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Am I a terrible pet owner

Lord Trellis

Lord Trellis

Mama Doe
Am I a terrible pet owner?

Okay I do feel like it... its regarding Lambchop and it comes with a heavy heart. I've tried everything with him. He is a beautiful looking bunny but he is too aggressive despite being neutered and I really don't know what else I can do for him. I feel really bad at the prospect of re homing him but more importantly I have four other bunnies to care for. It does hurt me of the thought of the idea of finding Lambchop a new home because he was a rescue of mine but he is too aggressive and I don't know what else to do. In an ideal world I could keep him on his own but I don't think his needs are going to be met...

Every time I look at him it hurts to see him as a once cute bunny I rescued.

I just don't know what to do anymore and I think its best to find him a new home which I know isn't going to be easy because he bites and attacks.

Lambchop does have a soft side to him which I admire but at the same time he inflicts nasty bites. He has a split personality.
 
I cannot offer any suggestions, though I think others gave you some in the past. Has your vet offered any suggestions?

Since he is aggressive and inflicts nasty bites, that is something that needs to be disclosed if you surrender him to a rescue.
I do not live in UK, but here I would not consider finding him a home privately because you may be held responsible if he inflicts a nasty bite on another person or child.
 
I agree with Bunny Momma, regarding the rehoming, although I hope it doesn't come to that, as you clearly love him. Have you mentioned this to a vet, and ruled out any ailments, being aggressive or protective may be his way of telling you to back off if he has any pain issues. I hope you can find a way through this.
 
I'm sorry Lambchop is still so aggressive. He doesn't sound like a happy bunny. Have you considered consulting an animal behaviourist specialised in rabbits? Aggression is normally caused by something, not something that stands on its own, and a behaviourist could help you figure out why he's so aggressive and how you can help him. I agree with Pets mum, too, that there might be underlying pain issues or other health problems, if that hasn't been ruled out yet. I have this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behavioural-Problems-Rabbits-Clinical-Approach/dp/1789180120 written by a rabbit behavioural expert and it might give you more information on aggression in rabbits, too, and what you can do.
 
I will most definitely put that he bites and that he isn't suitable for children. I will ask my vet about what options I have first and get him another health check.
 
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Getting a health check is a good idea, but I agree with bunny momma and pets mum.I wouldn't consider adopting it to anyone else. In fact, others may not be able to cope with this situation as well as you, so I don't know, of course, it's all up to you, but I hope it doesn't come to that point
 
Can you temporarily relocate him somewhere that there are no other rabbits to see how he gets on? I was wondering about your mum's, for instance. Then you can judge whether it's him, or the situation that he's currently in that is too stressful for him.
 
Shimmer said:
Can you temporarily relocate him somewhere that there are no other rabbits to see how he gets on? I was wondering about your mum's, for instance. Then you can judge whether it's him, or the situation that he's currently in that is too stressful for him.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm also wondering if something about his current environment is stressful e.g. the other rabbits.

As a kid/teen I had a rabbit that was sweet as pie everywhere except my bedroom. I was trying to alternate my unbonded rabbits in my room so that they'd get to spend days at a time free ranging in there as it was a nice big space.

My other rabbits were fine doing that. But something about it made her really aggressive towards me when she never had been before. She'd lunge and bite me when I'd get near. Totally unlike her. I thought it was hormones at first, but she was obviously scared.

It was possibly the other pets in my room, or the unfamiliar environment, or too much open space, or that she had been separated from her friend (they were normally separated by wire, but still friends through the wire).

In the end I realized it wasn't working so I stopped bringing her to my room and she reverted to her normal sweet behavior.
 
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Well today LampChop isn't biting and I've even been able to pick him up and also sit next to him and pet him. His not aggressive today. I don't think I can bring myself to rehome him now. I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep him.
 
Lord Trellis said:
Well today LampChop isn't biting and I've even been able to pick him up and also sit next to him and pet him. His not aggressive today. I don't think I can bring myself to rehome him now. I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep him.
Click to expand...
I'm so glad to hear that mashallah, but the best place for him is with you and he's happy with you 🩷🩷🩷
 
I'm glad you're not going to rehome him and that he had a better day today. Sounds like you two had some nice bonding time. :) Just a thought, but do you (try to) pick him up regularly? Because most bunnies really don't like it, even when they tolerate it, and it can make them attack you when they see you because they don't want to be picked up or handled again.
 
LambChop has continued to be calm, I can even cuddle him now which I haven't done since he was little. He still nips every so often tho but other than that he is miles better than before. I couldn't even sit down without him jumping up and attacking me but now I can relax around him.
 
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