Was this Bunny abused?

[Bunniebinky]

Hi Guys!

This makes me so sad to even post but a family living on my street went on holidays for a week and they had no plan for someone to feed the rabbit Lottie (3yo) for the week but made plans for their dog. They accepted my invite for Lottie to come to my house for the week and meet all my rabbits while having constant care.

She arrived at my house yesterday and safe to say I was absolutely horrified at the condition of her, I've inserted some pictures below. I was warned of the owners she was "feral" "aggressive" and so "destructive" as she attacked the owner when she was being transported to my house. Upon seeing her all I saw was a completely scared helpless gorgeous bunny. Their child will tell some "funny" stories how the dog gets in her cage with her and she gets aggressive with him.

After having a good close look at her I saw some really long curvy twisted nails that she couldn't walk properly over and really bad matting to her bum, sides and underbelly area that her wee was calcified to. I've also noticed that she is partially or fully blind in one eye as she has a cataract that is very milky. After clipping the nails and cutting off the matting I could tell she was a very traumatized bunny from the whimpers from her as I came closer to her. It made me so angry that she was left like this for god knows how long.

I set up the pen to get her into neutral ground to show her I wasn't a threat and she quickly came around to me and sat on my lap for some TLC and started to nudge me when I would stop stroking her. I am honestly disgusted at the owners and I feel its best if she doesn't return home due to the neglect. Should I take action and overstep the boundary's and ask could I keep her and list the reasons why?

 

[BunLover]

Aww, that's so sad.... You should keep her if you have the room for her. At least she loves you, You are taking great care of her. Best of luck.

 

[JBun]

I guess it would depend on what the animal care laws are in your country. You would first have to see if anything does amount to animal abuse by law. If it does, then it's how to go about reporting it, considering it's a neighbor of yours. Which can always be a tricky thing.

But if the amount of neglect isn't to the level of animal abuse by law, about the best you could do is try and convince your neighbor to let you keep her. You could always phrase it something like ' that you've fallen in love with her and would love to keep her if they're willing to let her go'. Something along those lines.

 

[Blue eyes]

You could always phrase it something like ' that you've fallen in love with her and would love to keep her if they're willing to let her go'. Something along those lines.

I love that idea! It would likely be much better received than listing out all the things they've done wrong.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

I'd document everything and tell them I either keep this bunny or I'll report you to the RSPCA--they shouldn't be allowed to keep the bunny as she was not being cared for at all--include the fact that they made no arrangements whatsoever for her care--she's with you at you're urging, not theirs. One of our neighbors turned their bunny loose in the neighborhood and when I asked where she was, they told me they gave her to some friends--she actually showed up in our front yard and got a "forever" home with us.

 

[Bunniebinky]

Thanks Guys for the support I really needed the advice on how to go about things.
She’s absolutely terrified and gets defensive when anyone puts their hand in the cage she came from but today she let me put my hand in and she just sniffed it!

I definitely will have a chat with my neighbours when they are back next week and say how smitten I am with her and I would take her off their hands if they would like since they stated before they don’t want her it’s the children that does.

I’ll update you guys !

 

[Blue eyes]

If you are ok with it, you could even say that the kids would be welcome to still visit her on occasion. Chances are, they'd just forget about her once she's gone, but the offer might entice them to agree.

 

[user 34902]

Feet are dirty.
Looks like Bun needs a bath.
I like the idea of either you keep the bun or you report the neighbors for neglect.
Could maybe agree to the children visiting without the dog.

 

[Bunniebinky]

She's fully clean now I just took pictures before any thing was done like clipping her nails and cleaning her behind just so I could have before pictures just incase!

She is extremely territorial with her pen (obviously over the dog coming in etc.) I've been working with her everyday just sitting with her and slowly moving my hand around her and shes getting better the growl when my hand comes near her is gone and she finally came over to see what I was doing and I even got a nose boop! She also finally ate out of my hand.

shes going to be okay <3

 

[JBun]

I really hope they surrender her to you. They clearly have no comprehension of rabbit behavior or the needs of rabbits. She just needed someone like you, who understands how rabbits communicate and has the patience to work with her and love her