Care of outdoor rabbits

[meltrix]

This is to all who have rabbits housed outdoors. I live in the Midwest USA and my neighbor has 3 bunnies, each in their own hutch outdoors. I have been watching those poor babies go for days at a time without food/water and during this winter without proper shelter. They do have some straw, not much, for comfort and food. I've contacted animal control and they have been out but in my opinion they aren't too concerned, they expect me to keep watch on them. Well, my question is this: how long can they go without care in this frigid weather, in any elements for that matter? I will appreciate any information you can give me, thank you. :(

[Jenny]

That's great that you are keeping your eye out for those poor rabbits, and doing what you can do. Has anyone tried talking to your neighbor? Maybe they just are unknowledgeable about rabbits and don't realize they need to be fed every day (?). Or, they don't have the money...which in that case they should try to find new homes for the rabbits. As to how long they can go...that just depends...but any animal without enough food and/or water isn't going to last long, esp. in the cold.

[chixxor]

I suggest you contact your local humane society and inform them what is going on next door. You may have to give your name, but it will not be shared with anyone, including the neighbor. The bunnies will probably be adopted out quickly to a better, loving home.

[chixxor]

I'm sorry, I didn't read that you had already called. Maybe you can try calling another town's chapter and explain no one is taking action? Maybe there's another agency you can contact, or even complain to? Best of luck for your good intentions.

[meltrix]

Thank you for replying so promptly. Yes, I have contacted animal control, on the 1st visit they had a talk with the owner and then they told me she was going to take care of them. I practically begged them to take the bunnies because I knew from experience that she was irresponsible and wouldn't take care of them. Animal control just asked me to keep an eye on them and call them. I don't like being put in this situation, anyway I've called and told them the bunnies have gone days without and by the time they respond to my call the owner has fed/watered them. I get knots in my stomach watching how the rabbits suffer for days at a time over and over without food/water/protection from weather. The reason I posted I'm surprised how long they have survived without proper care. When do the authorities get enough proof of neglect? when they die? I've gone over there to feed/water/put straw in hutches since last summer and a few weeks ago the owner told me not to do that, we've had talks about the care of her pets but gotten no where. I know this can be a 'hot' topic but I'm just looking for information. I just happen to live next to irresponsible people who happen to be very educated, above average income, good family background, but have a lack of common sense. It's me that has to learn how to cope with them.:(

[SpiderLover]

Meltrix, another thing you may want to do is check in with a vet, see if he or she can go over and take a look at the rabbits. If the rabbits are that neglected and poorly treated, they could have some serious health issues that could need checking into.

[meltrix]

Thank you for your interest but each day I am amazed to see the rabbits are still alive, they have to be tough to have survived this winter. For instance, during the several days with below 0 degrees & wind chill factors they survived with only being attended to every 3 to 4 days. I made a decision with my husband's insistence to stay away, but I still hurt. One sure thing is I will someday tell them what I think of them. If I personnally knew a vet I would ask him/her to check on them. I just can't risk repercusions to my pets.

[myrdllover]

well you should check on your bunnies at least once a day

[meltrix]

Thank you for your interest. I was told by the rabbits owner to stay away from and that is what I have done. I've made many calls to the county animal control and the last call she told me that it takes an act of God for people to take care of their pets, in other words it was out of their hands. The rabbits are still being neglected, going for days without food and water but like I said before they are survivors. It is a shame for them to be put into cages and left with out proper care and attention, in fact, I've never seen them out of the cages, so I really don't know why they have them. This is something that is going on all over the country and it's a travesty, just think of all the children that are being treated as these rabbits are and they slip through the system until its too late. No one will care about these rabbits if they die, except me. I've tried contacting rabbit rescues with no response, I can honestly say I've done everything I could do within the limits of the law.

[Tobytreats]

In the first post on here the message was to all outdoor rabbit owners. I feel very bad for the rabbit who is not being taken care of that you are talking about but do not make it sound like all outdoor rabbits are not being taken care of. I myself have 2 rabbits that I keep outdoors and I love them very much. I take care of them at least twice a day and they are perfectly happy. So sorry you feel that all outdoor rabbits are being abused! :mad: :(

[igraine32511]

I would just take the bunnies away when the owner is not home and take care of them yourself or bring them to a shelter where the owner cannot find them. I would do this because it sounds like they may die otherwise!

[Magnum]

In the first post on here the message was to all outdoor rabbit owners. I feel very bad for the rabbit who is not being taken care of that you are talking about but do not make it sound like all outdoor rabbits are not being taken care of. I myself have 2 rabbits that I keep outdoors and I love them very much. I take care of them at least twice a day and they are perfectly happy. So sorry you feel that all outdoor rabbits are being abused! :mad: :(
Toby, this is my interpretation of the original poster:

This is to all who have rabbits housed outdoors. Well, my question is this: how long can they go without care in this frigid weather, in any elements for that matter? I will appreciate any information you can give me, thank you.

This body of information I purposely took out because I do feel they were just expressing their anger towards this specific situation, not addressing ALL out door rabbit keepers. I may be wrong, but I am sure the poster will correct my interpretation if need be. ; )

[critter1992]

In the first post on here the message was to all outdoor rabbit owners. I feel very bad for the rabbit who is not being taken care of that you are talking about but do not make it sound like all outdoor rabbits are not being taken care of. I myself have 2 rabbits that I keep outdoors and I love them very much. I take care of them at least twice a day and they are perfectly happy. So sorry you feel that all outdoor rabbits are being abused! :mad: :(

GO TOBYTREATS! I agrea 100% with you, I have several outdoor rabbits that get lavished with love, espesially during summer when the green grass grows.
I suppose that meens horses and cows are being abussed too because they have to be outside, not all of us have the room to keep a rabbit the way the books say.

[critter1992]

My rabbits are all kept in a small barn, along with ducks and 3 sheep, I take care of all my animals morning and night, to assure that they don't go without warm water or food, we supplyed them with mineral wheels this fall, and they get hay to keep warm every night, there food consists of oats, corn, and rabbit pellets. I hope this post will fill you in on how well an outdoor rabbit can be cared for.

[Babee]

I didn't take it like it was meant that all outdoor rabbits r abused. I think it was more like how do you take care of your outdoor rabbits and if this was a normal way. Sometimes when someone is very heated about something.......it totally comes out the wrong way. I have had out door rabbits before and I would check on them two times a day....sometimes more. Once in the morning to make sure they had food and water and to make sure the tarp was still over the cages........to also make sure all rabbits seemed to be doing ok. Then I would also check in the evening to make sure they still had water and to take them out and play with them some. When it was very hot and if it was raining, or windy out I would check on them more often.

Thanks for trying to do the right thing. It's hard when you r getting no help from the people that r suppose to be helping.

Lynne