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Small pets

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Original poster

Neighbours Rabbit

49 replies

MRSAHILL · 15/09/2022 12:55

I may be totally wrong and am prepared to be told its absolutely none of my business but I'm concerned about my neighbours new pet rabbit. They bought it for their 5 year old son a few weeks ago. It's a beautiful bunny and it lives in a small hutch in their garden, which I can see from my upstairs window. It is just sat in the small hutch all day long. They never let it out for a hop round the garden. They have a large dog with a ferocious bark and the poor rabbit looks terrified when the dog is let out and barks right near it. I know they can't let it out when the dog is out but surely they could keep the dog in, so the rabbit could have some freedom every day. I feel so sorry for it, just sat there alone 24 hours a day in a tiny hutch with just enough room to turn round in. It must be bored out of its little mind and so lonely. After the initial excitement the child seems bored of it. I work from home and my office is in the upstairs bedroom that overlooks their garden, so I do see it for quite a few hours of the day and I can see that no one bothers with it. Is this a normal way to treat rabbits? I'm prepared to be told to mind my own business but I just feel so sorry for it.

OP posts:
OytheBumbler · 15/09/2022 13:06

Now I'm feeling sorry for it too. Sad
I don't like the idea of any animals in cages and it definitely doesn't seem right for a rabbit.

Not sure what you can do about it though.

Kastri · 15/09/2022 13:15

Hi,no it sounds awful.Unfortunately rabbits are often neglected,then given up for rehoming.
If you would want to rehome him,have a chat with them,try to guage if they regret buying the rabbit.If not,just try to bring up in conversation,how lonely it must be and even offer to let him hop around safely in your garden away from the dog.They sound irresponsible so will hopefully re home him to a rescue anyway,but you are correct,its no life for the poor rabbit,he needs enrichment and company,same as any other sentient being.

Newfluff · 15/09/2022 13:16

Rabbits are the most neglected animal. They need masses of space, they need a companion as they are very social and form strong and loving bonds. They need vaccinations and lots of care.

Best chance for this poor soul is a quick death from a fox etc, reality is that it will be drawn out. What they are doing is torture, but above the criteria for the RSPCA to give af.

Original poster
MRSAHILL · 15/09/2022 13:17

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I don't know what to do about it. I don't know them, only to say hello to, just feel so sorry for the poor thing, its not much of a life is it.

OP posts:
Anjelika · 15/09/2022 13:17

I have rabbits and this does seem a bit cruel. Perhaps they are planning to build a run for the rabbit? If they let it out in the garden (without the dog obvs) would it be safe? By that I mean is the garden fully enclosed?

We got ours from the RSPCA. We were too far away for a house check but we had to demonstrate (with photos) that our buns would not be stuck in a hutch all day. Ours have half the garden shed as their "hutch" but are let out to roam the garden when we're at home which is most days. Not sure what you can do. Maybe they don't realise how cruel this set up is!

purplepandas · 15/09/2022 13:18

That's so sad. Can you chat to them about it? Rabbits need space. A hutch is not enough is the Rabbit Welfare Association's campaign, ours live in a shed with attached run. They should be in pairs, they are social animals (obv neutered). This makes me so sad. See here for info if you are able to chat to them about it.

StopStartStop · 15/09/2022 13:21

Download some rabbit care information, there's plenty online, and offer it/post it through the letter box. Then close your mind to it. You could try RSPCA but they won't care. You can't save every rabbit.

Tdcp · 15/09/2022 13:22

My bil / sil had a rabbit and when they had kids it ended up being stuck in it's hutch all day every day, they never once got him out. We offered to take him on once as we have a big garden and they just had a small paved yard but sil was "overly attached" to her rabbit that she didn't even feed (bil did all the feeding / cleaning, she hadn't seen the rabbit in almost 6 months by this point) bil wanted rid but yeah. He had years in there but as he was fed and clean there was nothing I could do. Poor thing.

MayMoveMayNot · 15/09/2022 13:24

Poor thing :( We have two rabbits both from RSPCA, unfortunately the bond broke down between them and despite several attempts to rebond, all is fine for a few weeks then one (who is an arsehole) chases the sweeter natured one too much. So we split them, they are in a hutch each but right next to each other, they have 'shifts' in the garden so one goes out in the morning and has full run of our garden and they'll sometimes lay next to each other with the hutch fence between them, then at lunch the get swapped over so the other one has garden time and the other goes in their hutch. It's a faff but we do it each day as they need so much space to run about - looks like we'll be stuck on this routine for a few years to come as well 🙄.

But they are sweet things, Arsehole Rabbit's saving grace is they are very friendly to people and love a scratch, so any human goes into the garden they come tearing over for a fuss and scritches.

