Cookie is a five ish year old neutered buck. He lives alone (I know) in an upstairs flat. He was very poorly before Christmas with gut stasis, somehow he picked up at the last minute when everyone thought the odds were stacked against him.
When I got Cookie I was housebound with ME and we developed a close bond, he was an ex breeding buck who had been kept on his own in an outside hutch until the breeder didn't want him anymore. He took straight away to living indoors and has been my best friend ever since. The past few weeks though I've been feeling incredibly guilty - I'm going out more socially and I'm now self-employed and although work from home, will need to go out more. I'm having to do training which means nights away - my partner and family are trying to spend as much time with him as possible and make sure he is fed, etc but he is getting left for long periods. I've looked into trying to get him a companion but my local RSPCA (Derby) seem pretty clueless about bonding, etc and have said none of theirs are suitable - they didn't sound very keen when I explained the situation especially the fact that it is an upstairs flat. All other rescues are too far for me to access and ensure that bonding is ok before attemtping to bring a bun home.
Although it breaks my heart to even consider it, should I be looking at rehoming him? I'm crying just typing this ... I feel like a bad bunny owner because I know he is being neglected too much. He's getting bored and digging all the time despite my flat being full of cardboard boxes, tunnels, cat toys, etc to keep him entertained. He's nipped me twice now too - not actually bites but something to let me know he isn't happy. I know I'm being selfish wanting to keep my friend when he could be happier elsewhere - I'm concerned that giving up on him and giving him to someone else may cause his gut stasis again as he really is a sensitive little soul. I've had him three years or so now and although I know he is happier with me than he would be stuck in a hutch somewhere - would he be happier somewhere else? Am I right to deny him that happiness?
I'm also concerned that the neighbours are going to start complaing about him scratching the floor - they're nasty neighbours anyway very noisy (only been there eight months so im wondering if they are affecting him especially as they have a noisy dog). My landlord knows about Cookie, has met him and seen my set up several times and I know would be on my side but it is still a worry that is nagging at me. He has gone from infrequent digging to doing it a lot of the time over recent days - he seems to go through phases with it so I don't know if it is just another phase.
I honestly don't know what to do. I guess I know what I should do but it's so hard and I love the little fella so much ...
When I got Cookie I was housebound with ME and we developed a close bond, he was an ex breeding buck who had been kept on his own in an outside hutch until the breeder didn't want him anymore. He took straight away to living indoors and has been my best friend ever since. The past few weeks though I've been feeling incredibly guilty - I'm going out more socially and I'm now self-employed and although work from home, will need to go out more. I'm having to do training which means nights away - my partner and family are trying to spend as much time with him as possible and make sure he is fed, etc but he is getting left for long periods. I've looked into trying to get him a companion but my local RSPCA (Derby) seem pretty clueless about bonding, etc and have said none of theirs are suitable - they didn't sound very keen when I explained the situation especially the fact that it is an upstairs flat. All other rescues are too far for me to access and ensure that bonding is ok before attemtping to bring a bun home.
Although it breaks my heart to even consider it, should I be looking at rehoming him? I'm crying just typing this ... I feel like a bad bunny owner because I know he is being neglected too much. He's getting bored and digging all the time despite my flat being full of cardboard boxes, tunnels, cat toys, etc to keep him entertained. He's nipped me twice now too - not actually bites but something to let me know he isn't happy. I know I'm being selfish wanting to keep my friend when he could be happier elsewhere - I'm concerned that giving up on him and giving him to someone else may cause his gut stasis again as he really is a sensitive little soul. I've had him three years or so now and although I know he is happier with me than he would be stuck in a hutch somewhere - would he be happier somewhere else? Am I right to deny him that happiness?
I'm also concerned that the neighbours are going to start complaing about him scratching the floor - they're nasty neighbours anyway very noisy (only been there eight months so im wondering if they are affecting him especially as they have a noisy dog). My landlord knows about Cookie, has met him and seen my set up several times and I know would be on my side but it is still a worry that is nagging at me. He has gone from infrequent digging to doing it a lot of the time over recent days - he seems to go through phases with it so I don't know if it is just another phase.
I honestly don't know what to do. I guess I know what I should do but it's so hard and I love the little fella so much ...
I don't think you need to rehome him so please don't give up! You could start a topic on here asking for rescues in your area as quite a few come on here and some further afield will do bunny runs to get a rabbit to its new home. Other rescues won't have the same view as the RSPCA branch with regards to house bunnies. A lot of bunnies are happier in the house and personally don't see a problem with it; rabbits adapt really easily.
