Making people listen

[samandshawn]

I'm sorry if this has been posted before, but Idid a search and nothing came up under holiday:?, I'm going away toSpain for a week in May and my mum will be looking after my buns. Shesthe type of person who thinks buns should be kept outside in a hutch.My buns are house buns and need and are used too a lot of attention.Three people in my family have buns and theyall live outside.I have no problem with buns living outside if thats right foryou, but most people I talk to think its OK to clean them out once aweek and the only attention they have is when they are picked up andput in there runs. WhenI told my mum that theyneed tohave there litter tray cleaned out once a day and theyneed to be brushed every other day, she just raised her eyebrows andsmiled:?.I know that she wouldn't cause my buns any harm butI will be worrying about them when I'm away. My buns come outfor at least 5 hours a day and I know that they will be lucky if theycome out once when they are at hers.I also told her that Iwill give her plenty of food etc, for them for the week but if she wasto run outI would leave her with a list of what and where toget what they needed and that she had to get the same as they arehaving now, and she just said they do do they:?:?. Why do some peoplethink its OK to treat rabbits as non-important animal's??? I makes mevery cross. I have no one else to look after my buns. I havespoken to some rabbit boarding places but they all keep the bunsoutdoors. I am also worried how my buns will react to someoneelse picking them up becauseI am the only one that they havehad contact with. My Gran looked after them whenIwent away for 3 days and said the oldest was a pain to pick up, hesnot!!Hes the most gentle bun Ive ever known. Idon't know what to do to make people listen to me. I keep telling myGran who has a bun to stop changing his food butI think itgoes in one ear and out the other. Because her bun is a fussyeater she changes the make of food she buys him daily. I feel likescreamingI want to enjoy my holiday does anyone has anysuggestions.

 

[Kricket]

Can you find a friend or a pet-sitting serviceto pay your buns LOTS of attention while you are away?Perhaps a boarding school? It is expensive, but if you canafford it, maybe it would be worth it?...

Do you know any kids that might like to make some money?Maybe you can offer some cash as incentive... Someone you trust andwouldn't neglect your babies. You can even teach someone howto give your buns hugs & kisses.

I am going on vacation for 3 days in July and I have already beguntraining my best friend (of 22 years) how to care for them. Iam lucky that she is willig to learn and help.

 

[samandshawn]

There is no one like that in my area. And I couldnt trust a child to look after them.

 

[Kricket]

Well, I meant a kid you trusted.Certainly there are trustworthy kids that live in your country,right?? I don't mean a 4 year old. Perhaps ateenager??....

 

[Blue]

Hi Samandshawn,

It is so hard to leave your children and feel ok with the care theyreceive! Aren't we really the best caregivers for our children? It iseven harder when you know they are doing you a favor and it would beakward to be fussy or complain.

I wouldn't expect family members to change. Family dynamics arehard fast patterns, some good, some not! I tend to break down problemsinto digestable components. What is it I am willing to let go of andwhat is simply non-negotiable? One week isn't long. If it were me (andthis is just an example) while it may not be optimum,Your buns will beok not brushed and less play time than usual for a week. THey evencould get by without lovely litter boxes. Don't misinterpret, I changemy boy's box every other day. For 2 years I did it every day but thatgrew expensive. I also only have one bunny. You could put their litterin large plastic bags labeled for each day. That will be harder todisregard...though they might anyway. The easier you make it for themto do what you want the more likely they will do it. But messy boxesfor a week isn't life threatening...just another reminder to yourbunnies that you are gone which may be a little stressful. ( maybe theywill love you even more when you return!) Changing their food could beproblematic.A change in eating habbits could cause illness. I wouldpick this as the battle. Let go of those other parts that for a weekwill not be physically harmful, and emphasize how important their dietis to you. I would put the necessary ammount for their daily needs inziplock bags labeled for each day. I would then add a few extra filledbags in case they over feed them. Even veggies, labeled, should keep aweek.

I like the idea of an older child that is trustworthy. Earning good bucks would definitely be an incentive!

Don't think I am in any way minimizing your concerns. My first time Ileft my bunny with someone I wrote a 6 page book of instructions...inhis voice! I am so imbarassed now. But I do still ziplock his litter,and give people his veggies, and cash with a list of what is ok. I alsohand them the booklet with a laugh at how over the top I was when Iwrote it. It still answers every question they might have.

