Rescue of 80 rabbits from Oxfordshire - 22/08/2006
On the 14th August Green Fields Rabbit Rescue was contacted by The Rabbit Welfare Association to request assistance with a number of rabbits that had been left on a property in the Wantage area of Oxford by an outgoing tenant. The properties landlord had contacted the Rabbit Welfare Association for advice after he was unable to obtain assistance from the RSPCA despite several requests for help over a number of weeks.
On August 15th two of Green Fields staff attended the house to make an assessment of the conditions and were shocked to find nearly 80 rabbits living in cramped, dirty hutches and some living in pet carriers. Most of these hutches were only one fifth of the size that Green Fields Rescue recommends as the minimum suitable for housing rabbits. This meant that the rabbits were unable to move around freely, lie down comfortably or escape their own excrement. The entire area of the property where the rabbits were found was alive with flies and many of the hutches contained rotting bedding, maggots and flies eggs. 2 young rabbits were found already deceased at the property. 1 rabbit was removed immediately and euthanised to prevent further suffering, one was treated by rescue staff on site for fly-strike to the face and several more were removed for urgent veterinary treatment for infections and overgrown teeth and late stage pregnancy. Several remain very ill and a further 4 of the rabbits have since died frm complecations of their condition. Lorna says “In some ways its amazing that more haven’t died but now we have to deal with the effects of a lifetime of poor diet on these rabbits dental structure and digestive system. We need to be realistic about the fact that some aren’t going to make it but it’s so upsetting. All those rabbits will have ever known is a life of suffering. I hope we are able to give as many of them as possible the chance at a happy life.”
Green Fields Rescue was already full to capacity with rabbits awaiting new homes when this situation arose leaving no choice but to find emergency temporary foster homes with private individuals as well as requesting assistance from other rescues in order to remove the rabbits as quickly as possible. Green Fields Centre Manager, Lorna Field, co-ordinated the rescue effort by working with The Rabbit Welfare Association, Rabbit Rehome and local press and was overwhelmed by the response. She said, “It was amazing! Within only a few hours we were inundated with phone calls and emails with offers of help. Because Rabbit Rehome is internet based, we were contacted by rescues all over the UK from as far as North Wales, Bradford and even Scotland.” She added, “It meant we were in the extremely fortunate position to be choosy about where the rabbits were placed. We made sure that any rescues who came forward were reputable centres who routinely ensure that all their rabbits are neutered, spayed, vaccinated and rehomed in pairs to owners that have been properly checked before the adoption goes ahead. The last thing we wanted for any of these rabbits was to go out of the frying pan and into the fire.” A huge operation to co-ordinate the rabbits removal and placement began and the date for the rescue was set for Saturday the 19th August.
Several local and national companies made donations to assist the rescue with local firm Y2K constructions leading the way by offering use of a van, Forte Dodge ltd donated 80 “Cylap” vaccines to protect the rabbits against the killer illness Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD), The Hay Experts donated field fresh hay and toys and Supreme Pet foods donated pelleted food for the rabbits. Local vets Kynoch and Partners also allowed rabbit vet Ivan Crotaz to attend the rescue for free and health check all the rabbits as they arrived.
Several other rabbit rescues from around the UK also volunteered placements for the rabbits including Bunny Camp Sanctuary from North Yorkshire, Healthlands Rescue in Hertfordshire, Briar Patch Rescue from Essex, Diana Brimblecomb Rescue from Berkshire and The Blue Cross from Oxfordshire with the remainder being taken in by Green Fields Rescue itself.
All 80 rabbits had been removed by the end of Saturday the 19th August and now work begins to ensure the rabbits get the treatment they need and preparing the rabbits for rehoming. Green Fields Rescue faces a massive veterinary bill in having the rabbits treated, neutered, spayed and vaccinated and are appealing for donations to assist. Lorna explains “We don’t get any government funding or anything as many people assume we do so donations is really the only way we have to get these animals the treatment they need.”
Members of the public wishing to help by offering donations can send a cheque payable to "Green Fields Rescue" or make an online bank transfer.
You can find details of the bunnies now available for adoption from this group on the "Rabbits Available" page of the website.
