1. 

   phoo
   

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   This is adopt a rabbit month and Seattle Animal Shelter is celebrating by waiving adoption fees on all rabbits adopted February 13th through 17th. This is significant because the adoption fees are about to (or already have) go up. I believe rabbits are going to be $40-45 now, but they'll all be microchipped. The critter department is full up on rabbits, so there are plenty to choose from, plus more that are in foster homes.

   Rabbits aren't for everyone, but they can make very good house pets. They naturally prefer a corner to potty in and all the rabbits at SAS have a litter pan. Bunnies are not happy living in a small cage for long periods of time, but need room to romp around in. Even the rabbits that are in a kennel get time out in a play pen and they reward us for their playtime by doing happy bunny dances!

   For more specifics about the special at SAS, here is the link: http://www.seattle.gov/news/detail.asp?ID=13394

   To learn more about rabbits as pets, here is a great resource: http://www.rabbit.org/care/new-bunny-index.html

   Posted 3 months ago #
2. 

   PDaddymom
   

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   Phoo - I have thought many times about adding a bunny to my household. My concerns: 1. cords - I would have to cover them as bunnies are huge cord chewers, correct? 2. Cat - I have heard that bunnies are dominant over cats, but, can I trust them alone together or would I have to always cage the bunny when I am gone. 3. Do bunnies travel well, or, is it cruel to leave a bunny in a cage for 3 days while I am in pdx for a few days visiting my BF? I should probably ask the shelter these questions, but thought maybe you were a bunny expert since you started this thread :-)

   Posted 3 months ago #
3. 

   phoo
   

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   Yes, you absolutely have to rabbit proof a room, especially any cords. Watching them is not enough as they can be fast and electricity deadly.

   Cats and bunnies... I don't know specifically myself, but I'd say it depends on the rabbit. Some of them are approved to be with cats (those that came from cat households) and some are not. You'd have to introduce them gradually as you would any two animals. You might read up on it more over at www.rabbit.org

   It's best to hire a rabbit sitter if you're going to be away. They won't have to do much, just feed them and let them out to play for an hour. As for whether 3 days is ok, I am not sure. It also depends how large or small their cage is. I wouldn't recommend traveling with them for a 3 day trip. Prey animals don't like their environment to change and it takes them some time to adjust. Heck, even cats don't really like it.

   BTW, it's usually best to adopt bunnies in pairs as they keep each other company, though you can get just one if it will get lots of daily attention.

   I am more of a guinea pig person, but much of that translates over to rabbits. I have worked with rabbits a bit, I am just not an expert. I know of a couple rabbit people on here, so perhaps they can chime in with better answers.

   Posted 3 months ago #
4. 

   lifeisamazing
   

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   This absolutely gives me a sick stomach every time they do this. Even if they were to lower the prices to 10 dollars each they could do what they are setting out to do and still protect the rabbits from the dangers of being "free" animals.

   http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/animal_adoption/free_pets.php

   If you feel strongly about this please send emails and call them to ask them to reconsider. It doesn't do any good to find them homes if the homes aren't homes at all.

   Posted 3 months ago #
5. 

   phoo
   

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   lia, I normally agree with you. However, the critter department will have extra staff available during this time to screen people. Folks looking for rabbit meat are usually fairly easy to screen out. It's not perfect (and I wish space recommendations were requirements for critters), but people are usually pretty good at figuring out when something hinky is up. I think the weakness is when critter volunteers aren't around and someone wants to adopt. They still fill out the paperwork and staff may detect something hinky, but there aren't enough staff and they have less contact with the potential adopter.

   One of my objections to "free" is whether the adopter will be willing or able to get vet care for their animal, and this is still a concern with this event.

   Posted 3 months ago #
6. 

   lifeisamazing
   

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   Even asking 10 dollars would solve the problem with the meat and bait seekers and if someone can't afford 10 dollars then they really can't afford a pet.

   Posted 3 months ago #
7. 

   lifeisamazing
   

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   And I have to say. People - and there are more out their living normal lives than we think- on the sociopathic scale are not possible to spot in an hour long interview. I know, I almost married one. Their skills rival anyone on screen.

   Posted 3 months ago #
8. 

