New neighbour rabbit

[Katheclepto]

So, we have new neighbors… nice enough. Our 10 year old boys go to the same school so they play occasionally. However, they have a rabbit. They clearly don’t like the rabbit or play with it. It’s kept in a hutch outside and is filthy. Dad admitted to me the other day they rarely clean it out as they forget. We went there the other day for dinner and I noticed the rabbit had no water! The bottle was empty so when no one was looking I took it upon myself to fill it up!

I can see it never has anything fresh and is sometimes given dry food. I look over the fence often and see its baron cage with no hay, no fresh food and it just looks miserable. I want to cry!

I don’t know what to say! I want to say ‘please let me have your rabbit, I will look after it’ but how without offense?! I don’t want a rabbit but I also can’t bear seeing it suffer… sometimes its cage is covered with a thick woolen blanket… in the day.. in this heat!

Hoping for a happy ending update from Op.

Please don’t take on a pet that you don’t actually want.

Rabbits can be really hard work and expensive. Our bunny was put to sleep a few months ago at 12 1/2 years old. She caused more destruction than any other pet I’ve had. She also required a lot of care in her older years.

Have you got the bunny yet?

Suggest that your children are really keen to play with and feed the rabbit and would they be willing to let you go in with them? They will probably bite your hand off

Hope the rabbit doesn't bite their hand off 😀🐰🐇

Sorry I’m at work so no I haven’t! But it’s uncovered and out of the sun as per my sister who was at my house and checked!

will speak with him (the neighbour) later and suggest we look after it!

I wouldn’t choose to have one but would make sure I looked after it properly don’t worry! Or get it rehomed appropriately! Any life is better than the one it has now!!

Hope you get it!

I think if you don't want a rabbit you'd be better looking into a bunny rescue and then saying to the dad, oh I know you said you struggle to find time to clean out the rabbit, they're quite a bind aren't they, I've heard about this rabbit rescue, shall I take it there for you?

There are considerations with rabbits; holidays - you can’t just get a place to take them without showing vaccination certs, they go down hill extremely quickly when ill so you can’t wait to get them to vets, they are animals that are happier bonded with another rabbit.

Hay is the most important thing for rabbits both for teeth and gut health.

Does it have a run or is it literally stuck in a smelly hutch 24/7? Just unbelievably cruel if so.

If you don't want to take on a bunny long-term that's understandable but in your position I would have to at least take the poor thing and foster til I could find a reputable rescue/sanctuary. If that's not possible then report but the RSPCA are about as much use as a chocolate teapot when it comes to actual animal welfare.

I totally agree. Whilst you are under no obligation to take this bunny on permanently, and if any harm comes to that rabbit it is 100% the owner's fault, it's just not a situation you can stand back a do nothing about.

The poor animal is completely at the mercy of people who couldn't care less, and it will be miserable, and likely die early.

Good for you for helping it!

Yeah I'd go with "my son really wants a rabbit, I know you said your kids had lost interest, I could re home it for you". Make out its a mutual favour
We have rabbits, I would say generally they do not enjoy being played with or being handled too much but they should have a companion rabbit or similar. They do however need hay, a big run, regularly cleaned out (they're very clean creatures) and some fresh vegies as treat.

This has absolutely enraged me. That poor rabbit. If you can take it from this dreadful family

Please take it asap - contact an animal rescue and ask them to find it a foster home. You’ll be saving its life. Those people shouldn’t be alllowed to have a pet again ever.

Rabbits make wonderful pets, if you are keen to rescue this poor bun! Mine are housetrained, and run around the house free roaming 24/7. They are very clean animals, and once you’ve gained their trust they bond with their human quite strongly! S/he will need a friend eventually, this can be done via a sanctuary or rescue, there are loads more of them than you’d think!

Did you have a chance to talk to your neighbour? Feel so sorry for that poor bunny

I’d definitely go along those lines, something of ‘my son is desperate for a pet, could we borrow your rabbit for a while to see if he will commit to looking after something’.
Then hopefully they let you keep it.

I know you don’t want a pet, but please make an exception if you can for this poor thing.

I like that suggestion!