Oh gawd, what should I do?

[NZminilops]

I was out sweeping the back door step area, and we have pool fencing facing out onto the road so everyone can see me. I glance across to the other side of the street to see the neighbour running across the road...now this isn't a very pleasant household.They are suspected of running a small prostitution business over there and have arguements most weekend that rage on into the early hours.

Anyway she comes and introduces herself and asks if I have rabbits as she's seen me carrying them. I say yep, so she says "come with me girly! I have a bunny, Honey Bunny!" I'm amazed as they don't strike me as the type of family to have a rabbit. I run after her across the road an on her front lawn there is a homemade cage with a black tarp over it. She pulls it off and there is a gorgeous agouti rabbit of some sort. It doesn't look like any particular breed but it has one slightly floppy ear and it's small. She grabs it out for me and asks me to check the sex - it's a girl - and says she's about 5 years old. Her bum is a bit poo-ey and smells a bit yucky but not that bad. The cage also isn't too bad and it seems clean.

But here come the bad parts.

The poor bloody thing has severe head till - it 'plays' with the dog!!!- and she feeds it meat. MEAT!! It gets vegies as well but no pellets and she doesn't believe in "that crap".

Oh my god, it's so awefull, poor bunny, I want to run off with it then and there. I told her it needs vet attention ASAP and that rabbits can't eat meat. It's eaten meat since they got it, she tells me. At this point I'm about ready to cry so I hand the rabbit back (it's very limp, but alert) and all the family are around. They are crouding in on me and I'm scared. There is a drunken old man covered in tattoos leaning into me and inviting me in for a drink. I don't think I've been so scared for ages and ages.

I make an excuse about something being in the oven and dash back here.My heart is racing and all I can think about is that rabbit.

If I call the SPCA they will know it was me and I'm terrified they will then come over and try and bash me or my brother or partner. I'm really upset, what can I do?

 

[gentle giants]

First off, I think you're right about calling the animal control, don't do it right now at least. I know it's hard to see any animal in a bad situation, but you have to think of yourself and your family first. Keep in mind, these people are your neighbors and you're stuck with them.
Do you think they would take it badly if you brought them a "gift" of pellets or hay, just because you like their rabbit?
Also, do you know how long they have had the rabbit? If they have had it for a while, feeding it the way they said they are (assuming it was the truth)then it probably isn't an emergency to get it out of there.From what you said, I would say it was not a great situation, but not life-threatening either.
I agree that rabbits should not live on meat, but I know that eating it occasionally won't hurt them. A lot of breeders will give a new mother a slice of bacon to help prevent the doe cannibalizing her kits. I hope that this has made you feel a little better, I know what it is like to see and animal in a bad situation and not be able to help it.

 

[NZminilops]

Thanks for the quick reply, I'm still upset and my arms are shaking.

It doesn't have any water or food in the cage. It gets feed cat food and sausage rolls etc, and some scraps from the local veggie store. I'd say more of the cat food and crap than anything else. She said it loves steak and mince too!

I'm not sure how long they have had her for but they kept bragging she only cost $20, like it was a great deal or something. She looks so sad and the head tilt looks very bad, she also goes totally limp if you pick her up. They wanted to cut off her dewlap as they though it made her ugly. They said she was 5 years old or so but they got her as an adult.

It's a good idea about the present of pellets and hay. I think I will ring the SPCA anyway but maybe in a few days time instead of right now.That head tilt has me so worried. I know they wouldn't ever take her to the vet.

She's so pretty, poor poor rabbit .

 

[Haley]

Oh Gosh! That is awful.

I would think the bunny probably isn't in immediate danger (assuming they don't let the dog chew on her or cut off her dewlap)! I would be furious as well.

You did the right thing by telling them what kind of care she should be receiving. Its sad because you know they don't care enough to listen.

What did they say about the head tilt? Has she ever seen a vet?

I would definitely call and report her. I don't think they would do anything just because shes being fed improper foods, but they should step in if she has head tilt and is being denied treatment. Make sure you tell them about the dog playing with her as well (I'm assuming she isn't playing back?)

I would wait a few days and then call..just to be safe.

Sorry you have to deal with all this. On the bright side, it makes your mil seem not seem so bad

 

[NZminilops]

My MIL is an angel compared to this lot - Sam is just pampered but these people have no clue what so ever. They said the people next door to them have a rabbit too, and another person up the road - I had no idea there were so many around here.

When they asked me about the tilted head they just wanted to know if it was something the cat or dog had done to the rabbit. Because I don't know much about head tilt I told them that my first rabbit had it and died soon afterwards. That's about all I know on the subject. They said she's been doing it for ages, more than a month anyway.

They have a cat (or cats?) and a dog, they do seem to like animals and have somewhat good intentions. Maybe I can just work on them to look after it better. I can't afford to go around buying food for every rabbit I see as mine will suffer from my lack of funds if I do that.Maybe I can print out some info and pop it in the mail box.

I want to get a picture of her to show you guys, I'll see if I can get them to let me in the yard tomorrow and I'll just pretend that I think the hutch is so great I want to take a pic and copy the idea or something. Or I could make up some sort of story about head tilt being contagious to dogs and cats and they might hand her over.

