Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert MARION GARNETT, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair continues her column
STEWART is in special care. Although he’s only a few months old, when he arrived at the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) his coat was so matted he could not move his back legs properly.
His fur had to be shaved off, under anaesthetic, to give him a fresh start and he was given a jumper to help keep him warm.
Despite being a popular pet, rabbits are among the most neglected. If a rabbit is kept in the wrong conditions, it has to tolerate them as best it can, but this is not ideal.
This spring, as visitors flock to the Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia, can you imagine what it would be like if there was a similar show for rabbits to look round?
In big letters above the entrance would be the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund’s (RWAF) slogan that “A Hutch Is Not Enough”.
Inside would be show houses where no rabbit home was less than 10 feet by six feet with a height of three feet and most were larger. One would show how a garden shed could safely be converted to house a rabbit.
There would be different types of runs to look round with platforms for rabbits to sit on and places to hide. Exhibitors would display hay racks, digging pits and tunnels.
Paper bags stuffed with hay would be given away for the rabbits to munch as they wistfully looked round.
They might also hope it would inspire their owner to realise it is more enjoyable keeping a rabbit if they are given a living environment in which the rabbit is happy.
The RWAF website would continually be showing examples of this (rabbitwelfare.co.uk).
Of course a home is not just the physical environment, it’s also the love and care within it. Stewart will soon be looking for love from his owner in his new home.
If this could be with you, he’s waiting at the NAWT rehoming centre, Tylers Way, Watford bypass. As long as they bond well, Stewart (already neutered) is looking to share with another neutered rabbit.
Especially for Easter, the NAWT centre has an Easter Egg Trail from March 26 to April 13 (11am4pm). You can look round the centre, collect codes from posters and then go to reception for your prize. In addition, from March 30 to April 2, there will be extra children’s activities such as face painting and crafts. Call 020 8950 0177 to book the craft sessions.