Holiday Travel with Bunny

The Christmas season is a time when there is lot of traveling. Unfortunately for rabbit owners, bunnies do not handle traveling well. They are not like a cat where you can hire somebody to come over once a day to feed and scoop the cat box, or a dog which is more easy to bring (or can easily have a dog sitter). Rabbits require special care, need to be able to hop around for exercise, and grooming. Because careful bunny sitters can be rather hard to find many people may need to opt to bring bun with them. Again, rabbits can die very easily from stress, so travel is not really a good option.

CAR TRAVEL:
Bunny could handle this if it's not a very long car ride (meaning under 2 hours). But too long of a car ride can be quite traumatic for such a small animal! Things like bad air circulation, bumps, loud traffic, and/or inside care noise can contribute to bunny becoming sick or very stressed. If you have no choice but to travel with bunny in a car:

1. Bunny needs to be in a secure animal crate with fresh water (in a bunny water bottle). (And some hay).
2. Familiar things inside the crate like a few toys and comfy towel may help ease some of her anxiety. 
3. Prepare to make frequent rest stops to give her a break from car sickness and road bumps (beware of taking her out to hop around even on a leash. Wild critters that have gone #1 and #2 on the grass can make bunny fatally sick if she eats it, or she can get ticks. So basically, do not take bunny out for a walk in a rest area! Open the trunk and let her sit there so she can get a breeze).
4. Keep the air circulation good. Close windows if there is bad car exhaustion, loud noise, etc. If it is cold outside make the care warm but not too warm. Keep it on the more cool side of warm).

AIR TRAVEL:

To be frank, air travel is never a very good idea for bunny. Only use air travel if you have absolutely no choice but to fly her. And I mean that you have gone from Plan A all the way to Plan Z with no other option. Air travel can be quite an ordeal. The noise from other animals, extreme changes in temperature, rough handling, and having to be in a cargo plane since most airlines will not let you fly with bunny, can be extremely terrifying. If the airline will allow you to fly with bunny then do so. If simply must fly with bunny:

1. Keep her crate safe and secure. With some water, hay, and familiar things in it.
2. Take two pieces of paper and laminate them and then tape them to the inside and outside of the crate (with good strong Duct Tape). That way if for whatever reason bunny ends up in San Francisco when she was supposed to be in New York it will have the necessary  info to find you and return her. (The info should have: bunny's name, basic health info, your name, cell number, email address)
3. Try to keep the flight a short one. (Try to avoid those half-way around the world trips).

BUNNY BOARDING:Bunny boarding is good if you will be gone for an extended period of time with no way to keep care of bunny. Bunny will stay in special "animal hotel" and be cared for there. Some bunny boarding places are very good, while others are sketchy. Make sure that look for some good reviews. If you decide to bunny board: 

1. Make sure that the place knows how to properly care for bunnies.
2. Leave bunnies medical information and medicine she takes (if she takes it). Make suer they know how to care for special needs bunnies.

HOME BUNNY SITTERS:

This is the best idea. Have someone you trust, is responsible, and is a stickler for rules to bunny sit. This person will have to come over to your house and feed bunny, clean her cage, and take her out of her cage to play. If you are having a bunny sitter;

1. Give them your vet info and a list of emergency health issues.
2. Medicine instructions and care for a special needs/elderly bunny
3. Teach them how to pick up, groom, feed, and play with bunny.