I still think I will ring the SPCA in a few days time, they don't always take animals away and often just educate the people about how to look after them.

 

[Pipp]

Unfortunately, I don't think there's any way of calling animal control and not being the one targeted as doing so.

Is there any way you canoffer to buy the rabbit?

Offer to takeit to a vet or a shelter 'for them' to get checked out?

Maybe try telling them they may be able to catch something from the rabbit and you need to make sure it's safe.

At least you can print out some literature on bunny diets and head tilt.

Any idea how long they've had it or why they got it?



sas

 

[Haley]

The only problem with telling them something bad about head tilt is that they will probably just go out and get another rabbit who's healthy, and treat it the same.

If you think they are capable of taking care of the rabbit, I would try and educate them. Maybe you could invite her over to see your bunnies and show her your setup and what you feed. Try to talk to her sympathetically, like "I've been there....I never realized how much healthier your bunny can be if you feed it this and that"..etc

Whenever I meet someone who I think isn't giving their bunny the best diet, or taking care of it the way they should, thats what I do. I give them the HRS website and tell them how great rabbits can be once you let them be themselves...

Good Luck! You do have some crazies around you, don't ya (weren't you the one who had the neighbor that dropped off the pregnant doe?) Geesh!

 

[MyBoyHarper]

If it were *me* and I had the extra money, I would offer them double what they paid for the rabbit. Tell them you'dg ive them $40 or $50 (American, not sure of the currency there), and see what they'd say. Tell them you love the rabbit and were looking for another. You never know, they may sell it to you for some quick cash,and then the rabbit can be in a much better home instead of there's.

 

[gentle giants]

I hate to say this, but I agree with Haley. They will probably go out and get another one pretty soon, no matter what you do to take it out of there. As hard as it may be, it may be the best thing to try and get them to treat it better.

Although I just had a thought. I wonder if they really enjoy it as a pet? What I mean is, I have had some experience with rabbits that have been neglected, and they tend to either get aggressive, which from what you said this one hasn't, or simply retreat into a little shell,and sit there like a lump most of the time.
Mabye if you talk it up like your rabbits are really boring, and someone got them for you as a gift and you didn't want to hurt their feelings, or something, and find out how they feel about it. Then mabye if you could get it out of there somehow, they wouldn't want another one. They could get something exotic-and tough! Like mabye an alligator, or something, LOL.

 

[Djakarta]

Doesn't too much protein in the diet lead to excess cecals? Could you perhaps give a bag of pellets as a gift and explain that the dirty bottom puts the poor animal at risk from flystrike. ( It wouldn't hurt togive a gory description of how awful fly strike can be) Maybe that would help in persuading them to try a better diet.

If nothing else, they may acknowledge that a bunny with a cleaner bottom would be a lot nicer to handle.

Is it possible that the head tilt is a result of a previous condition and not a current problem?

( There is a guinea pig ata local rescue that has permanent head tilt resulting fromdamage to the inner ear from a previous infection.)

 

[NZminilops]

Hi guys, thanks for all the advice.

I tried offering them money for Honey Bunny, but the refused. They really do seem to like her despite the lack of knowledge they have about the rabbit. I got some food for her and even gave them my spare rabbit dishes so that she could have food and water at all times. You should have seen her little face light up! It was lovely.

I have even offered to go halves with them for a vet visit, but only if I can take her as I don't trust them not to spend the money elseware.Things sort of went a bit sour at that point; they got very suspicious of my motives and basically asked me to p*ss off and keep my nose out of it.

The owners themselves look to be about 40-odd years old, they have several teenagers and young adults hanging around the house who seemed more open to my suggestions of looking after the rabbit well. Her bum was pretty daggy and they are planning on giving her a bath today.

They have had her for about 4-5 years; she seems to be ok weight and condition considering her treatment so it appears her system is used to it. Her fur is not too bad and she isn't boney.

I'm trying not to get attached or emotional. Yes I was the one that looked after the next-doors bunny. I don't like talking about death but she died whilst in my care and it was horrible. She had babies, I did find body parts in the nest, it seems she ate them. Something went wrong with her not long after and she passed on.

I'm not getting a very good rep with the neighbours about rabbits now which is too bad as I have learnt a lot from RO and thought I was getting pretty good with my 3. I'm starting to not want to help people with their rabbits now. At least my mother in law was very happy with the food I got for Sam so that was good.

I've printed out some info the the people across the road to stick in the mailbox, even if they don't want to talk to me now I still have to try.

 

[Snuggys Mom]

I think you are handling this VERY WELL.

They sound like a rough group. I wouldn't call the SPCA on them. They may come after you or your animals.

Laura

 

[SugarGlider]

I would not call the SPCA either.

Unfortunately there are a LOT of people out there who do not care fortheir pets the way we all feel they should be cared for. The most important thing in these kinds of situations is to help them learn a better way.

I deal with this with sugar gliders sometimes and it horifies me at times. But if the animals life is not in immediate risk(obvious and serious health issues) then I think it's always best to give the owner a chance to do the right thing. Who knows what the place they got the glider from told them about the care of it, I always think. Also, one more person who knows the correct way to care for a sugar glider (or bunny) is never a bad thing and they may teach someone else who you'd never ever meet.

It's so wonderful that you care and you are trying to help that bunny