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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about the school rabbits? WWYD?

451 replies

lottieandmia · 13/05/2017 00:17

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?

OP posts:
glueandstick · 13/05/2017 13:26

www.saveafluff.co.uk/rabbit-info/safe-foods-for-rabbits

Read this and follow their advice.

I think the school have proved their knowledge is rather lacking and their attitude to the rabbit is shit.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 13/05/2017 13:28

You could retain then but you'd need to make sure the school knows exactly why you are doing so.
That the conditions they are keeping them in are not anywhere near the recognised standard for rabbit care ( go onto any website - Rabbits Rescues/RSPCA and its all there to print off)

I had similar issues with our school, (not rabbits) regarding the housing of their pets.
They did improve the housing (good) ...................then they got more (WTF) so they are now (IMO) overcrowded.

Why animals in school? I suppose it teaches responsibility . Some pupils cannot keep pets at home. But often the conditions aren't ideal.

Sleepingbunnies · 13/05/2017 13:32

That hutch is ridiculously small. My 2 guineas have a much bigger indoor cage and an even bigger run for the garden. Id be having a word with the school :(

Lostinaseaofbubbles · 13/05/2017 13:36

Rabbits need loads of space and need way too much stuff to be carted off to a different student's house each weekend.

I have a rabbit (was a pair but his buddy passed away last year and I don't feel we are in a position to take on another at this stage, and he's doing okay on his own.)

Mine live in a 5x7 shed and have a 5x7 run that they go in for several hours a day.

My local rabbit sanctuary would not rehome a rabbit to me as they feel that my facilities are not good enough and they don't have enough space (they insist on 60 sq ft available space at all times and at least 30 sq ft of dig-proof grass)

I don't think they are an appropriate animal for a class pet (except in the situation above where they live with the teacher/TA and are only in the classroom a few days a week). If they want something to send home with kids they need a class teddy bear!

Lostinaseaofbubbles · 13/05/2017 13:42

Housing guidelines from the rabbit welfare association:
rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-housing/why-hutch-not-enough/

Original poster
lottieandmia · 13/05/2017 13:54

Thanks again - loads of great advice on this thread. I've messaged my friend who works at the school and she's concerned about them too - she says they have grown a lot so I assume they were bought as babies.

OP posts:
NotYoda · 13/05/2017 14:07

The Vet programme mentioned said that hay should form by far the largest part of their diet. It gives them all the nutrition they need, and wears their teeth down

It's only because we anthropomorphise animals that we feed them food that we think looks tasty

glueandstick · 13/05/2017 14:07

Actually, be a bit careful introducing veg as they may get upset tums as not used to it. Just a little- perhaps dandelion leaves.

hibbledobble · 13/05/2017 14:20

Poor little rabbits, I'm glad you are taking action op.

Thinking back my childhood rabbit had a similar sized hutch, but basically only slept there. She had the run of the garden all day. If these hutches are too small for rabbits, then why are they sold? I can't imagine they would be suitable for many other animals.

NotYoda · 13/05/2017 14:43

hibble

There's the same issue with fish. Tiny little tanks that would be suitable for only one fish (eg a Siamese fighting fish) being marketed (pictures on the box) as tanks for shoals of little tetra. It's not good

callmeadoctor · 13/05/2017 14:51

But thats not teaching children about responsibility, the hutch is not big enough. Indeed it makes me sick to think that they are in there day after day. That is really horrible and sad. I would be tempted to say that they had both died at the weekend and take them to a bunny rehome centre. (But thats me :-) )

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 13/05/2017 15:06

call the bunnies faces are known now on MN so they won't get away with faking their own deaths.......................Wink

And the School will just go out and get more rabbits because it won't be on their watch so not their fault Angry

Lostinaseaofbubbles · 13/05/2017 15:25

Hutches that size are made and sold because that's what people used to keep rabbits in when they bred them for food in the war and it's become what people are used to. No one has made them illegal and people who don't know any better buy them and use them.

It's true that hay ought to be the vast majority of their diet. If they aren't having enough hay (a chunk about half the size of your rabbit ought to be consumed every day - assuming it's fluffed up and has air in too). If they aren't getting anywhere near enough hay or if they are not used to veg it's possible that veg could give them the runs.

