:shock:
This wouldn't happen to be a chihuahua?

My buns don't go with the wallpaper, if I put any pictures up they tear them down:lol: (quite frankly its the wallpaper that don't go with them)

[abbymarysmokey]

Although it may be the case that they could still care for their pet if they kept it, they are perhaps in a position where they aren't able to give it the amount of care and attention that they did before their circumstances changed and so they feel it would be better for the pet to go to a home with somebody who can.

That's what I don't understand...somebody giving up a rabbit because they can't give it as much LOVE and ATTENTION :shock:

My rabbits are all much happier WITHOUT love and attention. In fact they find any attention from me quite annoying unless I've got food :roll:

[honeybunny]

I'm afraid for "I can't give them enough time and attention"..read "Can't be bothered with them anymore"...:(

[Grace and Louis]

I think with all animals you get the people who just cant be bothered, the ones that make excuses to justify and others that genuinely feel as though they just have no choice - when it comes to these people I think it is worth bearing in mind that everyone has a different place for their "breaking point" and it is really hard to judge anyone who feels as though they are there. I think it is as equally dangerous for people to not have one or not know when they have reached it because you end up with these stories of people with 60 cats who arent taken care of living 10 feet deep in poo and refusing to admit that they cant cope

[Lucy]

Although I know there are genuine people, there are so many that are simply bored with them and can't be bothered. Some of the excuses I have heard are just mental. What really winds me up is when someone will say they are having a rabbit (well, any animal really) pts because they can't cope with it's behaviour. 9 times out of 10, it's them that has caused the behaviour, then they blame the animal for reacting to how they raise it. People just make my blood boil.

Yes, it is way too easy to act irresponsibly and then expect that a rescue will pick up the pieces when you have finished your whim.

I always get so annoyed when they ring up with the phrases "I need to get rid of...." or "we have a rabbit that we don't require anymore..." or "are you looking to take on..." as if we are seeking out rescues :roll:

[Gem]

I'm afraid for "I can't give them enough time and attention"..read "Can't be bothered with them anymore"...:(

You know what Jill, I think I'm sharing the same views as you on exactly the same 'topic' ;)

I've had a lot of circumstance changes including living in a different house to them, two hours away by train :( And a job meaning I left the house at 6am and didin't get home again until 8/9pm.

Never once did I think about rehoming them, I just had to adapt my life to manage.

Now I've gone off on one, the point is that its too easy for people to obtain and subsequently give up a pet

[Lyssa]

I think in many cases it's not only the fact that people are too willing to give up on a pet but that they also don't think about the future when they go out looking for a pet. I think a lot of people just don't consider how long an animal may live and that thins they want to do in the future might not mix with having pets.

OH and I would love some rabbits but we have come to the very sad conclusion that they just aren't for us. We are planning on emigrating at some point in the not too distant future and we would look at older buns but the problem is we don't know quite when we'll get sick of things here and decide to up sticks and move!!! As much as we'd like to have bunnies it'd just be irresponsible of us to take some in knowing that chances are we'd have to rehome them when we decided to move.

[petticoat74]

I am talking from experience now, as a person who decided to give her rabbits up,for their sake, not mine, I had a new job. longer hours and thought I couldn't devote enought time to them... I had taken on 2 from a friend, only intending to keep them short term, so I put them on RR... a couple of people contacted me and thought I found ideal homes for Luna and Benjamin... only from the moment Luna left, my heart just broke:cry: I thought of her every moment and knew something was 'wrong' I stopped Ben's adoption going through, I took all the buns off RR and the saddest thing was Raffles and Sadie, my eldest two died:cry::cry:(they were not on RR though) Then one Saturday I found myself looking on freeads and lo and behold there was Luna, only now she was a boy and thanks to this forum and especially to a fab lady called princesscarly I got Luna, now called Carlo back;)
It was a hard decision and one I will NEVER make again. The 5 are with me for life, it was a wake up call for me... Yes we live in a throw away society and I know this cos of my own friends and animals, that i have taken in over the years, but some people are genuine and they are the ones who get hurt the most, when it all goes wrong!

[honeybunny]

my earlier comment wasn't aimed at everyone..I have had genuine people giving in rabbits who have been very upset,,,,,
but the majority are as I said...

[Leanne]

I think ive heard all the excuses in the book through work :evil:
I also recall when I was pregnant the amount of people that said to me 'oooh you will have to cut down on the number of animals you have' or 'you will have to get rid of some of your animals now you have a baby comiing' :evil: Why?!?!?!?!?! :rolleyes:
Ive had so many calls from other people who have actually LISTENED to this 'advice' and it flabberghasts me.

I had the chance of getting a council flat (possibly house) when I split up with my ex but would have had to go into a hostel for an indefinate period where no pets were allowed so I got a credit card instead and went into private renting. I don't regret it one bit.
It appalls me the amount of people that give up on their animals so easily :(

[Lauralou]

jnfyum iiioiii

[Lauralou]

jnfyum iiioiii

sorry, i was typing, posted, realised i was on the wrong thread but i can't delete it!!

[Lucy]

When I had my son nearly 4 years ago, I had 5 dogs, I currently have 7. When people call up to tell me they have to rehome because they are pregnant, well... it's very hard to keep my mouth shut some days. It can be done, you just have to try hard to include everyone. Everything can be achieved if you have the will to do it, I just think some don't have the inclination to try.

[Jayms_fallen_angel]

I think Destiny came to be in a rescue because her owners moved house and they coudn't have pets there, or something similar... And I'm really angry about that. When I was moving house it took my three months to find somewhere in my budjet, near work that would allow me to have pets. Mainly because the area I was looking at sells so fast. My first question at any viewing I went to was "Can I have pets?" If the answer was no I instantly didn't want it.

I could no more move home without my pets than my mum could mover home without her kids (when we were children). Your pets rely on you, love you, trust you and it's your duty to earn that, not fob them off when it suits you.

I can't even understand getting rid of them because you're allergic, both me and my sister developed allergies to our guinae pigs and the last thing I''d do is abandon my girls. I put up with the irritation. I cover up when I hold them. My friend is allergic to most pet hair, but after getting a cat her imunity has built up against it. I developed hay fever when I was 18 (yep on my birthday) and so the hay can sometimes be a nightmare. But Love doesn't etend to what is comfortable and convinient. Love also has itchy, scratching, crying sneezing moments too. If you're only loving a pet while it's comfy that's not love at all. Not in my book.

No I would not let a pet go unless it was in my pets best interest, such as when I moved house without my dog, because taking him away from my sisters dog would have broken his heart more than him not seeing me every day.

[donnamt]

death is the only reason my pets would go to a rescue, and even then id like to think ste could cope without me... even if we was made homeless tomorrow all my pets would get a room at my moms house before me and ste took it...

[Aimee84]

I cannot think of a situation where I had to give up my pets. We got our house contract changed so I could keep my bunnies in the garden - although I do bring them into the house :D.
When you take on a pet no matter what the pet you should be responsible!

[rspcarabbits]

The vast majority of excuses we get from owners are lame one's I'm affraid.

However just an observation...we get very few of our own re-homed rabbits back and the few that do out of the 100's we have re-homed have been for what appear to be genuine reasons and only one or two stick in my mind where we have been disapointed with the owners we have re-homed to(and yes we do take it personally if we get it wrong!) .

When you think about it though its not surprising because of the care and time we take weeding out unsuitable people with unsuitable accommodation or housing in the first place. Don't take this the wrong way, this is not a self congratulatory pat on the back but when others......pet shops , breeders , garden centers and whoever just pump rabbits out into the market place to be homed with little or no standards or correct information it is not surprising rabbits are treated with all the respect of a playstation game.....I,ve played the game, got to the end , got bored of the game it was'nt what I thought it was going to be so get rid.

This is the reason so many of us on here are so scathing of these groups of sellers because we are the ones that get the litterny of excuses and pick up the peices.

Just to repeat what I put on another thread.....We are now taking in a rabbit from a member of the public who obtained it from a large pet shop that was a re-homed "rescue" rabbit. It was "re-homed"with all the care and attention they normally give to all their animals and 2 weeks later it is coming to us and they can't take it back because they are full at easter!....oh and the owner said something about being allergic to the fur...... yer right absolutely madam..

This is a living animal we are talking about but this person has not asked us a single question what is going to happen to her "pet" but then you don't when you find another home for a playstation game do you?.:(

[jackiestone]

Sadly i was in a situation where i had to give up 2 of my four rabbits.

