Re-homing a Pet That Your Child Loves

About 7 yrs ago, we got a rabbit. Our daughter LOVED this rabbit. She is now 13.

Like you, I was the one to feed, clean cage, etc. The rabbit bit me everytime I fed him or got close to him. He never bit my daughter. He was known as Easter, the rabbit from he__ around our house.

We originally had the him on tiled flooring inside the house and the hair drove me insane with allergies, etc. We moved him just outside the door where he was safe. My daughter hated that we were moving him outside but I could no longer handle the mess or allergies. I was keeping benedryl and clorox in business.

We talked about taking him back to the shelter where we adopted him. We decided against it because we did not want to teach our daughter that when things were tough with one of our pets that we had accepted full responsiblilty for....we just re-home them. We did not feel like that was setting a good example because we accepted the respossbility. What was done was done.....we needed to give the rabbit a good life.

So, I bit my tongue and cared for the rabbit for the rest of his life. He had a great life. He had a lot more freedom than the rabbits at the shelter because we would let him run and play in safe areas. He died this past July at around 8 yr old. I was sorrowful when he died and I did care for him.. He was so much darn trouble. We did have some good times with him as well and I thought about those times and seeing my daughter's smiles and pictures with him.

He was cremated and now has a little shrine in my daughter's room on one of her bookshelves. His box is there, pictures of him and a rose. We have the remains of 2 Cockers that we lost as well. She knows we will care for our animals and that if you get one, you are accepting the responsibility for that animal's lifetime.

After the storm calmed down from losing him, we took everything we had for him to the animal shelter and donated it. Our daughter knew that we would never get another rabbit but we would always fulfill our responsibility to her and our pets.

This is probably NOT what you want to hear. It is just my opinion. I did not realize how much work the rabbit would be when I agreed to the adoption. I know where you are coming from with your request. I wanted to send a different message to my daughter vs just re-homing the animal.

Best wishes to you.

It doesn't make you a bad mom for sure but that is very sad. I'm a real animal person so I feel for your daughter she's probably very attached to this bird. But on the other hand I know how difficult birds can be I had one when I was a teenager and it was constantly messing but I had to give it to my grandma because I had severe hay fever pretty much the whole time I had it. Maybe if you promise to replace it with a different less difficult pet that might help. Good luck.

re-home the bird and see if she would like another FAMILY pet-- a goldfish?

R.,

If I were you I would sit my daughter down and talk to her about the HUGE responsibility. Have your daughter sweep up the mess on the floor. Have her feed or water the bird.

She has to see what you have to do for the bird. If she wants to play or go to a friends house, have her take care of her bird BEFORE she is able to play or go to a friends house.

Make her a bird duty chart! See how long that lasts. If she is set on keeping the bird than she will help w/the up keep. If it becomes a hassle explain to her the bird is too much and maybe when she is older she can have another pet.

Good luck to you!

Eliyah

I do agree with the last mom about the message you'll send your daughter if you don't follow through with the commitment you made when you got the bird. Maybe what you can do is establish a rotaion of who helps take care of the bird, and the cleaning. Since this sounds like it was a family decision to get the bird, everyone should take responsibility for caring for it. Ask your husband to help on certain days or times. Your daughter is old enough to help clean up and feed the bird (with adult supervision, of course). This will help teach her responsibilty.

Is there any way of attatching a piece of plexiglass (or something) to the one side of the cage that faces the blinds, so the bird can't break them again?