Anyone know about about bunnies?

[WDWBarb]

I had a very surreal morning.

I woke up and, first thing (and as usual), let my two dogs out in the back yard. I have a 6' fence but my little guy won't go out without me so I sauntered onto the back porch until they "finished their business."

My German Shepherd suddenly started chasing something very LARGE and BLACK. I ran out into the yard (barefooted - glad I didn't step in something!!) and what was probably a very hilarious chase (wasn't funny to me at the time) ensued. Giant black bunny, delirious German Shepherd, horrified and surprised ME, and little beagle-mix mutt - all in a row.

I was finally able to call my big dog off and the bunny ended up hudled against the fence. I really thought I might be dreaming. He was HUGE. I mean - BIG. Bigger than my little beagle-mix mutt! I didn't know what to do. The bunny was screaming in terror (yes, really - it sounded like it was screaming) and then actually leapt into my arms.

Did I say he was big? My DH didn't know what the heck I was carrying when I entered the house and asked him to prepare my big dog's kennel for him.

I've spent the day knocking on doors and putting up flyers but no one seems to know anything about this bunny. He is SO very friendly; he actually loves to cuddle and would rather be in my lap than anywhere. I called our Humane Society and no one has called in asking for a big black bunny rabbit. So, for now, he's hanging out in the kennel.

I went out and bought bunny food and a litter box but that's all I really know about what to do. He has water in a small bowl and has drank it empty 3 times today (and stepped in it a number of times as well). DH is giving him lettuce and he seems to dig it a great deal. But I know nothing about bunnies! Is there something else they need? Will they really use a litter box? Is there any chance that he might have a disease that could make my dogs sick? I've noticed him sneeze a couple of times today (gosh, he is really, really cute!!).

I've made a bedding in the kennel of newspaper and he shreds it. Should he have some other kind of bedding?

And I say "he" but I really haven't looked yet My DD has named him "Jack" (not after Jack Rabbit but after Jack Sparrow!! )

Any advice anyone?

And if he doesn't get to go back home (i.e. no one claims the poor guy) exactly how difficult is it to keep a rabbit? Seems pretty messy so far but otherwise pretty quiet. I have to admit that I'm already pretty fond of him

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I used to have a dwarf floppy eared gray rabbit, that I named Eeyore. He looked just like him!

Anyway, yes, they do scream. Freaked me out the first time it happened! And yes, they are very easy to train to use a litterbox. All I had to do was pick up the dropping one or two times, and deposit them, along with the rabbit, into the box. He got the hang of it very fast!

I do remember having to buy Bitter Apple spray, because they do like to gnaw on things, including electrical wire. Other than that, I don't remember much else.

Unfortunately, my story ended up like the opposite of yours. I let mine in the backyard and never saw him again.

 

[tiggger1]

first thing dont give him too much lettuce or you will have a very sick and smelly rabbit..(itll give him diarrhea)

If you can, go to the store and get rabbit pellets and hay ( they have small bags of it near the rabbit food for under $5)

if not try some green clover from outside..they like dark leafy stuff...or a small about of carrot.. my rabbit loved cheerios and corn chips as a snack.

make sure he has plenty of water ( especially since he had the lettuce)

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

Any pics? Preferably with something to give it size relativity!

My DD would love a rabbit. We have tons of wild ones in the yard. I don't think my Gordon Setter (hunting dog!) would like one in the house though!

Good luck!

 

[CheezDoodle]

Looks like you've got yourself a flemish/german giant! Those are the very biggest rabbits.

Not to much lettuce, and no iceberg lettuce at all. Just romaine if you've got it.

Parsley, carrots, broccoli, grapes and blueberries are some of my french lop rabbit's favorite foods.

Also, if you can, go up to the store and buy some rabbit pellets and timothy hay. Oh and if you ever decide to keep him I do recomend aspen wood shavings or carefresh, because those are really the only non-toxic rabbit litter.

Good luck!!! (BTW, that was the cutest story ever, and it's good that you're trying to find his owner. It has to be someone runaway bunny if he's so friendly!)

 

[Database]

He sounds cute. We had mini-lops for years.

Be careful with feeding your rabbit lettuce. As the other poster warned... you'll make the rabbit sick.

