They don't deserve rabbits....

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

So I have an older brother (he's 36, i'm 15 1/2) and well he just got engaged to a woman with 4 kids. So he will have 5 kids, including his biological son who lives in Spokane with his mother. Anyways, this kids range from the ages of 3 to 10. None of them take good care of pets. Their chiwa (chihuahua), Jensing, has Epilepsy because of the kids. They think she's a toy, they toss her, play tug-of-war with her and everything. My brother has repeatedly told his fiance that the dog must go, but she simply refuses.

So last night my nephew (my brother's biological son who was here over xmas break) came to stay the night with my brother's fiances' oldest daughter, Christa. (my nephew's name is Jacob, my brothers name is Michael and his fiance's name is Desiree).

Ok so today I brought Magic up to the house (he's in the house as we speak in the kitchen exercise pen). I was outside and my brother asks Christa: Do you want some rabbits? She's like Yes (of course!). And he tells her they'll get some soon.

These kids don't deserve ANY more pets at all! They torment them so much, and rabbits just cannot tolerate little kids, but these kids will kill it. We're trying to find homes for two of our bunnies (Artie, who found a home) and Lily, my prize 4-h doe. I know, that the second they know she's forsale theyll get her, and we've refused sales to them before because we knew they didn't need any more pets. Now, my nephew Jacob, I would give Lily to him, because he's 12, has experience and he loves her so much, at fair he wouldn't put her down, he just cuddled her all day long.

The point i'm trying to make is, they don't deserve pets and I don't want to see rabbits in theircare get hurt, or end up having to be taken back to the breeder/pet shop. So, what can I do?

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

P.S. Ask all the questions you want if that ^^^^Post didn't make any sense....

 

[GoinBackToCali]

Made perfect sense..

Lemmie think on it a bit.. cause you and I are having the same issue.

Zin

 

[PixieStixxxx]

Maybe you can "educate" your brother and Christa. Act as a rabbit counselor and talk to them about the welfare of rabbits? You can do what I do if I don't think the person is suited =P I ask questions such as

"Rabbits are a 10 year commitment. Will your kids still be interested in them when they're 13 - 20?"

"Are you aware that rabbits have delicate backbones, and will snap if the rabbit so much as wiggles? Rabbits aren't something you cuddle, would your child be ok with not being able to hold and cuddle the rabbit?"

Ask about Vets - who will the rabbits vet be, and if they're willing to spend *A LOT* money for vet costs.

Tell them how if Lily isn't spayed, she'll spray everywhere. Chew the wires, and may even bite the kids if they pet her too much.

I know you want to give you Lily to your nephew, but if Lily is accessible to the other children - maybe that wouldn't be best for her?

If you find that their answers raise your eyebrows. You could always "secretly" give her away and come up with an excuse if they ever notice she's gone.

Good luck!

-April

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Oh man, they definitely don't need rabbits at all!:shock:

I got an idea, maybe start by telling them all the naughty things buns do and maybe they won't want them. Tell them they poop and pee everywhere, they bite, they chew cords and wires and all that. It might just work!

 

[GoinBackToCali]

From experience.. people with bad or unruly kids, rarely admit to the fact that the kids are like that. So she might just be wasting her breath.

I am trying to find the most diplomatic way myself...I have a VERY similiar situation.

Zin

 

[Bassetluv]

It's a bit of a tough one, because your brother can do what he wishes with regard to how many - or what type of - pets he wants to give to the children. I think the only thing you can offer is to try and educate him a bit about rabbits, and try to discourage him from taking one or more on. Let him know that rabbits can be difficult to care for, that they don't fare well with children, etc....only do so in a way that doesn't come across as insulting to him. (For example, instead of stating something like, "I don't think your children should have a rabbit, they will be rough with it", instead say something along the lines of "Rabbits aren't recommended for children because they are fragile, they frighten easily and may bite and scratch". While we all know that there are a great deal of children who can and are responsible with pet rabbits, given your brother's family's history with their pets, you want to try to change his mind in a subtle way. Remind him that rabbits chew on things, that you cannot confine a rabbit to a cage exclusively to prevent chewing, etc. etc. Basically give him a rundown of all the things bunny owners need to watch for and/or proof their homes against (and also perhaps tell him that a pet rabbit will not do well outdoors in a cage, if he decides he wants to go that route).

