Rabbit Project Overrun!
Mary (the babies' mum) was at the vets when we got a call from RSPCA Inspector to take in 2 white buns. We just had Mary's space but had to take them in, so we did. Alas both were unneutered males of different ages and had to be seperated because the older one was really bullying the younger one. This meant 3 cages in isolation unit in addition to all the buns in runs and nowhere for Mary when she came back!
Then we received a call from a gentleman who had a van full of rabbits he had just liberated from very neglectful conditions (they were removed with the permission of the owner). They had all the rabbits booked in to another animal sanctuary in Manchester but on arrival from Wales they found the conditions at the sanctuary far from satisfactory and just could not leave them there.
So they found us and rang and we said bring them down and we'll take the worst ones off you. There were over 20 rabbits in all various states. They had all been seriously negelcted and by the looks of it not many had been kept seperately. There were adults, youngsters, maes and females - most were long haired rabbits like Pandora and Gilly's bunny Tilly. There wasn't a single one we could not take.
Gilly and I set to examining them all whilst Helena and Anita and a gang of helpers set up hutches, cages and runs in one of the stables. Very many had bite wounds and lacerations, abcesses, severe matting - many of their bodies were just a solid mass of fur. Two had severe traumas to their eyes and could not see out, a number had enormous abscesses, one looked like his testicle had been ripped open and become infected and grown into an enormous abcess or mass of some sort. (Attached is a picture of Winky. His eye is currently too inflammed to tell what is going on, but early signs show he is at least going to need reconstructive surgery to recreate an eyelid - he currently can't shut it as it is so badly torn.)
They had endured their long journey without food and a number were not eating.
One after another rabbit in a dreadful state just kept on coming as Gilly and I thought it was never going to end. It was like a scene of devastation, but once they were all set up in cages and hutches the sight of them all sitting, munching and relaxing was truly wonderful. Nonetheless it has been a very trying time for us all and we have months ahead of us with looking after them and getting them better. In all there are now approx 50 rabbits in the sanctuary's care.
This means we have approx 22 more rabbits at the sanctuary than we would normally care for and this is where we need your help.
- If you can come in any additional times to help clean out the extra buns, groom them, socialise them, even if it is just for an hour on a weekend or week day we would be immensely appreciative.
- If you could provide us with toys for the buns, or any suitable teddies I am sure you would make them very happy.
- We desperately need help with paying for all the extra vegetables. If anyone can help with this aspect the most useful thing would be if you could send supermarket vouchers such as Tescos, Asda, Sainsburys, Safeways etc. If you want to actually bring veg along please call us first so we make sure we don't have too many at any one time that they go to waste.
- Another way in which you could help is if you already have a single bun and would like to find a mate for them. The majority of the rescued bunnies are male, and we also have plenty of other bunnies ready and waiting for adoption.
- But if you cannot manage any of the above, we surely understand, so how about a one off commitment to help in a more practical way? On Sunday 5th Oct were are having a 'warehouse sorting party'. We need help with sorting through a vast quantity of donated clothes and need lots of labour to do it. Kick off is 10am, but anytime during the day would be helpful. Please let Helena know if you can help with this at: manager@sfaa.fslife.co.uk
There is some good news to tell you though - well, apart from the fact the rabbits are all safe! Vet Julie from the Animal Medical Centre (specialist hospital in Chorlton you may have seen on tv with it's own fly-on-the-wall programme) have dematted all the needing bunnies for free, and will be collecting and castrating 6 of the males for just the cost of the anaesthetic of £10each.
A small silver lining but a very much appreciated one - so it's your turn to make that silver lining bigger.......
If you can send supermarket vouchers or toys please send to:
Society for Abandoned Animals
Mosley Acre Farm
Barfoot Bridge,
Stretford,
Manchester,
M32 9UP.
If you can help out on site any time please call Gilly on 0161 9735318.
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