The Hidden Side of Raising Rabbits

Raising Holland Lops has been one of the greatest joys of my life. For nearly ten years, our family has poured our hearts into caring for these little souls — from the first squeaks of a newborn kit to the gentle kisses of an older Bun nestled in our arms. Every day is full of hay, laundry, grooming, feeding, and snuggles. It’s not glamorous, but it’s deeply meaningful.

What most people don’t see is the emotional rollercoaster behind the scenes.

When someone fills out a New Bunny Questionnaire, it feels like the start of something wonderful. We read their answers carefully, picture one of our rabbits thriving in their home, and begin to hope. I spend an hour or more crafting a personalized response and opening my heart to the possibility of a match.

But all too often, after all of that, we are met with silence.

It’s not the Buns' fault. It’s not their burden. They are innocent. But they are the ones who remain when human words turn to silence.

In just the past month, we’ve had multiple questionnaires end this way. Each time, it feels like being handed a promise, holding it close, and then watching it dissolve into nothing. It’s easy to forget, behind a screen or in a form, that those promises have consequences. They shape lives — our lives, and the rabbits’ lives.

Every breeding we do is prayerful and intentional, often based on families who have told us they are ready. When those families don’t follow through, we are left with more rabbits than we ever intended to have at one time — extra mouths to feed, extra laundry, and precious lives to care for that might not even exist if people had been honest about their readiness. These aren’t “just animals.” They are living, breathing, feeling creatures who bond, who grieve, and who deserve to be cherished.

That is why we have set a firm date of December 17th for closing our New Bunny Questionnaire. This doesn’t mean placements end then — families approved before that date can still move forward. But it does mean we are giving ourselves the gift of clarity. By December 17th, we will know which Buns are leaving for forever homes and which will remain here permanently as part of our family.

We don’t share this to guilt anyone. We share it because honesty matters. Raising rabbits is not about numbers on a spreadsheet; it is about lives, both ours and theirs. Silence is not harmless. It has consequences — for us, and for the rabbits left waiting.

Through it all, one promise has never changed and never will: every rabbit here will always be safe, always be loved, and always have a home. And no matter what the future holds for our breeding program, we will always be here to support and encourage the families who adopt from us.

f you’ve been considering welcoming a Bun into your life, now is the time to reach out. Together, we can find the right match before our New Bunny Questionnaire closes on December 17th.