Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
When you looked up you could see the roof sagging.
Although that part of the rabbit housing wasn’t being used, it was easy to see the whole roof needed repair.
Bit of a problem when it will cost £1000 and you’ve only got £630. But fortunately the rabbits currently in the care of the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) aren’t bothered. They are just glad not to be stuck in a hutch with no run at the end of someone’s garden.
Although rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK, they are among the most neglected. Countless rabbits spend miserable lives confined to a hutch, alone and with no space to exercise, mostly because owners don’t know what’s involved before taking them on.
But there is plenty of helpful information available and the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) is a good place to start (rabbitwelfare.co.uk). They show how rabbits are beautiful curious animals who deserve to live happy lives.
And, from the owner’s point of view, what’s the point of keeping a rabbit if you can’t see them carrying out many of their natural behaviours such as running, digging and grooming their partner.
The message, as always, is “A Hutch Is Not Enough”. The minimum area for living accommodation that RWAF recommend for rabbits is 10 feet by 6 feet by 3 feet high but the bigger the better. RWAF have lots of ideas for rabbit housing (both indoors and outside) which can be fun to create. It’s also important to remember that rabbits are sociable so each rabbit should be kept with at least one other friendly neutered rabbit.
Rabbits can live for 10-12 years, so if someone in your family wants a rabbit, think about what may happen in the future.
Sisters Coco and Peaches are only 1 year old but are already in a rehoming centre. Although they are friendly, they aren’t used to being handled so will need a confident new owner who can spend time with them. Coco and Peaches like playing with toys and love their hay and vegetables particularly parsley. They must be homed together. If you are interested in homing this gorgeous pair, they are waiting at the NAWT rehoming centre, Tylers Way, Watford.
Meanwhile, in order to raise money for the roof repair, NAWT have a variety of activities including daily petting sessions (must be booked in advance) and animal boarding for cats, dogs and small animals. Details from 020 8950 0177 or nawt.org.uk.