My dog saved a baby bunny from 2 cats. What should we do after it's healed up?

Question

My cat and my neighbor's cat (they're friends and hunt together) injured a baby rabbit last night. Our black lab saved it! She LOVES cats, rabbits, hamsters, puppies, etc... and gently picked her up and brought her to my husband and watched as he put it in an aquarium. She's only about 6 inches in length when sitting. We cleaned the wound on the hind leg and put antibiotic ointment on, gave her a warm towel, food and water. She survived the night, so I think she'll make it!

I don't really want another pet. This female baby rabbit is very sweet, calm, allows us to pick her up, etc... can she be released once healed or is she going to have to be domesticated and be cared for by people?

Answer 1

Take her to a shelter.

She may have survived the night, but she may not survive the next few days without shelter-based care.

No, she won't need to be domesticated- but a shelter would assure that it was looked after and released properly, something you can't do.

Answer 2

That was really nice of your dog to rescue it because my dog is naughty and would have killed it.  However my cats are very sweet with our rabbits.  Depending on the age it may still need its mother's milk.  I wouldn't even consider it because it is wild.  If you think she is going to make it then release her far away from your house so that the cats don't get her again.  I would give her food and water until she is 100% and then release her.

Answer 3

There are agencies that will take her for you and nurse her back to health and then release her back into the wild.  You can't release a wild animal on your own unless you know what you are doing.  If you handle it too much they will get used to human contact and then when it is released she won't be afraid of humans like she should.  I don't know were you are but usually the park and wildlife department will tell you who you can get in touch with about this rabbit.  Good luck and hug your dog for me for saving the rabbit.

Answer 4

my frined once caught a baby rabbit and kept it as a pet, now she didn't rally hold it, bcuz it tried 2 bite her, but she kept her in a cage, claned it , fed her, and gave her water, if she/he is more social, and allows u 2 pet it, and u socialize it i don't thiknk it would b a good idea 2 put it out in the wild again, if u don't keep it find a good home, with a friend or someone u kno will take care of it, but WHATEVER U DO DO NOT PUT IT IN THE ANIMAL SHELTER, bcuz only 2-10% of the animals are adopted, and after five days are youthanized, unless it is a humane shelter, but still, they will tell peop;le the history of the animal and not many parents will want 2 get they're children a wild bunny, so the best bet is to try 2 find a good home for it.

Answer 5

My cat got a baby rabbit too. 3 or 4 inches long and we kept  it for 5 hours. Then we let him go. So I say you should let him go because the rabbit is wild and he knows how to take care of his self.