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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to steal my housemate's rabbit?

76 replies

igetmorelovefromthecat · 03/06/2012 11:05

No...not that kind of rabbit...get your mind out of the gutter!

Serious question. My housemate has a rex rabbit, that is supposed to belong to her 7 year old daughter. The daughter doesn't give a shit about it and maybe gets it out/cleans it out every month or two. It doesn't even have a bowl for its food and just gets handfuls of rabbit food chucked in its dirty straw every 2 or 3 days. It doesn't have a proper hutch, it sits in a tiny little handmade hutch which is about 18 inches long, in a dark shed, all the time. It really upsets me that the poor thing lives like this and I have even gone as far as telling my housemate that either she sorts the poor bugger out or I will take it to the RSPCA. After I had that conversation with her she got her dippy mate to make a handmade run for it, which is crap and there's no way the hutch could actually fit onto it, so the rabbit doesn't actually use it.

My housemate has now kind of moved into her boyfriend's caravan in a field a few miles away and last time I saw her she told me she was going to pick the rabbit up today and take it up to the field and try and get the run sorted for it. But even if she does that as soon as the weather changes it will be back to living in its shitty little box all winter.

Now, a good friend of mine who is an animal lover has offered to have the rabbit. She has a big hutch and run, a secure garden that the rabbit will be able to run around in, a two year old who adores rabbits and is desperate for one, and my friend has said she will get another rabbit to keep it company so it has a friend.

So, I guess it's obvious where the rabbit would be better off, but the question is, do I ask my housemate if my friend can have the rabbit (I am pretty sure she will say no, as her daughter will kick off and when she kicks off she gets what she wants to keep her quiet). Or just take the rabbit and deal with the wrath of my housemate when she finds out?

OP posts:
alistron1 · 03/06/2012 16:25

Good for you OP cruelty to rabbits because they are 'just rabbits' really grinds my gears. If you have any probs rehoming and are in the midlands I will take him. I can't guarantee that I could give him a forever home with me but I know people who could give him a decent life.

rhondajean · 03/06/2012 16:31

Well done op, I really hope you get to keep your domestic harmony too, but just think of how that poor animal was suffering and now you have stopped it.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 03/06/2012 16:34

Well done that rabbit will thank you!!! As for the friendship well I'm not sure I could be friends with someone who could do that tbh :( no great loss if she doesn't speak to you. Please photo graph the set up so if u need to contact RSPCA u have evidence :)

DizzyKipper · 03/06/2012 16:54

Very glad to hear of it OP, that rabbit's life will be so much better. I just hope there isn't too bad a fallout from this - though like some one else has said, this 'friend' is not some one I'd particularly be interested in being friends with.

WhereYouLeftIt · 03/06/2012 17:20

Yep, I would just take the rabbit to the friend who would care for it properly. Then wait for the housemate to raise the matter. And if she was less than accepting of the situation, rip her a new one. Angry at her sustained neglect.

HildaOgden · 03/06/2012 17:28

I'm dying to hear her response when she finds out what you have done,brace yourself for it because I reckon she will go ballistic.

DizzyKipper · 03/06/2012 17:33

I'd also go ballistic if some one stole my pet, I think anyone would - even the people that don't care about and neglect them. I just hope the OP doesn't get into any real trouble over this with the law. Keep us updated OP.

discobeads · 03/06/2012 17:40

I'd just tell her it died, and that was why you were trying to cal her - tell her you took it to the vets to be disposed of.

bishboschone · 03/06/2012 17:41

I hate seeing animals in cages . It makes me so sad . When we were young we had rabbits and guinea pigs in massive runs ( big house and garden ) . They had a fantastic life ! If you cant do this don't have them . Poor thumper :-( .....p. s just take it and leave the door open saying it escaped !

TheCunningStunt · 03/06/2012 17:46

I hope your housemate is not a MN'er. You are doing the right thing. Poor rabbit.

