Neighbours Rabbit Dilemma

[genericbrunette]

We have just moved into a new house. Next door have a lovely large rabbit hutch in their garden, and a few bunnies. I have noticed that their water bottle has been empty for 48 hours now.

I have not seen anyone coming or going from the house.

their garden gate is not locked. AIBU to just fill the bottle up myself?

I think that's likely to piss your neighbours off if they catch you. Knock on the door instead to see if they're in first?

Knock on the door first. If no answer I would 100% fill it up.

My neighbour left his hens with no water, so I managed to angle a hosepipe over the fence. Is there any way you can do this? Even if it just gives them a temporary puddle?

Yes reasonable to knock on the door first. But if this is a genuine oversight by the neighbours surely they would be glad you looked after the rabbits welfare?
If they reacted angrily at someone concerned about animal welfare I think I would be keeping a close eye on whether this was an isolated incident.
I always feel rabbits and other caged pets are so vulnerable.

They might have a water bowl in the cage? I’d just stay out of it

you could word it, that you think the bottle has been knocked by the rabbits ( rather than suggesting they haven't been refilling it )

Yeah I would knock on the door first.

I lowered a bucket of water over the fence of a nasty neighbour who had a couple of ducks without water - she tossed it back over full of water - they hate it when you highlight the fact that they are useless POS

Knock first, if no answer fill up the bottle yourself then leave a polite note letting them know you've done so.

Knock first, and bring a note with you to put in the door let them know what you're doing/done if they don't answer. Be OTT nice in the note making it clear you wouldn't normally trespass

They could have had an accident or some other emergency/delay so I don't think staying out of it is the best idea.

Rabbits are one of the most neglected pets, please help them if you can.

I would knock at the door to establish if they are at home, if they aren't and you can I would absolutely fill up the bottle.

I hope they're not cooped up in the hutch 24/7, rabbits need a surprisingly large amount of space

I don't think they'd still be alive with no water for that long?! They are really sensitive animals and hard to care for. I'd knock the door, but be prepared for a bunch of attitude.
If it doesn't look sanitary, can you see the animals, do they look neglected? Are they ever let out in a run, does their area stink?
I'd consider contacting RSPCA if it doesn't improve.

Yanbu. Its a legal requirement to care for pets.

I'm not being mean to you here OP but if you know they aren't being given water they will be suffering even if they don't die. Don't let your neighbours poor decisions leave you with regret for life.

Nobody is going to do you for tresspass (google it) and you'll feel better once you've been over. Rip off the plaster and go now. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Anyone angry at you for trying to ensure their animal is OK is not worth anything anyway.

Gimmesleep. Yes ! wonder how many people would like to sit in a room 6x6 all day ? My friend had rabbits and they had a run all day .it's cruel to keep them in a hutch .they are one of the most neglected species 😥

If they have had a medical emergency then you would be saving the lives of their pets.

I would knock and if no answer leave a note saying you love to watch the rabbits but we're worried at neighbour not being home to feed and water so you have done so.

Any update @genericbrunette ?

It's not just the water , what are the rabbits eating ?

They need to eat fibre ( grass/hay) pretty constantly throughout the day then they go off somewhere quiet to eat the forst passsing ( that;s the polite version) and they're most active dawn and dusk.

I've never kept rabbits but had many guinea-pigs - they will eat unlimited hay too (at least their own bodyweight /day )
5 hours without fibre is enough to cause gut stasis and organ failure .

You can see why these poor animals are so neglected unfortunately so many owners do not understand their basic needs .

They might have a leaky bottle , or thirsty rabbits . But if they don;t have water or food their outlook is grim

You need to be careful with other peoples animals though , but worth knocking on the door. Good luck .

Do the rabbits have access to grass ? If so they can get moisture from that .
My piggies scorned at the water bottle (unless it was 3am and they rattled it for a laugh to wake us when they were in at winter ) but they peed loads .

The animal welfare act requires you to intervene and will cover any allegations of trespassing leave a note saying you have given them water but they will also need feeding or they will die quickly

Knock the door, if no answer then fill it up.

Any updates OP?

Why wouldn't you knock on their door? You haven't been watching to see if they've come or gone for the whole 48 hours have you??

Does the rabbit have a water bowl? Ours has both a bottle and..... A Sand castle bucket lol. He prefers the bucket so that's changed daily but the bottle every other day or something just in case he decides to use it lol.

Bunny water bottles are notorious for empying their contents or at least ours were! Would knock the door and if no answer, I would refill the water bottles. And yes, put a nice, non accusationsal note through their door because they may have rushed out. Sometines these things happen and it is not intentional at all. (We “forgot” to give our dogs breakfast the other day because we both assumed the other had done it - they eventually got it late morning!)

Can you still see the rabbits @genericbrunette

Have the owners been back yet ?