Hey, I have a moral dilema and I'm not sure what to do. I have 2 rescue rabbits who I've had for about 18 months and they are really well bonded (but originally came from separate homes). Everyone on my street knows we have rabbits because of moving in day and vet trips and the like.
The other week, a woman from down the road knocked on our door and asked to borrow some hay because her rabbit was about to give birth and they didn't have me. This obviously made me furious because I hate breeding, and why wouldn't they have hay if they were breeders etc etc argh. Anyway, I obviously gave them hay, they offered me a rabbit as a thank you (because animals are currency of course...) and I declined.
The child of that family just knocked at the door with a baby rabbit to ask if we would take care of it. They can't find a home for it, the one they had fell through and they don't have the space so would we take it. I said no, sorry we don't have the space either and the child went away.
I now feel really guilty though. Obviously I know the rabbit would have a much better life with me than with whatever awful home it might eventually get sold to. But can you introduce a baby rabbit to an already bonded adult pair? My rabbit Dot (female) is 6 or 7 years old, and my male rabbit (neutered) Sweep is 3 or 4. Would they even like having a third rabbit with them, especially with it being so much younger? They have a huge living area so that wouldn't be a problem, the extra insurance would be annoying but we could afford it. But, I would never want to do anything to compromise Dot & Sweep's happiness. Dot has had many health problems and she's so happy I would never want to do anything that could change that.
What would you do?
The child didn't say if the rabbit was male or female, would that make a difference for group dynamics?
I really don't know what to do. I'm furious that these people have bred their rabbits, I don't know if it was intentional for money or if they are just idiotic pet owners, but either way it's frustrating for me to say. Especially when they ask us to pick up the pieces! But I don't want the baby rabbit to have a terrible life stuck in a tiny hutch as a child's pet like my rabbits did before they were rehomed...
help!
Fiona x
The other week, a woman from down the road knocked on our door and asked to borrow some hay because her rabbit was about to give birth and they didn't have me. This obviously made me furious because I hate breeding, and why wouldn't they have hay if they were breeders etc etc argh. Anyway, I obviously gave them hay, they offered me a rabbit as a thank you (because animals are currency of course...) and I declined.
The child of that family just knocked at the door with a baby rabbit to ask if we would take care of it. They can't find a home for it, the one they had fell through and they don't have the space so would we take it. I said no, sorry we don't have the space either and the child went away.
I now feel really guilty though. Obviously I know the rabbit would have a much better life with me than with whatever awful home it might eventually get sold to. But can you introduce a baby rabbit to an already bonded adult pair? My rabbit Dot (female) is 6 or 7 years old, and my male rabbit (neutered) Sweep is 3 or 4. Would they even like having a third rabbit with them, especially with it being so much younger? They have a huge living area so that wouldn't be a problem, the extra insurance would be annoying but we could afford it. But, I would never want to do anything to compromise Dot & Sweep's happiness. Dot has had many health problems and she's so happy I would never want to do anything that could change that.
What would you do?
The child didn't say if the rabbit was male or female, would that make a difference for group dynamics?
I really don't know what to do. I'm furious that these people have bred their rabbits, I don't know if it was intentional for money or if they are just idiotic pet owners, but either way it's frustrating for me to say. Especially when they ask us to pick up the pieces! But I don't want the baby rabbit to have a terrible life stuck in a tiny hutch as a child's pet like my rabbits did before they were rehomed...
help!
Fiona x