Hope this is allowed here - bunny abuse
Discussion
The video linked below is one I took about 4 weeks ago when I saw the conditions my 22 year old step-daughter was keeping 58 rabbits (+ babies) in. Her mother contacted the British Rabbit Council for advice and they immediately sent a report to the RSPCA - including forwarding this video and a large number of photos.
Sadly, the RSPCA have been, shall we say, less than efficient. They didn't turn up for 5 days then, when they did, they couldn't get in to check the animals so they actually left a post-it note asking the owner to call them and arrange an appointment! Needless to say, by the time they saw it was at least clean, and the ferrets had been removed to another room. A 2 week improvement notice was issued for the overcrowding and completely inappropriate hutches - that was nearly 3 weeks ago and they haven't been back since.
meanwhile, conditions stayed essentially the same for the animals (including regularly running out of water) until last Sunday. On Sunday her grandfather (my partner's father) decided to drive over and threaten me using a walking stick (no, he doesn't need one to walk) for daring to challenge his grand-daughter again about the neglect after another of the rabbits died last week from a broken neck - her excuse was simply "don't know how it happened". The police were called o the threats (by my partner) and since then there have been frantic efforts to get conditions to a point that will "get the RSPCA off her back" - including suggestions of moving some animals out until after the inspection.
The local inspectors are impossible to contact directly and playing Chinese Whispers through their national call-centre is hopeless.
So, in an effort to make sure that as many potential rabbit suppliers are aware of her attitude and lack of any sort of care (she's got a degree in zoology btw, so she can't claim ignorance!), I've posted the video below which you're all welcome to comment on and / or pass the link elsewhere in the hope that it gets back to her and makes her realise that she's known.
Thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8NdljTf7Zw&fea...
Sadly, the RSPCA have been, shall we say, less than efficient. They didn't turn up for 5 days then, when they did, they couldn't get in to check the animals so they actually left a post-it note asking the owner to call them and arrange an appointment! Needless to say, by the time they saw it was at least clean, and the ferrets had been removed to another room. A 2 week improvement notice was issued for the overcrowding and completely inappropriate hutches - that was nearly 3 weeks ago and they haven't been back since.
meanwhile, conditions stayed essentially the same for the animals (including regularly running out of water) until last Sunday. On Sunday her grandfather (my partner's father) decided to drive over and threaten me using a walking stick (no, he doesn't need one to walk) for daring to challenge his grand-daughter again about the neglect after another of the rabbits died last week from a broken neck - her excuse was simply "don't know how it happened". The police were called o the threats (by my partner) and since then there have been frantic efforts to get conditions to a point that will "get the RSPCA off her back" - including suggestions of moving some animals out until after the inspection.
The local inspectors are impossible to contact directly and playing Chinese Whispers through their national call-centre is hopeless.
So, in an effort to make sure that as many potential rabbit suppliers are aware of her attitude and lack of any sort of care (she's got a degree in zoology btw, so she can't claim ignorance!), I've posted the video below which you're all welcome to comment on and / or pass the link elsewhere in the hope that it gets back to her and makes her realise that she's known.
Thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8NdljTf7Zw&fea...
That's depressing footage 
It's a shame the RSPCA haven't been more responsive, the footage looks pretty compelling to me. I'm not sure of the minimum standards for keeping rabbits but that setup feels inadequate in terms of freedom of movement/space to exercise. I notice not all the hutches have water bottles on them either which must be a requirement.
Having prey (rabbit) and hunter (ferret) species in close proximity doesn't seem like the brightest idea either?
Have you been able to get any local press interest?
Please keep us updated on how this situation develops.
It's a shame the RSPCA haven't been more responsive, the footage looks pretty compelling to me. I'm not sure of the minimum standards for keeping rabbits but that setup feels inadequate in terms of freedom of movement/space to exercise. I notice not all the hutches have water bottles on them either which must be a requirement.
Having prey (rabbit) and hunter (ferret) species in close proximity doesn't seem like the brightest idea either?
Have you been able to get any local press interest?
Please keep us updated on how this situation develops.
Variomatic said:
The video linked below is one I took about 4 weeks ago when I saw the conditions my 22 year old step-daughter was keeping 58 rabbits (+ babies) in. Her mother contacted the British Rabbit Council for advice and they immediately sent a report to the RSPCA - including forwarding this video and a large number of photos.
Sadly, the RSPCA have been, shall we say, less than efficient. They didn't turn up for 5 days then, when they did, they couldn't get in to check the animals so they actually left a post-it note asking the owner to call them and arrange an appointment! Needless to say, by the time they saw it was at least clean, and the ferrets had been removed to another room. A 2 week improvement notice was issued for the overcrowding and completely inappropriate hutches - that was nearly 3 weeks ago and they haven't been back since.
meanwhile, conditions stayed essentially the same for the animals (including regularly running out of water) until last Sunday. On Sunday her grandfather (my partner's father) decided to drive over and threaten me using a walking stick (no, he doesn't need one to walk) for daring to challenge his grand-daughter again about the neglect after another of the rabbits died last week from a broken neck - her excuse was simply "don't know how it happened". The police were called o the threats (by my partner) and since then there have been frantic efforts to get conditions to a point that will "get the RSPCA off her back" - including suggestions of moving some animals out until after the inspection.
