This made me mad

I was flicking through the local paper yesterday and came across a small paragraph about the local RSPCA having some baby buns needing homes - just in time for Easter! This is actually what was said and they make great pets etc. How totally irresponsible, do they not realise that if any of those buns were adopted for Easter they'd probably be back there in a month

JoeyBunsMum wrote:I was flicking through the local paper yesterday and came across a small paragraph about the local RSPCA having some baby buns needing homes - just in time for Easter! This is actually what was said and they make great pets etc. How totally irresponsible, do they not realise that if any of those buns were adopted for Easter they'd probably be back there in a month

Typical!

That is just so bad though, isn't it?!

That's outrageous! I think I'd have to email them and speak my mind!

My goodness, they of all people should know better. When Paul was in P@H before easter, there were loads of baby bunnies in there too.

When are poeple going to listen?!!!

Hugs

Jo xx

jolovesbunnies wrote:My goodness, they of all people should know better. When Paul was in P@H before easter, there were loads of baby bunnies in there too.

When are poeple going to listen?!!!

Hugs

Jo xx

To be honest, im really not surprised. Ive lost all faith in the RSPCA. If theyre struggling to rehome that much, i think those poor buns would be better off being PTS than going as easter gifts. Lets face it, from what ive heard, they dont have the strictest rehoming policy!

I don't want to get myself in trouble!!!

icedancer wrote:That's outrageous! I think I'd have to email them and speak my mind!

I was thinking of doing so. But I get the feeling it'd be like talking to a brick wall and notthing would change, apart from getting a flowery reply from them. It is pretty disgraceful, I may just do it for the hell of it

I would email head office on this one. I know each area runs on their own merits but they have to tow the organisational line and I am pretty sure that selling easter bunnies is very much not the charity's position.

Even Pets at Home in Wokingham didn't have any bunnies in last week because of the risk of easter pressies. I was actually impressed by it.

It's shocking, talk about double standards. I would email Joeybunsmum, but then I can be a bit of a cow if something upsets me

marleyNfriends wrote:

jolovesbunnies wrote:My goodness, they of all people should know better. When Paul was in P@H before easter, there were loads of baby bunnies in there too.

When are poeple going to listen?!!!

Hugs

Jo xx

To be honest, im really not surprised. Ive lost all faith in the RSPCA. If theyre struggling to rehome that much, i think those poor buns would be better off being PTS than going as easter gifts. Lets face it, from what ive heard, they dont have the strictest rehoming policy!

Hi,

I work closely with the RSPCA as a volunteer and am concerned about peoples opinions of the RSPCA. As someone has rightly said, each branch flies their own flag and should not all be tarred with the same brush. The RSPCA I am associated with can not do anymore during a home visit - the rules are incredibly strict and if people arent right, they will be turned down. Also my local branch currently have baby buns in care and it has been made sure that the buns were not publicised until they were older as the RSPCA didnt want people to want them just because they were cute. All potential forever home owners are thoroughly briefed about the care needed for rabbits and also there are post home visits to make sure the care the buns are recieving is enough and if not - that buns are removed. I feel it is unfair to say that buns would be better off PTS than rehomed as all the buns in my area go to superb and loving homes. Could it not be that the Journalist put that spin on the story rather than the RSPCA?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rspca-Lincolnshire-Mid-and-Lincoln/160142144013680?ref=tn_tnmn. Have a look at the Facebook status on our page. I have to say i am very upset at the slating the RSPCA have taken on this thread. I work for the RSPCA and volunteer also. Our local branch, Mid Lincolnshire and Lincoln, work incredibly hard and are all totally self funded. I admit that if your local branch did put that advert out there it was incredibly irresponsible of them and goes wholeheartedly against the ethics of HQ. I would urge you to take it up with your local branch.

There are so many negative attitudes towards the RSPCA which are mostly generated by the media. For example recently in our area an injured deer featured in a news story. The story said that the rspca had been called and shot the deer in front of children when it could have been saved. This was splashed all over the local press. It was news to the rspca. Who hadn't been notified at all. Instead the local deer sanctuary had been called out and dealt with the incident as above. But somehow we got the blame. Incidents like this are increasingly common.

And as for rhe person who said they think the rabbits would be better off being pts. I am appalled. Our rabbit fosterer Dawn, works tirelessly in her own time to care for sometimes over 30 rabbits. Our home visitors undergo training which includes our own strict policies on rabbit rehoming. Our rabbits are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped and go in pairs or groups. We have a minimum hutch size of 5x2x2 which must also provide the rabbits with access to a run. Comments like yours are ill informed and can create a tremendous amount of damage.

Ok people I think you should all calm down a little.

I don't think any of us would disagree with the assertion that the press piece was ill advised - even if the branch concerned only did a general press piece that has been bumped up, they should have known better to have put it out at easter.

I think that we would all say that there are some branches that are better bunny wise than others. I would say I don't think my local centre is great but I know workers in the next area which have no rescue centre of their own who are brilliant. I strongly suspect we all should stop moaning about this and donate our time to improve things! Ultimately I think that even if they are not meeting our standards at least the centres are giving the animals a chance of a better life and the do a damn sight more to ensure they are going to a good home than the PAH rehoming sections do.

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:Ok people I think you should all calm down a little.