I was diagnosed with a rare condition and had to have brain surgery,i was poorly for a long time,this was 4 years ago and my husband was working and caring for our sons age 6 and 9.my husband cleaned the rabbits out but didnt have time to spend with them.
I was desperately upset,not knowing whether i would be ok and i decided to rehome the two younger rabbits as the other two were 3 and 6.
I found lovely families to care for Romeo and Hobnob,they bought new hutches and runs and still have contact with them.I thought i was doing the correct thing by them.At the time all i cared about was that i would live to see my sons grow up,now i feel bad about what i did.that is why i rehomed Norman and Beatrix as they were not wanted and i am determined to give them a wonderful happy life

[HS]

Jackie, I think anyone would agree that your illness was not an 'excuse' to get rid of bunnies - it was a responsible decision not taken lightly - and I'm glad that you're better now.
I can't imagine a situation where I would give up my bunnies, unless I was unable to care for them properly, and I hope the o/h would then take over their care.
I did rehome my remaining guinea pig, but that was because I had no intention of getting any more and he was lonely. He went to a lovely home, and I'm still in contact with his new mummy.

[elve]

yeah I don't class Jackie's reasons as a lame excuse! Far from it - glad you are well now :D I would only give up my animals if seriously ill or dead - not because I love every minute of looking after them, and find cleaning thrilling, but because I made a decision and I believe in commitment to living things. I'll change my mind about everything else 12 times a day, because inanimate objects don't have feelings, but I know what matters to animals (and children) is continuity, predictability, comfort and security.

The difference is in people's priorities and values - some people put themselves first, or a clean house first, or a social life first, and some people don't see the point in doing something they find hard or boring, so they always move on to new interests, pets just being one in a long list of hobbies - they're not interested once the newness wears off, or something more exciting comes along. I'm not taking any more on, as I would like to do other, more exciting things before I die too, but I consider myself to be 'on loan' to my dependants for the next 5 to 10yrs.

And you can be sure that even though some doors close when you take on commitments, other doors will open in unexpected ways. It does annoy me when people cast off their animals because something more interesting becomes an option, because we could all do that!

[Lucy]

The sad thing is that I disbelieve most of what people tell me when they want to rehome an animal as I'm so used to them lying to me.

[rabbitmum]

my husband and i did voluntary work for charities in the past...(time not on our side at the mo!) and being pub managers they thought we would be good at working on reception dealing with people (using this term loosely on some of them)who want to give up their pet.
we couldnt do it...its a miracle how some people have the gall to call them selves pet lovers when they give up their pet so easily.
we have had "cat that i have had for 10 years doesnt match the new sofa my husband just bought"
and the reasons that 2 of our rabbits were put up for adoption "hes gone blind" (he had but didnt cause him any suffering so what diffenence does that make?) and "we have rats in the garden " why get rid of the rabbit? why not the rats? or bring your rabbit indoors?
these people make me sick.
having said that, i DO UNDERSTAND when people have to give up pets as they REALLY have no choice. such as the lady on here who has trouble with louts outside her home.
mayhew animal home in london and i believe some other places will take in your pet in these such circumstances until you get back on your feet.
they take them in in cases mainly of spousal abuse as the animals are at risk if the abused spouse leave.
sorry to waffle on but as a mum to..3 rabbits, 2 guinea pigs, 2 cats, 4 gerbils, 3 rats and 1 hamster i know money and time is hard.our rabbit that recently died of a stroke ,cost us £5000.in the period of 2 years. we live for our pets and go without so that they can eat well and see the vet asap.

[Jayms_fallen_angel]

*nod nod* I had a bunny and two piggies when I was unemployed and I gladly missed meals just so Charm could get the vetinary treetment he needed and they could all eat.

rspcarabbits I completly agree with you. Because rescues take the time to weed out the people who aren't fit to have pets, the pet you guys home rarely come back. I only wish everyone who sold pets was as responsable as the rescues the pets often end up in.

But yes, there are valid reasons for sending your pets elsewhere. But I think it's obvious when you're using a valid reason and not an excuse. Mainly, it's very hard to do and you make sure they're going somewhere you're happy with.

[rspcarabbits]

The sad thing is that I disbelieve most of what people tell me when they want to rehome an animal as I'm so used to them lying to me.

There are genuine reasons why people give up rabbits and those who take the time to post on here are no doubt genuine and I would not for one minute suggest otherwise.

However I'm with lucy on this one and anybody who has had to deal with the lame excuses and lies over the periid of time we have, would come to the same conclusion.:(

[Leanne]

Jackie, I think anyone would agree that your illness was not an 'excuse' to get rid of bunnies - it was a responsible decision not taken lightly - and I'm glad that you're better now.


I totally agree with this :wave:

[rabbitmum]

we have 3 rats ,whom i absolutely adore...(rescued of course!)
i found out a few years ago that im allergic to them.i come out in a rash and sneeze alot,so why did i get them knowing this? because i love them!
i deal with my symptoms...they dont get handled as much as i probably should ,but there are 3 of them and they have a very large cage, lots of toys, and when one of them needed an operation she was taken ,post haste, to the vets.they are now about 1 and a half ...and hopefully they will be around for at least another happy year.
people dont think about what if? what if i get ill?what if they get ill?what if money gets tight? how long will they live?where do i see myself then?

[louise and Gus]

I think in many cases it's not only the fact that people are too willing to give up on a pet but that they also don't think about the future when they go out looking for a pet. I think a lot of people just don't consider how long an animal may live and that thins they want to do in the future might not mix with having pets.

OH and I would love some rabbits but we have come to the very sad conclusion that they just aren't for us. We are planning on emigrating at some point in the not too distant future and we would look at older buns but the problem is we don't know quite when we'll get sick of things here and decide to up sticks and move!!! As much as we'd like to have bunnies it'd just be irresponsible of us to take some in knowing that chances are we'd have to rehome them when we decided to move.

This is the most important thing, having kids, new job, moving etc all usally planned and forseeable, so why get an animal that lives 8-10 years if you can't guarantee it security for that time?

Lyssa you made a very wise and considered desicion. Have you thought about fostering for a rescue? that way you could have bunnies around but without the long term commitment?

[applebed]

I had a bun rehomed in 2006 and I regret it completely. It was of course my responsibility and my decision, but I was also bullied into it by a girl who I was going to be living with :( who ended up screwing me over bigstyle anyway! (We came back from holiday together, and I found myself stranded in the middle of Leeds at 4am, my suitcases on the pavement, forbidden to move in with her! All for the tiniest comment I made after months of horrible abuse and digs from her :evil::censored:)

I thought the bun had a 'forever home' with my friends, a couple who had their own flat and really wanted a rabbit. Great, I thought, I'm really going to miss her but this way I can see her whenever I go round. Unfortunately it caused problems in their relationship and it looked like they were going to split up over it, so they had her rehomed. The sad thing is now they are fully-fledged bunny people now they have bought a house together :(

If I hadn't been told that she had been bonded and had found a new home, I would try to track her down. She was so affectionate and sweet. I miss her a lot :(

[Lyssa]

Lyssa you made a very wise and considered desicion. Have you thought about fostering for a rescue? that way you could have bunnies around but without the long term commitment?

I have considered it but I'm not sure I'd be very good, I'm a total soft touch and it'd break my heart having to part with the buns I had in :oops:

We've made the decision to try and find a puppy rather than buns for now. We've already got one dog and taking them when we move won't be an issue at all so I think that works out for the best really.

[Bavarian Bunny]

Yeah, a lot of people don't think about the future when they get a pet. They don't have an idea about the costs involved in proper care, and that pets can make it more difficult to find a place to rent or just to go on holiday. When I plan a holiday, the first thing I need to ensure is that my bunnies all get looked after by someone with experience. Then I can start booking flights etc.. If I can't find someone, I can't travel. But some people simply chuck their animals out, because their holidays are more important to them.
My Cloud came from a family who bought him as a birthday present for their 6-year old daughter. He was only 5 or 6 weeks old when they bought him, and two weeks later the little girl had become tired of him. Or maybe he made a mess on the carpet or did something else that wasn't popular with the family. Children get tired of their pets so often, or they grow older and go away to university and then can't take them with them. I would only get a pet for my children, if I was prepared to look after it. So I only get pets for myself really. :lol:
I left my oldie bunny Popsel with my mother, when I moved to London. The move would have been too stressful for him, and he gets spoilt rotten by my mother. The only pet we gave up was my boyfriend's cat. I was very allergic to her and so she was only allowed to come into the kitchen, and not any further into the house. She enjoyed the secure back gardens in that area and the people who bought our house adopted the cat. She is now allowed onto the sofas again. :D

[Denny]

I am having a bad hare day week so my post might not make sense:lol::lol: but I see about 4 sides to the coin on this question:lol::lol:

First side is, I do feel that people do give up their rabbits too easily at times but by the fact they have gone to a rescue shows some responsibility to the rabbits needs in my book, albiet they may lie about the reasons behind giving them up they could of so easily gone through the free ads, papers or just let them loose rather than take the time to search a rescue out.

