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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
› Forum › RESCUE EFFORTS FOR SHELTERS › I need to rant
A lot of you folks are involved in rescue, so you can probably relate to the frustration that I am going through tonight. I got email tonight about an emergency rescue that we did this evening. This rabbit came in to a shelter because someone’s neighbors grabbed the bunny and brought her to the shelter. The family that was caring for the rabbit left her in the back yard without food and water so that she’d die. Let me say this again: they left her without food and water so she’d die. The rabbit had been attacked by something, and her right rear foot chewed off. Do they take her to the vet to get her help? Nope. Do they have the decency to have her put down so that she doesn’t suffer? Nope. They leave her outside to die, to spare their children the pain of seeing her with 3 legs. On top of this, the shelter sends her to a local vet for a consultation, and the vet says oh, that’s a wild rabbit, she’ll never stand being around people, we have to put her down. So what did we do? We of course took her in, and she is spending the night with the lady who nursed Camille back to health. I’ll spare you the pictures of the wound, but here is a picture of her. We are calling her Josselynn. Does this look like a cottontail to you?
I am just amazed, AMAZED at how ignorant people are about animals. That they are impervious to how animals endure pain, fear, hunger, thirst. The people who did this to this bunny don’t even know how many people are now scrambling to house, feed and get care for this bunny that was their responsibility. I guess it’s "just a rabbit".
Thanks for reading this far. This is what she looks like, not in bad shape considering what she’s been through.
wow that is just amazing…I am glad she’s ok now (or at least taken care of.)
It saddens me to hear what has happened to her, and yes, people don’t understand
or care to learn how to take care of a rabbit…and not sure that all pet owners take
the time to actually learn how to properly take care of their pet. I admire your work.
And that vet didn’t sound very nice/helpful/ or caring either. Thats a good picture
of her, I am sure shes feeling happier and safe.
She’s gorge!! Osprey, you are one hell of a star!! It makes me SO mad hearing things like this, there just is no point to it all. And what lovely caring parents these people are!
ooo. that is so terribly sad for poor dear Josselynn, the horrible things she’s endured brought me to tears. it also makes me incredibly angry.
how is it people think animals are disposable and have no feelings???
And while she might be the color of a cottontale, she’s certainly looks like a domestic rabbit.
I am really glad that she’s with Auntie L, since she has an amazing way with healing bunnies in crisis. I’m going to have to call and check on Josselynn.
OH, man…I…ga…puk..bo..drp…I…am…holding…back the words that I would love to spill out of my mouth to describe those slimeballs. Amazing what has somehow been included the gene pool and wow…they procreated. Did you say they wanted "to spare their children" from seeing this bunny with only three legs? Oye for cryin’ out loud!! I mean c’mon, these people must be brain damaged or have some sort of mental disorder.
I won’t go into the details of another similarish story of another amazingly cruel family just out of stupidity and I don’t know what.
I hope they are going to be charged with animal cruelty.
Okay…so I am going to now take a deep breath, (breathing….breathing) and then I am just going to wipe those idiots out of my mind and focus on the fact that Josselynn is is safe loving arms and I look forward to seeing her feel what it’s like to be safe and feel loved.
O.M.G. I’ll will refrain from cussing here although it sure is hard to do, bless your heart for helping her. Her ears are awesome, she’s a beauty.
I’m surprised she didn’t die from shock. Please let us know about her recovery or what you decide is best for her, sending good thoughts
her way.
Osprey, I can totally relate to this. Very familiar situation that I just helped with this week. A family dropped off a rabbit that had broken it’s leg/foot to a local animal shelter to have it euthanized because they didn’t want to pay for the vet bills – sounds just like this case. Luckily a local rescuer saved this rabbit. Her vet tried to pin the fracture but it is infected and swelling (his bones are just to fragile). The leg will have to be amputated. The rescuer has limited email access right now so I’m not certain what the bunnies situation is now but I’m praying all goes well for him. He was lucky too that a caring rescuer stepped up to help him. It’s all too sad and common situation.
Speedy recovery to Josselynn too.
