relocation of bunnies

Question
QUESTION: What is the best and safe way for bunnies to travel if it is for relocation purposes.

ANSWER: Dear Maria,

A lot depends on how far away you're moving.  Rabbits are fairly good travelers, but the shorter the trip, the better.  If you're moving across country, then it might be best to move your belongings, and then *fly* with the bunnies in the cabin with you.

But they also can make a long car trip, if proper supplies are set in for them, and they can get out of the car to move around and "do their business" at night in a motel room.  (I would NOT NOT NOT let them run around at a rest stop, since disastrous things can happen with all those dogs and other predators running around!).

If you can give me more details about your trip, I may be able to make more specific recommendations.

Hope this helps get you started.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: They will have to travel from the Netherlands to Athens Greece. What if we (me and my husband)travel by car and get the ferry from Ancona , Italy to Greece? Do they allow rabbits in big ferries to travel with in the cabine? I may have to travel with 4 bunnies instead of 2.

Sincerely Maria

PS Olympic Airlines accept rabbits in the cabine as long as each person travels with 1 pet (of course there is a max of overall pets travelling in the cabine which can be arranged in advance) which is ok if we travel only with 2 bunnies. If we have to travel with 4 the other 2 bunnies will have to stay in the cargo which I guess is too stressful and they may end up dead after a 3,5 hours of flight from Amsterdam to Athens.

Answer
Dear Maria,

I can't answer the question about the ferry allowing rabbits.  You'll have to contact the company that runs them to find out.  But driving and ferrying might be the best option, since you don't have two extra people to shuttle the other two bunnies on the jet.

How long is the drive, overall?  If it's over the course of a day or two, the bunnies should be able to make the trip uneventfully if you set them up with their carrier in the back of the car on the floor, some towels on the floor in case they want to stretch out or wander, and nice, wet greens and water to give them when you stop to rest from the drive.

If the bunnies all get along with each other, then they will cuddle and make the trip more pleasant for each other if they can stay close.  If they are *not* bonded, then the long car trip might help with that!  :)

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Dana