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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Rescuing a rabbit on Monday – advice?

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    • IsabellaRobyn
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        Hello everyone!

        I have some both sad and happy news to report. I’m going to rescue a rabbit on Monday!! That’s the good news, bad news is that she has been really abused in her current home. She’s still in the bad place just now (I’m counting down the minutes til I can get her) – she’s a friend of a friends rabbit who doesn’t want her anymore. He planned to release her outside so I asked if I could have her (he doesn’t know I’m thinking of this as a total rescue mission) and thankfully he said yes! Every day is a worry for me at the moment because I know that she is alone. He has moved house and leaves her for a week at a time with no food or water so just now it’s a case of praying she survives until Monday night. I would show you all a picture of her but the only one he had on his facebook is one where he is giving her a cigarette and it’s quite difficult to look at!!

        I have no experience with rescue rabbits – especially those that have had such a difficult past life. My first and current rabbit, Belle came from a breeder and had a lovely life with the breeder so had no temprament issues or anything like that, plus I got her as a baby so she trusts me quite well. I’ve been told by the horrid boy and some of his friends that the rabbit is really vicious (who could blame the poor baby) and really I am looking for some advice on ways to help her adjust to a new life that isn’t full of hurt. I’m not sure if she’ll ever trust me and I would understand if she didn’t but I would like to try and form a bond with her over time.

        I’m also curious about how to feed her. Just now she is being fed (when she actually does get fed) classic pet food that isn’t good for her. I’ll start the slow process of introducing my own feed to hers but I was wondering how I should go about her feed in general? I would imagine she will be quite skinny when I get her and I’m not sure if I should start with small amounts of food and work up or just try and get as much food and nutrients in her as possible? I’ll be taking her to the vet as soon as I can (hopefully Wednesday) but it would be nice to hear if any of you have experience with this?

        I’ve decided to name her Blossom and even if you can offer no advice I would love it if you sent vibes to my little girl.

        PS: I plan to bond belle and blossom but not until they have both had trips to the vet and blossom is healthy and settled.

        Thanks in advance,
        Robyn x

        Wee update: I’ve got her an appointment for the vets at 9am on Tuesday


      • IsabellaRobyn
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          Also – I need to have them in separate cages but in the same room – should I block their view of one another or let them see?


        • JackRabbit
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            Is there any possible way you could get her sooner? Could someone else pick her up and bring her to you? Could you pay him to bring her to you? Are there any rescues nearby that could help get her and even take her in until Monday? Without food and water, she may not make it until Monday.

            Foodwise, if he’s been feeding her non-rabbit food, skip the trasition completely and give her good quality pellets and lots of fresh hay and fresh water. If she’s dehydrated or very thin, has wounds or injuries, isn’t eating, pooping, or peeing, you’ll need to take her to the vet as an emergency.


          • IsabellaRobyn
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              Hey no I can’t get her any sooner as he lives in another City and won’t be back until Monday – I know she’s lasted longer than this before so I’m hoping and praying that she lasts again this time. He has no real sense of urgency with her either – I don’t want to push him in case he just releases her instead in which case she would certainly die. I wish I could get her sooner I can’t stop thinking about the poor wee bun!

              He has been feeding her “rabbit food” it’s just that horrible multicoloured stuff that has no real value. He’s agreed to give it to me as well so I will be able to properly phase the food and not do any upset to her tummy.

              I don’t think she will have any cuts or anything like that as she is just locked in a room all the time as far as I’m aware. I’m half expecting sore hocks though because she doesn’t have a litter tray and just pees and poos on the floor in this little boiler room ?. I’m going to talk to the vet tomorrow and if I can get a morning appointment I will take her to the vet on Tuesday (regardless of her appearance or condition) – I don’t pick her up until 8pm on Monday so can’t go the same day.

              Thanks for replying!


            • Little Lion Head
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                Counting down the minutes with you!!

                In regards to making Blossom as comfy as possible–make sure you have a nice safe area for her away from people and animals. Give her lots hidey options so that if she feels scared she has somewhere to go. My guess is that she might be quite territorial especially if her humans have not been very nice to her. Give her a few days to really get comfortable on her own before you start coming into her territory too much (besides when you need to for food and water any ways). After a few days start to let her get used to you. Sit on the floor on the opposite side of the room, let her come to you. Maybe entice her with a few treats or fragrant herbs, etc.

                it’s going to take a lot of patience, but I bet if you give her the time, she’ll turn out to not be vicious or territorial at all.

                So glad you are going to get her! Keep us updated!


              • Bam
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                  I’m too glas you are going to get her and would very much like updates! ((((((((Blossom))))))))


                • Roberta
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                    Vibes for your Blossom, I’m sure my little Blossom us looking down from over the bridge and watching over her namesake.