Rabbit pellets are the best. Go easy on the treats! We routinely gave carrot, oatmeal. ( One of our rabbits stole a piece of licorice from the bag once. )

PM with concerns. Gotta run. Working late tonight.

 

[JESW]

Years and years ago when I had a pet bunny we would allow him in the house - but kept him away from the cords! If we put newspaper in the corner he would use it as a litter box. Our bunny also liked white bread in a bowl with milk poured over it.

Good luck!

Jill

 

[CheezDoodle]

That's a picture of a long haired (angora) german giant rabbit.

 

[freckles and boo]

I know NOTHING about bunnies, but that is a great story!!!

 

[Database]

That's a picture of a long haired (angora) german giant rabbit.

What a cutie!

 

[BuckyFan04]

My dwarf Holland Lop bunny loves apples, bananas, and carrots in addition to the yogurt drops and trail mix bunny treats that you can buy at the grocery store.

 

[WDWBarb]

Based on your advice I quickly ran out to PetSmart and picked up some pellets. You'll be very happy to know that "Jack" signified his approval by munching heartily on them. I can tell he's very accustomed to this dinner because his ears sprang up when he heard me pour them into a bowl.

I've told DH that further lettuce is out of the question (it was Greenleaf and not Iceberg, thankfully!). He looks dejected but I also picked up some of those alphalpa "treats" for DH to smooze him with.

And that picture - that is exactly what he looks like (minus the long hair)! From what I can tell he's about the same size, too. He's so cute; he naps with his legs spread out behind him (like a frog). He makes for one really, really looooooong bunny that way! He's in my Shepherd's kennel and he is half as long as it (longer when he's in his frog pose)! DH still thinks that he might be an actual WILD rabbit (that really just CRACKS me up!!). When the bunny cuddles with me and I say, "so do you STILL think he's a WILD rabbit??" he says, "who says wild rabbits don't like people??"

LOL - I'd like to see him catch and cuddle with a real wild bunny

I had a brief conversation with him just now (over dinner) and he asked me to postpone further discussions of finding him way home for the evening because he's just exhausted. If I had to guess our "chase" probably lasted 10 minutes. I am so grateful that my Shepherd didn't know what to do a with a bunny if she caught it Every time she got close she stopped like she was wondering what her next move might just be?? She wants her kennel back, now!

I still think this is just the most surreal experience! I would only be slightly more perplexed to find an alien or a small pony in my back yard. There is just no way he got in there on his own (if he could have gotten out he would have this morning when my mutts were chasing him - my fence is flush with the ground and I can't find anywhere where he may have dug in). Maybe someone who knows I'm an animal fanatic dropped him there. Or maybe he sensed I was a vegetarian and opened the gate and let himself in 'cause he knew I'd have carrots

So thank you DIS'ers!! I told DH that this would be the place to find the best help for the situation and I proved myself correct.

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

Don't give the bunny too much sweets, inc carrots. That will mess up the good bacteria in his system. Give him at the most a couple tablespoons. Like someone said do not give him iceberg lettuce, romaine is the best. Bunnies need unlimited amounts of Timothy hay everyday. They have a very delicate intestinal system and hay keeps their systems moving correctly. It's best for the bunny if you have it spayed/neutered. And if you are going to have the bunny run around your home, please watch him around electrical cords or cover them with a hard plastic. Many bunnies have been electrocuted. You may want to google House Rabbit Society. They have extensive knowledge about bunnies. I would never have another pet. Bunnies are so lovable and fun. We had a Netherland Dwarf who unfortunately passed away recently. Now we have a Lionhead. I'd have lots more if I could!! Enjoy your baby!!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Congrats on the new addition

Your story had me It reminded me of a similar episode (no bunny though) - we were having a yard sale and our cat came walking around the house right when the neighbor's son's white German Shephard came in the yard with him. The dog took off after the cat, DW MeanLaureen saw him take off and took off after him yelling "Run STERLING RUN!" (cat's name was Sterling). The three went off like a rocket to the right - silver streak, white streak, redheaded shrieking streak... then a minute later here it comes again.. silver streak, white streak.. redheaded shreiking streak still yelling RUN STERLING RUN!... a minute later... silver streak, white streak, redheaded shrieking streak yelling "Would you get your $&%@* DOG" to the neighbor.

