Neglected Rabbit

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 7sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 8 months ago by LittlePuffyTail.

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- 08/27/2016 at 1:11 AM
  hollyann
  Participant
  3 posts
  Hi all,
  
  My step-brother and his wife have an albino lop that they don’t even know the gender of. He (I think it’s a he) lives in a tiny cage on concrete that they never clean, and they feed him cheap chaff once a day. He is never given hay or grass, and upon feeling him, is severely underweight beneath his coat. I am incredibly worried about his digestive health.
  
  They believe that he is aggressive – he’s not at all, in fact he’s actually very confident and friendly. He bites on occasion as he is constantly trying to bite through his cage because he is so bored. I have confronted my step-brother about his weight, and been told “he’s fine” and “he’s not underweight”.
  
  What do I do? He’s not at the stage where calling the RSPCA would be appropriate, so I have no idea how to help.
  
  Thanks in advance.
- 08/27/2016 at 4:31 AM
  Sleepy
  Participant
  190 posts
  He sounds RSPCA appropriate to me. If he’s not being fed properly, chances of stasis goes up and that can be fatal. Likewise, the fact they don’t clean his cage is a big concern.
  
  If your step-brother and his wife refuse to address those problems then I’d definitely call.
- 08/27/2016 at 5:09 AM
  Benthebunny
  Participant
  550 posts
  Please do call, it sounds like the poor rabbit is suffering
- 08/27/2016 at 5:09 AM
  hollyann
  Participant
  3 posts
  Thanks for the reply. I’m going to talk to them once more. If they still deny that anything is wrong, I will definitely be calling.
- 08/27/2016 at 7:17 AM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3312 posts
  Does your step-brother even really want this rabbit? The fact that they keep him in a small cage which is never cleaned and that they feed him improperly, sounds like they really don’t want to bother with him and don’t really want him. Are there any good rescues in the area that might take the rabbit? Or would you know of a person who would provide a rabbit with a good home? If so, you could suggest that to your step-brother. You could also tell him that the rabbit will likely suffer GI problems as well as teeth problems since he is fed no hay, and that he could also get sick from the dirty cage, could even get fly strike. All of these problems would require vet visits, which means spending money. It doesn’t sound like they would want to do that.
  
  If you don’t think that would persuade them to give him a better diet, a bigger cage, and a clean cage, would it be possible for you to try to find a bigger cage (secondhand, to save money) and to provide the rabbit with some hay on a regular basis? Would your step-brother bother to give the rabbit the hay that you provide, and would he possibly start cleaning the cage? If not, it does sound like you may have to get the authorities involved, even though I’m sure you don’t want to do that.
- 08/27/2016 at 9:18 PM
  hollyann
  Participant
  3 posts
  Hi, thanks for all the replies. I have told them that I would happily take the rabbit, but he belonged to my step-brother’s wife’s mother, who has cancer and won’t make it to the end of the year (which is why they are stubbornly holding on to him). Furthermore, I have contacted them once more (am waiting for a reply), and if they still refuse to address the issue, I will take the rabbit to the vet and/or call the RSPCA.
- 08/27/2016 at 10:36 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3312 posts
  Maybe you could mention to your step brother that his mother in law would likely be saddened if she knew that her rabbit was being so poorly kept, and it would make her happier to know that he was in a good home (with you). You could even send her some photos of him in your home.
  
  I hope that you make some headway with your step brother, and he comes to realize that this bunny is not being properly taken care of in his home.
- 08/28/2016 at 5:14 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Ditto tobyluvs advice
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