                  • IsabellaRobyn
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                      Thanks for all the comments and wishes guys! That’s me on the first leg of my journey to go and collect her – needing all the vibes we can get at this point! Will check in tonight to let you all know how it goes x


                    • IsabellaRobyn
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                        Hello everyone!

                        I went and picked up Blossom tonight. I am happy to report that she is in a much better condition than I expected! When I got to the boys house to collect her she was incredibly defensive and did not want me to be near her AT ALL. She even bit onto the carrier when I placed it beside her the poor girl. It just shows you how tormented she had been there.

                        She was very frightened the whole way home in the carrier and was visibly shaking. I think she was more traumatised by me handling her so much to get her into the carrier than anything else though because she had a blanket and some hay in there to keep her comfortable. It was actually quite amazing to see the change in her the minute we walked out of the door of that house. I haven’t seen much like it – her demeanour changed instantly as though she knew she was being saved from that horrible life!

                        Since being home she has really settled – she is very alert but not frightened. The roof of her carry case removes so she is just using the base of that as a bed which I think suits her well. She is absolutely in love with her fleece blanket and keeps grooming it and tossing it around (I don’t think she’s ever had one before). She’s had a quick snoop round the cage already and has had a little drink from her bowl and a nibble to eat. She’s had a couple nibbles of hay but not many, I don’t think she’s used to having any. She even played with a willow toy I hung on the side of her cage! I actually can’t believe the difference in an hour of being home! We even put our hands in the cage to move her bowl a little etc and she didn’t even lunge at us – she definitely would have when I first met her! I gave her a little basil leaf tossed into the cage and she liked it.

                        Belle has taken the whole thing surprisingly well. Their cages are quite far apart but I thought they would have smelled each other or something but Belle is acting completely normal – if not even more relaxed than usual haha!

                        All in all it has been very successful and I am so filled with joy. It’s such a lovely feeling knowing I have saved this little girl. I’ll post some pictures tomorrow for you all to see! Thank you so much for sending your lovely vibes. If she gets the all clear from the vet tomorrow it will just be the icing on the cake !

                        Robyn x


                      • Little Lion Head
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                          Awesome Robyn!!! Thanks for the update! I can’t wait to see pictures!


                        • Cottontail
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                            Glad to hear she’s safe.
                            My Tilly went through a period before we got her where she wasn’t fed daily and certainly didn’t get the care she needed from her family… but she’s a complete love-bug with occasional diva-tantrums now. lol I hope that your new little girl is much the same. I would suggest hand-feeding her her greens/treats for a while to help her associate you with more good things. An open palm helps prevent over-excited nips.
                            Congratulations on having your new girl home with you!


                          • JackRabbit
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                              Congrats! So glad she’s safe with you now. Poor thing will think she’s won the lottery now that she’s getting fed every day. She is one lucky bun! Hope everything goes well at the vet.


                            • JackRabbit
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                                Double post


                              • MissGabbster
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                                  I’m glad she’s okay! It sounds like she’s really enjoying her new home. I can’t wait to see some pictures!


                                • IsabellaRobyn
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                                    Hey everyone!

                                    I’ve just got home from the vets with Blossom.  The vet said everything feels and sounds fine with her.  She got her nails trimmed (which weren’t nearly as bad as I was expecting) and got her vaccinations.  The vet thinks she’s around about two which is nice and means she should have a long happy life with us and she is a good weight.  She couldn’t feel a spay scar so when she is well and truly settled I will book her in to get spayed.  The vet said when she shaves her to spay she will know for sure if she has been spayed before as the scar would be visible.

                                    I don’t want to be poking my hands in at her too much with my phone so this photo will have to do for now – expect plenty more to come!


                                  • Cottontail
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                                      Oh, she’s lovely! Glad to hear she’s doing fine!


                                    • Little Lion Head
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                                        She is so pretty!!!!! Definitely fits the name Blossom!


                                      • Bam
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                                          She’s so cute! Love her coloring! I’m so glad she’s with you now and was ok:ed by the vet and all. More vibes for (((((((((continued progress)))))))


                                        • tobyluv
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                                            Blossom is beautiful and so lucky that she now has a home with you!


                                          • chubblelove
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                                              What a beautiful girl! Very glad she had a good check up from the vet.


                                            • IsabellaRobyn
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                                                Thank you everyone – I’m glad I got to share her story with you all! She certainly is a beautiful bunny – I really love her markings and colouring. She’s kind of speckled ! I’m going to be posting pics of her in the pic thread from now on so keep an eye out for her in there! I would still welcome any advise from people with experience with abused bunnies – the more help I can get the better!


                                              • HereComesTheBun
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                                                  This story made me cry! Blossom is such a pretty girl, and I’m so, SO glad that she found a home with you. She sounds like a strong girl.

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                                              Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Rescuing a rabbit on Monday – advice?