Caz
Mama Doe
Before everyone jumps in who doesn't know the background - here it is:
I have lost four rabbits last year through disease/ill health and consequentially ended up with just one left who had only been with her partner a couple of months before he died.
She was adopted from ARC to live with my original bunny that was left after the other three passed away but then he died too see here: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=35262
She just had her first birthday and tested negative for EC, Cosmos was her first partner.
I currently work full time and have two dogs, which obviously takes up a lot of my "spare" time.
At the moment she is living in a spare bedroom but come summer she will be going back into the hutch/run during the day if I am sure it is EC free and may/maynot be spending the evenings inside (depends on OH). At the moment my OH is fine with her being inside because she has excellent toilet training, has not chewed anything and the spare bedroom has not been decorated - previous house rabbits have not been so well behaved.
I spend an hour with her in the evening and 15 minutes in the morning, more at weekends (she is still very timid so I just go up and read with her) but apart from that she just has her toys and stuffed bunny friend (she grooms it) etc. She can't some downstairs because one of the dogs is not to be trusted.
Now straightforward answers wanted - no mollycoddling about how I am probably a very good bunny mommy etc etc.
Realistically all rabbits should have a partner BUT
Would any rescue now rehome to me following my track record with rabbits? Seriously now - rescues only want the best for their rabbits - am I really a good home?
Is it fair to adopt a rabbit when I can't seem to keep them alive past three years?
I don't want to give Adele back (I enjoy having her around - is that selfish?) but at the same time I don't know what to do for her best interests.
My OH isn't keen on me getting any more rabbits, he can't stand to see me so upset everytime they die and even he thinks I am cursed.
I am not sure in myself if I can keep going through this - when does it stop? If I get her a new partner and she only lives another three years (if I am lucky) then I end up stuck in the same situation with alternating bunnys for years as I keep getting a new partner to bond with the remaining rabbit but on the other hand if she lives 12 years on her own will she be happy?
All I keep hearing about are friends and relatives bunnys that lived just fine in the bottom of their garden for 12-14 years and they fed them on pet shop mix and didn't bother with a huge hutch or runs or even toys, they clipped their overgrown teeth themselves etc so if I am doing everything "right", why are mine not making that long?
My mum and MIL pointed out (seperately) single bunnies live longer and thinking on the oldies on this forum and those I have known that seems to be true. Is this because rabbits are gentically programmed to find a partner and breed, so by bonding a bunny they find their partner (even if they can't physically breed due to neutering) so their purpose has been fulfilled whereas a single bunny never believes its purpose has been fulfilled? Is it because single bunnies make it easier to spot if poos are small or non-existant so get medical attention more promptly?
I don't want nicey, nicey answers - I am a big girl and can take it, I don't want reassurance I just want to know what I should do (I am trying not to whine too much).
If I had waited a couple more months and not adopted her Cosmos would have probably died anyway and I would have stopped keeping rabbits. It was only because he seemed so healthy that I didn't want him to live for the next six odd years by himself (don't I feel stupid now). I love them and love having them but last year it really felt like someone was trying to tell me I shouldn't have them - I mean it was awful and even now I feel constantly gutted and guilty but stupidly have a small kernel of hope that I can get it right this time (does anyone know what I mean - everytime I lost one last year, I kept redoubling my efforts to give the best possible care to my remaining rabbits but they still ended up dying).
I have attached a poll so if people don't want to tell me "in person" they can just vote with no comments.
Caz
I have lost four rabbits last year through disease/ill health and consequentially ended up with just one left who had only been with her partner a couple of months before he died.
She was adopted from ARC to live with my original bunny that was left after the other three passed away but then he died too see here: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=35262
She just had her first birthday and tested negative for EC, Cosmos was her first partner.
I currently work full time and have two dogs, which obviously takes up a lot of my "spare" time.
At the moment she is living in a spare bedroom but come summer she will be going back into the hutch/run during the day if I am sure it is EC free and may/maynot be spending the evenings inside (depends on OH). At the moment my OH is fine with her being inside because she has excellent toilet training, has not chewed anything and the spare bedroom has not been decorated - previous house rabbits have not been so well behaved.
I spend an hour with her in the evening and 15 minutes in the morning, more at weekends (she is still very timid so I just go up and read with her) but apart from that she just has her toys and stuffed bunny friend (she grooms it) etc. She can't some downstairs because one of the dogs is not to be trusted.
Now straightforward answers wanted - no mollycoddling about how I am probably a very good bunny mommy etc etc.
Realistically all rabbits should have a partner BUT
Would any rescue now rehome to me following my track record with rabbits? Seriously now - rescues only want the best for their rabbits - am I really a good home?
Is it fair to adopt a rabbit when I can't seem to keep them alive past three years?
I don't want to give Adele back (I enjoy having her around - is that selfish?) but at the same time I don't know what to do for her best interests.
My OH isn't keen on me getting any more rabbits, he can't stand to see me so upset everytime they die and even he thinks I am cursed.
I am not sure in myself if I can keep going through this - when does it stop? If I get her a new partner and she only lives another three years (if I am lucky) then I end up stuck in the same situation with alternating bunnys for years as I keep getting a new partner to bond with the remaining rabbit but on the other hand if she lives 12 years on her own will she be happy?
All I keep hearing about are friends and relatives bunnys that lived just fine in the bottom of their garden for 12-14 years and they fed them on pet shop mix and didn't bother with a huge hutch or runs or even toys, they clipped their overgrown teeth themselves etc so if I am doing everything "right", why are mine not making that long?
My mum and MIL pointed out (seperately) single bunnies live longer and thinking on the oldies on this forum and those I have known that seems to be true. Is this because rabbits are gentically programmed to find a partner and breed, so by bonding a bunny they find their partner (even if they can't physically breed due to neutering) so their purpose has been fulfilled whereas a single bunny never believes its purpose has been fulfilled? Is it because single bunnies make it easier to spot if poos are small or non-existant so get medical attention more promptly?
I don't want nicey, nicey answers - I am a big girl and can take it, I don't want reassurance I just want to know what I should do (I am trying not to whine too much).
If I had waited a couple more months and not adopted her Cosmos would have probably died anyway and I would have stopped keeping rabbits. It was only because he seemed so healthy that I didn't want him to live for the next six odd years by himself (don't I feel stupid now). I love them and love having them but last year it really felt like someone was trying to tell me I shouldn't have them - I mean it was awful and even now I feel constantly gutted and guilty but stupidly have a small kernel of hope that I can get it right this time (does anyone know what I mean - everytime I lost one last year, I kept redoubling my efforts to give the best possible care to my remaining rabbits but they still ended up dying).
I have attached a poll so if people don't want to tell me "in person" they can just vote with no comments.
Caz