AIBU to kidnap an abused bunny ...

[AdmiralData]

I know it sounds absurd but the situation is bloody awful. My friend lives with his sister in a mortgaged house, he is autistic and can just about take care of himself. HIs sister has a rabbit (Large) living in a hamster cage in a shed at the bottom of the garden. She doesn't feed her, my friend does and the rabbit gets zero attention and zero free-running time. there isn't even one hops worth of space in the 'cage;. I have repeatedly told my friend to do something but he cannot afford a larger cage and is afraid that his sister will 'kick off' re: rehoming so wont address the situation. As I have already talked to both my friend and his sister and been ignored I know they will automatically blame me if I phone the RSPCA. I have two bunnies of my own (absolutely adored, indoor bunnies) and would gladly take on another. I can't sit back much longer, advice please???

imtoohecsey ... That's shocking!!!

So I've just read madra ... how awful!! I'

Yes. Nick it.

Poor little Bun

(Pets at home have a rehoming centre in most of their stores and are vigilant about adoption animals going to a good new owner,will vet check them and give the new owner a free neturing voucher,if the bunny rescue centres are full,it might be a good option...you'd have to say you found it wandering in your garden or something.)

I would recommend bunny-napping but make it look as though he got out by himself (break the catch on the cage?). If they think he's been napped then they will know it was you but if it looks like a case of Houdini rabbit (or ingenious fox) then you should get away with it.

I would absolutely take him.

Try and find him some where to go before you take him

If you think you can get away with it just do it and well done too you

admiraldata This is so sad and makes my blood boil I was in a very similar situation a few weeks ago and also started a thread about it. I would just say if you are going to take the rabbit, make sure your friend doesn't use mumsnet and knows your user name incase she see's this thread. I am a regular and name changed for that reason
Sadly, I doubt the RSPCA will do much tbh, I know of people that have reported serious case of neglect and they did f**k all.
If you are going to take the rabbit, please be careful. You certainly don't want to get caught, and as kind an idea it is for you to take the rabbit on, are you sure that your mates sister wont find out if you keep it at yours? I would be concerned that your friend might let something slip at some time!!
That said, I would still find a way to get the poor rabbit if you are 100% sure you can do it without getting caught, but would definitely try and re-home elsewhere from yourself. That poor rabbit must be so unhappy and depressed:(

I do have a book on bunny care but the sister is a cow who lives in lala land. I actually stood with her next to the bunny and said 'He needs more space, hay, needs to be spayed and also preferably have a bunny pal'. Y'know what she did? Bought a dog!!! Aaargh. I am freebaying for a rabbit hutch now, I cannot afford the prices in my area for a hutch (cheapest is one story for £150)

Sorry, I really do not want to take over this thread with another issue, I am really interested in this poor bunny, but I am also very concerned about what some of you have said about the RSPCA. I have donated money to them, in the hope that it would help them save animals. Do you think the problem is the sheer number of cases they are asked to deal with? Should I think of donating to another group?

wokeupwithasmile Without sounding pious I think that like myself you'd be better off actually helping animals in need yourself. In my area I have grown er ... popular with people who 'find' animals who have been neglected, lost etc and I care for them for a few days and then rehome them myself. The food doesnt cost much and Ive got a small supply of second hand leads, collars, new food bowls and always a cage or two spare for busy periods. I am seriously considering getting some business cards because my area is full of animals wandering around helpless and local animal charities don't want to know :(

Taking in and caring for an animal yourself and going to lengths to ensure their safety and wellbeing will go alot further than £3 a month :)

Please just take the rabbit! It makes me so sad to hear stories like this. I would gladly take the rabbit in if I didn't already have a boy bunny. Please keep us posted!

Stage a fox break in (you might need to be inventive) and rescue him.

The getting a dog 'companion' is the absolute icing on the cake

wokeup see if there are any small independent rescues near you. I know there's a few in my area that are totally self funded from their own pockets and fundraising, and they do an amazing job. It might be worth donating to them instead.

Admiral sounds like you should become an official rescue!

I've just been discussing this with the DH and DDad. I am contemplating starting my own 24 hour charity to help animals in immediate need. The .Gov website said there is no law preventing me and I wont need to be registered unless I fundraise more than five grand a year. I am fed up of asking so called animal charities to take care of animals in desperate need and being told 'fuck off'. I belong to my local church and there's a church hall where I can hold raffles, jumble sales and the like to raise funds for kennels etc. I rescued a rabbit four weeks ago, there's a popular dumping ground in my street for unwanted pet rabbits and there are twenty five approx. I named the rabbit Humphrey and he unfortunately passed away so I had him cremated. I am feeling rather motivated - watch this space. Thanks all :)

Fwiw - I WILL rescue 'Snowflake.

hope you're able to help him (her?)

'Her' - codename 'Snowflake'. My dad is almost finished with building my massive bunny hotel hutch so I'd love to take her. I will give the sister one last chance and show her the hutch. Then I have to take matters into my own hands.

I wouldn't give her a chance. Fuck that. Take the rabbit.

When you do, (note it's a when not an if - you are commited now by MN honour to rescue the bunny) take some photos to send a really snotty letter to the RSPCA.
They should be ashamed to represent the most famous animal charity and ask the public for donations when the very animals they are supposed to protect are suffering.

I wouldn't donate to them either TBH. There are hundreds of small charities out there.
(The charity where we got our cat years ago , the lady worked shifts as well as her rescue work. They mainly caught and neutered feral cats)

Oh admiral :( poor poor bunny. The RSPCA lie. That does not cover any of the five freedoms. There is no way that rabbit will be free to exhibit any normal behaviour unless its normal for bunnies to sit still all day :(

I hope you manage to rescue that poor thing. I dress to think of the state she's in :(

I like the fox attack idea!!!

Dress? Dread

Admiral I carried my two guinea boars down to the Pighouse in a lidded plastic box (with airholes) about the size of a hamster cage,(my GP3 would leap out if he wasn't secured)
It's a journey of about 60 feet.
The thought of a rabbit living full time like that is just beyond depressing.

It's pissing me off. Times like this I wish I could drive grr.

Sorry to go a little off topic, but what does the RSPCA's money actually go on? High profile rescues and campaigns? And they still euthanise healthy animals.

Fwiw I don't think a lot of the smaller RSPCA shelters get much if any funding from the central organisation.

Where are you, maybe an MN could help with transport. Over the last few years I have given 8 rabbits a second home, some were loved but others were neglected.