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Animal House People
Interview with Jane’s Rabbit Rescue, Warwick
1. How long have you run the rabbit rescue?
Since October 2002.
2. Do you take in other species?
Yes, we have also rescued guinea pigs, rats, mice, hamsters, cats and kittens. However, 95% of our rescue work is with rabbits.
3. What type of rabbits do you care for?
All breeds of rabbits and all ages. We now have a sanctuary arm to the rescue where we offer very old or sick bunnies a forever home.
4. How many do you have in your care at any one time?
At the moment we have about 60 rabbits under our care. This figure includes the rabbits in foster care and those being cared for by the sanctuary.
5. What circumstances lead to rabbits coming in to your rescue?
The most common circumstances are where a cute baby rabbit is bought as a child's pet. The rabbit grows up quickly, the child quickly becomes bored with the rabbit or the rabbit develops behavioural problems and the owners want to get rid of the animal ASAP.
Often people take on a rabbit not knowing that they can live for 10 to 13 years or that they require neutering when they reach adolescence to prevent behaviural and health issues. Most people do not even know that 80% of a rabbit’s diet must be hay to keep their teeth and digestion healthy!
We also take neglected rabbits and abandoned rabbits, sometimes from the RSPCA.
6. Do your rabbits tend to come in young and healthy or the opposite?
Most rabbits that come into the rescue are neglected in that they have not had the correct nutrition or accommodation. Sadly, a lot of the neglect in unintentional, people are unaware how to properly care for a rabbit.
Many rabbits have behavioural problems due to reaching puberty, health issues or fear. We are usually able to rectify these problems and rehome the rabbits after rehabilitation.
7. How many people help you and in what capacity? I.e. voluntary temporary homes/fund raisers.
We have a fabulous vet, Paula Bailey, whose rabbit knowledge and judgement enables us to provide the best for our rabbits.
My partner, Alan Davies is a tower of strength and helps with practical matters such as clean outs. He is very good at bonding rabbits and rehabilitating rabbits with behavioural problems.
My mother and my Aunt provide valuable help with clean outs and moral support
Theo and Roy Sayers offer wonderful foster homes for the rabbits and they have all of the sanctuary rabbits at their home in Southam. Roy provides 24/7 care and Theo provides wonderful nursing for the sick bunnies. Both people devote their lives to helping rabbits in need.
We have 3 other people who help us with fostering and pickups, Susan Wright, Judith and Julia Wadsworth.
For fundraising, the Friends of Animal Welfare have raised £450 this year to help us with our vet’s bills. Their website is www.friendsofanimalwelfare.org.uk.
We have also received donations from fundraisers in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
The rabbit rehome website at www.rabbitrehome.org.uk helps us as we are able to list our rabbits looking for new homes on there. They also provide help and support. Members of the forum have kindly raised funds for us.
We are always grateful for people who offer to help us. Many people who have had rabbits from us have made generous donations to help us continue our work with the rabbits.
8. What rabbit housing/pen do you need to successfully look after a bunny?
A minimum 6x2x2ft hutch with attached run of a minimum 6x4x4ft run is required to satisfy the Animal Welfare Bill.
The best outdoor accommodation is a shed (with shade and ventilation for the summer months) with a permanent fox proof run attached. It is then possible to interact with the rabbits throughout the winter months.
If a rabbit is indoors it needs a large indoor cage (minimum 5 foot) with lots of hay and at least 3 hours a day of free range exercise. Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk.
9. Should rabbits ever be kept with guinea pigs?
No, they are different species and as such should not be kept together. In most cases the rabbit will cause the guinea pig’s life hell and we are aware of many instances where rabbits have killed guinea pigs. There are always exceptions to any rule and people may have a guinea with a rabbit happily but please note that this is very much the EXCEPTION.
10. Should rabbits be kept as only pets or should you always have at least 2 bunnies?
Rabbits are sociable animals and such it is kinder to keep them in pairs unless they are a house rabbit with lots of human attention. If you are bonding rabbits, both should be neutered and a neutered female/neutered male is the best combination. Please feel free to email us for advice with bonding or refer to the leaflet prepared by the Rabbit Welfare Association called “bunny buddies” www.rabbitwelfarefund.co.uk.
11. Is there any other type of pet you should not keep if you have a rabbit? I.e. certain dogs or cats?
Rabbits are a prey animal and as such they are usually fearful of cats or dogs. Many dogs and cats will attack rabbits and I know of several instances where dogs have killed rabbits. Please seek expert advice before getting a rabbit if you already have other animals or if you have a rabbit and are thinking of getting another animal.
12. How do you ensure that rabbits do not over breed?
As soon as you acquire a rabbit or rabbits take them to the vet immediately to be correctly sexed. Make sure that your vet is competent doing this. If the rabbits are of different sexes they must be neutered before they become sexually active. If they are the same sex, they must be neutered to prevent them fighting when they reach puberty.
We neuter all our rabbits unless there are health reasons for not doing so. This is an essential part of responsible rabbit ownership and it prevents uterine cancer which is very common in female rabbits. It also helps behavioural problems.
13. How are you funded, do you get government help?
We do not get any government help. We fund the rescue from our private funds and we are grateful for all donations to help the rabbits. As mentioned previously, there are some people who raise funds for us. Each donation saves lives! It costs us around £10,000 per annum to keep going so we are very grateful for any help.
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