unhealthy living conditions

Question
Please know first of all that I am most anxious for the health of a friend of mine who owns a rabbit and dog.  I rent a small house to her and yesterday I found out through a drop in visit that she has been allowing the pet rabbit to roam free completely throughout the house.  The house reaked of urin, and there was rabbit dropings all over the carpeted floor.  I am desperete to help her realize that her living condition is unhealthy.  She walks throughout the house barefoot, she eats and cooks in this environment.  I am completely distressed about her mental health as well as anxious about the destruction of my property.  This condition will have to be addressed immediately  I am hoping that you can enlighten me about the risk she is taking on her health.  Are there airborne diseases from being saturated in rabbit urin and feces?  Could the wood floors beneith the carpets be sites of any contamination by the rabbit.  It is my opinion that this situation has probably been going on for three years.  She also sleeps with her animals. I am very worried that she is unstable for living like this,  This is a very real situation and I would be most appreciative is you could provide me with some answers.  Many thanks, Susan Chavez

Answer
Dear Susan,

While there are no zoonotic diseases a human can contract from contact with rabbit urine and feces, it's certainly not healthy for a human (nor her pets!) to be in an atmosphere reeking of ammonia.  This can cause serious respiratory irritation, and is worse for the rabbit (with his small body and lungs) than for the human.

If the carpet is left wet with urine, then eventually the carpets could become moldy, and this, too, can cause serious respiratory problems for both the humans and the rabbit.

The woman needs to understand that she needs to use good hygiene and clean up the animal waste, if not for her own health, then for that of her rabbit!  Rabbits can easily be litterbox trained (once spayed/neutered), but this poor bunny doesn't sound as if he's being given the chance.

I hope you can get the environment healthier for all concerned.

Good luck,

Dana