It just seems like fate...

[eepster]

If you have gone to the trouble of stalking me, you know that DH and I have been discussing getting a house bunny that would nominally be DS's (in reality, I know I'm the one who's going to be hutch) for many months now. (If you haven't been stalking, well now you know. )

We hadn't quite decided, but I thought I'd take a quick look on petfinder to get an idea of what homeless bunnies were available in our area. To my surprise there he was! A young male french lop (large, but not huge, easy going breed) just the bunny I was thinking would be right for DS. I had sort of been thinking angora, since I spin yarn, but decided I didn't want the extra work at this point in our lives.

The part that really blew me away though, was his name. It is Mr. Rabbit!! Mr. Rabbit just happens to also be the name of DS's most beloved stuffed bunny (this is the stuffed bunny I had to make sure was allowed to attend with DS before choosing a preschool.)

It just seems as though he was meant to be DS's. I needto go meet this bunny, don't I?

[mattemma04]

Hope you enjoy the new pet. I was just looking at lion head bunnies the other day on craigs. Very cute. Is Mr.Rabbit fixed?

I do have a rabbit,but she has gotten quite nippy ever since she hit adulthood. Would have been better to get a fixed rabbit rather than saving a bunny from future dog food.She may not be nice,but her fertilizer is appreciated.

[Oubliette8]

Definitely go meet him! Although, still be careful to check his temperment. Not all bunnies read the rabbit books when it comes to that Also, ask the shelter/rescue about getting him fixed. Our county shelter will give vouchers to fix rabbits adopted from them. For us, rabbits are normally $15? to adopt but if you want them fixed you have to pay the cat fee ($50ish I think). Thats ok though, because an extra $35 is cheap compared to the cost of paying out of pocket for a neuter! (over $100). Neutering is a good idea for rabbits, males can start to spray when they hit maturity and many rabbits have unfavorable personality changes as well. Neutering helps prevent that.

Let us know what Mr Rabbit is like!

[eepster]

He is already fixed . On paper he really sounds like our dream bunny.

I'm not sure if I should take DS along to meet him. I wouldn't tell DS ahead of time we planned to adopt him, just in case he turned out not to be a kid friendly bunny, but I would like to see them interact. I thought of going by myself first, but it seems like a lot of trips (it's a bus then a long subway ride with at least 1 transfer {2 if we take the more convenient bus ride,} since there isn't good parking in that area.) I'm also not sure if I should try to take him home on public transit, or have DH circle the block when/if we pick him up to go home.

[Learning_Mum]

I personally would take DS along. Don't tell him you might take him home, just tell him you're visiting him. It's important that he is OK with kids and there's no way to know that unless you actually introduce him to one! He could be the best rabbit in the world and be scared silly of kids, which really would not be ideal!

Maybe be ready with some money because my guess is that you will fall in love!

[heartmama]

Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits are prey animals. It can be difficult to assess temperament the first time you meet. You can rule out a biter, that is true. If the rabbit is curious and approaches you that is a good sign. However if the rabbit is withdrawn and shy that could simply be due to your status as a predator. The majority of rabbits will be very cautious in new situations or with new people, even to the point of panic and extreme distress. This is all normal, because in nature survival is totally dependent on good escape routes. The only way a rabbit in nature could ever wind up in an unfamiliar place would be if something picked him up and carried him there. Which means he is probably dead!
A rabbit is not intelligent in the way we think of predatory animal IQ; the intelligence of a rabbit lies strongly in their ability to retrace their steps perfectly after a single foray into the unknown. But they must explore on their own to know anything about their environment. For example, if you pick up a rabbit and move him to an adjacent but unfamiliar room, for all he can perceive, he was moved a million miles away, and will carefully explore every nook and cranny of the room before finding his way back by trial and error to where you first picked him up. A cat, by comparison, would visually track the journey from room to room, recall the orientation of the starting point, and race back the second their feet touched floor again. The only way a rabbit can do that, is if he got into the second room on his own. If he did, he can race back faster than a cat. A rabbit must know his way around his environment in order to feel secure and safe. New places, and new people, make him totally vulnerable. Until he has time to relax, explore, and discover his environment in his own way, a rabbit cannot feel secure and let you see his true temperament.

So, as long as he is not a biter, and especially if he shows interest in you, you probably have a good bunny. I have had 5 house rabbits and though each was unique, all of them were basically sensitive and fragile animals. Remember that rabbits are not recommended for children under 9. They are fragile and die easily of fright, stress, and injury. Dropping or shoving a rabbit could kill it. No doubt you son will enjoy him; just keep in mind that a rabbit demands far more maturity from children than dogs and cats.

I hope none of this dissuades you--I am always glad for a bunny to be rescued! I think Mr. Rabbit will be very happy with you. Just remember to give him time to warm up. Don't judge him on the first meeting.