Rabbit Concerns

Question
hi Dana, my next door neighbour bought a rabbit 5 days ago for her children (girl aged 7 and boy of 2). Initially, they had the hutch against my wall which was getting all the afternoon sun, so i suggested moving it to the North facing cooler aspect, which has now been done. Since the move, i can now see the food and water containers. Water appears to be ok, but there doesn't ever appear to much change in the level. The food bowl had food in on friday (3days ago), but the whole of saturday it was empty, and now the bowl is gone altogether, although it may have been put inside the sleeping area of the hutch that i can't see. I'm very concerned that the 7 year old daughter is being left to care for the rabbit and, even with the best will in the world, needs supervision. I'm going to have to ask about the food dish, as it's my worry that it has been cleaned up and not refilled. I guess my question is...how long can a rabbit go without food, and will it eat it's bedding if necessary? I don't want to appear nosey, but i also would be very distressed if the rabbit died and i could have done something. I found the boy (2 years) on top of the hutch yeaterday hitting the rabbit inside it's sleeping area with a plastic toy!!! And the mother is thinking of getting a dog??? Thanks for any advice, I've now got to try and subtly ask about the feed without appearing to be an interfering neighbour!
Regards
      Mark

Answer
Dear Mark,

Oh, jeez. This is an incredibly distressing situation.  This family should NOT have gotten a rabbit, and certainly not left a child in charge of its care.  It is tragic that an innocent animal must suffer for the ignorance of those parents.

I'm not sure how receptive these people will be to advice, but if you think they might be willing to learn, please direct them to these articles:

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/children.html

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-9/kids.html

Please remind them that a child should NEVER be the primary caregiver of any pet, unless they want to watch the pet slowly starve to death.  A seven year old cannot be expected to have the sense of responsibility to give daily care!  Good grief!  That's what parents are there for:  to teach by example!

A rabbit should *never* be without food, and can begin to show fatty liver degeneration in only 12 hours without food.  The bunny must have fresh hay and water available at all times.  Water is even more important, especially in summer.

If there is any way to convince those people that they made a mistake, and to turn the rabbit over to you (the kids can visit, and see how a rabbit really should be cared for!), please try that.

If all else fails, you may be able to enlist the help of the Rabbit Welfare Association:

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/

In the meantime, if you can get to the hutch, please give that bunny some food and water.  You don't have to stand by and watch this cruel neglect.  The rabbit is a living, feeling being, not a piece of property.

Thank you for caring!!

Dana

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