Second side, what fustrates me more than anything is those who lie about the reasons as to why they need to rehome to then go and get more and worst still, are willing to allow a rescue to help them out but continue to go to a pet shop or breeder for more, I so wish they would start collecting pendalfin (sp) bunnies instead of the real thing:(

third coin, I can honestly say it bewilders me when I see rabbits up for rehome through a rescue or free ads at such young ages, how is it possible to get bored of a rabbit when it is so clear they have only had him/her a few weeks, how can you tell after such a short period that you are bored with something:(

Fourth final side, I actually feel that some-times, those who are advertising in the free ad's etc are finding it very easy to rehome by using the sob story excuses that they give. I have no doubt that many many non members of this forum read the many topic's on this forum about certain buns needing help on the free ads and so I would imagine that many are copying the sob stories knowing that many on this forum will come to the rescue and take the bun off their hands - It seems all to easy to them to put the sob story to pull at peoples heart strings in these adverts. For all we know they could be on a rescues waiting list but are too impatient to wait until their number comes up which is shrugging their responsibilities further rather than wait.

Do people give up their rabbits too easily -yes dependent on the reason that is but the same could be said here - Do people easily bale out those who are giving up on their rabbits too easily as they feel these rabbits need rescuing from some-one who is making a lame excuse for rehoming ???

The same could be said with this though. Is it a good thing that they are trying to find a home rather than just let it die or let it loose in the woods? Is it a good thing that they are seeking a rescue space rather than advertise themselves or let the rabbit die or let it loose?

Its a hard question to truely put a yes or no answser too and I have contradicted myself all over the place:lol::lol::lol:

[Jocelyn]

I am a firm believer that a pet is your responsibility from the moment you take it on until the moment it dies [or you die obviously], but of course life is not black and white like that. I had to rehome quite a few pets 5 years or so ago as I did not have anywhere to live [bearing in mind I was 16] and I could not afford a proper flat on rubbish wages, so a non-animal friendly place was my only option. I regret it every single day as I know that some of them died in rescue [although it was a small home-run one by a lovely lady]. That guilt is never ever going to leave me.

Now I am faced with the decision as to whether or not I should rehome my chinchillas. I've had them for 3 or 4 months or so and have discovered that I am very allergic to them and it is getting worse :( I am trying to persist but it is very difficult for me! The woman I got them from is *trying* to be helpful, saying that they have ample space in the cage so it doesn't matter too much if they don't get let out [I leave the cage open for them for an hour or so but they often don't want to come out :(], but to me it really does. I don't like them being locked in a cage most of the day, regardless of how ample the space is! I'm absolutely gutted and I'm just hoping my allergy is just getting worse before it gets better, else I am going to have to consider rehoming them. I wouldn't let them go to just about anybody though :(

[Deelove]

I think there are some circumstances where life throws something at you and it is impossible to care for yourself let alone lodgings. When my o.h was buying a house he had a mortgage fall through and the place he was renting didn't want to renew his contract as they wanted to become a student letter.

He tried every letting agent there is and no where would accept pets. He ended up having to take lodgings in someone's house but could only take one rabbit. Luckily my parents let them come live with us. Also his parents own some land where our pets could stay in an emergency. But if we hadn't had those sources it could have all worked out very differently.

[sillyrabbit]

I think it must be a horrible decision to make if its a genuine reason :(

I couldnt imagine giving mine up unless I was too sick to look after them properly. I think im lucky in that if I did suddenly find myself homeless or anything I would always be welcome back at my mums with the animals :) And ive enough saved for vet bills now that assuming I keep saving like I am if I was out of work I could cover the costs of keeping them and unexpected vet bills for a few months until I sorted myself out. Also if I really cant find somewhere to live I know my mum would love to keep Smirnoff with her, and the rats :) I would rather take them all with me obviously and will keep looking until I find somwhere but its just nice to know that she wouldnt mind having them at her house.

I think lots of people do make up excuses though and not just with rabbits :( I know someone who moved away with their dog, and their dogs passport ran out. They have now moved back to the uk but said they couldnt afford to renew the dogs passport so left him with their neighbours, they were in the uk maybe a month before they brought two pedigree dogs from a breeder :cry: Why not have used that money to bring their dog with them :? :(

[Stralachlan]

I might get shot down in flames here but I'm facing this decision to give up my buns. I've wanted to move to Oz for years, but knew my boyfriend never would. I finally got a job (in the UK) in July which let me have buns again so I have Hazel & Acorn.

3 months later my boyfriend split up with me. The buns are still with me, and I love having them. But I'm thinking about moving to oz again. Aside from whether I should even contemplate putting them through a 24hr flight ordeal, Queensland wont let me import them - they are a banned pet.

So if I go I know I have to rehome them. I also know a rescue will likely do a home check which if I advertise in the local paper will not be as easy. If I cant rehome them myself I'd rather take them to a rescue knowing they are far more likely to get a good home. I'd even be prepared to pay for keep until they get a new home, and give away their hutch, run etc with them. I'd just want to see them go to someone who will also love them.

Life does change in unforeseen ways, and it does seem that in trying to do whats right for them as well as yourself, you're damned if you do, and damned if you dont. Lots of decisions for me to make....

[Mandy]

I do think SOME people give their pets up too easily, however people are very quick to judge- you really don't know how your circumstances may change in the future, and it say you would NEVER give them up is not realistic IMO, some day those who say that may find themselves in an impossible and heartbreaking situation.

[bunlover]

i think it is better for someone to "easily" give up a pet that is being not looked after or neglected than to leave them in their hutch at bottem of garden and be forgtten about dirty and unloved. i would much prefer that before it got to this stage the owner thought about the animals welfare and made a decision which was best for the animal i think rather than gving up to easily they buy or rehome to easily and therefore dont plan ahead(obviously not everything can be planned for and some circumstances will undoubtably change without warning) but in generall many people think..oh that looks cute bag of straw bag of rabbit food etc etc... also i didnt know much about rabbits when i got my first one and i wish there was more information as if you go to a pet shop and they tell you 3ft is fine with rabbit mix and with a run once a week...well u would (if we didnt know better) think that was ok. now iv always been a great beleiver in any animal haveing plenty of room but i know some people dont ness think this and want them in a cage out of the way. so i think to summerise my view research first or if you cant as soon as after i was very ignorant for quite a while on rabbit care glad i have learned and i will always do my best for them if that means one day giving them up (hopefully never) then this must be done to ensure their welfare.

[abbymarysmokey]

Do people easily bale out those who are giving up on their rabbits too easily as they feel these rabbits need rescuing from some-one who is making a lame excuse for rehoming ???


Denny makes an interesting point here.

In some ways kind hearted individuals and rescues actually make it easier for people to get rid of their rabbit/s. I guess that's because a) you want to believe their sob story, or b) you don't want the rabbit to be harmed, neglected or let loose.

I do think people should feel guilty about giving up their pets without good reason. After all, their rabbit has taken the chance of a home or place in rescue from another, perhaps more needy case.

TBH if the number of RU members giving up their rabbits is representative of rabbit owners in general, then there must be huge numbers becoming unwanted all the time.

Sad isn't it?

Amy

[rspcarabbits]

Denny makes an interesting point here.

In some ways kind hearted individuals and rescues actually make it easier for people to get rid of their rabbit/s. I guess that's because a) you want to believe their sob story, or b) you don't want the rabbit to be harmed, neglected or let loose.

I do think people should feel guilty about giving up their pets without good reason. After all, their rabbit has taken the chance of a home or place in rescue from another, perhaps more needy case.

TBH if the number of RU members giving up their rabbits is representative of rabbit owners in general, then there must be huge numbers becoming unwanted all the time.

Sad isn't it?

Amy

This is an issue we have been well aware of for quite some time.

When we first started we always felt guilty and imagined the individual rabbit suffering.This in turn prompted us to bust a gut to get it in .However over the years we have realised that it is not always in the best interests of rabbits as a whole in our area to be in too much of a hurry to say yes bring it straight along.

We became aware that if "the man from the rspca say yeaaaar!" too quickly and too easily you yourself become part of the problem of pets being bought and disposed of too easily with little thought and not enough, "you bought it and in law you have a responsibility of care for it". Getting bored or children lost interest is not a good excuse.

If on the other hand "the computer says no" is your attitude all the time you are aware that some rabbits truly in need in genuine circumstances do not get the immediate help they deserve.

Faced with this dilemma we do our best to weed out the genuine cases for more immediate action and all the not so urgent go into a book for when we get space.People are also told we ourselves are volunteers, we do prioratise, there is a long waiting list and there could be a few months wait.

I should also say people who do phone to dump get asked loads of questions and in more than a couple of instances where its "the children have got bored and lost interest" type of dumping the caller gets a few home truths about not setting the right example and they are informed all our children when they wanted pets were forced to look after them if they wanted pocket money , treats or in fact "afters". Responsibility was drummed into them....mmm strangely enough they only ever wanted one hamster each ,which they had to look after properly, were supervised doing so and both died of natural old age:lol::lol: Even though they have left home they have only now at the ages of 25 and 23 started to want houserabbits as their personal circumstances have become stable.

