important: need advice regarding bringing a bunny into a home with a slightly ill rabbit

[SnowyShiloh]

I need advice! Tonight I got an e-mail from Karan, a lady who runs a fairly large rabbit rescue (she has 50 rabbits in her home!) down in Anchorage. She has a spayed mini rex girl who she thinks would be suited well to my home. We've been talking about this girl for a couple weeks. Anchorage is a 330 mile drive from here, so it isn't possible for me to go down there and bring Rory and Skyler to meet any bunnies. However, Karan found out tonight that someone will be making the long drive up here tomorrow and can bring the mini rex! I'm really wanting to find a buddy for Rory or Skyler, so we've already come to the agreement that I'll keep the mini rex for a bit and see if she gets along with either of my boys. If she does, she'll stay with us and be my new baby girl, and if she doesn't, we'll arrange a ride for her back down to Anchorage. (Side note: I offered to keep her with me as a foster while I try to find a new home for her if she doesn't get along with my boys, but Karan wants her back)

The only problem here is that Rory has had an off and on slightly runny nose for several days (it isn't running today). He has an appointment with the vet for either Thursday or Friday. Would it be safe to bring the mini rex into my home right now? I would keep her upstairs, completely away from the boys who live in the living room, and would have a separate food and hay supply and wash my hands between bunnies, plus change clothing if need be. I don't want to get the mini rex girl sick or expose Rory to whatever she may have if he's vulnerable right now. Obviously this isn't the ideal time to bring in another rabbit, but finding a ride up here for her has proved to be a little difficult.

I need to let Karan know what we're going to do by early tomorrow morning! Thanks for any help

 

[GoinBackToCali]

I sent you a PM..

 

[Haley]

Did you tell Karan about Rory's recent problems? Since she obviously cares deeply for this bunny I would be sure to disclose all the information to her and let her decide if she wants the bun to come up.

In my opinion, I dont see anything wrong with it if youre planning on keeping her separate. I dont really know all of Rory's story though.

I think this is something you and Karan need to decide together based on whats good for both this new bun, and for Rory. Good luck

 

[SnowyShiloh]

Haley, Karan knows all about Rory's runny nose, and Skyler's health background as well. She suggested keeping any new rabbit separate from them for a month. I have no problem with doing that, but I would like to try to introduce her and Skyler after letting her settle in for a few days, so I can get an idea of whether or not they'll get along. If I wait a full month before introducing her to Skyler and they absolutely hate each other, and the mini rex has to go back to Anchorage, it seems unfair to the mini rex. She'll have traveled here and settled in just to get sent back. I am of course hoping that she gets along with either Rory or Skyler though (preferably Sky since for some reason I get the feeling that he would really enjoy having a bunny friend).

I heard from Karan this morning, she's still working out whether or not the ride will take place. Another rabbit is also being transported to a lady up here, the poor bunny apparently has severe urine scald and needs to be cared for by someone with fewer rabbits and more time to devote to sick buns.

 

[Maureen Las]

You also need to know if the mini-rex is spayed. I would guess that she is if she's coming from a rescue
It's a very difficult thing to get a new rabbit without really knowing if she will get alone with Skylar.

I am not saying that you shouldn't do it but I do feel sad for the little mini-rex if she would need to go back.
Sometimes it takes a really long time to bond rabbits..sometimes it takes them being around each other for awhile ; is there any way that you would want the mini-rex anyway or do you specifically want her s a friend for Sky?
Read through some of Angela's (naturestee) posts of trying to bond Oberon with Fey and Sprite.(RIP)..oftentimes it turns out OK in the end but often is a lot of work.

I would just give this some really serious thoought...

 

[SnowyShiloh]

Angie, she is spayed, which I mentioned in my original post It actually wasn't my idea to send her up here, it was Karan's. I, too, think it's kind of unfair to the bunny to have to travel up here (about a 6 1/2 hour drive), stay for a while, and then maybe have go back! Like I said before, I offered to foster her here until she either bonds with one of my boys (since I know it can take a while) or until I find her a permanent home, but Karan wants her to go back to Anchorage if she doesn't get along with Rory or Skyler. At least that way she would get lots of love and attention while waiting for a forever home.

