Half-a-dozen homeless Hertfordshire bunnies need your help

 

The Blue Cross rehoming centre in Hertfordshire is appealing for homes for rabbits who, combined, have been at the centre for more than of 373 days.

The rehoming team fear a mix of underestimation of how much time, care and responsibility it takes to have rabbits and a lack of research into the requirements and costs of keeping them happy and safe, is contributing to the charity struggling to find homes for these little guys.

Mother and daughter, Madison (white) and Chloe (brown and white), need a big home together

The bunnies who’re searching for loving new homes are a pair called Floppy and Sprite; a mother and daughter pair called Chloe and Madison and two bachelors looking for separate homes with neutered females, Chester and Bugsy.

 

Floppy and Sprite came in to the centre more than 90 days ago on the 26 February, They are four and a half years old females, very inquisitive and laid back. They’re friendly bunnies and enjoy being stroked, though these two prefer to keep all four paws on the ground they might want a quick cuddle when they’re settled.

Madison and Chloe are mother and daughter and have been with Blue Cross for the longest time, more than 235 days. They’re two and two and a half years old and are very inquisitive so need lots of things to do to keep them busy. They need to find a home with lots of space to enable lots of exploring and running around.

Chester is nine months old and is a very active bunny boy. Chester would like a home with lots of things to do to keep him occupied and is looking to share his new home with a female companion.

Bugsy is also nine months old but has quite the opposite personality to Chester. Bugsy is more of a shy rabbit until he gets to know you, he’ll prefer to live with owners who respect this and will sit quietly with him until he’s comfortable to say hello. He’s looking to also share his new home with a female rabbit to keep him company.

 

Matthew Pedley, Animal Welfare Officer at Blue Cross Hertfordshire, said: “Rabbits can make wonderful pets and truly loving companions. We want to let pet lovers know we’re here to offer advice if they’re looking to adopt rabbits. The chaps we’re currently looking for homes for all have different personalities and quirks, but one thing links them, they’re all very loving, friendly and are desperate to find homes.”

Rabbits are naturally sociable, so they need companionship of their own kind. They will be much happier living in pairs or compatible groups, and will become very lonely if kept on their own.

Chester is looking for a home with a female rabbit
Chester is looking for a home with a female rabbit

It is easiest if rabbits are kept together from birth, but rabbits less than 12-weeks-old will usually live together happily. The best combination is a neutered male and a neutered female. Two litter brothers or two litter sisters will also get on well, but it is important that they are both neutered to prevent fighting.

 

 

Top Tips for keeping rabbits:

  1. An ideal way to house your rabbits is in a spacious hutch such as a small shed or Wendy house construction. You can then put up a fence, either completely surrounding the hutch or continuing its two outer sides, to provide a permanent run area. In this way you can spend time with your rabbits safely and comfortably, whatever the weather!
  2. Generally, rabbits dislike being picked up off the ground, as they are prey animals and need to feel able to get away when necessary. They are, however, social creatures and there will be ideal situations for you to spend time happily interacting with your companions.
  3. A hutch should be raised off the floor, secure against any predators – like foxes – and the bigger the better! The minimum hutch size for small or large rabbits is 183cm (6ft) x 60cm (2ft) floor space by 60cm (2ft) tall.
  4. Ideally a run should be attached to the hutch so that the rabbits can choose whether to be in or outdoors. The run should be as spacious as possible to allow the rabbit's to hop, jump, and have total freedom of movement. We recommend that the minimum size for two rabbits is at least 244cm (8ft) x 183cm (6ft) floor space by 91cm (3ft) tall.
  5. Cleanliness! - Your rabbits’ health depends a great deal on their environment, and a daily cleaning regime is really important. Daily removal of any faeces and wet or soiled bedding is important. 
  6. Rabbits kept in dirty hutches are susceptible to snuffles (a respiratory illness), sore feet, urine scalding and, most importantly, dirty bottoms – which can easily result in fly strike – fly strike is often fatal, so regular checking of your rabbit’s bottom is absolutely vital, especially during the warmer summer months.
  7. If rabbits are not given daily opportunity to exercise as they wish, they may suffer from skeletal pain and be bad-tempered as a result.

For more advice please visit https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/housing-and-companionship-your-rabbits

To adopt any of the rabbits, for more information or to donate towards their care, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk/rehome-pet

ENDS

Notes to editor:
  • Images are available, contact the press office.
  • The Blue Cross pet rehoming centre in Kimpton, near Hitchin, has been helping homeless and abandoned pets across Herts, Beds and Bucks since the 1940s.  The centre finds loving new homes for hundreds of dogs, cats and rabbits every year. To contact the centre call 0300 777 1490 or drop in at Kimpton Bottom, Kimpton, SG4 8EU (please call ahead for opening hours).
  • Blue Cross is a national charity that has been helping sick, injured, abandoned and homeless pets for over 120 years. We help thousands of pets in need every month by providing veterinary care, expert behaviour help and find them loving homes. We also offer education for current and future pet owners plus pet bereavement support for those who have lost their pet companion. Pets help us in so many ways and they depend entirely on us, with your support we can give back to more pets in need. Pets change lives. We change theirs.
  • For more information visit bluecross.org.uk
Media contact

Sam Murray, Media Officer 020 7932 4070 / [email protected]
Media Team, 0300 777 1950 / [email protected]

— Page last updated 22/12/2021