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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel unsure about what I've done - RSPCA and rabbit

69 replies

RabbitIssue · 11/08/2013 19:58

Long story but I went with my family to a sanctuary on Saturday to take part in a feeding experience.

A couple of things concerned me though, 1 of the rabbits didn't seem to have a water bottle in its cage (most of the rabbits were free ranging). I asked and the guy said 'oh its in the other barn' - not quite sure how that was going to help the rabbit but still. Then my children were holding some of the young animals and I was making sure they were being really careful, one animal moved and my dd nearly dropped it, i had my hands under to ensure she didn't and the guy said 'oh don't worry they've fallen from higher than that before' Hmm

I saw a free roaming rabbit that was really tame, didn't even move when I stroked it. I noticed fur missing under its chin, I picked the rabbit up and took it to the man working there. He said the rabbit had had a litter and had pulled the fur from its chest to line the nest. He did say the rabbit had had antibiotics but wasn't on them now and didn't need anymore.

I held the rabbit for ages, fell in love with it and half jokingly said 'do you rehome?' He said yes and I said we'd love to take the rabbit home (have cage, run, all suitable stuff, my dd's two rabbits died two months ago). I was a bit shocked that he didn't ask me for address, phone, do a home visit etc. End result - paid donation, took rabbit home.

Get home and realise rabbit is ridiculously thin. Take straight to vets - the fur missing under chin isn't from nest lining but a nearly golf ball sized abscess from a tooth infection. Rabbit is weighed and is less than half the weight it should be.

Hand feeding rabbit now, booked in for teeth/mouth check under sedation early in week. Vet says rabbit may not survive. Very sad. We will pay all the vet fees and I will give the rabbit a loving home if she pulls through (crossed fingers)

So, I ummhed and ahhed and phoned the RSPCA to report the sanctuary. I feel really bad, on the one hand, because it is a sanctuary but on the other hand surely this is terrible neglect? The rabbit must be in considerable pain and would have died if I hadn't seen it and taken it home. There were several other rabbits there that looked 'manky' not good phrase but they didn't look in top form, the other animals all seemed fine.

What would you have done? Should I have told the RSPCA or not?

OP posts:
Mouseface · 12/08/2013 13:25

Rabbit - that is so Sad and utterly horrid to read about poor Myrtle. The guy/place should be reported, I would have contacted the RSPCA, and also any other animal welfare place in the area for advice on what they'd do if they found a place like that, you don't have to get involved once you've made the complaint or made them aware at least of the condition Myrtle (and the other rabbits) was/is in when you first got her.

Fingers crossed that she's okay and you can get a playmate for her soon :)

Mogz · 12/08/2013 15:16

Sounds like Myrtle's got good taste in afternoon telly. I think if you can keep her eating and give her the company she needs you'll be over a very big hurdle and deserve a massive pat on the back.

kali110 · 12/08/2013 15:42

I think we have a beacon for the strays! I found one behind a pile of dvds in bedroom last week. Have no idea how long he was there!

mrsjay · 12/08/2013 15:53

thing is the council give out the liscenses for these places and sometimes what they find acceptable is a bit iffy but do complain the animals welfare is at stake, sounds more like a private collectors vistor attraction than a sanctuary well done you for rescuing the rabbit and i hope she is better soon, please complain to the RSPCA and The council

Original poster
RabbitIssue · 12/08/2013 20:08

I've grated some apple for her which she's scoffing. So, made it through another day Smile Just got to get to Wednesday.

OP posts:
peppapigsmummy · 12/08/2013 20:48

ohh poor bunnies. well done OP.

I was in a similar situation recently. I was offered s rabbit online. .owner stated it needes rehoming due to lsck of time and interest from kids.

Told ds we were getting bunny etc..very excited ! DH took day off.

We arrived and the house was a shit tip. I was mortified this woman even had kids there let alone animals. This poor bunny was in a dirty 'cage' smaller than I've hsd hamsters in. The water bottle you couldn't see through as it was completely green with mould inside. Instantly you could see its eyes were weeping and red and all sorts. I could go on. It wss awful. We took it and ran. I sobbed the entire way home while we called around all the vets for advice. He was put down he was so ill vet was amazed he'd made it so far. I was so upset, and livid at this woman. Who after confronting, basically said she was s single mum and hadn't got time so whatdid I eepect. furious.

And for a fortnight after all I heard was ..'mumma? bunny?' and a confused face..having watched us put it in the car etc.

Animal neglect is a horrible thing. You did the right thing. x

peppapigsmummy · 12/08/2013 20:49

Oh.my.word. the typos..so sorry. im absolutely hanging!

TalkUsernameYoudLike · 12/08/2013 20:57

Thank you for doing such a wonderful thing and helping that rabbit. I absolutely love rabbits. Reporting that sanctuary now means that it's extremely likely that the other rabbits will get medical help if they need it (and it sounds like they do)

Flowers
Original poster
RabbitIssue · 12/08/2013 20:59

Peppa - that is totally grim Sad So sorry for you, poor ds, poor you and most of all poor rabbit Sad Sad

OP posts:
kali110 · 12/08/2013 21:02

Peppa i would have reported that woman for neglect. Make sure she can never have another animal. Thats a pathetic fucking excuse.what a poor excuse for a human being. Single mum so she cant even change fucking water!!!

littlemog · 12/08/2013 21:09

lasagneandchipsandsalad is a woman after my own heart. I have rescued buns for many years and she is dead right - they need a companion and for a female a neutered male is best. Guinea pigs are not a very good idea to keep with rabbits as rabbits can kill them/bully them and also they have very different dietry requirements.