As you can immagine the blunt advice some are given often comes as somewhat of a shock to people who think the whole world revolves around them and are so use to nobody pointing the finger of critisism.......well thats the beauty of being a volunteer in a charitable organisation!:)

Other people who phone to dump in non urgent cases are given good advice especially in behavioural or accommodation cases and where we can prevent the rabbit from coming in with good advice and help we do.

Yes we are here for the rabbits in all aspects but we are not here to make it easy. That's not what people donate their time and money to the rspca for us to do on their behalf.


....now let me retire to my bunker to the sounds of "incoming":lol::lol::lol:

[kayj]

From a rescue point of view, some rescues may not agree but I feel that you can actually tell with phone calls about people wanting to give their animals up the genuine cases from the 'don't want it any more, kids are bored' cases.
I feel that some people do give up their rabbits to easily and to me just shows children that rabbits are like toys when you get bored you get without. What sort of responsibility does this show children? If the 'don't want it anymore, kids are bored' people were actually told at the time of purchasing their rabbit that it will live longer than a hamster/gerbil then it may make them stop and think (maybe not:rolleyes:) the reason I say this is because if a survey was carried out on rescues regarding the most common ages of rabbits that come into rescue would probably be around the 18mth to 2yrs of age bracket. The people who adopt rabbits from rescues you can almost guarantee (unless of course circumstances of life changes) that that rabbit will have a forever home for always. It is all to easy to go and purchase a rabbit than it is to adopt one as obviously rescues have the welfare of the animal at the forefront and not ££££££.

I have to agree with rspcarabbits post.:D

[clutterydrawer]

i don't think "getting bored of it" is EVER a good excuse - you took it on, you have to look after it, regardless of how much you hate cleaning etc.

*but* sometimes a change of circumstance can elad to you being genuinely unable to care for it. if your finances or amount of free time changes it woulndt necessarily be in the best interest of the rabbit to keep it. and no matter how often people say "you shouldnt get a pet without planning for the future" how many people can tell exactly whats going to happen over the rest of their lives?! it doesnt work like that.

personally i would go to the ends of the earth to keep mine even if it meant i had to pay for them to stay in baording while i was ill/homeless, but everyone has different levels of coping so you cant apply one rule to everyone.

[Lucy]

Sometimes a bit of advice when you put them on the waiting list does the trick, with other animals too. Recently I have called a fw back to say we have a space only for them to say they have decided to keep them. Occasionally, things we say sink in, only sometimes mind you :lol:

[rabbitmum]

we have not had a holiday in 2+ yrs because of jess having ongoing health problems, the money involved in paying for treatment and the fact she needed an injection every other day.we swapped houses with my mum in law and took jess with us and then recently we had 48 hrs away in a travelodge!!
she recently passed on but im now looking at getting another "problem "bun as im used to the time and effort you have to put in...we have also had a blind bun.
i agree circumstances change and sometimes you have no control over them.
we still have a big bill from the vets that jess accumulated before she died and we are currently on the bread line trying to pay it back...but i would have her back in a heart beat if i could ,and have no money for myself.
im looking forward to paying the bill off and treating the others to some nice things!!!

[Fifibutton]

I think it depends on the person and thier circumstances. Some people are weaker or not as able to cope with a challenge than others. For me personally it just wouldn't happen. The bunies are my full responsibility and I'm devoted to looking after them. I don't travel and work locally so I'm with them as often as possible. If I became pregnant the bunnies would stay, I'd want my kids to grow up with animals so that I could teach them to respect them. And I wouldn't move house unles it was one with a garden. Its hard and some people have no choice. but nothing , neither love nor money will make me give up my bunnies, they always come first.

[SarahP]

Lots of good points here.

With the bunnies I took on, the main stated reason for giving them up was that they dug their way out of the garden all the time, and that guinea pigs would probably be a more suitable pet. So, the person was swapping them with a guinea pig breeder for some guinea pigs. :roll: The guinea pig breeder couldn't guarantee their safety, given that they were major diggers, and wasn't going to be giving them a proper pet home. So.... both were very happy for me to take them, and the rabbit owner was able to get exactly what she wanted - she still got her guinea pigs. I also explained to her at a later date exactly how easy it had been to solve the digging problem (a large enclosed dig-proof run).

I do think people like us make it easy for people to give up their bunnies. Although I also think people often think it is going to be even easier than it actually is. I've particularly noticed that around here, as there is an RSPCA very close by, so local people think that if your kids are bored of a pet you 'just ring the RSPCA'. :roll: They are quite shocked when they tell them they can't take the pet in and don't have unlimited space.

[XMissySJx]

my bonnie, whos a cavalier king charles, came into our lives bcus my mum knew a woman who wanted 'rid of her puppy' bonnie 7 months old, and the woman had 2 year old, as deaf and pregnant... she struggled daily bcus of her hearing problems, and it was difficult looking after her son and being pregnant etc, so my mum offered to look after bonnie for 4 weeks, so she cud decide if she didnt want her anymore...

she didnt, so we kept her. this woman then got a choc labrador, and a collie x...both no have new homes. neither made it 2 a year with her. its rididiculous

[Poppymum]

Yes they do sadly.

I currently help out with a (dog) breed rescue, and we have just had a lovely 6 month old pup bought in because (wait for it) they dont like the sound of his bark

[pepsiandcokey]

the boyfriend said "its me or the rabbits":censored:




we'l miss him....:wave:

[purplebumble]

1.it was the kids but they wouldnt look after it and the smell in the garden was making the neighbours complain.

2. it was me daughters but shes going to college now and has a boyfriend so its neglected...i dont want them so im selling em.

3. my son has been diagnosed asthmatic and the cat doesnt like him much.

4. i cant afford to look after them..feed them...then a few weeks later theyve bought another dog for £500 but cant afford to have their remaining pets vaccinated or neutered.

5. i cant afford the vets fees anymore shes costing me toomuch money with all these dentals. yup that was me..i had 3 cats with the pdsa so had to go private with bunny who turned out to have oral syphilis...severe dental probs ear infetcions eye infections squishy poo bum everyday of her life.gi stasis..

but i stopped my stupidity and knuckled down on food for us...etc..i could never have given her up.....she was a moo but iloved her dearly. and now with learning bunny body language i realise she loved me too. her teeth were the reason they put her down..shed had a dental every month of her life since i got her and she lived till 18 months old,,her guts were having terrible probs too so they said itd be kinder to her.


the other 4 i have actually heard and seen with my own eyes!


i am in dire straits with my mental and physical health..caring 24/7 for my 23 yr old daughter..suffering epilptic fits and blackouts etc etc i could go n but i wont. I am havinbg terrible problems with willow and actually found myself resenting her and wishing id rehomed her....:cry: but even tho shes attacking bertie if we so much as touch him and shes got it out for the two litlies seperated from her n bertie and her hating human contact from anyone..etc

i couldnt do it..shes mine i got her i am responsible for her. i gues sits cos the bonding issue that way it went and deep down i relaise if it was bertie and the littlies id be better off less fights but i now realise thats not so....
im not giving any of them as much attention as i should but when i can without collapsing i spend it with the tinys as she knows i had a problem with ehr and its a case of sorting out so she realises i was the problem. and take it from there.
I am allergic to my cat...allergic to certain types of hay so i have experimented with every food beding hay etc and i can just about maage if i take my nose sprays pils and inhalers daily!:lol:

one vet of ours is allergic to bunnies and she has three living in the extension shed garage thingy and runs on the grass and she cleans them out herself! i sneeze etc when the fur gets on me so does she. but love is what makes you keep them...but i can see why it has to be an option sometimes but thats one thing..pathetic excuses weve all heard are the problem .

[StarlightsRabbitRescue]

Excuse ive had is "i don't have time because of college"
I go to college in chelmsford 4 days a week, and live in Dagenham, i have to leave at 7am to get a bus to my mini bus, get to college at 8:30, finish at 5pm, and walk in the door at 6:30pm, i then spend all my time with my own and the rescue buns. I also go band practice and go round my partners for a few hours 2 times a week. i currently have 18 rabbits that are never neglected.... so why can she not look after 1 rabbit?

[louise and Gus]

Yes for sure people do...you just have to read some posts on here to see that :cry: :cry:

But what can you do, making someone keep a rabbit they no longer want or will care for doesn't help. I just wish people would think more about getting a rabbit, yes they need lots of room and eat and chew things...they are rabbits ffs :roll:

[kelly-joy]

My view on this isn't it better for someone to re home there pet than take it too the vet to be put to sleep or dump it or just leave it to die?
I personally would much rather someone re homed there pet and let that pet be spoilt by someone who will really care for it.