GrahamTribe · 03/06/2012 17:48

I hope her housemate is an MNer - she might learn then what an utterly abhorrant person she is for this neglect towards a helpless creature.

WhereYouLeftIt · 03/06/2012 18:04

"I just hope the OP doesn't get into any real trouble over this with the law."
If the law was going to be called in, I suspect they'd pay more attention to the owner's neglect and abandonment of the animal (she has all but moved from the house where the rabbit is kept). The OP has not actually 'stolen' the rabbit - she has rehoused it to ensure it is cared for; and it could, technically, be recovered at any point (although this is NOT in the rabbit's best interest).

Toughasoldboots · 03/06/2012 18:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HildaOgden · 03/06/2012 18:09

Good idea Discobeads

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 03/06/2012 18:20

Agreed whereyouleftit !!!

igetmorelovefromthecat · 03/06/2012 19:18

Update! Well, safely delivered the rabbit who seemed thrilled to be out of his prison and had a nice time this afternoon hopping around my friend's garden.

I texted my housemate saying 'Hi xxxxxx, I've been trying to get in touch with you all day. I've taken xxxxxx for a holiday to southwestwhippet's house, he is having a lovely time hopping around the garden. See you soon! x'

To which she replied: 'Thanks Igetmorelove! And thank southwestwhippet for me too."

Can't believe I completed mission rabbit rescue AND got thanked for it by the poor rabbit's owner! High five to southwestwhippet who has been good enough to take the rabbit.

OP posts:
HildaOgden · 03/06/2012 19:29

That's weird,I thought she was against the rabbit going anywhere??

igetmorelovefromthecat · 03/06/2012 19:47

Yeah...she is a bit weird. Kind of surprised by the reaction myself tbh!

OP posts:
WhiteWidow · 03/06/2012 19:50

Get the rabbit out!

My rabbit was never stuck in its cage, she had run of the house and was litter trained. She used to chase after my dogs it was hilarious. She died a couple of months ago :(

WhiteWidow · 03/06/2012 19:50

Sorry didn't read your follow up. Good on yu :)

TheCunningStunt · 03/06/2012 19:51

So does she think the rabbit is going back to her then???

igetmorelovefromthecat · 03/06/2012 20:00

Yeah she thinks it is...but she will never get it together to sort it out to get a proper hutch, and the other one (which was leaking sewage all over the boot of my car) has gone 'missing', so I think we can safely assume it has found a nice new home :)

OP posts:
Southwestwhippet · 03/06/2012 20:54

Hi all, thanks for the vote of confidence and giving us both the courage to go ahead with mission Rabbit Rescue.

Rabbit is now in my hutch and run in my garden. He is currently just sitting outside in the rain EATING and EATING the grass - [don't worry, he does know where his shelter is, I think he just can't believe all this lovely green stuff is there for him] It is all a little bit rough and ready at the moment, he's got some of my rats' dried herb snacks and a small handful of rat museli in a bowl (will get rabbit food ASAP of course) but he's only interested in the grass anyway.

The hutch he was arrived in was truly heartbreaking, about 40cm wide and 75cm long. He's not a Rex, he's a lop. Although if I'm honest, I did not want a rabbit, I am so happy to be able to give him a better life. DD is also delighted by him which is nice for her, he seems very gentle and happy sit on her lap, so I think he will soon be part of the family.

With regards to a friend for him, I'm a bit wary of pressing ahead until we see which way the wind blows re his true owner because I'll have to get him neuteured first and then the RSPCA rabbit advice recomends getting him a neutuered female companion. So I'm going to make certain he is definitely staying before I go down the route. Regardless, his standard of living has improved 100%. Off to google Rabbit Care now and find out what else he needs.

alistron1 · 03/06/2012 21:02

Well done you!! I'd just concentrate now on loving him. I bet he's the happiest rabbit in the world right now! Please do not hesitate to message me if you need any rabbit help.

Toughasoldboots · 03/06/2012 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.