OP you sound completely marvellous to me. You did do the right thing and if the rescue is being run properly (which I doubt) then there is no harm done. You may want to prepare yourself for a bumpy ride with Myrtle as tooth/face abcesses are serious in buns and I have lost several poorly rescue buns to them. Arm yourself with treats like curly kale to encourage her to eat after her op. I hope that your outcome is positive and wish you luck.

littlemog · 12/08/2013 21:11

peppapigsmummy that is bloody disgraceful. There is no excuse. You did a good thing and gave the poor thing a peaceful death. Sad

littlemog · 12/08/2013 21:12

And yes - report her.

MimsyBorogroves · 12/08/2013 21:16

You have done the right thing in reporting them.

You are also allowing the rabbit veterinary care and comfort when this would have been denied...and at a place that calls itself a sanctuary.

HappyYoni · 12/08/2013 21:17

Ive got butterflies in my tummy because I've reported my neighbour to the RSPCA today because their dog is so unbelievably, painfully thin. I feel really bad because I haven't spoken to them about it directly, but there is a language barrier, and to be honest even if I spoke to them and they said "oh it's fine don't worry we're taking care of it" it wouldn't have reassured me much anyway.
But am still really worrying about whether I've done the right thing, even though logically I know I did.

Chibbs · 12/08/2013 21:22

fingers crossed bun makes it!

BigGreenFrog · 12/08/2013 21:50

Well done OP. You did the right thing. Fingers crossed for Wednesday, hope Myrtle is on the mend Smile

SofiaVagueara · 12/08/2013 22:22

I wouldn't worry too much. Knowing what I know about the RSPCA they will probably do fuck all. They're too busy wining and dining MEPs in expensive restaurants with all the donations they got from old ladies for the poor little animals.

They are shit. I've had several occasions when I've needed to call them and you're lucky if they even come out. Even when they do come out they usually do the sum total of fuck all when they do.

They're just a lobbying organisation, the inspectorate is toothless, inefficient and extremely badly funded.

CrabbyBigBottom · 12/08/2013 22:43

Having had four rabbits at war with each other, and DH having lived as a lodger in a house where the two bonded bunnies turned against each other (they ripped each other to shreds daily, even when separated, until one was rehomed), I would caution you to go very gradually with your introductions. A bonded pair of rabbits is a lovely thing to see but god they can be vicious! They are amazingly socially complex animals.

I've had my current bun (see what I did there... Grin) for seven years as a single rabbit. She gets lots of fuss and attention and has never been kept in a hutch. She seems perfectly happy on her own as long as she gets all the attention she insists on (rabbits have ways of making you do exactly what they want!) so I don't think it's vital to have two as long as the rabbit isn't stuck in a hutch with no company or stimulation. As has been said, don't mix with guineas.

I wish Myrtle a speedy recovery and a long and happy life with you. You did right to report the 'sanctuary'. Did they charge entrance for this feeding day?

littlemog · 12/08/2013 22:55

Def true that houserabbits can be very happy by themselves with lots of cuddles and love.

To the poster who reported the dog - well done.

Hopefully the RSPCA will act on these cases.

LessMissAbs · 12/08/2013 23:33

I'd also be concerned about the litter that your rabbit has supposedly just had!

Original poster
RabbitIssue · 13/08/2013 13:01

LessMiss - weirdly I didn't see any baby rabbits there, apart from the one in the cage without the water bottle and that was a baby giant. They could have been under the shed thing maybe. He didn't give me any sense of how long ago she had had her litter though.

I emailed the sanctuary after we'd been to the vets, in a happy 'oh just need to know' way, as my vet wants their vet's name to see what antibiotics Myrtle was on before. No response at all, and the RSPCA couldn't have been out yet (this was Sunday) so I think they hadn't ever had the vet see her and therefore can't reply Angry

HappyYoni - try not to worry. I've been reported myself before and although it upset me a lot, once the situation was explained there was no harm done really. I prefer that people care enough to report. Our cat was only young and very sick, no idea what was wrong, spent £2k trying to find out and she was at the vets/on steroids all the time. A neighbour picked the cat up and took her to her vets because she looked so thin, that vet rang the RSPCA. As soon as they checked her microchip and rang my vet who explained that she was ill and under care, the RSPCA were fine.

LittleMog - she definitely likes grated apple Grin I've explained to dd that Myrtle may not survive the anaesthetic and that even if she does, the infection may have gone too far. We're just going to cross our fingers Smile

OP posts:
Mammysammy1980 · 13/08/2013 13:14

Of course you did the right thing. I've got two bunnies, both girls and they get on fine.

Original poster
RabbitIssue · 15/08/2013 09:37

Sad update - Myrtle made it through the op but died last night about 9.30pm Sad

I think the ga and op were just too much for her maybe in her state? So angry with the sanctuary. At least she had 4 days of peace and quiet and food.

Had an email from Amazon (who the original voucher for the feeding experience was from) saying that the experience was no longer available and also the sanctuaries website is now gone. Does this mean the RSPCA has shut them down?

Have phoned the vet to let them know what has happened and will let the RSPCA know now. Hope they will prosecute Angry

OP posts:
mrsjay · 15/08/2013 09:49

aww poor myrtle as you said she had a nice few days with you Sad

you know what you did a good thing and it has happened very quickly with the voucher offer and website down this does mean that they are at least investigating , well done you

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