POOR rabbit! [sad]

[Fresta]

Will the RSPCA do anything about a rabbit kept in what I think are cruel conditions?

A house I pass everyday has a large long haired rabbit in a small hutch (probably about a metre or so long)- the bog standard cheap type you get from a pet shop for guinea pigs etc. Something like this . It is not protected by a cover or anything. There is no outside run as it's in an open flagged yard without gates on so it can't be allowed to run around the yard. It is on it's own with no other rabbit for company. Feel so sad for it!

[Fresta]

If I report do you think they will speak to the people?

[whiskyremorse]

I reported a rabbit not being looked after last year. The rspca came out and gave the family advice and on the second visit they had followed through with the advice which is great. The rabbit was in a chicken wire run straight on their front drive with a handful of straw and food. There was snow on the ground. It helps if you can take a photo to email or text to them.

[Fresta]

Great- I'm going to report!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

need for a suitable environment
need for a suitable diet
need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals
need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

These are The Five Freedoms

This rabbit is being failed on
1: his hutch sounds totally inadequate (and guinea pig hutches arent even suitable for guinea-pigs IMO). Rabbits need minimum 3 hops and stand without their ears touching the ceiling (minimum)
The Victorians used to keep rabbits in hutches before they went to the cooking pot . It isn't 1901 now .
3: he can't stand upright , dig in mud , exercise. He can't binky ( leap about).
4:unless his vet or an experienced rabbit expert has said "No this rabbit cannot live with other rabbits for his own safety or the others safety" , then he should be in a bonded pair)
5: he won't be able to groom. He'll be at risk of spinal damage and muscle wastage . He'll be at risk of fly strike in winter . He'll be at risk of respiratory issues if his hutch gets soaked. He'll be at risk of dying of bloody boredom in a pitiful existence . If he's long haired , he'll get matted .

2: The food ? You can bet your bottom dollar they won't have bothered finding out what diet he needs .Which can give rise to teeth and gastric issues .

Definately report . Bat the Five Freedoms right at them .
Best scenario ? They will pull their horns in and make his life what it should be .
Or he may end up in Rescue - not "ideal" but at least he'd have company and a chance.

Do you know them? Is it a chlds pet and they "got bored" ?

Poor soul

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

In addition to the 3 hops space they do need a run. The hutch shouldn't be their only space , its the 'safe space'

[Fresta]

I do know them but they are not the kind of family I would feel happy approaching- I know they have had trouble with the police and social services involvement with children.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

They might be glad to get the rabbit off their hands , especially getting to winter ?


I know people will tell you to stage a Rabbit Rescue , but I wouldn't go down that road if they're likely to retaliate .It makes your blood boil though to think of that defenceless animal in that situation.

[whiskyremorse]

Let us know how you get on. Its hard to approach a neighbour about this, ours had just moved in and we expected them to move the bunny to a better location and hutch.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

fly strike in winter

Oops - flystrike in Summer .

[Sowingbees]

Please report it, the poor thing has no voice it needs you to speak up for it.

[Fresta]

I reported

[Raphael34]

Good for you op. Hopefully the owners will relinquish the rabbit as they obviously don’t care for it

[FreeStar]

OP here (name-changed). Don't know if they have a visit from RSPCA yet, but suspecting they might have as poor bunny now has a black dinner liner stuck over the mesh part of his cage- presumably to try to keep the rain out. It's just not good enough- now he can't even see out! It's on now even though it's not raining and is lunchtime! Want to cry!

[Jengle]

Oh, this is really sad! Poor bunny...keep an eye on it and if it doesn’t improve, report it again.

I wish it was illegal to sell hutches/cages that are too small for the animal to live in- pretty much all the hamster cages (and rabbit hutches) in pet shops are too small and it’s horrible to think these animals are kept in these small spaces their entire life

[Basil90]

Well done OP

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Feck that sounds worse .can you check if the rspca have been . I cannot imagine that they.d advice this. Cover yes but not bin bag. That rabbit needs to be somewhere his needs are met. Are there any rabbit rescues near you? They won't have the powers that the rspca have but if one of the volunteers sent a photo it might push them . The rspca can enforce the five freedoms. That rabbit has none😠

[FreeStar]

Rabbit update- he now has a larger more sturdy looking cage with two levels and a weatherproof cover . Somewhat better!

[Nannewnannew]

Freestar That’s great news! Well done to you for caring and reporting. 💐 for you.