I have volunteered at a humane society for over a year. I work in the small animal room.Any animal that bites ( dogs, cats rabbits, guinea pigs) is considered an unadoptable animal. Today I went nose to nose with the director stating that a rabbit "nip " is normal . She finally said that she is afraid of a lawsuit I think that this is going overboard as rabbits nipping is normal rabbit behaviour. Is she wacko?
Is this unusual??
- Thread starter Maureen Las
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maomaochiu
Well-Known Member
angieluv wrote:
yeah, i side with you. don't see how a rabbit nip can hurt much
I agree with you. I do feel that either a dog or cat bite could be serious...but when it comes to a rabbit or guinea pig i think that her thinking is over the top.. Subsequently I (or the only other rabbit lover there)have to either try to get the rabbit transferred to another facility or be subjected to an 100% normal frisky little rabbit being euthanized. ...let me tell you it is enough to make one an emotional wreck
naturestee
Well-Known Member
My shelter does the same thing. They just don't see the difference between a rabbit's nip and a dog's angry bite.
Angela I didn't know you were a volunteer. Are you the only person interested in rabbits atyour shelter? Do you have any control handling what goes on with the bunnies? When our timy room gets full I start to get emotionally upset as I know whats coming. We have 2 at petco now but they are not going fast.
Spring
Well-Known Member
That is just plain barbaric! Rabbits will bite to show love sometimes or bite to get attention. Classifying them with a dog bite is just wrong. Even my two gentle loving rabbits have bit me at one time or another. I don't think I've ever heard of a rabbit that's never biten!
That's horrible! :shock:
That's horrible! :shock:
naturestee
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately I'm not a volunteer at the moment. I actually emailed them once about it and they never got back to me. But I'm having a hard time even taking care of my house and my own buns since I'm working 12 hour shifts at night. It's hard to get anything done at all.
If I can get on an 8 hour shift though, I really want to. That's just what I know from talking to the people there when I adopted Loki and when I called to see what rabbit stuff they needed for donations at Christmas. At Christmas, they had a pair of rabbits returned for "biting" so they were being observed. It looked like they might have to be euthanized even though it really didn't seem like it was their fault. I don't know what happened to them.
If I can get on an 8 hour shift though, I really want to. That's just what I know from talking to the people there when I adopted Loki and when I called to see what rabbit stuff they needed for donations at Christmas. At Christmas, they had a pair of rabbits returned for "biting" so they were being observed. It looked like they might have to be euthanized even though it really didn't seem like it was their fault. I don't know what happened to them.
MyBabyBunnies
Well-Known Member
That is unfortunate but a rabbits bite can do a lot of damage, trust me! I think they are more worried about them biting youngkids, parents can sometimes be irrational.
Although I agree it's very unfair, why? Because at one point or another all of mine have bitten me but I consider them extremely well behaved and well mannered rabbits. But I don't see how you can get a lawsuit for being bit by a bunny, I mean, come one people (not you, I mean the shelters), use your common sense! I have my doubts that anyone would win a lawsuit because a bunny bit them, but hey, I guess it's possible.:?
Although I agree it's very unfair, why? Because at one point or another all of mine have bitten me but I consider them extremely well behaved and well mannered rabbits. But I don't see how you can get a lawsuit for being bit by a bunny, I mean, come one people (not you, I mean the shelters), use your common sense! I have my doubts that anyone would win a lawsuit because a bunny bit them, but hey, I guess it's possible.:?
They wouldn't want any bad publicity even if theywon a lawsuit. The shelter has almost no animals returned for aggressive behaviour; they really areconcerned that some animal will bite a child and I think thats valid, however, what do you mean when you say that "a rabbit bite can do a lot of damage"?.....I never knew of a rabbit that really hurt a human only another rabbit.
JimD
Well-Known Member
angieluv wrote:
Binkie would have been a perfect example of a vicious rabbit. I have several scars from the bites she administered. The worst was when she latched onto the skin between my thumb and forefinger....AND WOULDN'T LET GO! I ended up turning her litter pan on top of her and she finally let go...AND THEN SHE SCREAMED TO HIGH HEAVEN.
I'm thinking that incident would have traumatized most any child...or adult for that matter. It surescared the heck out of me.:cry2
~Jim
PS: But it didn't stop me from getting yet another bunny
Binkie would have been a perfect example of a vicious rabbit. I have several scars from the bites she administered. The worst was when she latched onto the skin between my thumb and forefinger....AND WOULDN'T LET GO! I ended up turning her litter pan on top of her and she finally let go...AND THEN SHE SCREAMED TO HIGH HEAVEN.
I'm thinking that incident would have traumatized most any child...or adult for that matter. It surescared the heck out of me.:cry2
~Jim
PS: But it didn't stop me from getting yet another bunny
angieluv wrote:
I never understood this rule either. Rabbits nipping is completely normal. Unlike other animals that can bark or make other obvious noise, rabbits have very little means to communicate. Nipping is unfortunately a way for them to get through to us that they (1) want our attention; or (2) do not like what we are doing. There is however the rare occasion I have come across a very mean rabbit that will nip just out of spite. Do I think that animal deserves to be put down? NO. As I have told this particular director in the past, if I were to put down every rabbit I had that bit me, I would have a backyard of dead rabbits.
I'm unsure as to why she would be afraid of a lawsuit but I would side with the plaintiff.
