It is a common misconception that domestic rabbits are in an enclosure outdoors, rather than indoors, and this often leads to a neglected, aggressive and ultimately a rabbit with a much shorter lifetime. When you buy a rabbit for yourself or your child, but insist on making it want outdoors, this is a very good sign that a rabbit might not be the best choice for you. There are several reasons for this.
When an animal rescue team receives a call from Animal Control or a single person on rabbit neglect are affected to save more than 90% of these calls, a rabbit who has lived his life out there. We are expected to no longer take care of a rabbit owner can properly and it has lived there for the duration of his life, the unfortunate bun is usually too aggressively remove place in a crowded shelter or home.
It is impossible not to mention rabbits in each environment, discuss child * owners because they often those expected for what is not a starter are pet care. Even without fault of their own, is a rabbit that have been left outside with little stimulation or interaction, constantly afraid of prey often near a snappy rabbits. If it is a large breed (usually more than 6 pounds), a bite on little finger is very often requires stitches or medical attention. This is dangerous for all involved and unfortunately the only way to euthanize the aggressive rabbit. This is unfortunate, because the hare was often bought by a parent who did very little research on rabbit ownership, but was in a child's pleas for a cute and cuddly bunny. This is very common when the animal was the result of an Easter purchase since it an impulse buy as a result of observation tends to be a lot of candy commercials! *
When an animal rescue team receives a call from Animal Control or a single person on rabbit neglect are affected to save more than 90% of these calls, a rabbit who has lived his life out there. We are expected to no longer take care of a rabbit owner can properly and it has lived there for the duration of his life, the unfortunate bun is usually too aggressively remove place in a crowded shelter or home.
It is impossible not to mention rabbits in each environment, discuss child * owners because they often those expected for what is not a starter are pet care. Even without fault of their own, is a rabbit that have been left outside with little stimulation or interaction, constantly afraid of prey often near a snappy rabbits. If it is a large breed (usually more than 6 pounds), a bite on little finger is very often requires stitches or medical attention. This is dangerous for all involved and unfortunately the only way to euthanize the aggressive rabbit. This is unfortunate, because the hare was often bought by a parent who did very little research on rabbit ownership, but was in a child's pleas for a cute and cuddly bunny. This is very common when the animal was the result of an Easter purchase since it an impulse buy as a result of observation tends to be a lot of candy commercials! *
There are just too many outdoor problems that may arise that are simply missed because of the location of the cage. If the rabbit is outdoors and the adult or child grows bored with it, that's when we forget frozen water dishes in winter find feedings and other issues. In cold climates, water freezes within minutes and not enough liquid from snow, a rabbit their way into the housing. In fact, when snow does not actually make it into the stable, which is a sure sign there is no adequate protection from the elements. Each veterinarian can tell a lot of stories of rabbits die from renal failure or dehydration / hypothermia due to lack of fresh water.
Never has the saying, "if a parent keeps a pet for a child, they should do so with the understanding it is finally mom and dad's responsibility is to ensure" more true than when the animal is an outdoor rabbit.Rabbit owners who choose their rabbits outdoors can often know very little about their pet and by the time it is very ill, it is often too late to get proper medical care. Because a rabbit is a prey to duck his instincts and suffer in silence, so predators can not sense the injured or sick animal. A rabbit is increasingly aware of its precarious place in the food chain. If in a physical crisis, rolls will try cover to hide from enemies writhe into a ball and often grind their teeth in response to the pain (this is often unbearable if it is a bowel obstruction) and wait until the crisis past. Normally, this crisis will not happen and your buns unfortunately succumbs.
In a case like this, who really killed the rabbits? The hawks and foxes do what they know of predatory instinct. The frightened rabbit was locked in a shed because the owner refused to securely hold it inside the house. The rabbit owner is the one who set up the "no win" environment, they must bear responsibility.
If the rabbit is indoors, subtle signs of pain can be found, because an indoor rabbit is more likely to be noticed by its owner through simple logistics. Given medical care before it's too late. If you excited to walk through the rabbit cage and watch your buns bounce be used on you (like I am), it will catch your attention pretty quickly if you find one day the poor guy in the corner of the cage bent. How is the level of rabbit behavior noticeable with a rabbit in the backyard in a barn?
A rabbit does not come to destruction in direct contact with a predator. If a cat, dog, hawk or fox is in the area, a rabbit is in an elevated barn to thresh often to get away from the predator, often fatally injured in the process. If the beatings to not kill her, relentlessly fear (perceived or real) every night there is often shock set in and the rabbit will literally die of fright. Signs of shock in a rabbit are the following: Pale gums, very cool ears, or glassy eyes closed, weak pulse, rapid respiration and increased heart rate. Immediate transport to the vet clinic is of crucial importance, but almost always too late. An indoor rabbit will rarely encounter these traumas.
Now means outdoor rabbit owners are uneducated when it is an outdoor stall believe mimics a natural living experience. However, if you just do not bring your rabbit indoors, make sure that it does not sell in one of the standard stables pet stores because they are never big enough. One of our volunteers took 3 on rabbit rescue abandoned rabbits and could not bring them indoors. She put it in the shed (think lots of space) and with plenty of hay, enough hiding spaces and the company of each other, these rabbits had long and happy life. Their creativity and determination she was sure commendable, and they always brought them indoors during the New England winter months or during heat waves. It was not ideal (they are indoors all year), but she has no other choice than the poor rabbits were given up, and they rescued her.
That brings me to another key point. If you still insist on keeping your rabbit outdoors, be absolutely sure it is not alone unaccompanied. Rabbits are very intelligent and social beings. Submit bun alone outside without social outlet is really a cruel fate. If they sense predators or get cold in cold weather, at least they can huddle together. However, if you do not have a shed-size protection for your bun to feel safe, why do this to the animal in the first place? Keep the little guy already inside!
Rabbits are easily litterbox trained and often good with cats. My very big rabbit is sleeping with one of my cats and in the two years I have enjoyed bonsai, I have yet to see him urinate outside his litterbox. His room is odor-free and to be honest, cats and dogs can often be much dirtier.
He hunts visitors around until they pet him and can not get enough attention. He absolutely loves people and like clockwork, turns his head for his nightly kiss on his forehead fluffy. Then on bonsai and lucky bounces away, mission accomplished. In short, it has been shown that it will be noticed. He counts enough to do to be feel safe.
"Rabbits are outside" the common assertion is simply wrong if your rabbit is to be a pet.* Most animal shelters and pet stores do not sell a rabbit