The local inspectors are impossible to contact directly and playing Chinese Whispers through their national call-centre is hopeless.
So, in an effort to make sure that as many potential rabbit suppliers are aware of her attitude and lack of any sort of care (she's got a degree in zoology btw, so she can't claim ignorance!), I've posted the video below which you're all welcome to comment on and / or pass the link elsewhere in the hope that it gets back to her and makes her realise that she's known.
Thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8NdljTf7Zw&fea...
the RSPCA have little or no actual powers regardless of the bull that the Inspectorate spout .Sadly, the RSPCA have been, shall we say, less than efficient. They didn't turn up for 5 days then, when they did, they couldn't get in to check the animals so they actually left a post-it note asking the owner to call them and arrange an appointment! Needless to say, by the time they saw it was at least clean, and the ferrets had been removed to another room. A 2 week improvement notice was issued for the overcrowding and completely inappropriate hutches - that was nearly 3 weeks ago and they haven't been back since.
meanwhile, conditions stayed essentially the same for the animals (including regularly running out of water) until last Sunday. On Sunday her grandfather (my partner's father) decided to drive over and threaten me using a walking stick (no, he doesn't need one to walk) for daring to challenge his grand-daughter again about the neglect after another of the rabbits died last week from a broken neck - her excuse was simply "don't know how it happened". The police were called o the threats (by my partner) and since then there have been frantic efforts to get conditions to a point that will "get the RSPCA off her back" - including suggestions of moving some animals out until after the inspection.
The local inspectors are impossible to contact directly and playing Chinese Whispers through their national call-centre is hopeless.
So, in an effort to make sure that as many potential rabbit suppliers are aware of her attitude and lack of any sort of care (she's got a degree in zoology btw, so she can't claim ignorance!), I've posted the video below which you're all welcome to comment on and / or pass the link elsewhere in the hope that it gets back to her and makes her realise that she's known.
Thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8NdljTf7Zw&fea...
muppets_mate said:
That's depressing footage
It's a shame the RSPCA haven't been more responsive, the footage looks pretty compelling to me. I'm not sure of the minimum standards for keeping rabbits but that setup feels inadequate in terms of freedom of movement/space to exercise. I notice not all the hutches have water bottles on them either which must be a requirement.
the Inspectorate despite painting themselves as law enforcement personnel have rather less powers than a PCSO and exactly the same powers a joe public i.e. feck all It's a shame the RSPCA haven't been more responsive, the footage looks pretty compelling to me. I'm not sure of the minimum standards for keeping rabbits but that setup feels inadequate in terms of freedom of movement/space to exercise. I notice not all the hutches have water bottles on them either which must be a requirement.
you may infact have more results by contacting the police or environmental health as at least they do have powers of entry etc ...
as close as you will get to impartial discussion of the Inspectorate here
http://www.policespecials.com/forum/index.php?/top...
as a lot of the rest of discussion on t'interweb is from those who are 'anti RSPCA'
the RSPCAs own spin on things (notice how they skirt around the issue of the powers , or more correctly lack thereof , that the Inspectorate hold. you will also note that the main references to the Inspectorate are in the careers section
http://www.rspca.org.uk/in-action/whatwedo/prosecu...
http://www.rspca.org.uk/in-action/whatwedo/prevent...
http://www.rspca.org.uk/in-action/changingthelaw/w...
a Times article cited by the SHG (who seem to be one of the less foaming at the mouth anti - inspectorate groupd )
http://the-shg.org/Invasionofprivacy.html
Edited by mph1977 on Friday 16th December 03:27
Edited by mph1977 on Friday 16th December 03:29
jeez thats pretty grim, my dwarf hamster has a bigger cage than some of those poor bunnies.
I have two rabbits, I'd love dozens and everytime I go to a pet shop I would love to take the babies home, I realise my limitations however! which seems to be the biggest problem here is that this girl clearly does not!!
those poor buns have no quality of life I think if the RSPCA are not doing anything then someone needs to try and talk that into her.
I have two rabbits, I'd love dozens and everytime I go to a pet shop I would love to take the babies home, I realise my limitations however! which seems to be the biggest problem here is that this girl clearly does not!!
those poor buns have no quality of life
I think if the RSPCA are not doing anything then someone needs to try and talk that into her. 
king kid and knows nothing.Thanks all. We know that the RSPCA have no more powers than us but they're supposed to have more standing - a private prosecution by them is far more likely to be taken seriously than if, say, we started one ourselves.
Curiously, there'd be an argument to make that, thanks to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (which they were instrumental in creating) they're actually guilty of an offence themselves here seeing as Section 4 of the Act imposes an obligation on EVERYONE to act if the become aware of animals suffering!
Curiously, there'd be an argument to make that, thanks to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (which they were instrumental in creating) they're actually guilty of an offence themselves here seeing as Section 4 of the Act imposes an obligation on EVERYONE to act if the become aware of animals suffering!
