Not A Happy Bunny
After a recent week of photo-shoots with glossy interiors magazines, a couple of TV ads,
and dusting off the fairy lights for our Christmas card appeals, reality slapped us in the
face at The Mayhew Animal Home in North West London, when we took in a young male rabbit
called ‘Bunny’.
Bunny represents one of the worst cases of abuse through neglect that we have seen this year, and his ordeal - now ended - underlines the continued need for centres like ours in this, the ‘civilised’ 21st Century.
When handed over to us by his owners, Bunny was caked in his own excrement up to his ribs, with a tennis-sized ball of faeces and straw matted between his legs. The skin from his swollen testicles has literally been burnt away due to him sitting in his own urine for months.
The claws on each of his paws are drastically overgrown - so even if he had not been confined to a tiny hutch for all of his life, he would have severe difficulties moving anyway. His teeth are so overgrown that they reach high into his nasal cavity, rendering him incapable of eating, cleaning or grooming himself, and causing sores in his nostrils. Bunny also has infections in both eyes, which have doubtless caused him further extreme discomfort, as he has rubbed away all the fur over his nose and around this area, trying to rid himself of the irritation.
Bunny has been renamed Hogwarts and is currently being fostered by a member of staff. He is severely traumatised by never having been let out of his small hutch for his whole life (18 months) and being left in such a shocking state by his previous owners. He will not at the moment come out of his cage at all (he is being kept as a housebunny). In due course Hogwarts is going to need a very special home.
Update/More Details
Hogwarts was being kept on the communal landing of a housing association house, and was never let out. When the officials came to inspect, they forced the owner to give him up, as they rightly said he shouldn't be keeping a rabbit in that state.
Hogwarts is currently living with a member of staff from the Mayhew who fell head over heels from him. If it works out between him and her other animals Hogwarts will be staying there, (fingers crossed) otherwise he'll be fostered until a very special person is found for him.
The Mayhew Animal Home
Trenmar Gardens, London NW10 6BJ
Tel: 020 8969 0178
info@mayhewanimalhome.org
www.mayhewanimalhome.org
Opening times: 11am-4pm every day except Mondays