rehoming discussion

I was looking at one of the re-homing posts earlier and it got me wondering if the forum members think there are attributes that make certain buns more or less rehomable.

I know we have spoken before about agoutis being harder to rehome but I am wondering what else hinders a bun. I get the feeling that large buns may be overlooked, blue eyes or red eyes, large dewlaps.

I am also wondering why people care about these issues and less about breed issues such as inbred dental or cardiac problems?

When I (eventually!) decided to take Molly and Junior on, I remember Sooz saying she was pleased I took Molly because black buns are difficult to rehome.

I don't understand it myself because I think she's a pretty wee thing

I definitely think red eyes can put people off. And large dewlaps as you mention. There is a gorgeous little bun in my local pet shop at the moment - a big fluffy white Lionhead chap who I thought would be snapped up, but he's been there for weeks and I'm sure it's because of his red eyes

Yes, black bunnies are harder to rehome, often white ones are too. I've heard it said that Dutchies are difficult too.

And pairs are hard too - people often want a bun to go with an existing bun, but don't want a bonded pair.

Our hamster was an unsold girl in the P@H adoption place, apparently because she was white!

I find that hard to comprehend I adore Dutch bunnies, and I think black is a stunning colour.

Hudad adores black buns and red or blue eyed buns. He can't understand the prejudice of those silly humans who turn away

Humans have a habit of not looking past the appearance of someone or somebun. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think black bunnies are adorable as are white ones. But for me, I LOVE my agouti! And of all the bunnies I've had his shedded fur blends in best.

Find it strange that black buns would be hard to rehome. They usually look so sleek and lovely. I suppose people think agoutis are boring brown jobs, but I just love my two. As for Dutchies not being easy to rehome, that is madness. I just think of charlotte's Ratty and the infamous Timmy from another site. Both absolutely gorgeous.

So which buns are the quickest to find new homes?

Probably cute baby buns with floppy ears. That's what seems to sell in PAH

And I am assuming fluffy lionheads since they are still very often the ones you see in stores.

I personally would not want to rehome a floppy eared, lion headed rabbit as as daft as it sounds, I don't see them as 'real' rabbits. (of course I know they are and apologies if this offends) I just like uppy earred buns in natural colourings hence Tilly's greyish colour and my castor rexes are buns of choice. Vince just got away with it being a lop cross as his ears, for the most stick upright. Boo was a surprise in a box bun who I knew was black but turned out to be a rex

I think the floppy eared rabbit is sold as a misconception about the alleged cuddly cute nature of a rabbit. When people realsie what they have is a wild rabbit in a 'costume' they suddenly see it for what it is and it doesn't sit comfortably so they eventually end up neglected or in a rescue.

It's just down to preference I guess. A local rescue to me has 2 brother belgian hares in, if DH would allow I'd be there tmorrow to snap them up. I just love the Belgian Hare, but they have been there for a while now to the amazement of the rescue owner. Why do people not want them? Too wild and natural looking?

Interesting debate

Vince the bunny wrote:A local rescue to me has 2 brother belgian hares in, if DH would allow I'd be there tmorrow to snap them up. I just love the Belgian Hare, but they have been there for a while now to the amazement of the rescue owner. Why do people not want them? Too wild and natural looking?

Do Belgian hares not need masses of space being almost wild compared to the likes of us? I believe they do have some quite specific needs. Something your average human could not give.

They are very intelligent and do need lots of space to live and play. They are quite fragile too and I believe they are considered a giant breed. They are very specialist and \I would be very distressed if \I were to ever see one in P@H

I have ummed and ahhhhed for ages about bringing one home, same as I thought for ages about having a conti. The rescue that has the two brothers recommends a shed or avairy for them, I have an avairy 8ft by 3ft and a garden to run about in (made safe now by metal run panels that I can move about the perimeter of the garden). I couldn't bear to shut any rabbit in a hutch, even a 6ft one, let alone shut a Hare in one.

My mini rexes are an intelligent and agile breed and they do need more stimulation and exercise than my other trio.

I think black or white buns are seen as not "pretty" enough. It's the same with cats and dogs too. Lionheads are popular, I fell in love with my Ted as the only lionhead in his litter. With toffee pawz thought she had the best personality match with him.

Belgian hares are pretty specialist. Pawz had one a while back and I was v tempted!

