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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Rabbit in shipping centre car park

39 replies

Bun99 · 16/05/2023 19:05

My mom works in a shopping centre and there is a rabbit in the underground car park. She thinks it's been there for a few days.

It won't go near anyone but she's left food and water out for it.

She phoned the RSPCA and they've said they can't do anything. She's not sure how it got in but it's obviously not been able to find its way out. It's in the center of a busy city so we are worried maybe it's someone's pet which has escaped?

What is the best thing to do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bun99 · 16/05/2023 19:05

Shopping* sorry typo

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 16/05/2023 19:07

Is it a wild rabbit?

Maybe a local rabbit rescue will help

Original poster
Bun99 · 16/05/2023 19:11

We are not sure if it's a wild rabbit, it looks well fed and looked after though.

OP posts:
maddening · 16/05/2023 19:12

Ask on Facebook for local help, perhaps a spare hutch that she could pop in a quiet corner with bedding, food and water, once it is in she might be able to close the door if she sees the rabbit is in when she is next there. But there will be local people on Facebook who will be happy to help I am sure.

musixa · 16/05/2023 19:12

Have you checked online to see if there are any local missing rabbits?

Original poster
Bun99 · 16/05/2023 19:12

maddening · 16/05/2023 19:12

Ask on Facebook for local help, perhaps a spare hutch that she could pop in a quiet corner with bedding, food and water, once it is in she might be able to close the door if she sees the rabbit is in when she is next there. But there will be local people on Facebook who will be happy to help I am sure.

Oh that's a great idea, thank you! Why didn't I think of that!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bun99 · 16/05/2023 19:13

musixa · 16/05/2023 19:12

Have you checked online to see if there are any local missing rabbits?

Yes, I can't find anything though. :(

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 16/05/2023 19:13

Humane rabbit trap?

vandupe · 16/05/2023 19:14

Find local help on a Facebook group. Or post it in a large vegan group like Vegans UK - you’ll find there are people in there associated with animal charities

Redebs · 16/05/2023 19:17

RSPCA are a bit rubbish, aren't they?
Good luck OP 👍

Ollybob · 16/05/2023 19:21

Locals are the best bet, ask on your local spotted/recommendations/gossip Facebook group and you'll get helpers and nearby rescues, what have centre management said?

Original poster
Bun99 · 16/05/2023 19:23

The Center managers haven't been super helpful. Seems they're happy just to ignore it.

My mom can't do that though (neither can I!) I will definitely try some of these suggestions.

Is there any obvious way to tell the difference between a wild rabbit and a pet? I have dogs and cats but I'm not really familiar with rabbits.

I don't know what we'd do with it if we caught it though. :(

OP posts:
BabbleBee · 16/05/2023 19:26

I think wild rabbits are exclusively brown with white tails and smaller. Domestic rabbits are a slightly different shape, bigger and in varied colours.

TabithaTitanium · 16/05/2023 19:29

If you have no luck with local rabbit people (😂) try a cat rescue they may be able to help with a trap.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/05/2023 19:30

There's a good chance that the poor thing has been dumped there Sad if it's a pet rabbit .

Shade17 · 16/05/2023 19:30

I don't know what we'd do with it if we caught it though. :(

Eat it?

TabithaTitanium · 16/05/2023 19:32

Shade17 · 16/05/2023 19:30

I don't know what we'd do with it if we caught it though. :(

Eat it?

😡

Throwncrumbs · 16/05/2023 19:32

RSPCA are awful, they want donations but don’t want to do anything else. Oh except pay the ceo mega bucks!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/05/2023 19:34

Look online for local small animal rescues (rabbits and guinea-pig type ) they'll be able to ID it if it is a pet , or if it is wild , help it get out of the car park .

Shade17 · 16/05/2023 19:35

TabithaTitanium · 16/05/2023 19:32

😡

Show quote history

Delicious, lean, sustainable and low food miles

TheFormidableMrsC · 16/05/2023 19:35

Throwncrumbs · 16/05/2023 19:32

RSPCA are awful, they want donations but don’t want to do anything else. Oh except pay the ceo mega bucks!

They are utterly shit. I'd never bother with them again. I don't even know why they exist 😒

Oysterbabe · 16/05/2023 19:36

Find a lost pets FB group and post on there. In my local one they're like Ninjas.

Has anyone lost a cat? I saw one by Tesco that looks sad.

I've just got in the car. I have a trap. @ Janet, meet me there, bring your mobile scanner.
Which Tesco?

Oysterbabe · 16/05/2023 19:38

I don't know what we'd do with it if we caught it though. :(

If it's wild, set it free. If it's a pet, find a rescue who will take it. It's usually pretty easy to tell a wild rabbit from a pet.

TheNoodlesIncident · 16/05/2023 19:39

Shade17 · 16/05/2023 19:30

I don't know what we'd do with it if we caught it though. :(

Eat it?

I took my rabbit to a vet's because it was unwell, the vet said "If it doesn't get better you can eat it".

a) I doubt very much he'd say that to a dog or cat owner about their pet
b) I was a CHILD, who says stuff like to a kid about their pet?!?

FlightoftheKakapo · 16/05/2023 19:49

TabithaTitanium · 16/05/2023 19:32

😡

Show quote history

If you are vegan or veggie I completely understand, if you are any sort of meat eater I do not.

As a pp said, low food miles as rabbit tend to be local, lean, sustainable and certainly lives a better, happier life than almost all pig products that end up on a supermarket shelf.

OP I am not advocating eating your rabbit! Abandoned pets tend to be fluffier, different coloured, different ears than wild who are buff coloured with a white flash in their tail.

If you do catch and rehome, it is important to get the right home. While many people in the UK get outraged like the poster above about rabbits being eaten, most pet rabbits are kept in very unsuitable and inhumane conditions. It’s a huge problem in the UK. Rabbit Welfare is a good start. Hope you catch him/her 😊