Poor little rabbit. Ah well, if it evolves, it'll use a Arceus-Killing-Strength Frustration at being so neglected. The implications of the fact that the bunnies have happiness of zero when caught makes me think that it'll be a long time before Buneary feels ready to evolve. Also, Dawn isn't getting her next ribbon until, as I think, Valor lakefront. It just seems somewhat right, since that point does seem like the Solaceon area. I put a penny on a Magnezone-based episode around there being to do with the blackout at Sunyshore.
Or the writers will have her know Return because they love the whole "friendship beats all" cliché.