My niece wanted to get a rabbit for some time, mainly because she would come to my house and see mine. I told my sister that I didn't think a rabbit would be suitable for her children because they are far too rough/loud with the pets they do have...but I suspect she turned down the rabbit idea anyway because she doesn't really care for them herself. At any rate, I made sure she was aware of my feelings on it...just in case she did consider getting one to appease her daughter. And while I was pretty direct with her as to why I thought a rabbit wouldn't be a good idea, many family members might get upset when told their children don't take care of their pets properly....so that's why I suggest trying to talk your brother out of it tactfully.

You may or may not be successful...but ultimately I don't think there's very much more you can do from your standpoint. However, someone here might have a much better suggestion for you. I wish you luck with this...

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Thanks everyone. Yeah, I will not let them have Lily. She doesn't like them. Everytime their here and they go to pet her she throws a FIT! She bites, she growls, she lunges, she just does not like them at all, and she even nips me when I try to comfort her.

I am going to talk to my brother yes, because I don't think they should get a rabbit. It's not just Christa, either, its the other 3 kids, and they, are mainly the cause. They don't understand that animals are living things that have feelings too. The son, (not Jacob) cusses already. He says the f word and so forth and he's only 4. But that's not the problem.

As for money, they should be good with vet bills, as my brother loves all his pets very much. I'm going to educate them about it, because most likely they're going to getrabbits for easter. And, what disgusted me the most, was that he wanted to get 4 rabbits! Not one to share, but 4! One for each child! Last spring he wanted to get four bunnies from our litter and we simply just sold them all to other people because we didn't want them to get hurt.

Emily

 

[Flashy]

If they show interest, get them to come to the forum and ask lots of questions and we can help them learn. Hopefully after that they would realise how much work they are.

 

[Aina]

How about you "complain" about how hard your rabbits are to take care of, and how you keep getting scratched and bit by them, how one wont quit spraying pee everywhere including into your face, how you let a rabbit run around and he chewed up an important cord or piece of paper, how you spend all your time cleaning up after them and hardly have time for yourself, ect. Don't act like you are trying to convince them, just complain to them so they wont think that owning a rabbit is such a great idea. If your family, aside from your brother, agrees with you and wont tell your brother or his family, then have them sorta join in and make sure they know that you actually do love your rabbits, you are just playing it up to make your brother reconsider having a rabbit.

 

[naturestee]

Make sure they know that rabbits have much more fragile bones than a cat or dog. If they throw a rabbit around like they do their chihuahua, they'll probably break it's back. It's unfortunately rather common and I've heard some horror stories of rabbits being picked up incorrectly, kicking hard, and breaking their backs. Or being dropped and breaking a leg.

Also talk about how if they get sick they need to see a vet, but not just any vet because the average cat/dog vet usually doesn't know how to treat a rabbit. They need special food (feeding any random crud will make them unhealthy... like any rabbit food sold at Walmart!) and pets should be spayed/neutered or they spray just like unneutered male cats.

They need lots of exercise but if you let a bunny run around without watching him, he'll probably chew on everything he shouldn't, including carpet and electrical cords.

Oh, and rabbits can get heat stroke at temps over 90 F, so they sometimes require a lot of care in summer to protect them from the heat.

I forget, but are your rabbits in a barn/shed? If so, and if they're looking to keep the rabbit in an outdoor hutch, tell them about how dangerous that can be. For example wandering predators such as dogs, cats, foxes, hawks, etc. can not only rip an improperly built hutch (or most of the pet store hutches) apart. The rabbit can also die from fear without even being touched.

Hopefully with enough info, you can convince them that a rabbit is too much work to bother with.

 

[PixieStixxxx]

Mention if they get four, they'll have to spay and neuter ALL of them since it would be obvious the children would put them together. Talk about how rabbits can have up to 8 babies in a litter. That's a good couple hundred right there to get them fixed. Talk about how if they decide not to get them fixed, they'll spray and poo everywhere.

If it's one for each child, definately mention that children should not ever pick up a rabbit since they can break =[

Would they have enough room to allow the rabbits to run around? My rabbit Spank chewed the cable wire, telephone cord, cell phone recharger, dvd cord, tore up the carpet in three different areas, and tore down the wallpaper ALL IN ONE NIGHT. Would they be tolerant of that? I almost got really mad at him =[

When I ask "A rabbit is a 10 year commitment. You son is 10 - would he still be looking after this bunny when he is 20?" Usually the parents say "No.. he would not", and I hint that maybe they shouldn't add to the homeless rabbit population - but instead, let this rabbit find it's forever home. I tend to education the parents who always decide that a rabbit is not a child's pet. Sometimes the parents get the rabbit for themselves instead =]

Definately give them a good lesson on buns! =]

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

That's a good idea, Flashy, but Im not sure if they have a computer or not???

