Found rabbit

[renure]

Yesterday while walking with my dogs in the state park I found rabbit left in a small cage on the main path. Someone had just LEFT it there. I took it home and moved into an extra C&C cage I have for my gp's. A couple of problems -

1) It is very skinny! I can feel every bone in its spine sticking up from it's back - the pelvic bone are also pronounced (It doesn't look bad because of the fur). I bought Oxbow rabbit and alfalfa hay. I think it's eating the pellets but not the alfalfa. It will eat lettuce and carrots. What else can I feed it? Timothy hay as well?

2) I am full up right now - I have 2 labs, 2 cats, 2 gp's plus fish and 3 kids and no extra room to keep them all seperated. Plus I am a lab foster mom and am taking in a female black lab this weekend. I called the local rabbit rescue but they are full up also. I called several local no-kill shelters who will take rabbits and no one had any room. I am on a waiting list. So I am keeping the poor thing in the basement. The cats are esp. interested. How can I keep it warm during the cold on the basement until I can get it into rescue?

3) I will try to get a picture up but ho can I tell how old it is? It's is very sweet and keeps coming to be petted but seems a little terrified by being held.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks for any help!

 

[Cavy Carnage]

First off thank you for helping this poor thing.

I would offer a small amount of alfalfa but unlimited timothy hay, atleast until you find out the approximate age of it. Its hard to tell in a rabbit, but what colour or breed is it? It may help to know as then depending on its size it may be young or full grown. Try to slowly introduce veg into its diet, maybe one small thing at a time, try to stay away from gassy foods like cabbage and limit carrots to one small one a day. Most rabbits don't like being picked up so don't worry about that.
Where are you located? Maybe someone on here could give it a good home or foster it for a while?

 

[renure]

I am in RI - I have called the whole state practically. I gave it mostly alfafa hay and it doesn't seem to like it all the much - I'll try giving it more timothy. I've actually been giving the fruits and veg that I would usually give to my gp's. It doesn't have any diarrhea, it seems to be in good health. I am going to call on the local farm/hay store to see if they know of anyone but from what I heard yesterday that lots of people are abandoning their small pets. I knew it was a problem with the dogs and cats but not the smaller guys.

 

[babybunny]

Unfortunately Bunnies are one of the most abandoned pets here in the US and the most abused pet in the UK. So thank you for rescuing the precious bun from whatever heartless soul left it there.

Do you have a space heater you could use down there for it? Also, perhaps a box filled with some hay and shavings/carefresh, or even some fleece so it could have something to snuggle in. Best of luck! And Pictures if you can!

 

[LucyJane]

Did you try these guys?

Welcome to Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue on RIrabbits.org!

I can't even imagine how frightened that poor bun must have been.

 

[Rattie Mom]

Bless you for taking in that poor little bunn.

I live clear on the other side of the country from you, so I can't suggest any rescues in your area. It's so sad how full up rescues are with bunnies.

I would be careful with how much fruit you are giving her. Sugar can be a big cause of stasis in bunnies. My boy Harvey has gone into stasis twice since I've had him (7 months) and I have narrowed it down to ONE grape. Sam on the other hand can have more fruit and it never bothers her. But I think in general, bunnies should have less fruit than piggies.

We give our bunns a large variety - boston lettuce, red/grean leaf, radiccio, bell pepper, cilantro, with small amounts of things like dandelion greens, kale, spinach and parsley. So much like what the piggies eat, just less on the fruit.

As for hay, Oxbow makes a good western timothy, and orchard grass. Our bunns/piggies love it.

Does your cat seem "interested" as in the bunny would be a new friend? Or more as a prey animal? I was just AMAZED to see how much my cat loves the bunnies. She is always near them. She's even gone from laying in the kitchen to be near them, so trying to lay in their crate (when the doors are open). She honestly thinks they like her lol But they've just resolved themselves to tolerator.

Our dog (yellow lab) is wonderful with the bunnies too. Well, they all pretty much ignore each other. But is very respectful of them.

Perhaps your little bunn might have a possibility of becoming a family member? We have a tiny house that we share with a dog, cat, 2 bunns, 2 piggies and several ratties (of course they all don't co-mingle).

Do keep us updated on the little bunn....and I'm sure pics might help you find her/him a new home too.

 

[fourboys4now]

What about posting on craigslist.com to see if anyone close to you is looking to adopt a bunny for their family. Thank you for taking the sweetie home with you. I could not have left it there either. I have a houseful of animals, but would have had to take the bunny until a house could be found for him/her.