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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

We've been turned down as adopters of rabbits (but not of children!)

143 replies

Somerville · 24/07/2018 22:35

Apparently, we don't meet the criteria for suitable adopters from our local bunny rescue. Sad
I don't know whether I'm more annoyed or amused!

DH is definitely annoyed... he wanted to do the right thing and get a suitable pair who need a new home, rather than exacerbating, in a small way, the trade for baby bunnies.

I've barely talked him down from sending a very arsey email attaching all the approvals we gained for him to adopt my older children recently. Grin

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Original poster
Somerville · 24/07/2018 23:41

Don't tease me with a cute LeporidaeDomesticus, LeporidaeDomesticus. That's just mean! Grin

OP posts:
crunchymint · 24/07/2018 23:47

They must have thought you were not going to care for them appropriately. Rabbits are quite hard to look after so they live their full life span.

LeporidaeDomesticus · 24/07/2018 23:55

Yeah, sorry, couldn’t help myself. He’s sitting near me now, getting ready to go to sleep behind the couch. We’re both rooting for you.

crunchymint · 24/07/2018 23:58

And rabbits should never be kept alone lepor

Original poster
Somerville · 25/07/2018 00:20

Yes of course they think that, Crunchy since they're desperate for adopters and don't want us. But I'd expect assessments like that to be based on the evidence in front of them, and we're experienced and devoted pet-owners pet-slave in DH's case including of long-lived rabbits.

OP posts:
LeporidaeDomesticus · 25/07/2018 00:22

I’m aware that rabbits are ideally kept with other rabbits, CM. I can also tell the difference between a happy one and a sad one. Ours shows no signs of distress, and every indication of being pleased with his situation.

We knew he was a bit of a loner when we got him (or as much of a loner as a highly social animal can be). They do have different personalities; even the people at the shelter told us that, suggesting that certain of their charges might be happier on their own.

AudreyBillingham · 25/07/2018 00:26

Could the person who did your home check hold some sort of grudge Hmm

pennycarbonara · 25/07/2018 00:33

You do hear about this though, Audrey. People who have previous experience with animals, are nice and have good homes being rejected from adopting animals because of some obscure criterion which isn't even the same as what another rescue would expect. Some places seem to have got incredibly strict in recent years.
If it's something to do with the house or garden people can sometimes be accepted after making alterations.

Notsurprisedatall · 25/07/2018 00:33

It will be because you have young children, we were turned away for a cat because we had a 4 yr old.

Original poster
Somerville · 25/07/2018 00:39

If it's something to do with the house or garden people can sometimes be accepted after making alterations.

Seriously? People make alterations to their garden or even their house?
I'd like a couple of rabbits but I'm not building an extension to get them!

We think it must be the baby. Bit late to hand him back; though a rabbit would be quieter.

OP posts:
thegrinningfox · 25/07/2018 00:44

Somerville I hear you. I despair at how rescues drive people away from them. It has happened to me with cats and dogs.

pennycarbonara · 25/07/2018 00:47

I meant things that are the equivalent of childproofing around the house, or boarding up spaces between bannisters, or putting higher fences in gardens. I don't think anyone would expect an extension for a pet!

A baby does seem the most likely reason.

AnotherOriginalUsername · 25/07/2018 07:23

Why don't you just ask them?

NicoAndTheNiners · 25/07/2018 07:37

Maybe with small children they think you won't have time for rabbits.

Synecdoche · 25/07/2018 07:56

One rescue charity turned me down after discovering my crate was 4cm too short to meet their specifications. Bearing in mind this is for a house rabbit and the XXL dog crate (with DIY fitted shelves and platforms!) would only be used to contain her before she was trained and used to having the run of the whole house!!

So I went to a different rescue and they were fine with it.

Thousands of rabbits are waiting for homes all over the UK and I really did think they could have used their common sense more when someone genuine comes along.

continuallychargingmyphone · 25/07/2018 08:02

I had this when I wanted to adopt a dog. I understand they have to have strict criteria but how many people are there who don’t work, never go away, have a big garden and no children?

I ended up going through a breeder.

BigChocFrenzy · 25/07/2018 08:10

Somerville I suppose you didn't leave Sainsbury's diced rabbit on the kitchen worktop, defrosting for supper ?
Or licked your lips looking at pictures of prospective adoptees ?
Chocolate bunnies around ?

They might have suspected your intentions weren't entirely honourable.

It must be quite tricky placing a rabbit.
At least with cats & dogs, not much chance they end up lightly braised with onions & garlic.

Original poster
Somerville · 25/07/2018 10:20

bigchoc 😂

Glad to know this isn’t just us!

OP posts:
NoelHeadbands · 25/07/2018 10:26

Have you had a house visit?

Was there a half empty wine glass left casually on the side at 10:30 in the morning?

Photo evidence that you used to play fast and loose with old Marie Joanna in your yoot? Hmm?

Nesssie · 25/07/2018 10:28

They may be generalising that older adopted children often have traumatic backgrounds and that this wouldn't be a suitable household for rabbits - WOW

But back to the op, we were also turned down for adopting rabbits despite having rabbits for decades. For all silly thing tbh. So frustrating that they bang on about needing homes and then pass up on good ones!
We wanted (and are still looking for) a single male, middle aged rabbit. They fawned over us when we enquired as apparently no one wants that specific demographic so they had lots waiting. Then decided our 5ft high fence round the pond wasn't high enough, needed 6ft (even though they are always supervised when running free in the garden). We decided it probably wasn't reasonable to pay for a whole new fence...

Ihavenoideaatall · 25/07/2018 10:28

Placemark ingredients just so I can find out what the letter said 🐇🐰

Ihavenoideaatall · 25/07/2018 10:30

WTF! Placemarking!!! No ingredients needed - no plans to make any rabbit stew!

Original poster
Somerville · 25/07/2018 10:31

Yes, we had a home visit. (My mother was like “they’re checking your house FOR A RABBIT? Just buy one in a pet shop!”)

OP posts:
liverbird10 · 25/07/2018 10:38

They obviously saw through your evil rabbit-murdering plans, OP. 🐇

ScrumpyCrack · 25/07/2018 10:42

I’m a foster parent for rescue buns and have to vet potential new parents Smile

I’d guess it’s down to the 1 year old. Most rabbits in my care have had a traumatic existence so far and so they often have behavioural and/or health problems. This can be exacerbated by being in a lively environment and so I’d specify in their blurb that they’ll need a quiet house with an experienced rabbit handler.

Another reason may be that you’ve mentioned a holiday soon. I wouldn’t place buns with anyone who was going away soon and I’d quiz what arrangements you had in place for their care for any future holidays too.

A lot of rescue buns need regular medication administering to them and vet trips. Again, if you’ve requested a bonded pair and the only pair I had needed regular check ups, I’d only put them with an experienced owner in a child-free environment and I’d need to be sure that they could keep up with the vet trips.

Some buns will only be placed with new parents if they’ll be kept as house rabbits too. This could, again, be down to health needs but also just because that’s how they were kept before arriving at the rescue.

A lot of people see rabbits as a hamster-type pet to stick in a cage, feed, handle and play with. This couldn’t be further from the reality. They can be more high maintenance than dogs and very difficult to care for. They should never be handled, they can get seriously ill from the slightest change in diet or environment, they can die from boredom and loneliness and they love routine. With the right bun-parents though, they’re the most wonderful creatures (IMO) but you do have to put a lot of effort in to get the most out of them.

I’d suggest getting a couple of guinea pigs. They’re much lower maintenance and great entertainment!