Daughter doesn't look after her rabbit. Best way to rehome?

[TheodoraLily]

Hi my daughter is 12 and doesn't look after her rabbit. She has even got to the point of lying and saying she has changed water/fed when she hasn't. The poor rabbit never comes out of his hutch.

Best way to rehome?

@MakeItStopNeville a domestic rabbit would last about 24 hours, if that, in the wild

I think what makeitstopneville is trying to say is that these animals should not have been domesticated in the first place. But they have Neville so it is up to people to make sure they are cared for properly and most owners do that.

Bloody hell flotsham, no need!

Pets at home are evil.
Rabbits shouldn't be in hutches. Or ideally, even a run, this depends on side of rabbit, security of garden, dogs etc.
They need space, and a sofa to flop on.
They're more like dogs and cats than piggies and hamsters.
I've only had one but they're brilliant animals when treated well.

And this thread demonstrates exactly why I will not buy my DC a pet. They will lose interest in approximately 3 days and I don't have the time, energy, money or enthusiasm to be taking on the looking after of another living creature. Especially not in the enriched, fulfilling way that pets deserve.

I am now feeling dreadful reading this thread as our bunnies mate died 18 months ago and as the one who passed away was always chasing and seemingly bullying my remaining rabbit I've not got another one(remaining rabbit has a lovely run and lots of toys,fresh nibbles and stroking every day)
Should I get another one and risk the bullying again??

Neville, you're entitled to your opinion but the same can be said for all pets including cats, dogs and horses. Humans have domesticated and kept pets for centuries.

My girl is getting spayed when she is big enough which will prevent the uterine cancer prevalent in her breed and so she doesn't die of natural causes at 4 years old after having copious litters from as young as 4 months old. Rabbits don't live long but a spayed domesticated rabbit can live 10+ years.

This is sad. We used to have a rabbit and he lived in a hutch but only overnight to keep him safe. During the day he had the run of the very safe enclosed garden and the house. He used to sit on the sofa and watch t.v. with us in the evenings. They are sociable and relish touch and attention, even more so than cats I think.

prampushing your bunny sounds just fine if he's getting a lot of love and stimulation. I wouldn't get another.

@prampushingdownthehighst
My rabbit is on his own, he attacks my daughters fluffy toys and things, and chases the magpies in the garden, so I'm not chancing him with live bait! 🤣

He has free roam of the garden in the summer and comes into the house in winter.
He's very happy with a fuss and a brush every day (he's long haired). Loves human interaction.

I don't think mine would do well with another one either.

You are the adult and should take responsibility for the pet you purchased.

If you wish to punish your DD for poor pet care, do that, eg withdraw screen time, pocket money or whatever. Unethical for you to make the rabbit’s life worse.

Those who have rabbits roaming the whole garden, how do you rabbit proof? We're countryside based and worry about foxes. We have no fencing but hedges instead which obviously aren't secure to small animals.

@OhFlipMama
My garden is walled all the way around, so nothing can get out or in.
We lost my dog last year and prior to that we used to put the rabbit in a run (just in case) when we went out. He enjoyed being able to graze and sunbathe in there, and we moved it to a different spot every week.
Not sure what you could do as they are notorious for digging under fences.
You also have to be careful what plants are around as some are poisonous to rabbits.

Thanks @LittleHares - we use a big run too, it's just a nice idea to have the freedom of the garden!

I would print out a rabbit stew recipe and leave it in the kitchen.

@spreadingcudweed yes I was a bit concerned about rats, particularly as we had a rat problem at the stables last winter, but I had a chat with the rabbit vet last week about it and they said not to worry. They both have their injections. I'm thinking of popping the bunnie's in their run once a week or so and letting the cats have a snoop round in their stable, just so we don't have any rats nesting in the straw burrows the bunnie's have made.

I'm more worried about stoats and weasels - we've had a few hens killed by them over the years and they'd get through the cage. I was thinking about fitting a piece of glass or Perspex behind the cage bit during autumn/winter when the predators get hungry.

For those asking about stopping digging, we're trying to construct a dig proof summer run in the corner of the garden. We put down a strong, solid mesh, then sprinkled grass seed and covered it with soil and compost. The photo is from the early days. It's now growing well and should be good by summer. I'm planning to put an old wooden half barrel full of soil in the run for her to get her digging fix. (I'm fairly new to this bunny keeping, so it's all trial and error at the moment).

Thanks Honeyroar that's very good to know! Funnily enough, we've never had a problem with vermin in the house when we've had gps or rabbits (perhaps it's a territory thing?) but now we no longer have them (all sadly deceased after long happy lives) the mice are attempting to move back in. I'm happy to know that the stable option might be possible for the future though; and really like the idea of your dig-proof run with "soil pit". Now that's dedication!

Oh fucking hell this thread has made me sick to my stomach , how can a person be so absolutely ignorant Jesus . That poor animal it just beggars belief . No fucking idea has she .
My rabbits lived long happy lives , freedom of garden all day , safety of hutch in garage via a cat flap at night , heat lamp in winter too . They would eat from my garden ,dig , play in the rain ,sleep in the sun . I loved them so much , all were rescue rabbits , someone else’s child’s forgotten pet .
Oh god this will keep me awake tonight now .

Dedication or madness! It's ridiculous really. All our animals have wonderful accommodation while we live in a half completed bomb site.

Same here Honeyroar!

Just as it should be. The dog has the newest curtains in the house in her bedroom.

This isn't something I would say lightly but what a cruel and lazy child. She would lie about something so simple and basic as giving her pet food and water? Surely she realises that it could die because of her lies?

When I was 12 I had full responsibility of a rabbit and a dog. I had begged for these animals for years so I had to take care of them. I got the rabbit when I was 8 and my parents helped me with cleaning him out but I fed him. And he wasn't in just a hutch! He had a shed and I let him in the garden daily.

I can't believe someone would get a living creature and not spend 10 minutes on fucking Google to see how to best care for it.

@redneck you must think you are so funny. What a dick you are....

GoldenMcOldie

I don’t, that’s how it works in our home. We have rabbits and chickens, and the kids know that they are also food. Last year the kids raised a pet turkey called Christmas.

There’s an awful lot of self righteous sanctimonious contributors on this thread. Give the op a break, they’re trying to do the right thing now. Not everybody blessed with knowledge of Hindsight. They’re not the first to get it wrong and they won’t be the last.

OP is not trying to do “the right thing”, she’s trying to do what’s easiest for her.