I don't think any of us would disagree with the assertion that the press piece was ill advised - even if the branch concerned only did a general press piece that has been bumped up, they should have known better to have put it out at easter.

I think that we would all say that there are some branches that are better bunny wise than others. I would say I don't think my local centre is great but I know workers in the next area which have no rescue centre of their own who are brilliant. I strongly suspect we all should stop moaning about this and donate our time to improve things! Ultimately I think that even if they are not meeting our standards at least the centres are giving the animals a chance of a better life and the do a damn sight more to ensure they are going to a good home than the PAH rehoming sections do.

I woukd have to say the message is clear, less moaning more action. If you don't like whar you see, mMAKE THAT CHANGE. That is what myself and Dawn did.

The sad fact is that if people want to get bunnies for Easter, they don't really need any encouragement from the RSPCA.

Our local SSPCA had 12 bunnies in last week, I went on the site today and there are only 5 left. The numbers themselves don't sound bad, but some of those buns had been there for months and months. Now they're all of a sudden rehomed.

I must be weird, because I never ever, ever associate Easter with bunnies. Easter is always about chocolate in my world (I'm not religious)

Eta, I do think the advert was a silly thing to do.

Thumper2001 wrote: Easter is always about chocolate in my world (I'm not religious)

Mine too.



(don't worry tis a chocolate bun)

All I can say is the message advertising baby bunnies at Easter was not the done thing but as for the re-homing of rabbits whether its Easter, Birthdays or Christmas our branch have strict rules and if anything our Home visitors make sure all our animals are wanted for life.

I will be honest I have learnt more about the care of Bunnies through the good people on here and my local Vets with whom Im a regular. I am foster mum to our rabbits and they are my fur babies until I am happy they are going to a good forever home. The new owners have to first get past me, then our home visitor before taking ownership of their new babies. I know all branches are different but I know our branch are working hard to make sure that all rabbits find a forever home . We don't just hand the rabbit over and wash our hands of them we are always available for advice and even space providing have had several return just for a holiday. Like everyone on here I so wish that the welfare for rabbits in care was better and I am so gratefully to our branch who have bent over backwards to everything I have asked them for in the care and welfare of all the rabbits in my home and garden.
Some times all it takes is some knowledge and advise from people like us to make a difference if you have time then try and offer it to your local branch most will welcome you with open arms .

icedancer wrote:Even Pets at Home in Wokingham didn't have any bunnies in last week because of the risk of easter pressies. I was actually impressed by it.

It's shocking, talk about double standards. I would email Joeybunsmum, but then I can be a bit of a cow if something upsets me

Our branch of Pets at Home had quite a few bunnies for sale and the new branch I believe did that opened last week

Well if I have upset anybody with my remark I do apologise deeply , I'm going from what I have experienced and what I know of certain branches. I have in my past done an awful lot of campaigning for animals, especially animals in transportation, hunting with hounds and hare coursing, I don't do it now as I am getting old but I do know when I leave this world I certainly did my bit for a lot of animals not just rabbits.

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:

Thumper2001 wrote: Easter is always about chocolate in my world (I'm not religious)

Mine too.



(don't worry tis a chocolate bun)

and mine

I assume this is the article

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2012/04/04/rspca-centre-open-day-for-easter-92746-30687043/

No, that's not the article Cheryl but i agree with you that it was a rather daft thing to do on both parts (meaning the branch and paper). Apologies for any offence caused.

I have been looking online and it appears that the salford branch has been encouraging easter adoption as well

http://www.salfordonline.com/lifestyles.php?func=viewdetails&vdetails=35072

What has struck me whilst browsing is the amount of centres reporting that they had a pre-easter surge on rabbits being abondoned/given to them for rehoming. This sort of forward thinking on the people giving up the bunnies to make sure they beat the easter rush I think is quite sinister.

This may be controversial, but I can see why they do it (N.B. this is not me saying it's a good idea). We all know how many rabbits are bought as pets over Easter. Easter is probably the time that rabbits get the most interest.

Bank holidays are good times for rescues to hold events - I know a few in our area that regularly do bank holiday open days.

Therefore, it could be argued that this is a good time to highlight the rescue animals that are available, highlight the needs of a rabbit and the realities of rabbit ownership, and perhaps find good homes for some animals in need. Don't forget that just because they are using Easter to highlight rabbits in rescue it doesn't mean that they are going to abandon their rehoming procedures and give away their animals without home checks etc.

Both of those articles linked to mention that rabbits need more care than is often thought, and both mention that their open days include rabbit welfare education. I don't think that enough was made of this in either article.

My Ted is a pet shop bunny. When we got him I wasn't aware of rescues with rabbits in our area, or I would've gone to a rescue. Events like this can have a positive impact, and make someone like me realise that pet shops and breeders aren't the only places you can get bunnies.

Finally, it's important to remember that the journalists will have had a particular agenda and angle in mind for the stories. The quotes given from the RSPCA staff will have been edited down and only those that suit the angle the journalist wanted will have been used. I personally have had experience with a journalist twisting my words (not saying this is what has happened here, but it is worth bearing in mind).

As I say, this is not me saying that encouraging the rehoming of Easter bunnies is a good thing, or that it's something I myself or Pawz would do. I'm just saying that I can see why they have done it.