Dead Rabbits....my responsibility?????

[Ashmeade]

Maybe offer to take the kits back in exchange for a book for her on how to PROPERLY care for rabbits??? I would certainly not give her her money back for her negligence or give her any more bunnies to kill.

 

[Bunnylady]

Quote:
I'm assuming you meant Fahrenheit, not Celsius (80 C is over 170 F!), but never mind that.

With adequate water, and shade, and a nice breeze, my rabbits have no problem dealing with temps in the 80's. I haven't lost a rabbit to heatstroke in at least a dozen years, not since I got my current rabbitry built and installed the fan on one end. When the temperature tops 90, I run a soaker hose on the roof. Between the soaker and the fan, the rabbitry is often the most comfortable place in the yard, (outside the AC'd house, of course!) I may suggest the frozen water bottles to prospective owners, but could you imagine trying to do it for 60+ rabbits? My freezer isn't big enough!

On the other hand, I wouldn't confine an animal in our workshop on a summer day if you paid me to do it. And it is wood and shingles, not metal!

This isn't a case of rabbits in particular not dealing with heat well (though it is true, they don't). I daresay she wouldn't have fared too well, either, if she had spent the day in that shed! I can't help but wonder if these two kits were her only losses at that time.

I do offer to replace rabbits if they develop problems, and have replaced those that die without explanation, because I know rabbits can do that. But I agree, the explanation of these deaths is distressingly obvious, owner neglect. If she hasn't suffered other losses yet, before the summer is out, she most likely will. Will she try to claim that your rabbits "gave something" to the others that caused their deaths, or will she accept that she is responsible for them? I don't know. Sadly, this is one of the risks of breeding animals. You do the best you can for them while they are in your care, but you can never be sure about the care they will receive, once they are out of your hands.

 

[EweSheep]

No I would not replace them. And I do agree with Bunnylady.

 

[boxermom]

I'm new to rabbits and am trying to learn all I can. This said, I would not expect a breeder to replace my loss, unless I knew the problem was coming from the breeder. (In that case I wouldn't buy anyway) A few years ago, I bred my boxer. I only have done this once, because I was very frustrated when I sold the pups. I was really bothered that that pups weren't taken care of the way I would have done it, even when I taught the new owners how to take care of them. I loved having puppies, but will never do it again.

 

[babyblue]

the buyer does not have the sense god gave a flea. nothing live does well in an inclosed tin shed in the summer. it gets hot. I would not replace the bunnies, would offer to buy back the other rabbits and be done with the person.