Landlords have valid reasons for imposing a 'no pets' rule. This policy has become popular with them because certain tenants let their companion animals damage property, assuming that the damage deposit would take care of it. Complaints from neighbours about noise and odours have also contributed to this situation.When I rented, the 'no pets' policy offended me. I once plotted to sneak a bunny into my highrise apartment suite in the hope that nobody would find out. The following excerpt from When a Man Loves a Rabbit (Learning and Living With Bunnies) demonstrates how foolish I had been in thinking that the animal shelter would just give me a bunny.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In 1996, I explored the internet and searched for information on rabbit care, in the event that I bought another bunny. I found a newsgroup called alt.pets.rabbits, and being legally blind, I used a screen-reading device to hear the text on the monitor. As I listened to the posts, I learned from those folks about how they lived with their bunnies.
At the Edmonton Public Library, I borrowed a book called House The House Rabbit Handbook by Marinell Harriman. Reading it, I learned all sorts of amazing facts about rabbits.
Then I discovered that there were e-mail lists, such as PetBunny and EtherBun, which had plenty of helpful tips on caring for companion rabbits. I subscribed to both lists and was amazed when I heard how clever and affectionate people's bunnies were.
How wonderful that Mr. Chocolate's affectionate, intelligent behaviour wasn't an exception, but the rule!
Reading the posts on the lists, I was shocked to learn that I'd been inadvertently mistreating my bunnies by feeding them too much carrot and by keeping them in tiny cages. Regrettably, like most folks, I believed a lot of nonsense from various people and the media. The public generally thought of rabbits as being dull and lacking in character. Any animal or human would be?if deprived of mental stimulation and space to exercise.
Remembering how I had felt about betraying Floppy, I decided to adopt a bunny. Unfortunately, I had moved from my condo to a "no pets" high-rise apartment. Nevertheless, I figured I could keep a bunny hidden in my bedroom, safe from any nosy apartment management staff.
Caving into my desire, I foolishly went down to the Society 1997. Instead of just handing over a rabbit and taking my money as I had assumed, the woman behind the front desk called my building's caretaker and asked him if I had permission to adopt a rabbit. The caretaker said that no pets larger than a hamster were allowed. That was that, and I reluctantly realized I would either have to wait until I found a new place or just accept things as they were.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When a Man Loves a Rabbit contains many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These range from the tragic to the hilarious. Click here to read more about this book and to order it. You may also e-mail me directly if the comment form doesn't work.
A no pet policy is what brought me to the wonderful world of being owned by a house bunny. Our apartments rules were stated on the lease, no dogs, no cats, no fish, no birds. They didn't put no house rabbits so I was in luck.
ReplyDeleteSadly I didn't know how shelters and rescues were packed with adoptable bunnies and purchased my first bunny at a pet store. She was a mini lop, jet black fur and so tiny at first. We named her Dallas. We still tell stories of her escapades.