I brought home a new addition to the household today from a rescue - 'Ethel' (at least for now!) came via the RSPCA in Ponteland (i dont expect anyone to know where that is though!)  Ethel was probably an escapee - found wandering around someones garden, they dont think she was mistreated thank God.

Anyway,after visiting there i wondered what experiences have people in the U.K had of rescues? My impressions of what i've seen of the more well known ones is that although there are always fundraising adverts for them they seem to be largely left to fend for themselves and don't see that money.  It's so sad that they're doing such good work on the ground level when they don't get any support. it makes me cross!

My experience in rescues - here in the US though not in the UK - has been mixed.  I have met quite a few people and heard of a lot of celebrities donating to some animal rescues - but at the same time, one of the rescues I work with does not even have enough money to get two of our girl buns spayed.  I think the bigger animal activism organizations - like PETA get a lot more than the tinier ones.  Its tough trying to fundraise for a somewhat unknown rescue organization - especially here in LA people are very wary of people asking for money!!

The RSPCA is such a big organisation here, they get a lot of money through high profile fundraising, they are THE recognised animal rescue / welfare charity in the UK.  The girl at the rescue where i got my new bunny was telling me that although their rescue comes under the label of RSPCA they aren't given much funding from what is raised by the organisation and basically have to somehow raise their own funds to keep the centre open.  So the money i gifted in return for adopting a bunny doesn't go to that centre, it goes straight to headquarters.  Not only that BUT (i'm on a role now!) the RSPCA have withdrawn their 6 weeks free insurance certificate (that was given with newly adopted animals) and no longer neuter female rabbits as it's too expensive - though they do neuter males (which costs not much more than about 15 pounds less if that). 

I suppose i'm thinking that it's turned into a money making machine and left it's grass-roots. tut / rolling eyes....  the state of the world today eh??!

Rant over!

P.S MooBunnay i checked out your website - VERY well done, it's a great site!

Moobunnay- I have Brian's mirrored female! Fergie looks just like your Brain!

Part of the problem you are seeing is that the foster families get very attached to the animals they are caring for, and are extremely picky about the homes they will adopt to.  At The Rabbit Haven we are fortunate that we do so many adoptions (usually 15 or so a month) that we are pretty good at picking out who the good adopters are.  We still mess up though, and get bunnies back, or even worse, get called from a shelter when an adopter dumps one of our rabbits.  Once a bunny is rescued by The Haven, they are a Haven bunny for life.  We will take them back at any time, and our adoption contract does not allow our bunnies to be transferred to third parties.

I have seen complaints about cat and dog rescues too, on other pet boards.  For dogs, the issues are usually you must own a house (no apartments, no rentals), must have a backyard that is fenced in for the dog to run, etc.  Many also require that you have owned a dog before.  Some even forbid having kids!  By cutting off families with kids, you are really shrinking your pool of adopters.

phew - i was actually worried that i'd get a slatting from you guys, so it's really nice you see my point of view as well

i've never actually been to the rspca out of principle, if i didn't get a bunny and they put it down i'd be very sad. i'm even sadder as they put cats and dogs down too. i assume they still do this, i know they used to.

i'm sure i'm not the perfect bunny mummy - but i try my hardest - in fact my current flat is too small and the rabbits were starting to eat everything in sight whilst i was trying to sell (funnily enough, noone put an offer in whilst it was covered in bun poo!) so i moved them to my mums for a bit (big garden / grass / living in big animal shed) they'll never want to come home

i hope to purchase the flat i'm seeing on sunday though which has a garden that also leads onto a communal garden and i'd lovvvve to perhaps get three. but i'll need to think about it i guess - because i want it doesn't necessarily make it the right thing to do. i've just got a sudden urge to get a french lop. and i've seen one in a rescue centre i've fallen in love with, but we're not sure if it is a german / french or even something else...

i may have to think more on that!