I swear they made about 6 passes before the neighbor stopped laughing long enough to catch the dog. I shouldn't laugh but it was a pretty funny sight. You'd only hear Lauri yelling a split second before the red streak of hair ran by.. I think she was pushing speed of sound.

 

[WDWBarb]

Congrats on the new addition

Your story had me It reminded me of a similar episode (no bunny though) - we were having a yard sale and our cat came walking around the house right when the neighbor's son's white German Shephard came in the yard with him. The dog took off after the cat, DW MeanLaureen saw him take off and took off after him yelling "Run STERLING RUN!" (cat's name was Sterling). The three went off like a rocket to the right - silver streak, white streak, redheaded shrieking streak... then a minute later here it comes again.. silver streak, white streak.. redheaded shreiking streak still yelling RUN STERLING RUN!... a minute later... silver streak, white streak, redheaded shrieking streak yelling "Would you get your $&%@* DOG" to the neighbor.

I swear they made about 6 passes before the neighbor stopped laughing long enough to catch the dog. I shouldn't laugh but it was a pretty funny sight. You'd only hear Lauri yelling a split second before the red streak of hair ran by.. I think she was pushing speed of sound.

I can only imagine what we looked like, running around in circles like that! The part that made me laugh later was that my beagle-x was at the end of the line, chasing me. Guess he thought I'd lost my mind and needed to be caught! I was screaming my Shepherd's name over and over again, trying to get her to at least slow down so I could get a hand on her collar (this dog has an artificial knee and will soon have a hip replacement and I STILL couldn't keep up with her!! ). Later, when I spoke with one of my neighbors to see if the bunny was hers, she laughed and told me that she heard the whole incident. She said that the bunny made the weirdest noises and that she had wondered what it was. I just chuckled because while the bunny WAS screaming it paled in comparison to my desperate noises I didn't have the nerve to tell her it was, in fact, *I* who was sounding like a loose fan belt

 

[WDWBarb]

Well, the giant bunny ended up as a part of our family. Turns out that Jack Sparrow wasn't the right name for HER (as the vet assured us) and she ended up with the unique name of "Bunny."

She has brought so much sunshine and joy to our lives. While she took more time and attention than any animal I've shared a home with, I have adored every minute of it. When no one ever came to claim her, I couldn't have been happier.

I knew nothing about rabbits but Bunny taught me quickly. Besides the basics of care and cleaning, she taught me that rabbits aren't patient and can somehow have great influence over humans. She showed me that rabbits are fantastic escape artists and have no issues in demanding what they want. She also taught us a lot about incredible unconditional love.

Bunny was like an angel (discovered by my Shepherd in the wee hours one morning, almost 2 years ago).

She passed away suddenly Monday night and my family has been devestated. The same dogs involved in the "great chase" that morning are now very sad and quiet. Losing her was very unexpected. I admit that I still cry when I think about her.

Each morning since we lost her I've still reached for her bunny food before I realized...

And DH, the man who "doesn't like animals," had her cremated and her ashes now sit on a shelf in his office. He said he wanted to keep her close always.

I felt the need to find this thread and remember the day that we met.

She was a great friend.

Miss you, Bunny.

 

[piglet50]

i didn't read the date when i opened the thread, and kept reading to see if there was a photo of the bunny. it was great of you to keep her. it sounds like she really added to your life. so sorry she passed away.

 

[HeatherH]

OH, I didn't even notice the date of the original post as I read the wonderful story of your bunny! I'm so glad she gave you two years of joy and am so sorry to hear of her passing. She definitely picked the RIGHT backyard and the right arms to jump into!

 

[WDWBarb]

Thank you I've heard from so many people this week that she was "just a rabbit" but she was absolutely amazing. She even earned me my first tag!

DH brought her ashes home today and I guess I'm not dealing with that very well. Just this time last week she was thumping her feet and demanding a yogurt treat. I expected her to be with us for years.

She was so special to us that we haven't booked a Disney vacation since she came to live with us. None of us trusted anyone to take care of her the way that we would expect them to! I would have had to have a week-long class on the care and keeping of Bunny.

Not much in the mood for a Disney vacation now.

 

[georgina]

So sorry for your loss. Our pets bring so much to our lives.