Belle the Bunny

I thought that I would introduce my rabbit, Belle.

Belle is a Mini Lop, and is almost a year and a half now. She's an indoor bunny and lives in a puppy playpen, but she does get to free roam the room when I'm at home (this is because a dog also lives in the house, so it's the safest option for her). She also loves to roam in the garden, I take her out with me when the weather is nice and the dog is inside so that she can have the freedom of stretching her legs, of course I always supervise her and the garden is secure!









I had been hoping to find a Mini Lop friend for Belle, however due to her housing situation where she can't have free roam all of the time, I don't meet the minimum guidelines that rescues look for (which I've been told is 6 x 2 foot as a living space attached to a 6 x 4 foot run?), hence at the moment she is living alone. I do hope that no one judges me for this because I would love for her to have a friend and them both have constant free roam but due to the arrangement of the room right now, it's not possible, but I hope in the future I'll be able to change this so she does have more space in there.

Oh she's a wee beauty! melts... I for one wouldn't judge you I had a indoor rabbit on his own for two years before getting him a wifey,he was happy and binkyed etc and free roamed in the house,you've given a bunny a good home. Oh blue eyed buns are just so darling.

She's gorgeous Did you get her as a baby? Hope you can find a friend for her one day

Thank you both!

I've seen some rabbit owners say that if you can't have two rabbits, then you shouldn't have one. It does upset me because I love Belle and would do all I could for her. I 'could' get her a friend from somewhere else, but I don't want to go to a breeder for sure, I want to give a good home to a rabbit that needs one.

Here is her home, though as I said above she does get free roam.


I did get her as a baby. Sorry to have to admit that she isn't a rescue bun, but I am all for rescuing.

She's beautiful. Don't feel bad. She's got a lovely home and is being well looked after. I have Mr Higgins and at the moment is in pretty much the same situation as you. He's a lone bunny bit I'd like to get him a wife at some point but unfortunately at the moment it's not possible. He also lives indoors and is in a puppy pen but is free range all day (except when I have to go out). His pen door is open all day but he seems to like being in his safe little house in the mornings. He usually just appears downstairs after lunch and spends all afternoon in the sitting room with me before taking himself back upstairs around 6pm for his supper. He does like sitting on my bed in the evenings though. I'm sure like me you're doing the best for your bunny. She looks happy and healthy so keep doing what your doing. I'm sure no one here will judge you.

Don't feel bad,we all learn through experience etc.I would hate that you felt guilty for giving a bunny a loving home.My bridge bun Rio was a pet shop bunny.(not pets at home)Bought by my late brother for his daughter,they lived with me.I was dead against it etc.however i fell in love with the big old daft boy,he was tri coloured mini lop.we had no experience of rabbits etc but we learned etc.he lived to eight years old.Two years later she brought home a wee girl bun from her friend who was a rabbit breeder ( I did not approve!)Little girl Cleo was a pedigree Gorgeous Otter blue /grey lop.Wee madam,however she loved Rio and they were a great pair.Sadly Cleo was "gutty" bun and had episodes of stasis ,the last one did for her.She developed bloat and had to be PTS aged four.I no longer have buns much a s I would like to,finances wouldn't stretch to vet care.I'm just over the threshold for PDSA care etc,private vets are out of my reach,if i win the lottery I would have a house full of bunnies and a garden,lol.

Hi Belle :wave:

She is so cute and i love her coloring! You shouldn't feel guilty at all she is obviously very well loved and you must want the best for her otherwise you wouldn't be on here. I got my first rabbit last November from a pet store (i'm ashamed to say) she is an indoor bunny and initially we had her in a puppy play pen too and she gets to free range downstairs when we are home. I became a member on here and it was the best thing i did - i have learnt so much that i had no idea about/or probably would never of thought about. She always seemed happy binkying around and chasing my cats off when they came into the room! I did find after some time though that even though she still seemed happy she became very demanding- requiring fuss constantly and if you weren't paying her any attention she would just sit there and not do much. I decided it was time to get her a husbun - best thing i ever did! she is so much happier now she has a friend and they lie together, play together and groom each other. She still loves fuss from me but its nice that she has company when i'm not around.

I adopted my second rabbit from the RSPCA who were great, everyone was so helpful. Before i contacted them we changed the pen we had - i had one built by boyles pet housing based on recommendations from here. The rspca state on their website the same guidelines which you mentioned in one of your previous posts - i was worried that i wouldn't meet their requirements but on speaking to them and having a house inspection they were satisfied. The pen i have is 6ft x 3ft, 3" x 3ft, 3" and they get to free range when i am home along with supervised garden access when the weather is good. They also did the bonding for me which i was really happy with as i didn't feel experienced enough to do this myself. I would definitely recommend speaking to a few rescues and see what they advise.