GAHH!!!! LESLEY…IS…GETTING…ANGRY!!! GASP GASP -*CENSORED!!*-
Osprey-awesome job!!! Is the owner getting charged? Where did this happen? I know for a fact here, you can get charged with allowing an animal to suffer-very easy to prove…
The rabbit’s coloring is ‘agouti" or wild type…coloring looks like a wild animal..The BREED is not a wild rabbit-I guess it was not a GOOD vet that saw this rabbit…
I guess a good dose of *angry* wakes one up and makes me want to spend my afternoon campaigning and writing letters etc. etc.
no wonder you need to rant osprey. you & others in the rescue world must need an outlet for the atrocities (sp?) you see regularily. as a pet owner i cannot understand how anyone could let this happen. there are so many options to take when you realize you are in over your head with responsibilities and cannot care properly for a pet. sounds like they put less than a seconds worth of thought into any decision involving this beatuiful creature. has anyone told them about karma?
thanks for all the work you do. it warms my heart to know there are people out there helping and compels me to get involved. big warm happy thoughts to Josselynn
Oh my gawd. People never cease to amaze me! Osprey I had to take a double-take of her, she looks exactly like my ^Trixie^ bless her heart and my god I would LOVE to adopt her.
No, she is definately NOT a cottontail and who cares what kind of rabbit she is, she needed help! O.K. I’ll refrain from more ranting. Unfortunately this happens more than I like to think and hopefully, some day it will stop. Osprey you are a saint!
how is Josselynn doing? I keep thinking about her and her gorgeous big ears.
Sarita… at least that family brought the animal to the shelter tho… rather than leave it in the backyard like these fools. unbelievable what people will do… how much do you want to bet they’ve already gotten the kids a new pet too….? to replace dear sweet FluffyBun who "went to go live on a farm"
She needs to see a surgeon, she may need a procedure on the stump to remove dead tissue. I should have an update on our web site in the next few days. I’ll keep you folks updated.
OMG – that would make my head explode!!! I get soooo mad about these things and just want to *kick* the people that do that. Sometimes being in rescue makes me lose my faith in humanity (then, I return to Binky Bunny and remember how many caring wonderful people there are and feel a bit better). But this is exactly how you end up with so many awful rabbit owners, because their parents were idiots too!! Oye, its a good thing I don’t work with the people that dump animals directly because I don’t think I’d be able to prevent myself from tackling them (and then I’d end up in jail instead of THEM and they belong there!) Makes me want to take up law instead of accounting and prosecute all these people…
Well my feeling about having a pet is that if you cannot afford the vet you cannot afford the pet. But I do agree it’s better that they brought him to the animal shelter they are still no better than the people who made Josslynn suffer. Suffering is suffering and fools are fools :~)
Another quick update: Josselynn saw Dr. Nakamura at Adobe Animal Hospital yesterday. Dr. Nakamura found some necrotic (dead) tissue and said that the broken end of the bone is exposed, causing lots of pain and possibility of infection. His advice was amputation of the leg and having her live as a tripod. She has a surgical appointment with Dr. Harvey next week to have the leg removed. She could easily become a $1000 bunny, but we’ll raise the funds somehow. She deserves way better than she’s gotten so far.
any animal cruelty charges to the ex-owners for Josselynn?
I made a page for Jossalin (I got the spelling wrong before). You can see it here.
I have not heard if any abuse/neglect charges will be filed. In most of these cases, Animal Control accepts relinquishing the animal in lieu of charges unless the situation is really horrible. We try to pick up the pieces as best as we can, get the bun healthy and into a good home, and let the legal system go on its own way.
So what if she was a wild bunny! They don’t have the right to live or what? Connor was a wild bunny, and he was attacked by an animal. Some nice lady saw him while she was jogging and brought him home to her house so he could die in peace with out being eaten, and he lived. Yes he has some damage to his body as a result (blind, and has a broken spine that has since healded however he can not run or jump). She gave him to one of her nursing students and then I got him from the student who was going to release him into the wild. I will still never understand why someone would release a rabbit who is blind and can’t run from predators.
I love him to death, and he is so much more of a snuggler than Coney is. Connor wants me to pet him and love on him. Just don’t pick him up! When I got him he was sick so we accumilated about 800.00 worth of vet bills, but that is what happens when you have a good vet. They are not cheap!