Aina: They think rabbits don't scratch that much, because they've seen my bunnies and all, and they just think they're so cute. But yes, I will tell them that.

Naturestree: Very good point! I'll definitley tell them that. Yes our bunnies are in a shed. My brother said they will put the rabbits in a shed. But the only thing is that the shed doesn't have ANY trees, their land has NO trees on it. The shed isn't very good either, there's one shed that stays cold nicely in the summer because of a freezer.

Ok thanks.

 

[LadyBug]

ok, i'm not sure if this would work, but what if you give Lilly to Jacob andyour brother's ex-wife. so she'd like, stay there, away from the problems? don't know if that would work or not? good luck!

Anna

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

LadyBug, yes that'd work. But Id really hate to see Lily go all the way to Spokane which is 8 hours away from me. I'd never get to see her agin. Im not sure if Jacob can have a bunny, with three crazy dogs they have.

 

[welonheadmoo]

Sorry, don't have much to say except: poor Chihuahua.

Evil lil' kids. :grumpy:

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

welonheadmoo wrote:

Sorry, don't have much to say except: poor Chihuahua.

Evil lil' kids. :grumpy:

Yeah I know. Exactly lol. Jensing is such a sweet little dog, but she is really stressed and scared because of the little kids who torture her.

I do have an update on this matter; My brother was over the other day looking at our English Lop and my sister was telling them about their personalities, and he said "Well maybe, I should get a few of these for the kids..." Well my sister told him off a little bit, and so did my mom.

My sister told him they are NOT cuddly, even though they act like dogs, and their big feet are just WAY to powerful for little kids, etc. And my mom was telling him No, they're not good for little kids, etc.

My neice and nephews can't even handle OUR bunnies, so I don't see how my brother thinks his fiances' kids will be able to handle rabbits, because they're younger than my youngest nephew!

Plus, on top of that, my bro's fiance has a lot of medical problems, she can't walk anymore (i guess...?) and something else is wrong, so they'll be spending big bucks for hospital etc. So I don't think they will be getting bunnies any time soon, and if they do, I will tell them more about rabbits, and the commitment....

Emily

 

[trailsend]

That's what I would do - play up all the naughty things buns do and how hard they are to take care of. And if all else fails be honest about your feelings and say NO.

My sister takes care of her pets as do her kids, but they get bored easily and my neice who is eleven now really wants a rabbit - and I keep telling my sister no, it's way too much for her. She is not yet responsible, and my sister still cleans her hamster because my neice won't. I don't agree with her parenting techniques either. It takes a special kind of kid to have and properly care for a bun. and obviously you know that and are looking out for all buns

and that is terrible about their Chi.... I would never adopt a small dog into a family with small kids for the simple reason that not only are children often rough & irresponsible - adults are too! They should never have been allowed to handle that dog or any dog roughly and their mother is completely to blame. Hopefully you guys and your brother will help teach them proper respect and treatment of animals.

You are doing a good job!

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Thanks Trailsend.

Yeah luckily I think things have gotten better with the dog. They aren't allowed to mess with her as much. But before she was actually diagnosed with epilepsy, things were so bad with her, my mom was considering taking her in just for her well being (My mom LOVES chihuahuas, and Jensing is purebred) Anyhow, I'm definitley going to be the first one to lay down the facts when it comes to them making a decision on getting rabbits.

Emily

 

[EileenH]

It sounds like the crisis has been averted, but I liked the idea of playing up the bad side of what bunnies do.

I LOVE my guy, Gulliver, but I really had no work how much work and time he would require. Plus, he is litter box trained - in HIS cage -but, let him out & it's all over my house. He loves to pee in the kitchen. He's not a big chewer, but he nipped my laptop cord. This could eventually cost me. Not to MENTION when he jumped on me, knocked my wine glass all over my laptop - I got very lucky that I didn't need a new laptop!

Perhaps you could mention some of these stories over dinner one night? Feel free to share them.

And seriously, I wouldn't trade Gulliver for all the pee and poop in the world, I was just pointing out some of the "endearing" qualities rabbits sometimes have.