   Jules
   

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   I have a rabbit, who lives indoors in the lap of luxury. Rabbits are uber clean, hyper-groomers who make cats seem like slobs. She uses a litter box filled with compressed newspaper pellets and hay, which I buy once a month at Rabbit Haven out on Lake City. She doesn't eat alfalfa pellets, which can lead to obesity. She eats (in order of preference) kale, organic spring mix, curly lettuce, with the occasional parsley, Italian parsley or watercress. Apples and carrots are given as treats, as are the occasional craisin.

   Unlike cats or dogs, you have to feed rabbits FRESH food at all times. Rabbits are nOT a cheap pet; vet bills for rabbits can be more than for other pets, and there only a few rabbit vets around. (North Seattle Animal Clinic, Exotic Pets on Aurora.)

   That said, I love my bunny! Love her! She is very affectionate. HOWEVER, unlike cats or dogs, most rabbits HATE to be picked up,so are not very suitable for small children. They are quite fragile, and do tend to chew on things. (I learned the hard way....one coat and two sweaters later.) Initially she lived in a big dog X--Pen on a big area rug in the living room...now she has free range, except for the bedroom, where there is a baby gate. She tends to hang out in "Her area" a lot of the time.

   RAbbits are NOT low-maintance pets, like hamsters. THe litterbox needs to be dumped every day (into the compost! Yay!) and rinsed out, I spend a lot of time and $$$ at the grocery store, and vacummning, as they shed 4 x a year. IF you are NOT home a lot, rabbits should be in bonded pairs, as they are very social animals who need a lot of interaction and love. They also need toys (baby rattles, plastic cups,etc. and things to chew like apple twigs.)

   I don't want to discourage anyone for getting a rabbit, or a bonded pair. They are lovely, suprising, affectionate pets. (AND NO, you CANNOT leave them for 3 days without a petsitter...and NO, they do not like to travel in cars, anymore than most cats like a relaxing bubble bath.) In some respects, they are like dogs...would you leave your dog for a weekend without a pet sitter? In some respects, they are like tiny little horses.

   Anyone thinking of getting a rabbit should go to the website houserabbitsociety.com or check out the adoptions at Special Bunny.

   Posted 3 months ago #
9. 

   Jules
   

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   I want to add that I LOVE LOVE LOVE my bunny....she comes when she is called,sits under the table every morning and "grooms" my feet while I read the paper,and gives me millions of bunny kisses. RAbbits are clean, quiet, and affectionate pets.

   Anyone thinking about adopting a bunny, or a pair, keep in mind that these rabbits should be housed INDOORS, as members of your family. Rabbits can live 8-12 years, unlike hamsters (but like dogs or cats.) Rabbits are the third most surrendered pets, after dogs and cats. And idiots who set their pet rabbits "free" in parks are condeming them to a hideous death...the average life span of a pet rabbit set "free" is 24 hours. You might as well set your poodle free in the North Cascades to fend for itself.

   Check out the website Special Bunny for info, or the House Rabbit Society. Or, for the expat Brits, the very excellent British page, A Hutch Is Not Enough.

   Posted 3 months ago #
10. 

    gordy
    

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    My mother lives in Hillbilly land and many years ago found a live very young rabbit under her parked car. Apparently someone had abandoned it, as no owner ever came forward. A rabbit rescue group told her the bunny should be spayed (higher incidence of cancer in intact rabbits) and how to care for it. "Sabrina" was spayed and lived five or six years in a deluxe hutch on the front porch and had a great life. I'd adopt a rabbit but the dog is a bit too prey driven.

    Posted 3 months ago #
11. 

    Ernie
    

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    You might as well set your poodle free in the North Cascades to fend for itself.

    FWIW, I wouldn't underestimate a poodle in that situation.

    Posted 3 months ago #
12. 

    Oly
    

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    How are these rabbits for eating?

    Posted 3 months ago #
13. 

    phoo
    

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    Oly: Pets aren't recommended for eating and SAS is unlikely to adopt you a pet bunny to eat.

    Posted 3 months ago #
14. 

    Jules
    

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    Would you eat your cat?

    Posted 3 months ago #
15. 

    lifeisamazing
    

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    I went to the woodland park rabbit area a few years ago and a rabbit walked right up and let me pick him up. He'd been beaten up pretty badly by the other rabbits poor thing.