Osprey, the Donate by Check link is not working. I would like to send a little something to help cover the vet bill. Could you tell me how & where to send it, plus who to make the check out to?
osprey. Bless you and people like you! When I hear about people abusing animals, I just get so…….I get sooo worked up and angry!! And what makes it worse is there is usually no charges filed or they get a little slap on the wrist!
I wish I was in charge of laying down the punishment for animal abusers!!!!!!
Oh Osprey LOL!!! I’ll be sending a check after payday. Thank you for all the good that you do!
Jossallin saw Dr. Carolynn Harvey at Chabot Veterinary Clinic on Wednesday. Dr. Harvey agreed with Dr. Nakamura that Jossalin’s leg will have to be amputated at mid thigh to save her life and eliminate the risk of infection. I will keep everyone posted on her progress.
poor Jossallin! she’s been through so much & it isn’t yet over. thank goodness she has caring people like you around her now!
Poor little girl! When is the surgery scheduled for?
I’m not sure when the surgery will be. I think we are trying to raise some additional funds before we start on her road to recovery. She is well cared for now and not in pain, and she needs to gain some weight too before the suregery can be performed.
Osprey,
I just sent some money. It isn’t much but I know every little bit helps. Dr. Harvey volunteers her time at the HRS in Richmond, CA – driving that distance on her days off to give all the buns there a general check-up. She will also be the one performing the surgery on Newt who will need his front teeth removed due to a very bad Maloinclusion (sp). He’s recently found a family but still, she’s an amazing vet and you all are amazing people.
Mark
Thank you for the donation, Mark. As you said, every little bit helps. Dr. Harvey is truly a remarkable person. We recently took in a bunny who had a badly infected eye, and Dr. Harvey and Dr. Sorem from VCA Oakland both donated their time to perform the surgery (Dr. Sorem the surgeon and Dr. Harvey assisting). Dr. Harvey did this on her day off. Dr. Harvey helps us at The Rabbit Haven has well as other area rescues.
I also just love Dr. Harvey. She is such a gentle sweet giving soul.
Osprey, I just sent off a donation today so you should be getting it soon. Please let us know how the little doll does.
Thank you for helping Scarlet Rose and Markusdark. I did not see Jossalin’s foster mom today at our adoption show because she is sick (foster mom is sick, not Jossalin). The last update I heard was that they were going to delay the surgery until Jossalin has run a full course of antibiotics and gained a little more weight. These donations help TREMENDOUSLY. We are all volunteer, and our operating budget comes from donations and grants. We take in these wrecked bunnies and our vets and medical sites put them back together. Even with discounts for rescues, vets are expensive. You can be sure that your donation will go to help care for Jossalin and get her into a forever home!
You’re welcome! I know it’s a great cause! It’s good to know Jossalin’s progess and how she is doing, as well as all the others you help from broken and horrible places. I want to see you to continue to be able to help our furred friends and only hope that your good work will continue for many years to come!
Osprey, sorry, I’m just now checking this post. I”ve been out of touch for a while. Let me know where I can donate. Dr. Harvey is a great vet and I know she’ll be in good hands. I’m pretty local (Antioch). I go to HRS in Richmond all the time. The tears were running down my cheeks as I read your post. Horrible thing to happen to such a beautiful bunny!
Yes please let us know how to donate to Jossalin…I need to wait until I get paid (friday) but I could help a litte!
Bunny people are the best. Thanks for the support, guys. Unfortunately, PayPal has put us in "the penalty box" for some reason, something to do with our non-profit staus getting messed up, so web donations are blocked at the moment. Hopefully, it will get fixed this week. If you’d like to make a donation by snail mail, you can find out how on our website.
::shakes head:: regardless if it is wild or not, it deserves a fighting chance. what cruel people how can they live with letting a pet suffer and die in that way? i cried when my goldfish died. who are they to judge whether or not a pet is least valuable/important? i dont see the difference with taking a dog to the vet and taking a bunny to the vet.
That is so sad, and angers me to no end. Over the past year, I’ve had to rescue two bunnies in just my one neighborhood that had been "set free" to "live off the land." People can be SO STUPID, and UNCARING! While trying to rescue them, numerous onlookers on passersby would comment on how I’m ruining the life of the rabbit by capturing it, and should just let it be free…..unbelievable!!!!!