[louise and Gus]

Or even better, they not get rabbits in the first place if they aren't commited to looking after them :evil:

[abbymarysmokey]

It amazes me how people presume that if they rehome their rabbit, it will be to a better home? How long will it be before the new owner gets bored, buys a puppy, or doesn't have time? :roll:

IMO...a home with adequate food, water, space and company is easily good enough :D

[jane28]

I have known a few people give up pets because of changes in circumstances, such as having a baby. I don't think having a baby should ever be used as an excuse for getting rid of a pet. We never got rid of any of our pets when we had children. The cat has been quite a trial but we battle through her tempermental nature and love her just the same. The kids are now six and three and adore all our pets, even the cat! The baby stage doesn't last forever so should never be an excuse for getting rid of pets in my opinion. As for other circumstances well I guess I'd have to walk a mile in their shoes before I can judge, I can only comment really on having children.


I agree. The amount of people i see that get rid of their dogs because they are pregnant or cant cope with 1 dog and a baby is beyond me... I once saw an advert for an 6 MONTH old puppy who was for sale as the owner was having a baby... and an 8 month old Rottweiler being rehomed because "the house is too small"...:evil:
SO i do think that people get rid of any animal too easily these days...
My nan coped fine with 2 children under the age of 2 and 2 dogs because she have a great deal of conviction in what she was doing...
Its the throwaway society we live in now infortunately :(

[ZakuraRabbit]

It amazes me how people presume that if they rehome their rabbit, it will be to a better home? How long will it be before the new owner gets bored, buys a puppy, or doesn't have time? :roll:

IMO...a home with adequate food, water, space and company is easily good enough :D

Exactly... Back in the awful time when I was hardly able to feed, less alone handle Zakura (which made it even harder to cut claws and clean hutches...) one of the reasons I didn't want to give her up because I couldn't think of anyone who'd WANT such a rabbit...

I find it odd how people breed animals and then send them of to pet shops...HOW do you know your animal gets a good home from there? A kid may have a hamster, with cute little babies, handle them everyday and love them just to send them of to the pet shop and bamm...they're snake food:cry:
I can't help but wonder sometimes what became of Sasuke's siblings, some of his sisters were sold to a pet shop. Surely one of the best pet shops selling livestock I've seen but do they home check? I doubt. :roll:

[Inimical Me]

I have no idea how people give up their animals so easily sometimes, I really don't.

Rabbits are inconvenient for me, in retrospect, realising the extent of the care they require (and that they require a partner), I should never have taken a rabbit on in the first place. But now that I am a pet owner, my pets are my responsibility to look after through whatever circumstances I encounter. I am not ill, I am not physically incapable in any way, I am not desperately poor and while I may not necessarily enjoy spending my money on vets when I could be spending it on clothes or nights out, or even paying my gas bill, I was adult enough to know when I acquired pets that they would require sacrifice and it is completely unfair and irresponsible to abandon a commitment because you can no longer be bothered to face up to the responsibilities that you signed up for in the first place!

While my situation may not be ideal (Fidget is a single bunny), she has space, toys, the correct diet and I would never, ever deny her any veterinary treatment she needed. She gets love and attention from me (and sadly, conversation, since I live alone :lol:) and when I am in a sutitable situation I will get her a boyfriend from a rescue centre. While things could be improved, I would not go as far as to say that she'd be better off in a rescue centre waiting for someone to come and pick her out when I can provide a decent home without taking up unecessary space in a rescue.

I am in no position to complain that she chews things, that she makes a noise during the night, that she costs me money I don't always have, etc... she's a rabbit, I'm an adult human being with the brains to figure these things out before I encouter them. With any pet, if you don't want to have to excercise it, if you don't want to pay for food/toys/veterinary treatment, if you don't want to have to clean up pee and poo and if you want something that does what it is told 24/7, you shouldn't have a pet.

Urgh, it aggravates me. Obviously people give up their pets due to situations beyond their control (and I'm sure these people are obvious when they're visibly upset at having to give their pet up), but most people need either more sense of responsibility for living creatures or enough sense not to have pets in the first place. Plus, how they can have a pet without loving it I don't know. I'd be heartbroken if I had to give Fidget up :(.

[CarmenCole]

Hi

This is a really interesting thread. I have recently been faced with this issue, as many of you guys and gals know. My 2 year old son has developed an allergy to the bunnies, resulting in his being rushed into hospital once and going back and forth to the doctors like a yoyo for 3 weeks. Fortunately, we have (with lots of help) managed to find a way around the situation, so that we can keep our buns and keep Ian healthy, for which I am VERY grateful.

But it got me thinking. We do live in a throwaway society. I grew up on the Isle of Wight, in the countryside. My mum was british, but my Dad immigrated here from India in the early 60's. He was a farmer, and can fix absolutley anything. In my childhood, I can remember my Dad rebuilding cars, bikes, clocks, you name it, he'd fix rather than throw. And we never used to buy fresh produce, as my Dad grew everything in the garden. My earliest memories are of him going night fishing in the Solent. I used to get up early and sneak downstairs to find a bath full of the nights catch! It would be gutted by my Mum, frozen, then that would feed us for a month!

His Mum (my dear nanna, still going and running the old farm at 95), used to be the same with animals. No animal was PTS on her farm. I remember visiting as a child, and I tripped over a little chick, breaking it's leg. I was so convinced it wouldn't survive, but she made it a splint out of 2 matches and some bandage. It healed fine and went on to be a great hen, gave her eggs for years!

My Dad told me tales of a macaw that flew into the electric lines, got electrocuted and fell, unconscious on the roof of the farmhouse. Nanna climbed up and rescued it! All its feathers fell out, so she knitted it a vest in bright colours. It hopped around the farm for years!

I remember her turkey - he was the guard 'dog' - he lived for about 20 years and was scarier than any of the dogs she had! And this woman bought up 13 children, ran a farm and business, rode a motorbike (and repaired it) until she was in her late 80's!

How things change... I'm only 31, it wasn't so long ago.:?

[Cornish Teasle]

interesting thread

personally i can not think of anything that would happen that would mean i rehome my animals - if a new job was not allowing them enough attention = i'd quit (yes i have done this) , my house is too small but we all just cosy up no big deal, i am allergic to animal dust = i take steroids everyday to counter act it, my partner didnt like me having so many = got a new partner

i do agree that their are times and situations where rehoming the animal is the only option and is whats best for the animal - and i understand that for many people this is a heart wrenching choice - and for those people i truely feel for you

however . . . i volunteer at the local dog rescue and people never cease to amaze me - they just turn up shove the dog in the office sign the form and go no thought goes into it - its the same as getting a new TV to them

one dog a 6yr old lab was thrown from the car as they drove past - bless him he chased down the road to try and catch his beloved owners and they just kept driving - i cannot print the words i would use to describe these people - luckily he has now got a lovely new home !

i have a house full of animals most of them rescued from people who just could not be bothered to deal with the problems they have created!!
My rabbit Teasle is a classic case he was brought for a little girl who was approx 2yrs old they had him in the smallest hutch, the girl never bothered with him - why would she when the adults didnt ! luckily i saw him on a home visit and took him away - their excuse was he grew too big for his hutch and it wasnt fair - not once did it occur to them to go to the trouble of getting him a new hutch - and what did they tell the little girl - he has gone on his holidays - brilliant model for her to learn from!

eachone of my rescues has its own story of being let down time and time again by people i'm sure who promised to be a good home when they first took them on! i could type all night!

The way some people view their pets disgusts me which is why i visit forums like this to restore my faith in humanity:)

[clutterydrawer]

feel for you


one dog a 6yr old lab was thrown from the car as they drove past - bless him he chased down the road to try and catch his beloved owners and they just kept driving - i cannot print the words i would use to describe these people - luckily he has now got a lovely new home !

how can people physically make them selves carry out such an action? what are they thinking? poor dogggie :(

[Jack's-Jane]

Whilst I sympathise with anyone who genuinely has to give up a Rabbit/Rabbits, for example due to the Rabbit Care giver having a terminal and disabling illness, I find it incredulous that some people appear to give up their Rabbits for the most ridiculous reasons. Why would anyone take on numerous Rabbits if they were planning to start a family and knew for a fact they would not want to have Rabbits once human baby comes along :roll:

I guess my views are very one sided as my Rabbits are my life, to the exclusion of everything else. I just wish that people would not obtain a Pet Rabbit unless they are as sure as they can be that they will be able to care for him/her for life.

It's just aswell I am not on the Frontline of Rabbit Rescue as I would not be able to bite my tongue when listening to all the feeble excuses and sometimes outright lies from people signing a Pet Rabbit over to a Rescue.

Janex

[bunnymadhouse]

Hi

This is a really interesting thread. I have recently been faced with this issue, as many of you guys and gals know. My 2 year old son has developed an allergy to the bunnies, resulting in his being rushed into hospital once and going back and forth to the doctors like a yoyo for 3 weeks. Fortunately, we have (with lots of help) managed to find a way around the situation, so that we can keep our buns and keep Ian healthy, for which I am VERY grateful.