    Clearly someone had dumped him off very recently. What? they thought the feral rabbits there were going to welcome him with open arms? Idiots!

    I took him home to think about what to do. Of course first take him to the shelter on the off chance that he was a loved pet and had been stolen and dumped but I wanted to think about whether or not I could keep him if he wan't chipped and no one came forward. Unfortunately, I wasn't ready to take on a rabbit no matter how sweet.

    Posted 3 months ago #
16. 

    phoo
    

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    lia: Recently a bunny was picked up in a park. While it's true that dumping a bunny in a park is a bad thing for a domesticated animal, this case was worse. The rabbit was in a cage, hidden off the beaten track. Not even put out in the open for someone to find, but shoved in the bushes in a less trafficked part of the park (I'm not sure which park). IIRC this is the bunny that is blind because an eye infection was so severe, she may yet have to have an eye removed. I can't remember whether it is also deaf. She is a heck of a snuggler. It's amazing she survived the lack of food, as bunnies are designed to have food going through them at all times.

    Posted 3 months ago #
17. 

    phoo
    

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    The rabbit adoption was a success! We started with 23, count them, 23 bunnies all in that small room and 13 of them were adopted within 2 days. There were extra volunteers so we could screen everyone well and answer lots of questions.

    No less than 4 people came in yesterday to look at the cute baby guinea pigs, so they will probably be adopted soon. Two of them looked to be good homes and two of them got the information they needed to make a different choice of pet for their children (which I count as much of a success as an adoption!).

    Posted 3 months ago #
18. 

    Jules
    

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    IN A CAGE? Basically, left to die. And die a horrible, prolonged, agonizing death. Is there no depth of depravity humans will not stoop to when it comes to animals? Rabbit Haven and Special Bunny, both rescue organizations, try their best to rescue unwanted rabbits. I know Special Bunny has about 80 and Rabbit Haven has 700. That is not a typo.

    Posted 3 months ago #
19. 

    lifeisamazing
    

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    Fun animals to get for Easter. Put them in the basket for your kids. And, also, they're perfect animals to get to see if your kid is ready to take care of a dog. The best thing about them is that they're easy to care for. You can put them in a hutch and as long as they have food and water they're good.

    Change happens slowly but the more awareness that is tossed around out there, dispelling this kind of thinking, the more "acceptable behavior" changes. So keep posting and talking.

    Posted 3 months ago #
20. 

    phoo
    

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    lia: Until VERY recently, the zoo's description of the rabbits in the "family farm" petting zoo described them as great sources of meat and fur. No mention of pets.

    Jules: Some people don't want to be "bothered" going to a shelter (which has specific hours), or perhaps they have very blatantly failed in the care of the animal which is obviously suffering from neglect and they don't want the shelter/government to see what they've done. Who knows, maybe a child was told to get rid of it and they stashed the cage hoping to come back later (which never happened). I know just at SAS when they are closed, people have come to the door and INSIST on surrendering the animal, cause she's cold, old, whatever. When you tell them you just can't do it, they sneak around to the other door and just plain leave the carrier outside with the animalthat was too cold and old to come back another day.

    Posted 3 months ago #
21. 

    lifeisamazing
    

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    Didn't know that about the zoo's description.

    That's how my mom got one of her dogs.
    When the workers came to the shelter in the morning to open up they found an old as dirt, fat, almost deaf, partially blind medium sized dog tied to the front door with no bed food or water.
    It was NOT a no kill shelter. My mom happened to go in to look at dogs when this one's time was up and she became her sweet silly waddling Daisy.
    She only had her for 2 or 3 years but what a lovely addition to both of their lives life.

    Posted 3 months ago #
22. 

    cvn66
    

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    Phoo- where did you see that information on the zoo's rabbits? I have been a zoo volunteer for the last 9 years and worked with the rabbits for 5 of them and I have never seen anything describing what you are saying. It has been a point of contention with me that all they have is 1 sign which basically provided little to no information.

    Posted 3 months ago #
23. 

    phoo
    

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    cvn66: It was on their website. It must be a bit out of the way because it was another SAS volunteer who found it. I doubt it is still there after it was brought to the Zoo's attention.

    Posted 3 months ago #

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