YOU ARE AWESOME for taking in this beautiful little girl…..THANK YOU SO MUCH. You are her hero and her whole world right now.
with that in mind, that reminds me of waht my aunt had told me earlier (the reason i dont like to talk to her at all anymore. just because your older than i am doesnt mean you are always right.). she doesnt like my bunnies so she told me that i should let them go. ::pissed off look on my face:: and my bunnies have their own room in my bathroom (that doesnt work and we dont wanna fix it) and out of her way. makes me want to move them into her room right beside her. well anyways, her logic was that they are animals and they are meant to be free. she even gave me an example where people would buy animals from shops (birds was what she used in her example) and set them free because they want to do a good thing for a unlucky animal so they can get rid of their unluckiness as well. sorry but i am not a supersticious person and definately not spiritual so i dont see any logic in that so i told her that they may release it but i can guarntee that any animal that is set free whether it is a dog or a cat, it is very difficult for them to live long healthy lives without someone to care for them and give them a safe home to live in. and i told her (just to use her logic against her before my dad told me to be quite before i anger her) that actually because we take in pets and give them a safe place to live even though it may seem like they are trapped, food, water, toys to play with and the attention they like and at sometimes want, it will actually prolong their life and because we are doing a good deed as to prolonging their lives, it will only bring us good luck.
sorry to go a bit off topic but it is just what i believe about people who always resort to letting their animal out into the “CITY” (note how i didnt say wild)
We managed to fix our PayPal account and can now accept online donations again.
Great! I hope you have a Merry X-Mas with donations!
Jossalin has put on almost 3/4 of a pound, and is ready for her surgery. It is scheduled for Friday of this week. Dr. Harvey is going to do the surgery, and Rich at Rabbit Row is going to handle the postoperative care. You can read more about the procedure on the Rabbit Haven Website.
Good Luck to Jossalin for tomorrow (I think I read she was having her surgery tomorrow?). Me and my babies will be thinking of her. She is such a beautiful bunny with those huge ears! I’m so glad there are people in this world who are prepared to look out for these poor little fuzz balls!
As for the people who put her in this situation I have no words for, except that I hope that one day they will underdatnd what they’ve done and be ashamed of themselves! I think there should be a spay and neuter program for these idiots to prevent them producing more idiots!
Double the luck and a speedy recovery!
Poor Jossalin. I just got off the phone with Auntie Heather, and found out that Jossalin is with Dr. Harvey tonight. While Jossalin was being transported from her medical site to a transport site in preparation for her surgery tomorrow, a portion of her necrotic leg bone broke off and she started to bleed. Two of our volunteers drove her to Dr. Harvey, where she is going to spend the night. She needs everybody’s healing wishes tonight.
{{{{Jossalin}}}}
OMG. I am stunned and horribly sad about this. She is in my prayers and many, many happy healing bunny vibes for Jossalin.
oh the poor dear… she’s in my prayers too
(((((((((Jossalin)))))))))
Update on Jossalin: her surgery was a success! Dr. Harvey did the mid-thigh amputation yesterday, and there was plenty of healthy tissue left to use as a pad on the amputation site. This should allow her to use the stump for balance. She is going into medical foster care today. Here is the full story. Go Jossalin!
yay Jossalin!!!!!! phew! she looks so sweet glad that everything went so well. i’ll bet she’s gonna be so happy in a day or 2.
Osprey, I just made a donation for Jossalin’s surgery. I just read the whole story not having seen it before and I am in tears! Keep us posted on that sweet little girl.
Woohoo! Go Jossalin!
I’m so glad to hear she is doing ok! I panicked when I saw your email that she started bleeding because I know how tough it can be to get bunnies to stop bleeding. I hope she finds a nice home soon – where she can meet some nice people AND maybe get a nice boyfriend.
I am so happy to read that she is surviving thru all this trauma. What a trooper she is!
I’ve been sending lots of good wishes her way!
I’m really glad everything went ok for her.
Is there any other way to donate other than Paypal and cheque?
I haven’t used my paypal account in a long while and I can’t remember how to get into it.
There are lots of wild cottontails around here and I can tell you that she looks nothing like a wild rabbit. While the basic pattern is there, the obvious larger head to body ratio screams of domestication, and her colors are far more solid. A wild rabbit would have rough grainy looking fur with intermixed black hairs in the brown to break up their figure amongst their surroundings.
