Bunny Dilemma

[volleyballlover]

So about a year ago, my 20 year old brother who was 19 at the time bought a bunny and brought it home without my parents permission. My parents have always prohibited animals in our house because of their smell and the amount of care they need. We've had the bunny for a year, and 6 months ago, my brother bought another bunny to keep the first one company. My parents have been trying to convince my brother to get rid of them ever since. They've been living in our unfinished basement since, and we tried to build an apartment-like building so that their pee wouldn't go everywhere and stink, but despite our use of pee pads, litter boxes, and daily cleaning, they continue to stink up the house. Our basement is to be finished soon, so they need to get out of the basement regardless but we don't know where to put them. My parents say they can not be in the house, but they can't be outside either because it'll be way too cold this winter. We have proposed the idea of buying an insulated dog house, putting it in the garage, and insulating it even more with blankets and potentially a heater, but the heater is a fire hazard and my brother would be crazy worried that they would freeze regardless. We asked about keeping them in at night time, but my parents said no because it would turn into just keeping them there all of the time, and the house would stink again. Besides, it's just as cold in the daytime often. I need opinions and thoughts of where to keep the bunnies this winter.

[pixie374]

Rabbits are very easy to litter train, so I would do that and just empty it regularly.

[MartinMillar]

My bunnies were always kept outside as kids and we lived in the highlands of Scotland.
A decent sized hutch in a sheltered corner, a couple of old blankets from a thrift shop and a tarpaulin weighted at the front, put the blankets on so it covers the entire hutch then cover with the tarpaulin, put weight on the top, put a couple of old socks on the water bottle to help keep the water bottle flow.
Each morning fold back the tarp from the front and tuck the blankets up in the front leaving the rest of the hutch covered.
Our rabbits and guinea pig lived till 8 plus like that.

[bednobs]

I hear its warm in a saucepan

[woofgang]

Martin Millar, I think the OP is in the US and it can be MUCH colder than Scotland there. Have you asked around at animal shelters? Honestly you are lucky that your parents have stuck to trying to persuade your brother, it is their house after all.

[Old_Geezer]

Wild rabbits don't seem to have issues. Just replicate the natural insulation a burrow has.

[burlyshirley]

Your brother really shouldn't have defied your parents, BUT this is not the rabbits' fault and a compromise has to be reached so these innocent creatures don't freeze in the winter. A warm dog house or a hutch, which we use in Britain, would be ideal as long as you are allowed to put it in the garage and put plenty of straw bedding in it to keep the rabbits cosy. You can also buy heated pads for bunnies from pet shops which can go inside the hutch (or dog house). Whatever you do, please do your best.