I love your cat tree / perch you have in the corner of the pen - do you mind me asking where you got this from please?

Sam

Blue eyed lop with white paws? Oh, you are just trying to kill me here, aren't you! She's stunning! Such a sweet little face; absolutely gorgeous!

And don't feel too bad about her being on her own for now; I know I'd love to get Amy a husbun, but right now I am not in a situation to do so. I just plan to get her the most perfect buck to fall in love with when I can.

I recognise this little girl - do you post on MPM?

She's very sweet, I hope you're able to improve the amount of space she has as I'm sure she'll be even happier when she's able to have a friend

BunnyMania said:

I thought that I would introduce my rabbit, Belle.

Belle is a Mini Lop, and is almost a year and a half now. She's an indoor bunny and lives in a puppy playpen, but she does get to free roam the room when I'm at home (this is because a dog also lives in the house, so it's the safest option for her). She also loves to roam in the garden, I take her out with me when the weather is nice and the dog is inside so that she can have the freedom of stretching her legs, of course I always supervise her and the garden is secure!

I had been hoping to find a Mini Lop friend for Belle, however due to her housing situation where she can't have free roam all of the time, I don't meet the minimum guidelines that rescues look for (which I've been told is 6 x 2 foot as a living space attached to a 6 x 4 foot run?), hence at the moment she is living alone. I do hope that no one judges me for this because I would love for her to have a friend and them both have constant free roam but due to the arrangement of the room right now, it's not possible, but I hope in the future I'll be able to change this so she does have more space in there.

Click to expand...

She's just drop-dead gorgeous!

Such a shame she can't have company, but totally not your fault! Many people would've just gone to a Pet Shop or a breeder and bought another bun so well done you for sticking up for the Rescue Bun!

I have worked with Rescue Centres for many years and done loads of home visits. It sounds like you're very caring and just the sort of owner a rabbit needs. Do PM me if I can be of any help with locating a rabbit for your little Blue-Eyed Belle

.... and Welcome to the Forum :wave:

Thank you all for the comments. As I said, I'd love for Belle to be happy with a friend but it can't happen for now as I don't meet the guidelines. I have looked around at a few rescues but often the rabbits I have liked have also been too far away, the local rescues tend to only have larger rabbits or ones already bonded and I'd only be able to have a rabbit the same size as Belle. Not only my preference but also the family, who are willing to let another rabbit be in the house after some discussion! Again though this limits me in my search. I have on occasion seen rabbits on local sales pages needing new homes but of course they are very rarely neutered and vaccinated, and those that are tend to already be paired up.

@Sam56-87, the cat tree was from eBay. Bought it later last year and she still loves it, mostly used the bottom part to sleep or eat in but also loves to jump up so that she can watch what I'm doing.

@Amy101, My Pet Madness? Yes I'm one of the admins on there, so you probably have seen her around

BunnyMania said:

I thought that I would introduce my rabbit, Belle.

Belle is a Mini Lop, and is almost a year and a half now. She's an indoor bunny and lives in a puppy playpen, but she does get to free roam the room when I'm at home (this is because a dog also lives in the house, so it's the safest option for her). She also loves to roam in the garden, I take her out with me when the weather is nice and the dog is inside so that she can have the freedom of stretching her legs, of course I always supervise her and the garden is secure!

I had been hoping to find a Mini Lop friend for Belle, however due to her housing situation where she can't have free roam all of the time, I don't meet the minimum guidelines that rescues look for (which I've been told is 6 x 2 foot as a living space attached to a 6 x 4 foot run?), hence at the moment she is living alone. I do hope that no one judges me for this because I would love for her to have a friend and them both have constant free roam but due to the arrangement of the room right now, it's not possible, but I hope in the future I'll be able to change this so she does have more space in there.

Click to expand...

She's beautiful. My Petra is an indoor bunny and she lives alone. She's one of the friendliest bunnies you'll ever meet and the vet isn't at all worried about her being an only bun and neither am i. She's loved to pieces and spoilt rotten.

I wouldn't worry that you can't find her a friend. Just make sure you pay her extra attention and she'll be just fine.

I just have to say it again,she's the sweetest little bun I have ever seen.Gorgeous wee girlie.

More pictures of Belle after a little grooming session yesterday:









I'm still trying to find Belle a friend, though I've had no luck as of yet. Hoping that the right bunny will come along soon, though so far I keep falling in love with rabbits who are too far away, or bigger than I'm allowed in the house!

Those eyes

Beautiful Belle

She has beautiful eyes!