I'm getting another bunny both because I really want and feel that I need a third since Tallulah died, and because I feel that Skyler in particular would benefit from having a bunny friend. This mini rex is the bunny that Karan recommended to me and wants to try out. She's already been adopted once and returned (they said she was "too independent", whatever that means!). She was originally purchased from a pet store with another bunny as a baby, and the pet store told the owners both were girls... They were wrong, and lo and behold a few months later she gave birth! The owners then brought the mama to the animal shelter, )I don't know what happened to the babies or dad), and Karan took her in. This mini rex is about a year and a half or so old and has been waiting for a home for around a year, I believe. She's said to be sweet and like people.

I feel like I should give this girl a chance. I really hope she gets along with one of the boys. If she doesn't but I fall in love with her anyway, she'll have to stay- I wouldn't be able to return her if that happens! But I really, really hope she and either Skyler or Rory become buddies, and I'm prepared to give them at least 3 or 4 weeks to see if bonding is a possibility. I don't mean they have to magically bond right away, but if they still want to tear each other apart after a month, I'll just have to go from there.

 

[undergunfire]

Can bunnies pass air borne illness like rats can? If so, since you suspect your boys may be sick...do you think you could handle more vet bills or another heart break if she gets sick, as well?

I want you to really think about it and not jump on it because she is getting a ride up your way tomorrow.

:hug:

 

[SnowyShiloh]

Amy, thanks for your concern! Zin and Karan actually think Rory maybe has tooth problems and not an actual illness. It will be very interesting to see what the vet has to say about it. Karan is comfortable with the bunny coming up here and staying upstairs away from Rory for a while, that with good handwashing it should be okay. I won't let them play in the same area until I know for sure everyone is healthy, and I'll change shirts between bunnies.

 

[kirst3buns]

I do so hope that this girl falls in love with one of your boys in 3-4 weeks. I must say that I took in an "independent" (aren't they all?:shock mini rex last September who was about the same age as this one. He was rather bossy and needy all at the same time. It actually took more like 3-4 months to bond him to Penny. Of course, I wasn't pushing it. I just wanted you to know that even if it doesn't work out in 3-4 weeks, it may work out in the long run if you do fall in love with her and decide to keep her. Good luck!I hope the ride comes through.

 

[SnowyShiloh]

Well, it looks like no bunny will be making the drive today, the plans fell through! Just as well really, I'd prefer everybun here to be 100% healthy before bringing another bunny in, even if she'd be upstairs and out of harm's way. I'm also re-thinking what I want to do regarding another bunny. Like you all have said, I'd so much prefer having a bunny here in town meet my boys so no bun has to travel all the way up from Anchorage to meet them, just to possibly have to go back. I don't like the idea of doing that because it seems unfair, but like Karan said, potentially getting a home is better than completely missing out on the chance. I just want to help a bunny

Oh and Kirst3buns, if I did ever fall in love with a bunny who came into my home (which seems likely, knowing me!), I wouldn't let her go even if she didn't get along with the boys. The 3-4 weeks I gave out was just an arbitrary number. I meant that if they seemed to completely hate each other all of the time after having spent 3-4 weeks with bonding sessions, and I hadn't fallen in love with the bunny, I'd consider that they were never going to bond.

 

[Maureen Las]

Do you have a shelter in your area that will permit bunny "dates"

If so you could take Sky when everyone is well.
Hope that you're not too disappointd about the bun from Anchorage.

 

[SnowyShiloh]

Ang, our shelter gets VERY few rabbits... There was one there a couple weeks ago, but none had come in for about 3 months before then! I check Petfinder every day (actually the only time I stopped checking every day was in that one short month that I had Rory, Tallulah and Skyler all together and that was because I was so content with my completed bunny family) and check Craigslist too in case there's some dire circumstance a bunny needs to be removed from. If there were a bunny at the shelter that sounded promising though, I would be down there in a flash with Skyler and Rory in tow (once Rory doesn't have a runny nose, that is).

 

[missyscove]

I'm not sure how big your shelter is, but since they get so few buns, you could ask them if they'd just call you if they get a bunny in. It might be easier than scoping out petfinder.

 

[Maureen Las]

I forgot you were in Alaska.

Are there many domestic rabbits as pets in Alaska?

 

[SnowyShiloh]

Angie, rabbits really aren't that popular here... They're more commonly used for meat. The shelter here actually just bumped up the adoption fee for rabbits to $35, it was $5 before and everyone was worried people were buying the rabbits for food! They don't ask anyone questions when they adopt... I've been told several times by various people that Rory got lucky. I'm so glad they raised the adoption fee.

 

[Maureen Las]

I'm not surprised as Alaska is still a pioneer state
Actually this part of southwest Wi. is maybe one step ahead of that