If I was taking on a bun who hadn't been regularly fed fresh food before, I wouldn't give them veg like you buy from a supermarket, I'd start them off on more fibrous stuff (like raspberry, blackcurrant or blackberry leaves) or the type of stuff they'd forage for themselves (dandelion or groundsel). And only a tiny bit. Some buns can get really very poorly at changes in diet and even if their diet is bad and you're changing it for the better you can't do it too quickly.

Please tell me that the dried food is the stuff that all looks the same and not that horrible mixed muesli stuff with the flat dried peas in it?

NotYoda · 13/05/2017 15:27

You never know, they school might be mighty relieved to lose them

Original poster
lottieandmia · 13/05/2017 16:05

Yes I think lying and saying they've died would be a very bad idea and wouldn't solve anything. I don't think the school will be relieved to get rid of them - they've only had them about 2 months and they are spoken about fondly by all the staff. I suppose they are still relatively young enough to change the outcome of their lives - i.e. Not giving them physical and mental health problems. Its unfortunate because as you all say, it was never ideal to take on rabbits in a school. My friend (who works there) seems to feel happy that I'm going to do something to help. So hopefully I'm not the only person concerned about them.

OP posts:
Iwantmoretimetomyself17 · 13/05/2017 17:39

I'm disgusted. I'd write a formal letter of complaint to the school.
The school is basically teaching kids how to take really bad care of animals. WTF

MrsPringles · 13/05/2017 17:45

Poor bunnies, OP keep them! I would

rightsaidfrederickII · 13/05/2017 18:07

Bloody hell. My pet hamster has more space by the look of that prison cell.

I'd go in on Monday and ask to speak to the head, taking some printed literature from the Rabbit Welfare lot and anything else you think is appropriate. Don't take the rabbits back with you on Monday - your car has broken down, which is very unfortunate Wink

Original poster
lottieandmia · 13/05/2017 18:08

I think that if I keep them, the children will be upset and probably will blame my daughter because they won't know or understand the reasons. It's such a sad situation. But I'm going to do everything I can to improve their living conditions. I will also contact a rabbit shelter and ask for their advice in terms of how to approach the school. Or maybe an outside agency might be willing to speak to them as well as me?

OP posts:
kali110 · 13/05/2017 18:14

Op please do not take them back!
Raise hell, this is disgraceful that hutch isn't big enough for one, let alone two!
I'd call the rspca on them, stuff it. Give them the pics.
The bunnies should have fresh food every day, their food should be made up of fresh food and hay only a little bit of it should be rabbit food!
They also should be vacinated!
This is absolutely disgusting.
I would not give them back and i would raise hell. This is neglect.

Minimoan · 13/05/2017 18:26

Maybe this organisation would also speak to the school as well as yourself?

rabbitwelfare.co.uk/about-the-rwaf/contact-us/

whattheactualfudge · 13/05/2017 18:29

I would call RSPCA and ask them exactly what to do. If needed they will speak to School and your name needn't be mentioned x Pleased you're standing up for them. X

BurnTheBlackSuit · 13/05/2017 18:54

at least 30 sq ft of dig-proof grass

Tell me about this please- surely it should only be rabbit-proof in that they can't dig their way out? Rabbits need to dig- its natural to them and good for their claws and exercise. My beloved rabbit used to love to dig 'scrapes' and also dig in the dust and have a good roll in it.

Lostinaseaofbubbles · 13/05/2017 19:11

They advise you dig down about half a foot, lay chickenwire or equivalent, put the soil back on top and then re-turf and then ensure that your outside enclosure is over this area.

So th rabbits can still dig out scrapes, but not escape and get themselves into a pickle.

Because I don't allow 24/7 access to outside space and my outside enclosure is moved every day I'm afraid I've not done this (also the logistics of doing this for the kind of area they want just seems nightmarish).

DarthMaiden · 13/05/2017 19:42

Hi, just to add to the chorus.

I agreed to the kids having pet rabbits before I'd properly thought about it - shame on me.

I bought 2 sister rabbits. I spent £400 on a cage with an integrated run.

They fought constantly. I had them neutered at great expense.

Rabbits are not great pets. They don't like being handed.

They are far "bigger" than you think. You see a small fluffy bundle but when they stretch out they are 3 times the size. As much as the integrated run.

DH and I couldn't stand it so we rabbit proofed the garden.

Sadly one rabbit died. Our remaining one is 9 years old. She is allowed free access to the garden and goes back into her hutch voluntarily.

I would never have a rabbit as a pet again. They need massive amounts of space. We gave that.

The photo you showed is just cruel.

They can't even stretch out properly in that space.

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