We recently started taking in foster animals from the Michigan Humane Society.
We still have two amazing kittens that are going back on Wednesday, so I really didn’t want to take in any more animals, but I got an email that said there were two “bunnies” who were not sick, but needed a place to stay for 2 weeks until they learned how to use the litter box. Rabbits are supposed to be pretty fast learners, if they have a clean cage and clean litter boxes. Kind of like cats, they just figure it out.
The kids have been dying to take in some bunnies, so I thought, sure, why not? They have to stay mostly in their cage until they are litter trained, so it shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
So I agree to pick up the “bunnies”, Laverne and Shirley, and I was expecting to find two teeny tinnies waiting for us. But I was very wrong.
Not only were these bunnies, full-grown rabbits, they’re albino rabbits. I’m so sorry but I have to admit, I am a little freaked out by the whole albino thing. It’s wrong of me, I know, but the red eyes freak me right out.
I had regrets the second I saw them, and I almost told them I couldn’t do it, but how could I explain that to my kids? So I decided I would tough it out for two weeks.
Fast forward two days, and I’m emailing the foster coordinator my apologies, and asking to drop off the rabbits.
Am I a quitter? Yes, absolutely, but not because they are huge albinos. No, it’s because they poo and pee everywhere, ALL the time!
I was cleaning the cage twice a day and I still couldn’t keep up!
Anyone who is considering adopting an animal, should seriously consider doing the foster program first to see if you are up for the challenge.
I’ve learned that I can clean kitty litter once a day, but completely cannot clean a rabbit cage twice a day.
In the coming years, if the kids ever ask for a bunny, the answer is a big N.O.
For the bunny lovers out there who have no problem cleaning the cages, I applaud you, but I would rather shovel horse poo (which I do fairly frequently).
The Humane Society was totally understanding and wonderful about the whole thing, and oddly, even though it didn’t work out with the bunnies, the whole experienced just reinforced why the foster program is so great!
Leave a Reply