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Rabbits
Rabbits are still the most neglected small animal in the UK. We take in a small number.
I took a call from a lady who had taken 'Free' bunnies from a local man, that let his rabbits breed constantly. The man told the lady that they would live happily together and that children can care for them without any parental supervision. I was at the breaking point we had 10 rabbits in care and 40 on the register I was about to say I will take your details and call you back, when she said that one baby bunny's, only days old, was nearly dead. I arrived and was taken to the back garden, three adult rabbits were running free range and were skin and bone. They were completely terrified as children tried to grab them and chased them screaming with laughter.
The hutch was a dirty sodden wreck with no doors, there was no food or water. I caught them one at a time, the rabbits were cold, damp and barely had any fat on them. The baby rabbit was with a neighbour who kindly took it in and had given it fluid. That simple act of kindness had saved its life. This little bundle was barely a few days old, it sat lethargic on my hand wobbling.
I called for a volunteer driver to pick me up. We got the rabbits into clean cages, we couldn't feed them too much as there stomachs had shrunk. After towel drying, they had water and a small handful of hay. They baby bunny was rushed over to a vet were we collected syringes and cannula to hand rear it. Milk substitute was made and he had small amounts given to him every two hours. He was kept warm by sleeping in my jumper and in an adaptable cage with a heat pad wrapped in towels. Not only did we have to hand feed him but we also had to help him pee and poo.
One of the adult rabbits(Fred-X English Butterfly brown and white) was put down after he developed severe malocclusion (teeth probes) he also had abscesses. The other male rabbit (brown X Netherland Dwarf) went to a vet nurse we knew. Mummy who was the sickest of the rabbits put weight on and four months later dropped a health litter of five bunnies. Its amazing what the body can do, she had stored fertilised eggs and as soon as fit, bunnies! Mummy (black and white English Butterfly) as we called her found a fantastic home, as did all her siblings.
Sunny Bunny (Butterfly X white fluffy with big ears!) who grew bigger that anyone expected especially for a hand reared bunny, has taken to living in a country home. Quite the lord of the manor.
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