Original poster
MRSAHILL · 15/09/2022 13:26

Thanks so much for all these replies. I thought I may be overreacting but now I don't think I am. I have a completely enclosed garden and I've recently lost my darling dog so it would be completely safe for it to have a hop about here every day and I'd happily closely supervise it. Their garden is enclosed too but I suppose there's always a danger of their dog getting out by accident. I'm already worrying about what's going to happen to it in the cold winter, I hope they will put it in the garage. I'll have to try and broach subject with them somehow as it's heartbreaking looking at it just sat in one spot all day. I don't know them very well and they'll realise I've been looking into their garden if I know they have a rabbit.

OP posts:
MayMoveMayNot · 15/09/2022 13:32

As for being outside over the winter, ours winter out each year and have done successfully as they grow a decent coat, they each have a fluffy 'den' of vet bed so they aren't on wood or concrete, their hutches are in a sheltered place too so the wind and rain don't get blown in there.

Does their hutch have an 'indoor' space for bunny to go? As long as he has straw or a hay in there to make a nest he should be fine.

Original poster
MRSAHILL · 15/09/2022 13:32

That's a great idea about putting information on rabbit care through their door. I thought of the RSPCA but doubt they would be interested. The rabbit looks clean and well fed it just seems cruel for it to be sat in one tiny spot, with hardly any room to move.

OP posts:
ymemanresu · 15/09/2022 13:35

This is really cruel . I know this is wrong but i'd be tempted to steal ( rescue ) the poor bunny or get someone else to do it.

Original poster
MRSAHILL · 15/09/2022 13:35

I didn't know they could just stay outside during the winter. That's why I posted on here as I don't know anything about rabbits. The hutch is very small but it does have an enclosed section so hopefully it'll be OK then during the winter.

OP posts:
ymemanresu · 15/09/2022 13:36

And no ive kept many rabbits, they don't cope well in tbe fold. I kept mine indoors.

ymemanresu · 15/09/2022 13:37

What area do you live in?

Dodie66 · 15/09/2022 13:40

I had a similar problem with my neighbours. During the hot weather their cage was in full sun. They did take them out of the cage when they got home from work but unfortunately one died. They now have more
not sure what you can do about it

Original poster
MRSAHILL · 15/09/2022 13:40

I'm in the North West, Chorley in Lancashire.

OP posts:
Original poster
MRSAHILL · 15/09/2022 13:42

@ymemanresu that's actually crossed my mind too and what I feel like doing. I could give it such a good life but, obviously, I'd never actually go and steal it, but it makes you feel like it.

OP posts:
9thlife · 15/09/2022 13:45

It’s disgraceful.
they’re such beautiful social animals.
i had two when I were a young adult that had the run of the house and garden during the day and hutch at night-in garden

then as an adult I had house rabbits.run of the house whilst I were home, hutch doors always left open, shut when out and asleep.
they thought they were one of the cats Grin constantly running around with them, lying with them in the heat.

couldn’t think of just locking them up and leaving them. It’s just cruel. They need exercise, they need to jump!

MissMaple82 · 15/09/2022 13:45

It is normal for society yes unfortunately. Rabbits are one of the most neglected pets in the UK. I cant understand why people think its acceptable. I'd offer to let the rabbit run around in your garden whilst your working, the embarrassment my shock them into treating animals better. Poor thing

tresleches · 15/09/2022 13:46

Heartbreaking.. I have two indoor free range buns. Once you see their full range of natural movement, you realise hutches without large runs should be illegal, as should selling rabbits, never mind from certain shops whose range of accommodation suggests that a small hutch or cage is enough.

Rabbits don't like to be picked up, so no doubt their son is bored.

Posting info is a good idea, perhaps also on bunnies being social and ideally needing two (bonding doesn't always work, as PP said). If I had to see the bunny everyday, I would definitely be secretly planning a Mission Impossible-style rescue, assuming no laser trip wires across the garden

carrotsandpeaass · 15/09/2022 13:47

I got my kids 2 rabbits last year, they had a large hutch with a run attached to it. That was fine for nighttime so they could go in and out of the hutch as they wanted, but during the day they had run of the garden.

After a few months I realised how much care and attention they actually needed, and how messy they are, and made the decision to rehome them. The kids lost interest and weren't keeping up with the responsibilities they'd agreed.

They are much more hard work than people (myself included) realise and there's no way I could keep an animal cooped up in such a small space all day. It's cruel and the owners can't be getting anything out of having it.

MissMaple82 · 15/09/2022 13:48

MayMoveMayNot · 15/09/2022 13:32

As for being outside over the winter, ours winter out each year and have done successfully as they grow a decent coat, they each have a fluffy 'den' of vet bed so they aren't on wood or concrete, their hutches are in a sheltered place too so the wind and rain don't get blown in there.

Does their hutch have an 'indoor' space for bunny to go? As long as he has straw or a hay in there to make a nest he should be fine.

Should be fine??? Seriously???? No, this is not acceptable, rabbits are social animals and thrive off interaction. If they don't they become depressed

MissMaple82 · 15/09/2022 13:49

Please dint take advice from somebody who doesn't know the difference between straw and hay when it comes to bedding!