Fostering...

[lindac]

What does fostering a rabbit involve exactly? How long usually does a foster last? What sort of bunnies are usually put into fostering? Do prospective parents visit the bunny's foster home or is the bunny taken back to the rescue centre when it is time to find it a home? Who covers vet bills? So many questions! Sorry. Just wondering about it really...

[taylor v 109]

Rescues differ but, the jist would be that they pay for vets bills the type of rabbit can vary from loveble to not friendle and needing socialising. iwould imagine prospective adopters would come to you. This would mean you being able to judge on their suitability. A small amount of paperwork would need to be done and money taken. As i said though other rescues may differ. val

[Tamsin]

To add to what Val said, fostering can be either long term or short term. Long term is used for bunnies that aren't rehomable in the usual way. You basically have the bunny for as long as you like and they support you with vet bills etc. Short term is for when there isn't room in the actual centre, a bun is recovering from a medical problem, needs socialisation etc. that can be anything from a few days to a few months.

Sometimes prospective owners may visit you or the bun maybe returned to the centre for rehoming. Partly that may be down to you on what you prefer.

Tam

[nicolar]

Hi

I am fostering Princess at the mo on a long term basis because she can't be rehomed. The rescue gives me her food and will pay any vet bills.

I think a foster can last as long as ur willing really, it's lovely to be able to give a home to a bunny who can't be rehomed but the downside of that is that they can be ill and might not have much time left :cry:

I would enquire at your local rescue and see what their procedures are etc and see whether it would suit u.

Nicola

[Tamsin]

Nicola, just out of interest, which rescue do you foster for? I didn't know of any near me that did long term fostering :)

Tam

[nicolar]

Well she is on foster with me but I actually work for them!! I didn't make that very clear in my last post!! She couldn't be rehomed so I said I would foster her as she has cancer. It's the Blue Cross, I don't think we usually foster out any rabbits as we tend to find new homes for them all and will only take in as many as we have space for (well we try and help as many as poss!!) Any that we can't rehome we tend to take home ourselves!!

Are there a lot of rescue organisations that actually do foster rabbits out? I'm fairly new to fostering as she is my first, when I move out of home I'd love to help more though so would be interesting to know. I think that Hounslow Animal Rescue fosters out rabbits, that's in London.

Nicola

[Tamsin]

Quite a few rescues do foster out but not that many do it for long term :)

Thanks,
Tam

[nicolar]

I think it is nice if you can do it for long term as you are helping a rabbit that otherwise might not be able to live. But obv it is a drain on a rescues funds, especially if they are small and have a very sick bun, when u have so many other bunnies to help.

I was just lucky I could foster Princess as she is the loveliest bunny!!

Nicola

[lindac]

i didn't realise Princess was a foster! aw nicola, it is very brave of you. since Dubbs has gone the thought has crossed my mind about it. just loking into really, nice to know that the option might be there should i wish to do it. i'll keep Dubbs' hutch and his Fiddlesticks just in case...

how is Princess doing?

[Gem]

I'm glad you brought this up Linda, because I'm interested in fostering when I have everything sorted next year

[Denny]

Its very distressing seeing all these buns in need :( I can see where you are coming from Linda, fostering is a lovely idea

[nicolar]

Hi Linda

Thank you for asking, she is doing great at the mo. Putting on weight slowly but surely, and is generally in good health and spirits!! She is a cheeky little girl, loves the garden and is just the most affectionate rabbit! I'm so glad I'm fostering her for however much time she has left, I will be devastated when she is gone but the most important thing is she has a good quality of life til it is time :)

How are you feeling now Linda? They leave such a massive hole in your life. Princess, Amy and Pip send a big bunny hug!

Nicola

[lindac]

Hey Nicola

Feeling a bit better, still get teary but that is to be expected. I think I get Dubbs' ashes back this week...thought it was last week but I was wrong.

My two cats are being very demanding at the moment, I think they felt a bit left out whilst I was caring for Dubbs and loading most of my attention on to him.

I am so glad Princess is doing well! Does she like parsely? It is meant to be good for cancer sufferers (human and animal). Dubbs LOVED parsley and would eat so much of it! He would get through a big bunch in two days. It didn't upset him tum at all, he was fed it constantly for 4 years. Obviosuly I introduced it gradually to him but once it was part of his diet there was no going back :-)

[nicolar]

Hi Linda

Glad you are feeling a bit better, def tears 2 b expected. I expect more will flow when u get his ashes back, good to get it all out though.

Awww bless your cats, they prob know you need a nice cuddle too at this point in time! They are very intuitive!

I haven't tried Princess on parsley but will get some and see what she thinks! I expect she will as she does like green stuff, but when I gave her bit of greens they upset her tum :cry: Hopefully parsley wont though cos my Dad grows it so would be a cheap source! She tends to enjoy munching all the plants in the garden, was sat in the flower bed today eating Dad's plants - cheeky girl!lol

Gotta go to vets tomorrow with my other bunny Pip :cry: She has been bit snuffly and sneezy, hopefully a dose of antibiotics will clear it up! She has been having her Snugglesafe heatpad during the cold weather so hopefully that'll prevent her getting chilly. I think she might still be a bit run down immune system wise after the op, although she has recovered well physically! I'm going to change her onto the Excel, hopefully that will give her bit more energy and brighten her coat up!

Does anybody know why when she licks her coat it sometimes dries hard, rather than normal fluffiness?

Nicola
Nicola