What would you do? UPDATE w/ pics

[lazyhistoire]

Hello everyone! 

I have a question for all of you : What would you do?

I have a side job as a dogwalker, for extra cash and puppy time (no room for a pup to share a 1 bedroom apartment with my buns!). I have this one dog, a regular, in the neighborhood right next to mine. I walk her 3-4 days a week.  When I first started this job, and we were out, I noticed someone had a rabbit hutch in their backyard. Beautiful little bun, too. I think s/he may be a dutch. At first I thought, oh that’s nice that they have it outside a little bit, enjoying the nice weather! 

….Nope. This little guy is out there all the time. And since then, the weather has gotten much, much hotter. I make it a point to always try to take that route so that I can walk by and check on it. I never see this little cutie getting any attention or interaction – except from their large and rather aggressive dog when it’s got it’s face up in the cage barking at it, like it did today. It doesn’t look like it’s getting any hay out there either. I want to do something, or say something to these people so badly. But what?? And is that crossing the line?  I seriously hope that I’m wrong about that poor bunny’s living situation, but I don’t think I am.. it makes me mad.

To top things off, when we went walking today, I saw ANOTHER bun, outside, in an even tinier cage! Sitting out in direct sunlight, in the DRIVEWAY!  On the same street!! And let me add, this is south Texas we are talking about! It’s HOT here!!!!!! And it’s only getting hotter!

What would you do???

EDIT: Tried to snap some photos on my walk today – wasn’t easy to get them without looking to obvious at the same time but here is what I got :

Looks like its name is Zuzu. I’ve been taking this route for almost 3 months and I’ve never seen anyone outside interacting with it. I tried to talk to it today a little bit thru the fence and it seemed really curious about me and excited for interaction, but I couldn’t do much. Seems like such a sweetie.

Here is the other house I mentioned:

Sry for photo quality… especially in this 2nd one. I didn’t see a rabbit in it today. It’s halfway down the driveway and this is the closest I could get/zoom. And I didn’t want to be a creeper and going up on their property or anything.

*sigh*

 

I’m trying to find the info for my local animal services.

[Kate Monster]

Bunny-napping?

OK, so maybe crime isn’t the answer, but it’s so awfully tempting when you see stuff like that isn’t it? I doubt there’s anything you can do legally, as far as I know bunnies don’t have the same protections against neglect and ill treatment as cats or dogs (or at least those things wouldn’t fall under the rubric or neglect although it should), but I’m sure someone more knowledgeable could speak to that. Which pretty much leaves with trying to say something to the people involved. It’s hard to know what would be effective when you don’t know the personalities of the people, some people take face to face confrontation about something like that very badly and would be less likely to do the right thing just out of anger and some people would be fine with it and might take it to heart. Maybe an anonymous informational letter on their door would get some people to think about it, but some people would probably just dismiss it as being from some overzealous crackpot. But maybe a very carefully worded, polite, well cited, including contact info for rescue groups should they chose to surrender the bunny or want to read more, and information packed anonymous letter would be my vote. For one, for your own safety a face to face confrontation could potentially be dangerous, people can be very insulted and defensive if they feel they are being accused of something as socially stigmatized as animal abuse.
Of course you could be tricksy and knock on their door and say that you are trying to start some kind of rabbit group and noticed they had bunnies, “would you like to join/take a brochure on our mission?” and then leave.
And of course, looking at the big picture helps when you find that you can’t help individuals that you’re aware of, maybe starting or supporting an outreach and educational group for the area where you live might not help those specific bunnies, but it’s safe to say if there are two there are or will be more who might be helped by their people getting the necessary information before they buy/adopt bunnies. I know some here go to pet stores to distribute fliers, something like that wouldn’t be a terrible idea either as it might help other bunnies. Those are just a few off the top of my head thoughts, I’m sure others here have more experience with these types of things than I do!

[lazyhistoire]

Bahaha! My first thought was bunny-napping! KIDDINNGGGG, I already have 2 spoiled brats at home.

Yeah I was thinking about that too, leaving an anonymous letter. But the info packet is a good idea and shelter/rescue group infos too. Thanks – I’ll see what I can come up with.

And the other thing, about starting an educational group around the area would be a great idea. I’ve wanted to do that, but I’m unsure how to go about it. When we were adopting and looking for shelters in San Antonio, I couldn’t find anything.

I’m not even sure if we have a shelter or rescue group around here. Perhaps that’s the reason I’m seeing all the bunnies outdoors in tiny cages or hutches with big dogs barking at them. All the more reason to start an outreach, eh?

 

[RabbitPam]

I tried a search for a similar thread that came up many months ago, where a person ended up working with local animal control and police, but the title was so different from keywords that I can’t find it now. Anyone else remember that one?

Anyway, you must be very careful to not have a confrontation with the owners or to let them know your personal information, ie. name, where you live, etc. It is very risky for you, and could get nasty or dangerous. My best recommendation is to call your local animal control, or humane society, or police department, and ask if there is an officer who handles animals in your town. Most have someone. They can go to the address and inspect the conditions. If the bunny is in trouble, they will act on its behalf within the confines of the law. If it’s legal, but just unfortunate, you could get a flyer of information from the ASPCA, Humane Society, or House Rabbit Society on facts regarding the care and welfare of rabbits and very discreetly leave it near or on their property (in a mailbox?). But try to be totally anonymous and expect it to be thrown away. Many people raised bunnies in outdoor hutches and see nothing wrong with it. You can ask for assistance from authorities, but in no way do you want to get into a face off. Even a discussion can be a problem down the line, so be careful.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I would freak out…inwardly.

Then I might either call the SPCA/animal control (Because there are laws on how animals need to be kept and maximum temps) OR another option is to say you saw their bunnies and would they sell….then try to find them homes….

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