But it got me thinking. We do live in a throwaway society. I grew up on the Isle of Wight, in the countryside. My mum was british, but my Dad immigrated here from India in the early 60's. He was a farmer, and can fix absolutley anything. In my childhood, I can remember my Dad rebuilding cars, bikes, clocks, you name it, he'd fix rather than throw. And we never used to buy fresh produce, as my Dad grew everything in the garden. My earliest memories are of him going night fishing in the Solent. I used to get up early and sneak downstairs to find a bath full of the nights catch! It would be gutted by my Mum, frozen, then that would feed us for a month!

His Mum (my dear nanna, still going and running the old farm at 95), used to be the same with animals. No animal was PTS on her farm. I remember visiting as a child, and I tripped over a little chick, breaking it's leg. I was so convinced it wouldn't survive, but she made it a splint out of 2 matches and some bandage. It healed fine and went on to be a great hen, gave her eggs for years!

My Dad told me tales of a macaw that flew into the electric lines, got electrocuted and fell, unconscious on the roof of the farmhouse. Nanna climbed up and rescued it! All its feathers fell out, so she knitted it a vest in bright colours. It hopped around the farm for years!

I remember her turkey - he was the guard 'dog' - he lived for about 20 years and was scarier than any of the dogs she had! And this woman bought up 13 children, ran a farm and business, rode a motorbike (and repaired it) until she was in her late 80's!

How things change... I'm only 31, it wasn't so long ago.:?

what fantastic memories you have there ...you should put them in a book as inspiration to us all :D
your family sound great and your Nanna ...bless her ...i hope she goes on for years to come .:D

[CarmenCole]

what fantastic memories you have there ...you should put them in a book as inspiration to us all :D
your family sound great and your Nanna ...bless her ...i hope she goes on for years to come .:D

Thank you!

She is amazing, she's got this way about her, she never needs to raise her voice, so gentle and kind. She broke her hip last year and I really thought that would finish her off, but 6 weeks later she was in Mysore staying with my Dad and she climbed up 2 flights of stairs to come and say "Hi" on the webcam! I haven't been to India for 12 years, I hope she keeps going long enough for me to take my lads to meet her.

Maybe I'll write my memoirs one day - ho hum!

Carmen

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

Circumstances change. Not all babies are planned from the day you meet your partner, thats not how it works:lol: When we got married and got our buns we didnt dream for a second we would be becoming parents, infact we were very opposed to the idea...LIFE happens, im afraid. The circumstances may be so that having a child and a load of rabbits just isnt feasible or fair on either species (financially, timewise, spacewise, healthwise etc) We all know rabbits are not a childs pet, especially not a toddlers pet. The fact is you dont know these peoples circumstances.
What if they dont have the time for both? Should they abort? What if they thought theyd have the time but then their partner leaves them and they get thrown out of their homes? What if their houses are very small for both crawling baby and mob of house rabbits? I really think we need to keep a sensible balance between human welfare and rabbit welfare, keeping them both in mind but also remembering human beings have LIVES and feelings and things CHANGE and are not always completely predictable and controllable. Not being so quick to judge is a very good thing
And no, we were not planning on rehoming because of our baby, but i can perfectly understand why some would feel they should for the buns sake and their own childs

[willowholly]

As Barley is a huge part of our family ,as we have no children or other pets,her and my hubby come first over everything and everyone.She is no means perfect,but then who is?

[lauramc888]

i think that some of the people who decide to give up their pets for selfish reasons ie. cant be bothered cleaning them or giving them attention should realise just how lucky they bloody are. I have 2 rabbits and adore them, much as i dont enjoy cleaning them i do it regularly, and i try to spend 'quality' time with them both lots.I adore them! The are both a year and a half old, about a month ago I found out Pepper has an abscess and the long term outlook is bleak......it angers me that i love and devote time to my pets yet they are threatened to be taken from me so young, but people who just discard of them when they are bored etc dont realise how lucky they are that they can have a healthy bunny that just needs care and love. does that make sense?!

[FriskyClover]

i think that some of the people who decide to give up their pets for selfish reasons ie. cant be bothered cleaning them or giving them attention should realise just how lucky they bloody are. I have 2 rabbits and adore them, much as i dont enjoy cleaning them i do it regularly, and i try to spend 'quality' time with them both lots.I adore them! The are both a year and a half old, about a month ago I found out Pepper has an abscess and the long term outlook is bleak......it angers me that i love and devote time to my pets yet they are threatened to be taken from me so young, but people who just discard of them when they are bored etc dont realise how lucky they are that they can have a healthy bunny that just needs care and love. does that make sense?!

Yes, I know what you mean. I really can't do anymore to look after my two, yet Smokey suffers with GI Stasis fairly regularly and Inky seems to have real trouble with his legs/joints, it does seem quite unfair.

If I'm honest, I wish more people would rehome their pets if they can't look after them properly, it keeps me awake at night to think of all the lonely rabbits trapped in hutches that no one ever clean out or feed properly. Having said that, I think that some people give up their pets to easily without trying to resolve things first.

However, the only way the problem is ever going to be solved is if people who are not going to care for their pets/discard them at the first hurdle, are prevented from buying them in the first place but how on earth can you do that?

[Lea-Anne]

I can't speak for anyone else but I know I personally will never, ever part with my animals for any reason. Unless I became ill maybe and couldn't care for them but even then I think I would pay for someone to come and do the cleaning but I would still own them. My animals are my world and the thought of being without them is unimagable. I hate to use the expression they are my "babies" (as that really ticks me off when people own animals to fill a maternal void or prep them for a baby ( :roll:) but I mean it in a sence of they are part of my family and it would be like giving away my sister (actually that would be easier! :roll::shock::lol:).

[charlie82]

Perhaps babies are not planned from the outset of marriage....but fact is all realistically people should make provisions for that sort of thing when taking a pet on. I think of all possible scenarios before taken on an animal...i.e what happens if I wanted to marry, have children, move away etc etc.. and I can honestly say that unless I physically could not care for my animals or financially afford it for whatever reason I would not give up my animals....especially if a new human addition was coming along. I would simply find a way of accommodating them. May mean that they don't get to have their own room, live in the house etc but rehoming wouldn't be an issue. If you take on an animal you should take it on for life unless there was a reason that absolutely prevented you from doing so.

I have stopped at the number of pets I have in order to accommodate for any of the above even though I don't PLAN on having children. Yes, circumstances do change, but it's MY responsibility that I only take on what I can handle now and in the future.

My sister has managed perfectly well with four rabbits, three cats, fish and a baby...my other friend rehomed her two 'beloved' cats as soon as she had a baby because she was frightened that they would climb into the cot. To me that is not a valid enough reason to give up a pet. Answer is simple...don't allow the cats in the same room as the cot. :roll:

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

Not everyone can cope in the same way and judging and making assumptions is ridiculous. They may only have enough money or time or space for one and not the other, and that wouldnt be fair on anyone. Decent people having to rehome animals because of their lives and how things sometimes happen shouldnt be the target of everyones anger. There are far more pressing issues like the genuinely bad people and genuine cases of cruelty and neglect

You just dont know peoples circumstances and assuming you do is silly. The woman may have been raped and thats why shes pregnant...so she has that to deal with, plus a load of rabbits and her baby? This is an extreme case, you say, but the people you lay into for having to rehome their rabbits may well be in these kinds of situations without you even knowing. We dont know people and whats brought them to where they are, which is why we shouldnt judge

Sometimes people are flippant and obviously uncaring and throw them away like objects...fine, understandably these are the kinds of people you need to have issues with. But the vast generalisation of all people having a baby, say, is WAY too wide to have any reasoning

[Sooz]

The odd thing is, when I was running a rescue, I would be given excuses such as 'we are having a baby', 'we're moving house', 'I can't afford them', instead of the real reason because they thought it was more acceptable.

How do I know it wasn't the real reason? Sheffield is the world's largest village and everyone knows everyone else somehow. The truth nearly alway's outs around here :roll:

The usual reason for giving them up was boredom (the persons, sadly the rabbit usually was too though), destructiveness, aggression and health problems. Oh and one because it thumped :evil:

[joey&bugys 2007]

I can't comment of anyone else as you don't know what other people are going through. However I have taken my pets on for life, we only live in a 1 bed flat so even 'if' I did get pregnant we would have to move anyway, and I would keep my pets and proved them the life they deserve.

I'm currently working in a good job full time, and training in the evenings to further my career, so will be able to provide for my animals and children 'if' they come along in the future.

Sometimes people excuse's seem so lame, but this is only because we hear them time and time again and sadly you do tend to think the worst of people.

[minimack]

I do think people give up on pets too easily. I have all my buns, 5 guinea pigs a dog and 2 tropical fish tanks. I have a 3yr old and a 4yr old who is autistic and i also work. Is my life hard work? YES but i would not have it any other way. I also think differently to many that buns are lovely childrens pets. IF the child is taught how to handle rabbits properly. I would certainly not give up any of them unless i was really struggling financially or i became physically unable tocare for them. Yes there are genuine people but alot just give excuses.

