Adopt a Senior Bun!
People often shy away from adopting buns "of a certain age." However, senior buns can be equally delightful companions as younger buns. In fact, Petfinder.com has designated November as Adopt a Senior Pet Month, to draw attention to the many older animals that are seeking homes.
While rabbits can live 12 years or longer, homeless rabbits as young as 5 yrs old can be overlooked by adopters. Most commonly, we hear that it would be too hard to lose them soon. But, none of us come with any guarantees of how long we will be around. A younger bun is more likely to live a long life, but some die very young, too. And as one of our volunteers recently put it - it hurts the same whether it has been 10 days, 10 months, or 10 years.
Why consider an older bun? Older buns are generally more laid back than they were in younger years. While they will still leap with joy, these displays are less frequent - but just as special. Older buns are very curious, but most have learned that certain behaviors are not appreciated by their human companions. Many older buns also are more appreciative of attention than they were in their more energetic days. In fact, buns that have been given up at an older age sometimes seem extra appreciative of the "second chance" their new home offers them.
Perhaps you have an older rabbit already or a bunny that has recently lost a partner. Older buns make excellent companions. They are generally easier to bond than younger buns, in part because they appreciate the companionship more than they care about the "small stuff".>
Older rabbits deserve to be adopted, too. Would you consider offering an older bunny an opportunity to be spoiled for the rest of his or her life?
Our current senior residents (as of November 2007) include:
- Rocky & Remy - Rocky is seven years old and his bonded friend, Remy, is just three. This duo has been with MCRS for 18 months, waiting to find their forever home.
- Naomi – Naomi is eight years old, but you’d never know it by looking at her! Naomi has been waiting well over a year for someone to take her home. (Update: Adoption pending as of 11/10/07!)
- "The Spice Trio" aka Cinnamon, Salt & Pepper – This unique group is comprised of Cinnamon, an approximately three year old rabbit, and her two guinea pig companions Salt & Pepper. Salt & Pepper are each six years old. This trio came to MCRS as a group and are clearly very attached to each other. The Spice Trio has also been waiting well over a year for someone to discover how great they are.
(Don’t forget to check out our other long-term residents)
What’s it like to live with a senior rabbit? Read these stories:
Chimaera – Enjoyed life for 10.5 yrs
I adopted Chimaera as a companion for my first bunny, Loki. Chimi was a fearful bunny then ... she was a little black dwarf Netherland who been at the Wisconsin House Rabbit Society for over a year, and had picked up some bad habits. She grunted and lunged at people, and would rather hide under the furniture than be petted. She would run from open hands, and flinch when anyone touched her hindquarters or ears. But she made a good companion for Loki, and that's all I really expected from her.
But then Loki died, and it was just Chimi and I. Suddenly I realized that Chimi had been Loki's friend, not mine; even though the two of them were bonded, I hadn't really bonded with her myself. Over the next few years, this slowly changed. She had three other companions, and year by year she and I learned more and more about each other. I learned that using the back of my fingers to pet her made it not nearly as scary, and that laying my hand on her back when she lunged showed her who was boss. She learned that pets on the ears and back could be very enjoyable, and that cilantro is the bestest thing in the world. Some of my favorite memories of her are when the two of us would sit on the couch together, Chimi totally flattened like a bunny pancake, "purring" by grinding her teeth as I'd pet her. She had the softest, silkiest fur of any bunny I've known, almost as soft as a Rex's.
Chimi passed away during the night this last January at the age of 10 1/2 years. She was active and spry up until the very end, though her black fur had become speckled with white and her eyes had gone a little cloudy. I marvel that this little bunny was with me so long, and I'll always treasure my years with her; We were together from the time I was in college, she saw me date and marry my husband, she moved with me to the Twin Cities, she was there when I finished my dissertation and got my PhD, and later she came with my husband and I to live in our first house together. I've changed a lot in the time I knew her, and so did she, both learning from the other as we went along.
Sumo’s Story – adopted at 8 years of age
I adopted a gray mini-lop who was eight years old. His previous person told me that he didn't receive a lot of attention or exercise time (and that was why she gave him up) but when he came to share our home he was the absolutely sweetest rabbit I had ever met. He adapted instantly to the other furry residents and he learned to use the litterbox in 2 days. He became the biggest love. We were blessed with living with him for three years until one day he hopped over to me and somehow I knew he was trying to tell me something important by the look in his eyes. I took him to the vet just to be sure everything was ok and, sure enough, found out his kidneys were failing. The next day he passed away. He will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart and taught me how much an older rabbit can give. His name was Sumo but we always called him our "Special Old Man".
Tuxedo - almost 13 and going strong
Tuxedo was adopted from Minnesota Valley Humane Society 10.5 years ago. At the time, his age was given as 2 years. That puts him going on 13 right now – and going strong!
Tuxedo is credited with being the patriarch of our family as he’s the first bunny I’d ever had neutered, the first bunny I fed hay to, the first bunny I’d litterbox trained, etc.
When he was six years old, he got his first "wife", Sascha. She was a blue-eyed Dutch and quickly taught Tuxedo how to interact properly with another bunny. They were so darn cute together – spending hours each day cuddling in a special litter-free litterbox and licking each other’s faces. It was adorable to watch. Sascha, who was younger than Tuxedo, died suddenly a few years ago, leaving Tuxedo grieving.
We were concerned that he would never have a similar connection with another bunny. But, we tried dates within a few weeks and he clearly wanted a new friend. In short order, he found himself a second "wife" in a black Jersey Wooley we’ve now named Tribble. We joke that she has a fur fetish as she just loves to groom to the point she almost can’t resist – if there is fur in front of her, she wants to groom it. She’s a wonderful little companion for Tuxedo who soaks up all the attention.
About a year later, one of our other bunnies (who was also younger than Tuxedo) passed away, leaving his companion single. We thought it would be nice for us if the three buns would get along as a trio and after several months, Sophie became Tuxedo’s third "wife", sharing him with Tribble. Both Tribble and Sophie are significantly younger than Tux, so we joke that he’s our little Hugh Hefner – complete with two female bunny companions. Perhaps they keep him young.
Sweet Cinnamon - 8 years old and enjoying life!
In 1999, a beautiful red, velvety-soft, Mini-Rex doe was born from a long line of pedigreed purebred rabbits. As soon as she was old enough, she was put on display at an official rabbit show, won an award, and was bought for breeding. The only problem was, she would NOT breed. Several red pedigreed males were put in the pen with her, one at a time, (each quite handsome I'm sure), but she didn't care. They all ended up frustrated and with a nasty wound. Well, the breeders couldn't have that with their award-winning bucks! Showtime was over for her.
I was looking for a mate for my plain, gray, nothing fancy, neutered male. I heard through the grapevine that a red doe was going to be dumped because she wouldn't breed. Her "owners" were more then happy to get rid of her along with her certificate (which I cared nothing about). The poor little thing had chunks of hair missing and looked quite miserable. After she was fixed, adjusted to us, and fattened up, we introduced her to Poppy. Sure enough, the first time Poppy got amorous, she bit a hole in the middle of his ear before I could separate them! It never completely closed up, but he wore it proudly for the rest of their lives together.
The older she gets, the more mellow, sweet, and tolerant she becomes with every new animal and person she encounters. Kind of like a nice grandmother. Sometimes our house is like a zoo. If there's a ruckus going on, she just looks over as if to say: "Whateeever!"
We hope to spend many more years with her. Senior Rabbits Rule!
