Mumsnet Talk

My neighbour bought two giant rabbits, assured by the pet shop owner that they were same sex.

(You can see where this is going, can't you?)

They had 11 babies. Neighbour offered us one, we declined, but DD (10) went to see them a couple of weeks ago.

Last week she asked how the baby rabbits were and the neighbour told her he'd let them go in a farmer's field.

DH and I are aghast at such cruelty. Anonymous call to the RSPCA? Would they be able to do anything?

It's hardly the crime of the century

Yeah if it was last week, they have probably all died by now unfortunately. I would still call the RSPCA just to see if there is anything they can do or if they have any advice for you.

Its not the crime of the century obviously, but it could still be classed as animal cruelty stranded. Its not like she's suggesting calling the police!

Are you sure she wasn't joking? Those giant rabbits go for in excess of £120 each in Pets at Home - no fool would throw away a grand

maybe he said that instead of telling her he had euthanised them,

there are rabbit rescue groups who take rabbits, and pet shops sometimes take babies,

anyway at least the fox will have had an easy meal, giving the wild rabbits a night off.

If the mother rabbit was very young herself she might have eaten the babies anyway. Better to spin a fairy tail about farmers fields than canaballistic parents. Mind you ....

He could have made a kinder white lie up, if that's what it was.

What are the RSPCA going to do?? If the parent rabbits are well cared for when they visit then theres not a lot they can do.

YABU

YABU you don't know anything.

What do you mean I don't know anything?

What's the neighbour going to do when this happens again? Irresponsible git.

A grand you say? Just running round a field?

Whereabouts are you OP?

11 baby rabbits (kittens as they are properly called) x £120 comes well over a grand in my book! Mind you Pets @ Home wouldn't actually pay anything like that to the breeder - but sold privately, you'd be making that sort of money on them.

You do not know what has actually happened. Report if yiu feel you must. It is UP TO YOU not us anyway. Doubt you'll get any feedback from RSPCA.

If he is an "irresponsible git" for trusting a pet shop owner that the rabbits were the same sex, then IMO you are an interfering busybody.

How do you know he hasnt separated the rabbits now that he knows?

He may have one or both neutered by now

You have no idea what has happened. You can call them if you want but the crime has been donee, they could lie etc. What do you want the RSPCA to do? Put their rabbits into their own care which is already overflowing? Ban them from owning animals?

Cheddars

<gets nets>

Pet owners have a legal duty of care to animals these days, since the Animal Welfare Act was introduced in 2006. This means the RSPCA can now intervene earlier than it could before. However as others have said, you don't know what actually happened. You could phone the RSPCA advice line on 0300 1234 555 if you need more advice.

nobody wants rabbits. there are 30 000 in rescues, allegedly. the giant in our local p@h has been there at least six months. rabbits aren't good pets for children - they are ideal for childless or empty-nest adults who have time and money and devotion to spare.

report your neighbour to the rspca if s/he still has un-neutered rabbits living together as there will be more and more rabbits to 'set free', or if the giants are living in small spaces.

What a fucking asshole (the neighbour) Rabbits are probably the most abused 'pets' in the UK. They are wonderful pets to own, but they are hard work. Those poor baby rabbits.

And strandedbear, it was a cruel and nasty thing for the owner to do.

You have NO proof. So he isn't an areshole until proven otherwise. <sigh> He may have been sparing a TEN YEAR OLDS feelings ffs

Is this like when my dog "went to live on a farm"?

come come now op. Reporting to the RSPCA on the back of what a neighbour told your ten year old about where the rabbits went. No wonder they're so busy!

phone RSPCA and see what they think. Why people on this thread are content to ignore possible cruelty because its not a massacre of Syrian civilians or a paedophile ring is beyond me.
www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/helpandadvice

Don't report it without speaking to the neighbour. Its possible that they could have all died.
These rabbits sell for a good price, its hard to see why anyone would have set them loose even if they were not bothered about the rabbits welfare.