[Lea-Anne]

Valid reasons from everyone, especially on the reasons for rehoming etc. But I dunno it still doesn't wash with me...

Surely a pet is for life.

Sure circumstances change, but would you give away your baby so easily? No, that would be ridiculous right? I just can't get my head around how people can part with them so easily.

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

Dont get me wrong, im heavily into animal rights...im vegan and do the protests and the lot, other animals need respect. But even i can say comparing sending your own human child off packing to a new home and a rabbit are completely different things and the comparison doesnt hold much meaning. We love our buns with all our hearts...but youre telling me rehoming them to somewhere where i know theyll be safe and warm and loved and having a better time than they would do here...rather than being selfish and holding onto them even if we didnt have the time, space, money and resources to give them the kind of life they have rights to...is the same as putting our own children in care!?

What if you only had money to give one or the other the life they deserved? Its not totally unfeasible if someone had a lot of rabbits, vet bills and upkeep are terribly expensive. In these situations it becomes obvious our own human children should be the focus, and if you have resources and time left over for bunnies then fine...if not, they should go somewhere theyll get all the love and money etc they need. Im not advocating passing them onto any old home...but im talking about your average decent person who ensures they find a good home or go into rescue

Passing a rabbit on to a better home than the one theyd got wont cause massive ripples in the world and have devastating effect, infact its bound to have positive effect for everyone, which is why people do it...putting a human child into care ruins lives, often forever...comparing the two makes absolutely no sense, even as someone very actively involved with animal rights movements i can see that

(Please note im not talking about those who throw away their rabbits to any old place like trash)

[Jack's-Jane]

Valid reasons from everyone, especially on the reasons for rehoming etc. But I dunno it still doesn't wash with me...

Surely a pet is for life.

Sure circumstances change, but would you give away your baby so easily? No, that would be ridiculous right? I just can't get my head around how people can part with them so easily.

I agree totally with this Lea- Anne :)

Although I have never had children I know many people who have and they also have pets. The children have benefited grately from being brought up amongst the family Pets and have all learned from an early age that the Pets are a part of their family.

I have known someone forced to rehome their Pets when she was made homeless. It broke her heart but she really had no other option. I am absolutely certain that she would not have rehomed her Pets for any other reason.

Perhaps we all have a different perspective on what is a genuine reason to rehome. I am sure Rescues are used to hearing the 'we want the Pet to go to a home that can give them the time they deserve' Or 'My baby has developed and allergy'. When what they really mean is 'the Pet is no longer wanted by us'

:cry:

Janex

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

My mum was a great animal lover and i was surrounded by animals growing up, which yes, did benefit me in that i learned to love their company

She was also a single mother with 5 children on benefits and we couldnt even afford clothes and food for ourselves...so the animals suffered. Not because she didnt care, but because she simply culdnt make it all stretch. I guess she thought like some of the folks here though and she hung onto them, and they lived out in hutches in the shed most of their lives only coming out rarely because this is all we had space/time/resources for, with having to pay for our own things like meals, school uniforms, new shoes etc...just the really basic stuff

The animals were never mistreated and always had food, water, shelter etc. But obviously they could have had far better lives. Far, far better. But they really should have been denied that?:?

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

Oh and by the way she couldnt have possibly foreseen or prepared for the change in circumstances:roll: Life just doesnt work like that and im surprised anyone actually thinks it does. Her and my father divorced because he became abusive and she lost the massive house with garden they lived in beforehand, and of course his income, which had previously sustained all the animals quality of life.
Im sure 5 years before, when she was happily married with a house, garden and happy family she thought she would ever be in the position of being homeless with 5 human mouths to feed
The same applies for everyone...you just cant see these things coming
She chose to keep the animals (for the most part) but it was a constant struggle and as i said, their quality of life was compromised when they could well have gone to homes with more time, money and space

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

And of course there are people who use excuses and there are people who just get bored. You cant tar everyone with the same brush though...would be just a tad cynical:lol:

[Jack's-Jane]

I can totally understand why Rescues become cynical with all the fibs they are told about why a Pet is being signed over. No, not everyone gives up their Pets because they are bored with them but the sad fact is that many people do. And they dont even have the decency to be honest about it.

As already stated, each case should be viewed in its own right but from a rescues point of view I can totally understand why they take much of what the rehomer says with a shed load of salt. In the end all that matters is that the Pet finds a home where they will be well cared for. Hopefully thats what everyone is striving to achieve.

Janex

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

Yeah i can totally understand after so many cases like that, what a shame eh:(

[Lea-Anne]

My mum was a great animal lover and i was surrounded by animals growing up, which yes, did benefit me in that i learned to love their company

She was also a single mother with 5 children on benefits and we couldnt even afford clothes and food for ourselves...so the animals suffered. Not because she didnt care, but because she simply culdnt make it all stretch. I guess she thought like some of the folks here though and she hung onto them, and they lived out in hutches in the shed most of their lives only coming out rarely because this is all we had space/time/resources for, with having to pay for our own things like meals, school uniforms, new shoes etc...just the really basic stuff

The animals were never mistreated and always had food, water, shelter etc. But obviously they could have had far better lives. Far, far better. But they really should have been denied that?

That is a fair point, I see where you are coming from. I have a friend who takes in "rescue rabbits" and now has 40 all crammed in hutches and they never come out but she thinks she is "rescuing" them!:shock: I dsiagree... :rolleyes:

I see what you mean, but to me comparing my rabbits to a baby is no different to me. They are both living things, both require my care, and to me my rabbits are MINE FOREVER no matter what. I intend to devote my life to them just like you would a child. I cannot imagine giving them away, good home or not. It would break my heart. They are "my children" :D (Sure Jane will agree with me on this one ! :lol::lol::lol:) .

[Lea-Anne]

By the way my rabbits are not "subsitute" babies even though I keep refering to them as such, its just the best way of describing how I feel about them.

I can't stand babies :)

[Fifibutton]

Hmmm, very intersting responses so far. As most people have pointed out everyone is different but I must say some people tend to "do" before thinking about it.
I see my rabbits as my children. I see animals as equal to humans, perhaps its wrong of me to do this, perhaps not. However I believe in planning and priority. I have 8 rabbits, a number I can cope with financially, space wise and time wise. I don't go out much becuase the rabbits are my life.
One day I would like to get married and have children however before I bring children into the world no matter how broody I get, there are some things that have to be sorted first.
I need to be financially secure, have a proper house and garden to bring the kids up in and make sure the kids and bunnies don't affect each other. Until I have created that perfect situation I will not be having kids.
Right now I'm too poor and still studying. Its not practical.
If I was raped or had an unplanned pregnancy, the rabbits would take priority and would not be rehomed. As for jobs, I only take the ones whivh won't affect the buns.
Why do I do all this? Its my duty to those creatures to care and provided for them as if I had given birth to them myself. Everyone who has a pet, has this responsibilty but sadly many people don't take tha responsibility seriously enough :(
All I know is that I will not and cannot give my rabbits away, not for anything or anyone will that happen.

[Teaspoon]

I think its an interesting debate as to whether people just give up on pets since they cant be bothered with the hassle anymore or if they genuinely cant provide them with a loving home. Where the bunny or any other pet is bought for a child, i think the tendancy is that the novelty will wear off and parents dont want to pick up when the kid gets bored, but im sure its a tought decision for most people.

Personally i have a bunny who i love, had him for 2 years now. I moved into a house share with a friend who promised me she'd let him remain a house bunny but after a month he was outside in the garden. Broke my heart since i can tell he misses being inside with people round all the time, but i didnt want to give him up. Biggest problem i have now is that im off to travel australia in Jan (wasn't planned when i bought him) and so i have to find him a new home, its really tough to think of where he's going to go, cant bear to take him somewhere and just leave him!

[Lea-Anne]

Hmmm, very intersting responses so far. As most people have pointed out everyone is different but I must say some people tend to "do" before thinking about it.
I see my rabbits as my children. I see animals as equal to humans, perhaps its wrong of me to do this, perhaps not. However I believe in planning and priority. I have 8 rabbits, a number I can cope with financially, space wise and time wise. I don't go out much becuase the rabbits are my life.
One day I would like to get married and have children however before I bring children into the world no matter how broody I get, there are some things that have to be sorted first.
I need to be financially secure, have a proper house and garden to bring the kids up in and make sure the kids and bunnies don't affect each other. Until I have created that perfect situation I will not be having kids.
Right now I'm too poor and still studying. Its not practical.
If I was raped or had an unplanned pregnancy, the rabbits would take priority and would not be rehomed. As for jobs, I only take the ones whivh won't affect the buns.
Why do I do all this? Its my duty to those creatures to care and provided for them as if I had given birth to them myself. Everyone who has a pet, has this responsibilty but sadly many people don't take tha responsibility seriously enough
All I know is that I will not and cannot give my rabbits away, not for anything or anyone will that happen.
__________________


Thats exactly how I feel :thumb:.

There here for now and the future.

