rabbit in the bin store

zaksmum

Lagoon wrote: »

I'm thoroughly confused. You say that it's not been abandoned, and yet you're the one giving it food and water?

A week in a smaller hutch isn't going to kill it, but I'm confused about how you're saying it's not abandoned but isn't being fed and is in a bin store?

If you've found out that it belongs to another resident and is receiving 'holiday care' or similar, then surely they should be giving it the food and water. Why not leave them to it?

Alternatively, if you think it's 'supposed' to be being watched but isn't, I stand by what I said earlier - I personally would bring it inside, wait for the owner to get back, and then give it back to them.

If you have a dog that sees rabbits as prey there's no way you could bring it indoors!

My dog would go crazy if there was a rabbit indoors in any area of the house.

mellymoo74

Thank you Zaksmum I was starting to think I was speaking another language.

mac666_2

I would try to make the little love as comfortable as you possibly can. A thing you can do to give it a little activity is if you have any hay fill a empty toilet roll tube with it and put it in. The bunny will love eating the hay and throwing the tube around.

Also a carrot rattle. Same thing empty tube, cut carrot into thin slices and make small slits to fit on the ends of the tube. Before anyone says about carrot being fattening i know this but a little bit won't hurt the bunny.

I can see what your saying about your dog. My friends dog would have our bunnies in a heart beat given the chance.

krlyr

Personally I would not be interfering by feeding the rabbit. It's not your pet and for all you know it could have health issues aggravated by feeding it certain foods.

The housing is not ideal, but as said, it may just be a holiday hutch, and he could have run of a whole house or garden at home. There are lots of reasons he may be single, why he may not be getting veg, etc.

I think the extent of my interference would be keeping a close eye on him to make sure he's OK. If he doesn't get fresh food or water, that gives the RSPCA a bit more power to act because the owner/carer is then neglecting the rabbit's needs. I'd possibly put a couple of leaflets or printouts relating to recommended space/diet/companionship just incase it's something the owner wasn't aware of, but that would be about it.

mellymoo74

Just dobe the carrot roll I got excited squeaks only probs is the hutch poor thing can only shuffle about. Its a sweet little thing I hope its real home (if it doesn't actually belong to the resident claiming their bunny sitting) is bigger than this.

SuperHan

As said above, be careful feeding the bunny if you don't know what the people looking after it are feeding it. My rabbit, as many do, has a sensitive stomach, and I would be pretty upset if I found someone feeding him greens and carrots in addition to what I was feeding him!

Have you spoke directly to the person looking after it? Maybe leave a note on the cage to say you're concerned and ask how long it is likely to stay?

While my bunny has free roam of the house most of the time, I don't think he would be too put out by having to spend a few days in a smaller cage while I was on holiday, as will probably happen at some point.

mellymoo74

Then perhaps it shouldn't be in a bin store in a shared garden?
Maybe I should just take my dogs out there like I normally would and hey if it dies of fright thats not my problem.

Its not been a few days its been over a week, whilst its been hot in the area of the garden that gets the sun all day.

Im going to go with Fosterdogs plan and report it abandoned if still there on Monday.

Blackpool_Saver

what sort of people leave a rabbit in a bin store? disgusting. The owners should be prosecuted

~Chameleon~

If you know who's looking after it why have you not spoken to them regarding your concerns? Especially if, as you say, it's restricting you from exercising your dogs in what I understand is a communal garden? However, you shouldn't really be feeding someone else's animal for the reasons already outlined. I don't quite understand what the issue is here.

mellymoo74

I don't, the housing association do. Its one of the other residents on the other side.
The issue is simple there is a rabbit in a small hutch in a bin store in a shared garden.

The dried food has been topped up so I know someone is going out to it.

I was actually trying to establish if rabbits are seen as property in the same way dogs are instead im told to bring it in and then im wrong for making sure it has fresh water and fresh as well as dried food.

Maybe im wrong then perhaps it is perfectly acceptable to stick a bunny in a very small hutch in a bin store in a shared garden and then not interect with it at all :rotfl: