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?

Since it is a LA school I would definitely contact the local council - ideally send the email to the head of the relevant department and copied to your local councillors if they are helpful. They will look at independently and they have a responsibility to make sure things are handled properly. They will also be keenly aware that stories like this can get some bad press if not dealt with properly!

Poor rabbits. I hope you can help them OP. And thank you to all the people who have posted advice - we have recently had a rabbit come to live with us (not my choice!) and I had no idea how much care they need but now I do. We are going to have to redesign our garden around it!

I think you're doing a fab job Lottieandmia, very calm, as I would have refused to give them back!
I'm also wondering what OFSTED would make of this situation...?

www.rspca.org.uk/ImageLocator/LocateAsset?asset=document&assetId=1232721459275&mode=stg

I've read bits of the thread and apologies if this has already been suggested.

How would you feel about offering a weekend / holiday home for the rabbits? That way they remain the schools rabbits but they will have a proper run / hutch set up and proper care at weekends with the consistency of carers. As well as a proper set up during the week.

I can kind of understand the ill thought out but good intentions that the staff have had esp if they we're thinking it would be calming for kids with problems etc. But the animals need to be cared for properly.

Your doing a good job of fighting for these rabbits.

Perhaps suggest that they get rehomed and if he can't find anyone suitable you'd consider it yourself

I would be happy to have them at weekends and holidays. I just hope that something can be agreed on before the rabbits become ill.

As it is a LA school there will probably be someone working at the Council who can help to put pressure on the school, such as an animal warden who is responsible for inspecting pet shops etc? Where I live this is based within the Environmental Health team but not sure if this is the case everywhere.

Shocked they hacen't been vaccinated! This is really awful.
This head is shocking.
Dread to think of those poor bunnies getting ill.
They can go downhill very quickly, i know

I know - I feel like asking if I can take them to the vets tbh and get them vaccinated. We don't live in an area like London, we are very close to the country so there are bound to be wild rabbits that could pass on disease. The school is right next to a big allotment.

RWA phoned the head but he was in a meeting. She has contacted our LA - she says the LA has a responsibility under the animal welfare act so should be interested. School is closed from Friday until 6 June. So it looks like there won't be a resolution for the poor bunnies until after half term.

LA apparently don't have anyone who deals with animal rights issues. This is apparently to do with cuts to council budgets. Even though the LA has a responsibility to adhere to the AWA.

Ultimately unless someone can hold the school accountable for what they're doing, I can see them keeping the rabbits with the current situation sadly.

Do you know what's happening to them over half term?

No, I assume they will be going to one of the volunteers who have signed up...

This is horrendous! Id take this to the media. Sure they'd love to know how the school and local authority Are behaving how they don't seem to have to comply with animal welfare
What a great model to kids this head is!

Is the HT saying they aren't vaccinated?

WTF! They are at risk of Myxi (insects/wild rabbits) and VHD (if wild rabbits get to them)

Irresponsible to say the least

Actually it sounds like a Massive vanity project on behalf of your HT and he cannot lose face by backing down and saying "I was wrong. I didn't plan. I basically f*ed up"

But what is really being fucked up is the life and welfare of two innocent animals .

But what is really being fucked up is the life and welfare of two innocent animals
Yes
Our lot cost a fortune. I would never risk their well being! Even when i wasn't working and money was tight

It's awful. It's illegal to deny animals medical care. I'm just wondering what would happen if they needed expensive vet care? All my animals have insurance - it's so important.

Unfortunately you cannot as yet prove they've been denied medical care , there are sadly thousands of pet rabbits in this country who don't get vaccinated . How would you feel about offering to buy the school a pair of guinea pigs in exchange for the rabbits - I know piggies need a lot of care and human interaction but at least they are smaller , easier to transport and if well handled will be more manageable for randoms to take home at weekends . You could also get onto the PTA and ensure that they take responsibility for buying the fresh veggies etc each week . I do realise this is a bit of a cop out solution and also dumps more unfortunate animals into the predicament but I do think piggies are easier to manage in a school environment .

Sure, I know they haven't been denied medical care but if the school doesn't have a budget for it then what will happen in the event of illness?

If people don't vaccinate their pets then it's their look out but a school should be setting an example of good practice.

I actually have two fairly young (1 year old) lovely guineas but I'm not sure I'm willing to hand them over to a school who has shown they don't really care what happens to the animals. I agree they are much less high maintenance than rabbits but still...

I was no way suggesting you give him your pets - adopt a couple from PAH . The rabbits need to be out of there before the summer or no doubt one or other will get fly strike and that is a nasty way to go . This has been so badly thought out but I'm just trying to think of ways to give the HT an 'out' without him needing to say he was wrong as it doesn't sound like he's keen to do that . Btw find some pictures of fly strike and send them to him that may force some action and it's very common unfortunately.

What is fly strike, floral?

What do others think of the guinea pig suggestion?

Fly strike is horrible. Basically a rabbit gets a tiny cut or scratch and then a fly lays its eggs in the cut and then the rabbit is essentially eaten internally by larvae.

I had a rabbit who became lame (but was doing okay) and came down with fly strike. We were bathing her twice a day in special solution and trying to get all the eggs and maggots out but to no avail and she had to be put down. It is a truly horrible way for a bun to go.

The Guinea pig thing is no solution. They don't have the infrastructure for class pets. Buy them a teddy bear!