Question for "pet rabbit" owners : Adoptions / Rehoming

I DO NOT want to upset "pet rabbit" parents, but I am a "meat rabbit" Mom.

I LOVE my bunnies! I can't stand when it is time to process them but the whole reason I started with rabbits was for the purpose of being more self-sufficient so I bury my feelings and do the duty at hand.

Now for my question. There is a Rabbit Rescue in my town which, according to their website, has about 200 rescues available at any given time. I so want to have one or two as a pet! But I am afraid to fill out the questionnaire. I am afraid they will start stalking me and will try to free my outside / caged meat rabbits. I'd love to just stop by and visit them but their address is not posted on the website. Any ideas or suggestions? Am I over-thinking this?

I'm not even sure that my DH will agree to a pet bun. He is convinced that they stink and there is nothing humanly possible to change that. He also says that the fumes from the urine corrode the copper in the air conditioning...so it will certainly be difficult to change his mind!

you can buy sweet PDZ to absorb the ammonia from the urine

If the place doesn't require inspections don't tell them you have rabbits.

Corroding copper is a new one. They do pee 4' up the wall behind their cage. Even the dwarf. That's with plastic bottom cages that had about 6" edges. I found them too dirty with too much pee everywhere to keep indoors. Since I can't have them outside because someone steals them or complains about them in wire cages even if they have a shelter area I gave up and got meat cavy (guinea pigs) instead. So no they do not corrode things that require air transfer of their urine. They probably won't corrode anything that gets direct urine except galvanized steel that's been chipped or scratched. Yes, they do get pee everywhere around their cage and I've had to paint every room I've kept rabbits in after scrubbing the walls and floor when moving. Also, pet bred rabbits often are not as responsibly done and more prone to respiratory infections that could infect the rest of your herd. I would go to a show and pick up a nice dutch or whatever you want from a breeder because I wouldn't find the rescues worth the risk.

I'm with MaggieJ don't risk your current rabbits health or safety

With that many rabbits respiratory disease is likely rampant but suppressed with frequent antibiotic use - very few pet people will cull for health issues

My local rabbit rescue has spread E. cuniculi throughout much of my area by adopting out healthy looking but asymptomatic carriers

I'd stay as far away from that "rescue" group as I could.

Couldn't tell where you're located so not sure how "radical" the ARA groups are in your area. (Please update your location in your profile as it makes it easier to help with questions. Many answers are location dependent.)

It seems to me that if your local "rescue" org has hundreds of rabbits at any given time, a whole lot of people are deciding "pet" rabbits aren't for them, and/or this group confiscates rabbitries.

As Dood said, you're likely to bring parasites and disease into your home and - as Maggie says - invite unwanted attention and visitors.

Best of luck to you.

I'd stay far far far away from any rescue with "200 or more" at any given time. Numbers are inflated often (if you really dig and ask for real numbers like some on the watch dog groups are doing now who really want to know how many etc).

Why not keep one of your favorite babies for a pet? You get to watch'm grow and handle early on plus not risk the health or safety of your home.

I have meat rabbits and pet rabbits, but I sure would never go to a rescue! One time I posted on a disabled rabbits forum and someone asked what I did with rabbits and I said I breed and I got flipped out on about if he's just a meat rabbit why was I trying to save him if I was going to kill him. Obviously these people know nothing about processing or the age at which it's done. I seem to be keeping a doe out of every litter. They just keep coming up to me and being so cute and sweet. The latest two I'm keeping are Fluffernut and Blu, Fluffer is a Pure Lionhead buck and he's starting to get poofy so I need to check how old he is an post a pic cause I'm curious as to whether he is DM or SM. Blu is a Blue SF doe, and she is so friendly, I swear I didn't play with them when they were little. (I didn't want to get attached to any in this litter.

Over 200 rabbits sounds more like a hoarding situation than a rescue. I'd stay far away.

Wow, very good points! You all confirmed my fears and brought in new ones! So I will keep one of my VERY cute babies in a cage with a "yard" outside!

__________ Thu Sep 29, 2016 12:01 pm __________

(Please update your location in your profile as it makes it easier to help with questions. Many answers are location dependent.)

Done!

You've gotten the same advice, but I too would stay away from "rescuing" a bunny.
We have both hutch rabbits and a house bunny. The house bunny came from a reputable show breeder and was bought as a pet without a pedigree. He's a dwarf and fits in the house well, and his breeder is still always there to help if need be, and understands my "other" bunnies.
Rescues, some more than others, seem to have gotten very elitist, and more about being "important" versus actually trying to find homes for their charges.

Any time a bun from somewhere else comes here, they stay in quarantine for a month or two first. They get fed and handled last and then hand washing. Too much risk of bringing in disease. And if there's two hundred rabbits from all over the place put in one spot? That's scary. I don't even really like taking the buns to shows for the same reason. They get a two week quarantine after going to a show and that's with folks that presumably have healthy rabbits and there's a vet on site to check the entries.

I'll take back buns that have been bought from here, especially if they were the only rabbit in the household but they get thoroughly checked before meeting any of the other bunnies here. Taking one in from someplace with two hundred other rabbits from totally unknown places? Nope.