Rescue Bunny Breed

[purplegrum]

Hello Everybody!

We go to a local pet store who have an 'Adoption Corner' where unwanted or abandoned animals wait for new homes. There was this regular little rabbit up the back who always seemed to be there and it turned out he was one the store couldn't sell, they think because he was too plain, so he had been there his entire life - about five months. Tried to be strong but we melted and our trip for an £8 box of carbon for the Turtle's filter turned into us bring home Arthur!

The problem is that I would like to insure our new friend for any Vets visits in the future but I don't know what breed he is... the store just have it down as 'RABBIT'! I thought he may be a Dutch but I'm not sure.

I was wondering if other members would have an idea?

Thanks for your help and I look forward to getting to know you all as a new and proud daddy!

Graeme (and Arthur the bunny!)

 

[Ape337]

Hello there! Here's a link to bunny breed looks. The library on this site has more specific info but I like to match my buns up to the pics first:

http://www.arba.net/breeds.htm

Your bun is definitely not a Dutch, they have a very distinctive coat pattern. It could be the pic but your bun looks pretty big too. Maybe one of the breeders (or someone with better info than me) will see your post and you can get a professional opinion :biggrin:

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

He looks alot to me like a Flemish Giant but maybe he's not that big..

Congrats on adopting this guy

 

[woahlookitsme]

No clue on breed but his color looks like a Gold Tipped Black Steel

 

[cassnessxox]

That's what happened with my girl Cleo. Went into the pet shop just to look and this tatty looking bunny was in there, bald patches all over her and a sore on her back because they had to cut off all her matted fur. They said they couldn't sell her and kept reducing the price but noone would take her (horrible shallow people ssd: ) So I couldn't resist.

Only think is I know nothing about her, how old she is or what breed. Totally worth it though, best impulse buy I ever made I hope you feel the same about your new bun!

 

[MikeScone]

I don't have any idea what sort of rabbit he is, but as someone else noted, he's not a Dutch. Dutch rabbits are solid color on their back half, white on the front, with a white triangle from their noses up between their eyes, with the tip of the triangle at the top of their foreheads:

Since you're in Scotland (nice to have a Scottish member here - welcome to RO!), you should know that there are differences between the breeds recognized by ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) and those in the UK.

These websites might be useful to you:
British Rabbit Council: http://www.thebrc.org/what-breed.htm
Rabbit Rehome: http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/breeds.asp

Of course, it's entirely possible that Arthur really is just a "rabbit" - that is, simply a rabbit of no particular breed. Sometimes just plain mutts make the best pets.

 

[purplegrum]

Thanks everybody for your help and suggestions! We have a trip to the Vet on Thursday for a health check and vaccinations so I'll see if the Vet has any ideas, otherwise he will be going down as Crossbreed on the insurance forms!

What an amazing little guy he is though... 72 hours and he is completely at home, wants out all the time to play and is getting a bit more used to human contact. The only thing we can't do is pick him up or cuddle him, if he lets me pick him out his cage he just immediately jumps out my arms to run around the apartment. Hopefully time will help that!

 

[cassnessxox]

Cleo was like that to at first. She wasn't too keen on being picked up or cuddled. Now you can't get her away from you!! She wants cuddles all the time and doesn't mind being picked up at all, so Im sure it won't take long. My theory is that rescue bunnies might start out a bit timid and on guard but really appreciate your love once they realise life is so much better now.

 

[purplegrum]

The one good thing is that he doesn't appear to really be frightened of much - quite happy to play with us, get stroked and even follows us around the apartment. Such a curious little man. I think living his entire life in a pet store just means he's used to seeing people but not being picked up by them!

I'll keep talking to him, spending time with him and gradually start increasing the handling and we'll see how it goes.