Yep, the mini rex site is hers (although she hasn't been on it for so long that I seem to have got away with linking the vid from it and she hasn't noticed :P
For any other fb users, feel free to come and join in - she'll stumble on this sooner or later - already had complaints from her grandparents about posting the youtibe video
http://www.facebook.com/groups/304487779592083/
For any other fb users, feel free to come and join in - she'll stumble on this sooner or later - already had complaints from her grandparents about posting the youtibe video
http://www.facebook.com/groups/304487779592083/
Why should they complain if she has nothing to hide or be ashamed of!
All to common in many rabbit breeding though I'm referring to the space not the squallor.
I knew a lay vet nurse who had cages like this for her breeding and show bunnies. However they were kept very clean (still didn't agree with it) Good on you for trying to do something for those bunnies
All to common in many rabbit breeding though I'm referring to the space not the squallor.
I knew a lay vet nurse who had cages like this for her breeding and show bunnies. However they were kept very clean (still didn't agree with it) Good on you for trying to do something for those bunnies
A quick update about the RSPCA re-inspection:
It's been confirmed that "the issues she was warned about have been addressed" although she's been further advised that the 29 remaining rabbits are likely to be more than she can cope with. She's also been warned that there will be NO further advice given if (when??) conditions deteriorate again.
I suppose that, having started on the "advice and improvement" route they really have to follow that through but I'm still at a complete loss as to why they were so slow to act in the first place (a week) and gave notice, so that conditions were bound to improve, before the first inspection. Especially seeing as the video, and supporting photographs, were forwarded by the BRC when they made the complaint so they could see how serious it was
Meanwhile, they WILL be informed as soon as things start to slip - that'll be as soon as Andrea thinks it's "all gone away" and, as long as they follow through with the "no further advice" warning it'll only be a matter of time before action is taken.
Just a shame that it'll need the animals to start suffering again before that happens!
It's been confirmed that "the issues she was warned about have been addressed" although she's been further advised that the 29 remaining rabbits are likely to be more than she can cope with. She's also been warned that there will be NO further advice given if (when??) conditions deteriorate again.
I suppose that, having started on the "advice and improvement" route they really have to follow that through but I'm still at a complete loss as to why they were so slow to act in the first place (a week) and gave notice, so that conditions were bound to improve, before the first inspection. Especially seeing as the video, and supporting photographs, were forwarded by the BRC when they made the complaint so they could see how serious it was
Meanwhile, they WILL be informed as soon as things start to slip - that'll be as soon as Andrea thinks it's "all gone away" and, as long as they follow through with the "no further advice" warning it'll only be a matter of time before action is taken.
Just a shame that it'll need the animals to start suffering again before that happens!
Variomatic said:
A quick update about the RSPCA re-inspection:
It's been confirmed that "the issues she was warned about have been addressed" although she's been further advised that the 29 remaining rabbits are likely to be more than she can cope with. She's also been warned that there will be NO further advice given if (when??) conditions deteriorate again.
I suppose that, having started on the "advice and improvement" route they really have to follow that through but I'm still at a complete loss as to why they were so slow to act in the first place (a week) and gave notice, so that conditions were bound to improve, before the first inspection. Especially seeing as the video, and supporting photographs, were forwarded by the BRC when they made the complaint so they could see how serious it was
Meanwhile, they WILL be informed as soon as things start to slip - that'll be as soon as Andrea thinks it's "all gone away" and, as long as they follow through with the "no further advice" warning it'll only be a matter of time before action is taken.
Just a shame that it'll need the animals to start suffering again before that happens!
Once again the inspectorate attempt to convince people that they have some kind of legal powers , the 'improvement notice' isn't worth the paper it's written on.It's been confirmed that "the issues she was warned about have been addressed" although she's been further advised that the 29 remaining rabbits are likely to be more than she can cope with. She's also been warned that there will be NO further advice given if (when??) conditions deteriorate again.
I suppose that, having started on the "advice and improvement" route they really have to follow that through but I'm still at a complete loss as to why they were so slow to act in the first place (a week) and gave notice, so that conditions were bound to improve, before the first inspection. Especially seeing as the video, and supporting photographs, were forwarded by the BRC when they made the complaint so they could see how serious it was
Meanwhile, they WILL be informed as soon as things start to slip - that'll be as soon as Andrea thinks it's "all gone away" and, as long as they follow through with the "no further advice" warning it'll only be a matter of time before action is taken.
Just a shame that it'll need the animals to start suffering again before that happens!
Don't worry, MPH, I'm well aware of the limits of their "power" and also that it's legally no more or less than I have myself.
The difference is that they have the resources to use that limited power including a slightly more established relationship with the police and magistrates than I have, If one's needed it's far more likely that the local police will apply for a warrant, or even enter without one under the Animal Welfare Act, at the request of the RSPCA than it is if I pop into my local station and ask them!
The difference is that they have the resources to use that limited power including a slightly more established relationship with the police and magistrates than I have, If one's needed it's far more likely that the local police will apply for a warrant, or even enter without one under the Animal Welfare Act, at the request of the RSPCA than it is if I pop into my local station and ask them!
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