In some ways it is harder to re-train those who have bunnies and aroutine they are comfortable with, than people who have never hadbunnies and will do what you ask to the letter. Try to get a bunnylessfriend!

Good luck!

:?

 

[samandshawn]

Blue wrote:

,Your buns will be ok not brushed and less play time thanusual for a week. THey even could get by without lovely litter boxes.

Thanks for that I know that it wouldn't be that bad if theyweren't let out to play for a week. I know shes happy to keephis litter box becauseI don't want to have to re-trainwhenI get home. But my long haired bun needs to be brushedeven if its only a couple of times. Im a little worried about his coatbecause my son would like to show him in June and if hes not handled orlet out to run he chews off his fur. I know this because Iwent away for two days and a night and he had chewed off a great dealof fur. I clean him every day because hes is a very messy bun and anydroppings etc get stuck in his fur. I don't know any teenagers thatcould look after him, I had a bad experience with a 30year old lady whoI paid to look after my horse for a week and when I camehomeI found out that she had hardly fed him [he had lostweight] this has made me very wary as I paid her a lot of money.

 

[bluebird]

I sympothysize with you. my mom has taken careof my animals while i was away and she has her own methods but i trusther.however my dogs love her because she feeds them because they lookhungry.they get a bit chubby.my daughter has been taking care of themand she follows my instructions better.bluebird

 

[black_jack]

samandshawn wrote:

There is no one like that in my area. And I couldnt trust achild to look after them.

we're in kent so i think that that is too far away. Do yournan a checklist of everything she needs to remember to do and stress toher what happens when they are not fed the correct food i.e. it willmake them really ill as they are set on one type of food.

Unfortunately thats the down side to pets and having holidays...

if kents not too far let me know and i'll see what we can sort out.

 

[black_jack]

or get ur nan to pop in on ur buns everyday,feed them, give them water, change there tray and let them out for anhour. That way everything will be done daily your guaranteedthere not kept outside.

 

[samandshawn]

Hi black jack thanks for that not sure how faryou are. I think you might of miss read whatI wrote? its mymum looking after the buns for me. When I mentioned my Gran Iwas talking about how she looks after her bun.

 

[bunnee mom]

Gee samandshawn I feel bad for you.It's always hard to leave your pet in the care of someone else, cuz youknow they won't love them up the way you do. One year we eventook my daughter's hamster with us on vacation because I was afraid toleave her with anyone.

My mom watched my 2 dogs for us for 2 weeks last summer and it was purehell for her....the one dog (Collie) freaked out cuz we weren't aroundand was sick the entire 2 wks. My mom did the best she couldand I was in constant contact with her.Everythingwas fine once we returned.

This is our first year with our bunny Ellie and I've wondered the samething about finding a bunny sitter. She is used to beinginside and having the run of our basement and getting lots ofattention. My husband says we will take her with us onvacation if we have to LOL She'd probably love a day at thebeach playing in the sand!

 

[samandshawn]

I wish I could take them but they might find it a bit hot in Spain Next hoilday will have to be bunny friendly.

 

[black_jack]

yup lol too many ppl in the thread for my smallbrain lol im having a very dappy afternoon lol. I think we'rea 3hr drive away so we're no use what about ur nan bunny sitting then?can just picture ur rabbit in spain with sunglasses on and a straw hatrofl

 

[Blue]

I didn't realize you had a long hair bunny. Ihave never had one...but brushing is important so they do not gethairballs...as they are unable to throw up. Maybe you could tell herthat. Also, if you show your bunny...you don't want to come back to atangly or bald one. (actually I don't show mine and I wouldn't want tocome back to that!) Of course his nervous habit of chewing off hishair...that stumps me as to what to do...

I am so lucky that I am the only one who travels in my family, and mypartner is more spoiling than I am. Maybe you need a partner.....


LOL!

 

[samandshawn]

Hy hubby and little boyare coming with me. I think I need a bit on the sidelol Preferably a bunny vet!!

 

[samandshawn]

black_jack wrote:

what about ur nan bunny sitting then?

Gran is comingwith us. Shes paying!!