Every new foster that comes in is a potential date for our longest permanent resident boy, Finnegan. He's a really tricky guy. His main personality quirk is severe over stimulation that can make him lash out on the nearest living thing.

I was able to bond our other two permanent dorks Babyman (aka Flannel Boxing Day) and Benny after months of trials and tribulations and hatred, so who knows! I think one day I'll find Finn's perfect partner.

Enter our new foster, Ladyman (nicknamed after her twin in the house, my other perm. boy, Babyman). She is a rescue from the parking lot of the zoo in the nearest city, and as a bonus, her savior got her spayed before transferring her to me for foster and placement. She is like a soft, warm pillowcase stuffed with mashed potatoes. Just docile, sweet, and thicc.

I'm already seeing such a fascinating shift from other interactions he's had in dating around. The big one being mirroring in the first hour. Neat!! Don't worry, I'm not that lucky, she still wants to kick his ass. If Finn's interest changes, he has the final say in how he wants a partner, if at all!

Here's what I'll start with, just to share some ideas for others!

The Setup:

An xpen mini duplex set up in the kitchen where I could give everything a good run over with an enzyme cleaner for animal scent removal beforehand. Her side has Finn's blanket and her personal litterbox, and his side has her blanket and his personal litterbox. If they seem to vibe, I'll trade their litterboxes as well down the road. Right now, I want them to each feel like they have a small territory and notice that the other isn't trying to take it before introducing the idea that the other has been visiting!

The space between them is double walled with a metal screen between, so each bun has bars and mesh but can still smell, nosebump, and see each other. If they're overstimulated at the start, they get an opaque divider and start with just sounds and smells. And then introduce sight again with more distance.

No corner unclipped, no gap uncovered. Safety is absolutely #1 and prep is key for Finnegan and his attitude.

I have a framed and screened panel over the top of the duplex because Finn can and will jump the 3.5ft x-pen, and it's super important that they can't hurt each other right now when I'm trying to gaslight them into trusting that the other doesn't want to fight. Everything starts over if that happens!

They'll be in dating prison for a couple of days, exercising out of sight of each other in small sessions so that the focus is on building codependency. I want the empty space next to them feel not quite right when the other is removed.

The Bachelor, Finn the Rabbit:

I (very unofficially) rescue rabbits in my area. I was primarily rescuing from a colony on a college campus, which is where my harlequin Finn was born 4-ish yrs ago. I first noticed his mom because her patterning was so obviously out of place, the rest of the campus is mostly brown agouti (don't get me started on the genetic evolutions of these colony members 😍 or do, I'm obsessed.) She bred with a rabbit from the parking lot/stadium colony of campus, the part of the community there that had a little more "sass" and warriness of people. The disposition of Finn's father coupled with the assumed/observed aggression of his abandoned mother have made quite the boy. Finn is the most overstimulated, anxious, and aggressive rabbit I have ever worked with. No competition. I worked to rehome many of his siblings, and they were also a little extra sassy, but he makes them look like guinea pigs. Teeth bared, leaping into the air to get you, boxing little hands. The last time I carried him in my arms more than 3ft rather than moving him around in his carrier, he bit me in the neck and drew blood 🤣 HOWEVER he is also the sweetest most biggest baby goofball and sooo much fun. When I give him his slow head massages he closes his eyes and leans in, he binks like a bronco when I come into his space (the entire upstairs to himself). I absolutely adore this little freak. If you get it, you get it. He's AMAZING.