I'm curious as to your opinions.
I'm the happy owner of Hektor and Mimi. Hektor was my first bunny and I've had him for 4 years (I bought him from a local pet store when he was around 10 weeks old). Mimi was a foster bun that ended up staying with me. I've had her for 2.5 years but the vets think she's about the same age as Hektor.
I do foster work with bunnies through the local humane society and through the community (I've taken bunnies that people didn't want anymore and cared for them until I found them a new home). I find the foster work to be rewarding but demanding; I have to care for the foster bunny and try to socialize them while at the same time not neglect my buns. Sometimes the foster buns need medical care and, if they're not fosters I got through the humane society, I usually end up paying for vet visits and meds out of pocket. The problem I've come across recently is that no one wants bunnies. One of the pet stores in town hasn't sold a rabbit in over a month. There are currently 9 rabbits the local humane society which is a huge number, esp. considering that it's not Easter season (the society usually has 2-5). I'm currently fostering a rabbit who had a head tilt; I took him to the vet, got him meds, gave him injections for 2 weeks and, while he still has the head tilt, it's no longer progressing and he eats/plays/cleans/poops/etc. like a normal bunny. He's such a wonderful rabbit, but I don't have room or time for him to become a permanent part of my home (I tried introducing him to Hektor and Mimi but that didn't go so well). He will soon have to go to the humane society, but I'm worried that, with the large number of rabbits at the society and his history of medical problems, he might be put down when space becomes an issue.
My question is: is it responsible to foster bunnies when you know you can't keep them and you know you may not find a home for them? On one hand I saved his life; on the other, I can't provide for him and I may not be able to promise him a stable, loving home, ever.
I'm really upset by this situation (it's made worse by the fact that someone I know dropped a rabbit off at my work for me to take care of because their kids caught it; it's clearly a domestic bunny (sable-point lop) and she's really, really friendly. They advertised for the owners but it's been at least 2 months since the bunny showed up in their back yard so either the bunny got a long way from home or the owners don't want her anymore. Problem is, she's COVERED in ticks. All over. She's supposed to go to the humane society tomorrow but I want to make sure that they'll treat her and not just see another rabbit that needs massive medical care = euthanize the bunny. But if they say that they may not treat her ... then do I keep her and pay for her to go to the vet and try to find her a good home? What if I can't find her a good home?).
I'm the happy owner of Hektor and Mimi. Hektor was my first bunny and I've had him for 4 years (I bought him from a local pet store when he was around 10 weeks old). Mimi was a foster bun that ended up staying with me. I've had her for 2.5 years but the vets think she's about the same age as Hektor.
I do foster work with bunnies through the local humane society and through the community (I've taken bunnies that people didn't want anymore and cared for them until I found them a new home). I find the foster work to be rewarding but demanding; I have to care for the foster bunny and try to socialize them while at the same time not neglect my buns. Sometimes the foster buns need medical care and, if they're not fosters I got through the humane society, I usually end up paying for vet visits and meds out of pocket. The problem I've come across recently is that no one wants bunnies. One of the pet stores in town hasn't sold a rabbit in over a month. There are currently 9 rabbits the local humane society which is a huge number, esp. considering that it's not Easter season (the society usually has 2-5). I'm currently fostering a rabbit who had a head tilt; I took him to the vet, got him meds, gave him injections for 2 weeks and, while he still has the head tilt, it's no longer progressing and he eats/plays/cleans/poops/etc. like a normal bunny. He's such a wonderful rabbit, but I don't have room or time for him to become a permanent part of my home (I tried introducing him to Hektor and Mimi but that didn't go so well). He will soon have to go to the humane society, but I'm worried that, with the large number of rabbits at the society and his history of medical problems, he might be put down when space becomes an issue.
My question is: is it responsible to foster bunnies when you know you can't keep them and you know you may not find a home for them? On one hand I saved his life; on the other, I can't provide for him and I may not be able to promise him a stable, loving home, ever.
I'm really upset by this situation (it's made worse by the fact that someone I know dropped a rabbit off at my work for me to take care of because their kids caught it; it's clearly a domestic bunny (sable-point lop) and she's really, really friendly. They advertised for the owners but it's been at least 2 months since the bunny showed up in their back yard so either the bunny got a long way from home or the owners don't want her anymore. Problem is, she's COVERED in ticks. All over. She's supposed to go to the humane society tomorrow but I want to make sure that they'll treat her and not just see another rabbit that needs massive medical care = euthanize the bunny. But if they say that they may not treat her ... then do I keep her and pay for her to go to the vet and try to find her a good home? What if I can't find her a good home?).