It would seem certain rabbits with spots in funny places are less desirable too
Such a shame Hughie has had so little interest Hes doing fab now, ive seen a noticeable difference in him. Apart from a last vet check, hes ready and raring to go to his forever home. Im really getting sick of seeing buns being bought from pet shops and breeders now, the rescue situation seems worse than ever. So many buns needing forever homes and so many more needing rescue spaces that just arent there

I cant understand why any bun gets over looked, they all have something special about them. I could maybe understand dental buns/special needs buns being overlooked, but when it comes to eye colour, coat colour/pattern etc its just ridiculous!

marleyNfriends wrote:. Im really getting sick of seeing buns being bought from pet shops and breeders now, the rescue situation seems worse than ever. So many buns needing forever homes and so many more needing rescue spaces that just arent there

since i have been helping at a rescue I have really begun to appreciate this. In the last 2 days, 2 different people have said how somene they know (family) wants to rehome their bun If they invested in their bunny, got it a friend, gave it something to do, more space, spent more time with it, maybe they would fall back in love with it

I always said that if I ever got another bun I would go for one that looked as much like a wildie as possible, following some advice from J C in an issue of hopping mad.

After having so many inbred problems with Daisy I just didn't want to risk that in another bun.

However, it was love at first sight with C&A . It wasn't because of the way they looked, it was because of the way they looked at me, and he way they looked at each other

I think Annie is just so very pretty, with her pink eyes and I really don't understand why these buns are overlooked.

I agree with above, I wish people would understand that a bun isn't about looks - you get out of your bun what you put in - whatever they look like.

perhaps there is too much choice with the different breed available?

Hmmm, I know I chose the mini lop because of the size, and because I love their little faces, I wanted a buck because I intend to get him a bunny friend later on, and I read that it was easier to introduce a new bunny to a male, with the colour I just really liked the beige, and it just so happened that the breeder I'd found had a beige buck, so that was luck I guess, if she hadn't had a beige buck I'd just have gotten a different colour.

Animals with red eyes used to creep me out a little, but then I got my mouse, Lolita (pic) and since then it hasn't bothered me, it's weird.

But as much as we could say people should focus more on how they connect with a bun or it's personality, at the end of the day when you're on a rescue site the thing that's going to make you click on a rabbit in the first place is how it looks, it's human nature

I was the same as you Katie and got rabbits as close to wildies after having too many buns with dental problems through poor breeding. A certain amount is luck, but you can try to minimise problems where possible.

Although you can get too close to wild - can you guess who I'm thinking of?

Despite being incredibly highly strung and not at all friendly Flo is really very healthy. I keep expecting her to have a heart attack or a massive stasis episode but she doesn't. She has had one dental at a point in her life where she was not getting enough natural grazing. Other than that and her war wound this bout of sore hocks is the first illness she has had in 5 years which is not bad at all. Especially seeing as it would now appear that she has been living with a pasturella carrier all that time. She seems incredibly stressy in a way that you would think is unhealthy in a domesic bun but she still produces the most perfect looking poos so there is clearly no knock on to her digestive system. I can tell that she is feeling slightly crook with the anivac injection this evening though as she has allowed me to give her nose rubs - yes plural. And on several different attempts.

And you've got all your fingers!

Sasha eats so much hay. So she shouldn't have any dental problems but you never know. She fills her tray with great big golden poos.

When Mike and I use to help out at a rabbit rescue white rabbits with pink or red eyes, black rabbits, agouti ( people thought they looked to much like wild rabbits) were all overlooked, beautiful white lionhead crosses were also overlooked. Also old bunnies are overlooked.

Our Sox and Henry were in rescue for a good few months and we ended up having them. Most people coming in the rescue to rehome a rabbit just wanted a single bunny or one to bond with their own bunny.

Most of our buns were not wanted or dumped or just abused

Even guinea pigs with red eyes would be overlooked as some people referred to them as having 'demon' eyes

If I was to lose Nibbler and I was going to rehome, I know I'd definitely want a pair. The way me and my OH got Nibbler was quite odd (just given to us by my OH's dad who had been given Nibbler from a family friend. We went out for a meal for his birthday and came back with Nibbler, it was that sudden.) and I knew literally nothing about rabbits before getting him. I do want to rehome a single rescue bun at the moment, but that's because I have a single bun at home. I think part of it is not understanding or knowing a bunny's needs when people first take them on. I certainly wouldn't be taking on a single bun again unless I was at home full time because I feel even now I'm not giving Nibbler as much attention as I should, because I have to leave and go to work. That's not to say he's not getting love and attention, I just worry too much and want him to be the happiest bun he can be.

I really don't understand the need for your bun to look a certain way. When I do get Nibbler a bunfriend it's going to be because of their personality I adopt, not because of how she is going to look. It shocks me that people approach rescue's and have a certain fit about what they are after. I would have thought if you were adopting from a rescue you would be doing it because you appreciate what it is to rescue rather than buy.