I never understood this rule either. Rabbits nipping is completely normal. Unlike other animals that can bark or make other obvious noise, rabbits have very little means to communicate. Nipping is unfortunately a way for them to get through to us that they (1) want our attention; or (2) do not like what we are doing. There is however the rare occasion I have come across a very mean rabbit that will nip just out of spite. Do I think that animal deserves to be put down? NO. As I have told this particular director in the past, if I were to put down every rabbit I had that bit me, I would have a backyard of dead rabbits.
I'm unsure as to why she would be afraid of a lawsuit but I would side with the plaintiff.
Almost any rabbit I have been around for any length of time has at least nipped me once. Jim...I think that your rabbit is unusual. Don't You? Lissa....Dane County has been taking our "extras" so don't worry.
tamsin
Well-Known Member
We'd usually state on the rabbits' details any aggression issues, if it would be unsuitable for a home with children and best with an experianced rabbit owner.
There's a bit of a difference between a 'get out of my way' nip and a 'I'm going to take your hand off if you come near me' bite though. Thankfully rabbits in the latter group are quite rare If they're that aggressive then time in foster care can make rehoming them easier.
Maybe a lawyer could help with a clause in your adoption agreement to cover it?
Tam
There's a bit of a difference between a 'get out of my way' nip and a 'I'm going to take your hand off if you come near me' bite though. Thankfully rabbits in the latter group are quite rare
If they're that aggressive then time in foster care can make rehoming them easier.Maybe a lawyer could help with a clause in your adoption agreement to cover it?
Tam
Good idea tamsin..I have to go to the shelter today but would like to discuss this with you later Thanks angie
Bunman
Well-Known Member
Are there any domestic pets that don't or can't bite? Even a parakeet will nip.
Clearly the bun community is failing at educating the public about buying only from shelters or private owners, doing neuters & spays, etc. The euthanisation rate is up 75% -90% over the past ten years, i read. I suppose we don't have the money to do the job, but i wonder if vets could be enlisted in a national campaign to spread the word.
Clearly the bun community is failing at educating the public about buying only from shelters or private owners, doing neuters & spays, etc. The euthanisation rate is up 75% -90% over the past ten years, i read. I suppose we don't have the money to do the job, but i wonder if vets could be enlisted in a national campaign to spread the word.
tamsin
Well-Known Member
angieluv wrote:
I think you might be safe with a goldfish Bunman but that's a bout it I think there is an awful lot of misconceptions about what rabbits are really like. I think that's the reason for a lot of rehomings
No problem, feel free to pick my brains
I think you might be safe with a goldfish Bunman but that's a bout it
I think there is an awful lot of misconceptions about what rabbits are really like. I think that's the reason for a lot of rehomings Bunman
Well-Known Member
Ideally every pet would come with an instruction manual. The companies that manufacture & sell pet supplies should be strongly lobbied by pet organisations to help in an effort to educate the public, at the very least by posting links to pet care websites on their own sites, & strongly encouraging people to go to them. The cost for the companies would be minimal.
JimD
Well-Known Member
angieluv wrote:
Or maybe I've just been blessed with a larger percentage of agressive bunnie behaviorthan most.
I'd lend Binkie's behavior more to raging hormones and teen bunitude. And it seems that every time we need to take her out, she headed for the vet for something....and retriggering her fear. I will say that Binkie has displayed more aggression that any other bunnie I've met. But she can also be a cuddly mush....like she was in the pet store when we bought her.
Benji bit me at about the same age as Binkie(one of my first posts here)....his aggression stopped after he was neutered. Buck suggested the "Big Kahuna" stance at that time, too.
Chippy bit me because I forgot to wash my hands after using the Purell....always does. It's my fault for forgetting.
Rosie bit me after she had been dumped at a gas station and we adopted her...most likely fear aggression and/or territorial issues. And the little bunnie that was rescued with her kept biting her new owners kids. They just needed some TLC and time to adjust.
One of my wife's friends was going to turn a bunnie loose, because it was biting. She ended up giving it to a family involved in 4-H.
I have to add that when we've handled buns at the shelters, stores, home, parking lots, etc., ....we never were bitten.
I guess it's easily put that some bunnies bite...and some don't. :?
~Jim
Nope. Special, maybe.
Or maybe I've just been blessed with a larger percentage of agressive bunnie behaviorthan most.
I'd lend Binkie's behavior more to raging hormones and teen bunitude. And it seems that every time we need to take her out, she headed for the vet for something....and retriggering her fear. I will say that Binkie has displayed more aggression that any other bunnie I've met. But she can also be a cuddly mush....like she was in the pet store when we bought her.
Benji bit me at about the same age as Binkie(one of my first posts here)....his aggression stopped after he was neutered. Buck suggested the "Big Kahuna" stance at that time, too.
Chippy bit me because I forgot to wash my hands after using the Purell....always does. It's my fault for forgetting.
Rosie bit me after she had been dumped at a gas station and we adopted her...most likely fear aggression and/or territorial issues. And the little bunnie that was rescued with her kept biting her new owners kids. They just needed some TLC and time to adjust.
One of my wife's friends was going to turn a bunnie loose, because it was biting. She ended up giving it to a family involved in 4-H.
I have to add that when we've handled buns at the shelters, stores, home, parking lots, etc., ....we never were bitten.
I guess it's easily put that some bunnies bite...and some don't. :?
~Jim
