What to do about this rabbit?
About a week ago, I drove up and saw a white rabbit sitting in my yard. Now, I live in town so we don’t see a lot of rabbits in our yards at all. I approached it and it let me come relatively close to it. Over the past week it has let me feed it, pet it, comes to me when I shake the salad bag, and even let me pick it up once.
This is definitely someones pet. Wild rabbits don’t act like that. I was thinking that I would bring it in. It honestly didn’t mind when I picked it up, although when I tried to put it in my cat’s small carrier cage (the entrance was only slightly bigger than the rabbit) it didn’t like that so I put it down. I figured it I just brought it in it would be ok, I have a large dog cage to keep it in for the time being.
What is your opinion on what to do with this rabbit? I am pretty sure it belongs to someone and I am going to run an ad in the paper once I bring it in. What should I put in the cage to make it feel comfortable? I am afraid a stray cat will get it or it will get hit by a car, so I want to make sure that it is safe. Since it is a domesticated animal, could it survive in the wild? It’s been doing ok so far, but I’ve been feeding it and it will snow here pretty soon.
If no one claims it, I am debating whether to keep it. I have a cat and am getting a dog. Money is tight. I may keep it, but if I don’t should I turn it in to the SPCA or try to find a home for it on my own? I’ve never had a pet rabbit, so I’m really new to this!
Please give me some guidance!
Tagged with: domesticated animal • guidance • money • pet rabbit • rabbit • rabbits • spca • stray cat • white rabbit • wild rabbits
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Unfortunately, people are often abandoning domesticated pets, particularly rabbits, because they can no longer care for them or simply "get tired" of them. If I were you I would take the rabbit in, and if you don’t have time or space for taking care of him, you could give him to a shelter? Otherwise it sounds like you’d be a very good rabbit owner!
If whoever’s rabbit this used to be could not offer it enough care to merely keep it in a warm home, or inside a sheltered hutch, then chances are that the bunny would be better off with you than with them.
For now, I’d put the rabbit in a large carrier or enclosure like a playpen in your home (since it will be snowing there soon) and make sure it’s occupied and warm. If you go with a dog carrier, put a towel or blanket on the bottom so the bunny has some traction for walking around.
You’re also definitely right in assuming another animal, car, or some other sort of peril would get to it. I’m surprised, frankly, that it’s lived up until now. So good job in feeding it, that probably is what kept him alive. Once a rabbit is domesticated (and even the undomesticated ones), the likelihoods of it surviving for just another month are extremely low, so you should definitely take him in.
I’m going to guess that he didn’t like being in the carrier because often times rabbits associate kennels with going to the vet, or in this rabbit’s case, possibly being abandoned (the owners probably took it to a park in a kennel and set it loose there).
Your story made me smile
. It’s really beautiful that you’re going to do something about this instead of let the poor bunny die.
You should probably bring it in, because it won’t be able to keep itself alive outside for much longer. Make sure it has fresh water and a burrow to sleep in.
bring bunny home post papers saying found rabbit if no calls keep him its really not that much to take care of a runny babbit :3
yeah ask around im sure someone is looking for it
when i lost my rabbit i was hysterical and so happy when someone found it:) they phoned the local radio who announced it
if it doesnt want to go in the cage its probably because it feels too restricted and wants to run around. you could possibly find a room in you house to let it run around – no dangers there, as long as you sort out all the wires and make sure there is nothing that it cant eat that will harm it.
also, rabbits are not expensive compared to dogs and cats, so i would say keep it (i would because i would become to attatched to it!). that way, you know it will be well looked after, and after all its been through, it will be able to get settled. if you need any tips, email me – i’d love to help.
good luck
xx
I would take it in especially if it is cold outside.They can handle hot weather but need to be in a barn or home in the winter. Rabbits need to be in wire bottom cages so there feet don’t get infections. Use pine on the bottom (cedar can cause upper respiratory infections) and see if it will use a litter box. Of course you want to feed rabbit food, and keep fresh water in a hanger bottle.
It sounds like it is definately a domesticated rabbit. I reckon you should bring it inside or itll get cold. Buy some greens like lettuce and carrots. Dandelions will do aswell. Give it water, food and warmth then the rabbit will be ok until you find a home for it… If you decide to keep the rabbit here is a list of stuff youll need… hay, straw or sawdust, food, water, a safe home, a couple of chew toys to keep the teeth healthy, and lots of love!
If it is not a wild rabbit, than it will not survive outside for very long. Since you have already taken it inside, I would keep it there.
If it is someones rabbit, they are most likely looking for it. Place non descriptive ads(allow someone to call and identify, as you don’t want someone looking for snake food, or a free rabbit). Hang a few posters around the neighborhood, put an ad in the paper, and call your local shelters and let them know you have found a rabbit( a lot of people call shelters to see if someone turned in their pet).
I believe most laws state that you must let your SPCA know you have found an animal before you can legally claim it as your own. However, most people are not going to know that you found the rabbit and didn’t buy it.
If you do decide to keep the rabbit, be aware that they are higher maintenance pets. They requite a large cage, and a lot of time out of that cage per day. You should look at a few websites and books to see if a rabbit is the right pet for your life style. With all the work, expense, etc that goes into the care of my rabbit, I still love having him, but that is because the pros outweigh the expense and other negative that come with keeping him
you should keep it because what if this rabbit doesent get GOOD care? to keep a good cage get food bowl ,watter bottle or bowl , u can use hay or a blanket ……..or u should put up signs that u found a rabbit …he will make a wonderful pet because ive owned alout of dem
Wild rabbits are brown so it’s definitely someones pet. However, sadly enough, people who don’t want their rabbits anymore will just let them go outside so I doubt anyones looking for it. If you keep it, they need pellets and timothy hay, plenty of water and clean litter (not cat litter, pine shavings or paper litter). Rabbits can be litter box trained too, mine are. And please don’t buy a wire bottom cage if you decide to keep it.
It probably wont survive in the wild long, he’s lucky to have made it this long. Plus, there are a lot of diseases rabbits can get from being outside, flees included…so keep him inside.
My two rabbits were adopted from a shelter, so there are people out there looking to give them good homes. You could keep it as a foster parent until someone wants it, or you can give it to a shelter. From my experience, he sounds like a nice rabbit, you might want to get him a vet check-up and keep him.
Also if you keep it, you’ll need to find out if it’s fixed and rabbits really should be spayed or neutered for health reasons and that can cost close to $150…so be prepared.