To be worried about the school rabbits? WWYD?

[lottieandmia]

Dd's school acquired two very cute little rabbits recently. She has been very keen to sign up to take them home to look after for the weekend so today we collected them for the weekend.

I'm really shocked to see that they spend pretty much their entire lives in a tiny living space which does not allow them to move around or stretch out. My guinea pigs have a much bigger cage than they do. The rabbits cage allows them to only do one hop from length to length (if that)

We're animal lovers and I'm very worried about them. So much so that I'm willing to buy them a bigger hutch to donate to the school.

In my situation what would you do about this? We have never had rabbits but I do know they are intelligent, complex and are often rehomed due to a lack of understanding about their care needs. What would you do?

I think it is sensible to email again as an 'update', setting out what the blue cross have stated to you. That way it is on record. Ideally, cc' Governors - the email will be available somewhere.

I really don't think getting random people to email is going to help your cause at all

Don't forget you won't have any control over what these people say or who else they give school details to - how will you handle it if the head tells you he has had abusive and threatening emails because of you? This will not end well.

You need to get other parents to back you up, and the governors. They are the only people the head will listen to.

I'm not responsible for what other people say.

Anyway I've managed to get contact details for one of the governors. I agree that that is probably going to be the more effective route.

Firstly well done op for being an advocate for these poor buns and speaking up.

I've read this thread with utter disbelief at the heads attitude! The school at best could use this as an opportunity to teach the children about researching a pet before buying and proper animal welfare. Using convenience as an excuse for that atrocious hutch size is no excuse. Putting animals through unnecessary stress for other peoples convenience is also not acceptable. I think the head needs reminding that the animals welfare comes first and should never be compromised because it makes his life easier, if he wanted an easy life then the rabbits should never have been bought. If he refuses to change his attitude towards these animals go to the govenours, if that fails your local newspaper. The school is essentially teaching young children convenience comes above welfare!

Maybe the RSPCA would be more concerned if you pointed out the bad example that this is setting to the children?

If they see rabbits in a tiny hutch, being used as toys, they will want them at home as well. This affects more than this pair of rabbits and it is important.

Perhaps even a little bit of persistence would help with them. I think they are the only people who can help here.

The RSPCA won't do anything because they say it's not illegal. I've already tried 2 different people. And there seems to be a general consensus that they are not very helpful.

I told them the context, ie bad example for the children

That's shocking. I've called them in the past and they sent someone out to look at some horses I was worried about.

Do you think it's possible that some people have an attitude that small animals are somehow insignificant? Awful if so but I do wonder.

I'm not really sure.

I wonder if it's the fact they're living in a school that has put the RSPCA off?

They are the only people with any real power to do something in this case, it's very frustrating that they're refusing to get involved. Especially as the head has lied about supposed charity endorsement of the hutch.

What does the law actually say?
Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act places a duty of care on people to ensure they take reasonable steps in all the circumstances to meet the welfare needs of their animals to the extent required by good practice.

What does this mean for those responsible for animals?
In short it means they must take positive steps to ensure they care for their animals properly and in particular must provide for the five welfare needs, which are:

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.

www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/changingthelaw/whatwechanged/animalwelfareact

To me, it sounds like the law is being broken.

What about handing some leaflets on rabbit care out to the parents?
They may genuinely not realise the extent of the poor bunnies plight. .

To them it's the chance for their dc to have a pet experience without them having the responsibility of proper ownership.

More like minded people must be out there to support you op. .

www.rspca.org.uk/ImageLocator/LocateAsset?asset=document&assetId=1232733458916&mode=prd

This is the RSPCA's own leaflet on rabbit care.

I'm sure it's in breach of the animal welfare act.

Well done OP you're doing brilliantly looking out for those poor bunnies :(

I was watching some rabbit related videos (see what'cha done lottie you've got me looking at rabbit care and I don't even want rabbits )

If they don't have enough room to stretch - which they don't in their sleeping area, there's enough room for both to sit side by side) it can damage their spines, their muscles which lose strength, they can be more prone to fractures......all of which will cause them pain and ditress and make them unhappy , grumpty (and potentially aggressive) animals.

Rabbits will run 5 miles a day - and being crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) the time that they are out at school isn;t their optimum time (though being out 9-4 is better than not at all) its making them fit the school hours rather than the school accomodating the rabbits' needs.

Do you know who has the rabbits this weekend?
And what are their plans for Half Term?

Does the school know how to care for them in hot weather? Animals like rabbits can suffer more in a heatwave (as you'll know with your guinea-pigs. Little fur covered mammals can't escape it)

Have you thought to contact your local councillors, they are often part of the governors at schools in their area.

This makes me so angry that the rspca don't give a toss.
I'd happily name and shame them too.
Let people know that the money gives goes nowhere.

I'm less angry at the RSPCA than I am at the school who ploughed into animal husbandry without proper research.
It is not hard to spend a couple of hours Googling "Rabbit Care"
It is not hard to follow advice given by the Rabbit Advice sites and Blue Cross.

There are animals rescued by the RSPCA who are literally at deaths door. These bunnies are not kept in a suitable environment by anyones standards but they are not dumped in a box on the motorway/shut in a hutch filled 8" with their own shit/used as bait.

The RSPCA is one charity . I don't get the hate against them.
I don't support them financially.
There are loads of small charities/rescues that are working tirelessly and often voluntary for animals.

Support them. Vote with your wallet.

Doesn't the RSPCA stand for Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals? Prevention being the most important part of it surely?

Im angry at them! They campaign for money, show emotive adverts yet when someone asks for help they get nowhere! Not the first time, same experience iv had with them

I've had an email from RWA. They've not yet received a response from the school. They feel that the rabbits should be rehomed and asked me if I would be willing to adopt them if necessary. I would be willing to adopt them. We have a completely enclosed garden and I'm sure I could set up a spacious and stable home for them.

However, I would not want the school to think that I had the intention to 'steal' them all along because that's not the case at all. And I can't see the head allowing me to just take them tbh.

I don't think the head would want the governors and papers finding out he was breaking any animal welfare acts though would he
That would not look good, especially given that rwa have stated they needed to be rehomed....

I dunno Kali - it seems to me he'll do anything to not lose face