I have made sacrifices for my pets. I didn't live in at uni because I wouldn't of been able to take them so instead I traveled every day.

If I have stayed out, I have to get home first thing to check on them, no matter what.

I have cancelled an important night out to stay in nursing a poorly bun.

A chunk of my wage is put into an account for their vet bills.

I have dumped men who didn't "get" animals... :)


You just adapt.

[Fifibutton]

Thats exactly how I feel :thumb:.

There here for now and the future.

I have made sacrifices for my pets. I didn't live in at uni because I wouldn't of been able to take them so instead I traveled every day.

If I have stayed out, I have to get home first thing to check on them, no matter what.

I have cancelled an important night out to stay in nursing a poorly bun.

A chunk of my wage is put into an account for their vet bills.

I have dumped men who didn't "get" animals... :)
You just adapt.

Me too :lol:

[Bea08]

the person we got our bunny from was moving.

[mum2buns]

I am so pleased Tyson's mum didn't want him any more as now he lives with me and I love him to bits - same goes for Bruno. So I guess every cloud has a silver lining :love:
seriously though it makes me cross when people say they can't take care of their rabbits any longer because they are moving...getting married...having a baby etc - I read that as "can't be bothered any more" to be honest.

[kayj]

I'm pleased to that Bruno's mum gave him up as he as definately a better home with you:D.
Her reason was: I go away alot and can't afford to keep paying boarding fee's. Bruno was only 6mths old when he came in and she was going away alot before she got both the bunnies she gave up. (I think the real excuse was they didn't get on (2 males) because they weren't neutered and she just couldn't be bothered:roll:

[chellechel]

i have had to ask for my buns to be rehomed.

i know alot of people have said moving isnt a good enough reason which i suppose on the outside it isnt.

im moving from a 3 bed house with lovely garden to a tiny 1 bed flat on the top floor of a building block. its all i can afford and each month i am prob going to be in the minus's

They do not allow petsso if i got caught with the buns i would be homeless - and so would the buns.
ive been looking since march for a home and the most current one is the only one i could afford.
the rabbits would have to go into a hutch smaller than they size they are used to and would be cooped up.

id love to keep my bunnies and its breaking my heart to have them rehommed however if i can't given them the space and pay for the things they need then i dont want to selfish and keep them to make me feel better.

so if everyone sees my plea for a new home its not because im moving and i can't be bothered.

[becks]

I'm pleased to that Bruno's mum gave him up as he as definately a better home with you:D.
Her reason was: I go away alot and can't afford to keep paying boarding fee's. Bruno was only 6mths old when he came in and she was going away alot before she got both the bunnies she gave up. (I think the real excuse was they didn't get on (2 males) because they weren't neutered and she just couldn't be bothered:roll:

boarding fees is soemthing that a responsible owner takes into account when taking on a rabbit in the first place (or any otehr animal!)

we have quite a few mouths to feed, but we don;t miss our holidays.....yes we have a friend who looks after some of the smaller animals, but the buns, and my two eldest budgies, and also when tehy arrive in july my pair of piggies, all go into boarding, costing me over £13 a night, but i count that in when i cost up a holiday.

as people know i recently took on a new addition (samson)a nd when i took him on i already made sure that there was a place available to board him with holidayhutches, i started his jab programme straight away (less than 24 hours after he'd arrived etc).

to me the only change that woudl make me consider giving up an animal is if nick an di were very unfortunate lost our jobs and were struggling financially and so i couldnt provide them with the vet treatment, and finicial support. i've been througha divorce some years ago, and whne going trhough it moved 100 miles and set up house on my own, so i had my fair sghare of stress an dyou knwo what - it was teh animals that kept me going! i've had my health problems (a cancer scare, and a slipped disc which meant several weeks off work and couldnt walk) but we got through it.

[wendle]

I rescued a rabbit 6yrs ago what some1 had got for there kids, but once the bunny had grown up a bit they couldnt be bothered with it , my husband caught them chuckin the rabbit into a hedge bottom,he was all mattered up thin as a rail runny eyes etc,now hes a big fur ball loves playin in the garden with my dog , some ppl have got swingin bricks for hearts grrr

[kayj]

Becks you are a responsible owner:D.

[LuceMarbles]

:wave:Hi everyone. I teach in a secondary school and the more sadness I read about on this forum the more I see a need for "Caring for Pets" to be included in Citizenship courses. I'm sure many are not aware of the huge committment in terms of time and money pet ownership requires.
When we first had bunnies we thought we'd done the sensible buying a book from the garden centre about looking after them. Later on we found out just how woefully inadequate the advice in the book was. Very misleading!
As for me - when my daughter's eczema was playing up my GP said I should get rid of my cats ( our only pets at that time ). I pointed out to her that as we had had the cats first, this was no-go! Her eczema improved of its own accord and the creams and anti hystamine tablets kept it under control.
I draw great comfort from my pets company, their love and affection are the one constant thing in this ever changing world. :love:

[mum2buns]

when I said people give up rabbits for all sorts of reasons eg moving house I wasn't thinking of people who really do have to move house and can't take their rabbits - I was meaning people who pretend they are moving when they aren't really and then take their rabbits to a rescue for re-homing. There are, obviously, people who love their pets but are in the position where they, sadly, can't take them with them. I do hope I didn't cause any offence to animal lovers who are doing their best for their pets. There are just far too many people who get rabbits, realise they do take some work, and then think of a reason to get rid of them

[Scooner]

There are so many post being posted i can't keep up with all of them! But i do think that there are so many caring people on her who love their animals as they should be and will stop at nothing to make them happy!

Of course some people have reasons to give up pets, and some people will do it for unjust reasons! It's sad but if there are enough people like everyone on here who do above what they should for their buns that will help!

I was going to buy a kitten from (surprisingly) a very good breeder who loved her buns very much! But since getting Oscar I'll only ever get rescue buns now! Babies are cute, but Oscar is my babber and i wouldn't trade him for the world no matter what happened!

[Poppymum]

I think it does depend on the situation.

I foster dogs for a small charity, and I have a very sad case coming to me next week. The dog in question had previously been rehomed via us, but the owners son has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The family have decided that none of them are able to care for the dog, and its not fair for her to be left for hours on end while they are to and fro ing from the hospital.
I had a long and tearful chat with her current owner, who is heart broken at losing her dog, but equally worried sick about her little boy.

OTOH, we do get a lot of " he got too big" "he's aggressive" "moving house"

[vinayak]

:roll: This is a good question, I dont think people should give up their rabbits too easily, you can take others ideas also and analyse that.
:love:

[marvy]

In my current sitution - I took in a rabbit 4 weeks ago - the lady was a friend of nextdoor and the only contact we had with her was when the dog she came with came into our garden. (through the fence) One month ago she came to our door armed with a bunny asking if we would take it in as she had split from her husband and had to move into social housing as as such she could only take one pet (she told me she had a cat). She was taking the rabbit to the vets to be put to sleep.. To cut a long story short our neighbour had said try us as we love animals.. We did take in the bunny ( Rosie) rosies owner prior to her had to give her up for one reason or another - she was upset, but would anyone do such a thing with a dog? Oh try next door kind of thing?

[FluffyBun]

I think a useful law would be to say you can only have a pet if you can afford to take out (and keep paying) insurance. That would be a good yardstick of people's willingness to pay out. I have goldfish as well and they are seen as literally disposable - yet a cared for fishie will recognise you, come to be fed, is as much a pet as something cuddly and, if looked after, can live 20 years (double the lifespan of the average dog). And, like rabbits, fishies are sold as 'easy to care for'.... even people I know who think of themselves as animal lovers, have not been able to keep fish alive longer than a week or month or two... Because in fact, they need a certain number of things doing... Rabbits or any other small animals, it's about educating potential owners.

Years ago my sister in law found 2 ravvits dumped in a lay-by - still in their (tiny) hutch. She took them home and cared for them and in the end they lived for years. (Can't remember how long but they were well over 5 or so when they died). Anything perceived as 'small' is seen as disposable, I think, by some people.

[Sky-O]

I have just found this and agree that people give up their animals too easily. I think in todays society everything is replaceable and that's sad.

I have had to make some tough decisions based on my buns. One of which was that several doctors wanted me to go into hospital very long term (many months to possibly a year, or even plus), and with no one else to look after 14 buns, I would have to rehome them, so I decided long term hospital was not an option. My rabbits are never going to be going anywhere else, no matter what circumstances crop up in my life.

It's a shame that more people don't see their animals as important as we on this forum see them.

It's heartbreaking.

[donstapley]

i dont think that the decision to give up an animal is ever taken lightly... i recently had to give up a couple of animals and wasn't willing to do so unless they were going to a perfect home....this upset me to know ends as was an awful decision to have to make but it some circumstances unforunately it has to be done. I think that providing the person knows they are going to be well looked after in a new home....your offering someone else the chance to have many wonderful years with such a nice animal......and thats priceless