I do pray for her successful recovery. Also if you have the time, a little call to the ASPCA might be in order. Even if they thought the animal was dying, the family who left her to die is still guilty of a criminal neglect.
I found out a bit more about the wonderful people who were responisble for Jossalin’s situation. Not only did they leave her alone, in pain, without food and water, they also moved out of the house! Even if Animal Control wanted to press charges, they couldn’t because no one knows where the people went. Once they left, one of their neighbors scooped up Jossalin and took her to the shelter.
I also found out today that one of the bunnies we are caring for came to us when her guardians moved out of their apartment, locked her in the bathroom, and just took off. The landlord or someone found her and had to take her to the shelter, then we got her. She is very distrusting of people (surprise, surprise there), and we are trying to get her to be calmer and adoptable.
The mind boggles at people who could do these things.
I stopped trying long ago to figure out why and just shake my head now and move along with the work to do to mend them. I’ve seen too much and if you think about it too much every time a little bunny angel arrives it will wear you out. Just be thankful they are alive and you are there to help them. God bless Osprey and God bless our furred little companions.
I met Jossalin this week! She is looking pretty good, she seems a bit skittish but her incision is healing nicely. She is learning how to balance on three legs now too. Here are a couple of pictures. I should have an update on the website soon.
OOhhh what a little dear!
Awe Jossalin! I don’t blame her for being skittish, so much has happened to her in such a short time. The trauma is over now and time for the healing to begin.
oh dear… what a sweetie pie. i think she’s doing well to be a bit skittish poor thing. she’ll realize soon enough that all these new peeps are looking out for her. can’t wait to read the update!
Ahhhhhrgh!!! I missed the end of this post too, but my god, she looks happier & healthier despite the leggy bit and full credit to you for doing all you did. An absolute diamond! 🙂
Jossalin is having her big “coming out” party this week. She is officially available for adoption, and will be going to her first adoption show this week! She has turned into a sweet and lovable bunny, and her missing leg does not slow her down at all. I will be making a video of her this week. I’ll post it when it is done.
Thats great, I hope she finds a really nice home and be spoilt rotten. I can’t wait to see the video.
Woohoo! Good luck at the adoption event, I hope a bunch find wonderful forever homes!
I’m looking forward to seeing her video. She’s an extraordinary bunny and I’ve been following her story
oooh… me too! can’t wait to see jossalin
Oh wow it’s just amazing how well she’s doing. She gets around with no problem at all. How will the missing leg affect her spine? She is just precious and I hope she finds fantastic people to adopt her. Please let us know when that happens. Thanks for doing the video. You are so good at it!!!
What a great video it looks like she doesn’t even know that a leg is missing! I hope she gets adopted into a home where she can have a friend to help groom her.
LOVELY!!
Awe She even binkies too!!!
I’m going to cry, that is a lovely video.
yup… that video put tears in my eyes. jossalin
near the end was she trying to scratch her ear with her missing leg? she’s just so adoreable. awww. love the binkies
Resurrecting a really old thread here, but I wanted to let you folks know that after almost a year of medical and foster care, Jossalin was finally adopted last weekend! A lady saw her on our PetFinder site and then watched her video, and simply fell in love with her.
Yeah – I am so happy for Jossalin. I haven’t read this post b4 today but have now read all about Jossalin’s story and what a story it is. Thank god for all the wonderful people that helped this beautiful girl and saved her from death. And now she has a new home with a new family! Yeah!
Oh that’s great news Osprey!!
It’s been a long journey for Jossalin and all those who’ve helped her. Despite her disability, I just smiled the whole time I watched that video. Perhaps she was supposed to spend this time being around various caring human beings, waiting for the RIGHT home. Let’s hope her forever home is the one she was always meant to have!
OH, such great news!
i’m so happy for Jossalin! hugs for everyone who helped her thru this sad time and made it possible for her to get her second chance!
That poor sweetheart! Its so terrable when peaple do things like that. What a Beautiful bunny to! She defently looks domestic. I hope she does ok with just three legs, its awsome that you took her in!
Yay she got adopted! (:
What a great bun. I love how she still manged to do binkies in the vid (:
what a wonderful person you are, and how awesome that this bun got a home. just started reading this thread, i admire you (:
› Forum › RESCUE EFFORTS FOR SHELTERS › I need to rant