The only question I remember asking about rabbits before we got them was about smell. I used to ask everyone whom I encountered who had a companion rabbit, I think even before Bunny-daddy and I met, if rabbits smelled. Apparently my pet-cluelessness and curiosity stopped at odor. Much like your human children, as long as someone cleans the litter box often, my children don’t smell.
As the recipient of most Rescue communication, there are a number of questions people ask that make me sad, like:
- Can I donate my rabbit to you?
- Can you take this thing out of my house? My kid doesn’t want it anymore.
- Can you find a home for my 4/5/10 year old rabbit because I’m moving/having a baby/not interested anymore?
- Our new dog doesn’t like our rabbit. Can you take him?
- Our rabbit is aggressive—can you rehome her?
Here are the questions people should ask:
- Am I ready for a 10-12 year commitment?
- Am I willing to spend $500-$1,000+ should a medical emergency arise?
- Can I deal with being bitten, if I or something else in the home stresses my prey animal companion rabbit?
- Can I deal with being covered in fur all the time?
- Do I want a pet that doesn’t like to be snuggled or picked up?
- Can I interact with my pet 2-3 times per day, every day?
- Can I limit treats and make sure my family members do the same?
- Can I deal with having pieces of hay everywhere?
- Can I provide 30-40+ hours of exercise time per week in a rabbit-proofed area?
- Can I respect my rabbit as much as I respect my human family members?
- Can I be honest with myself and my level of commitment?
Here’s to responsible pet ownership! Much Love.
