Strays

[Tamsin]

Legal Obligations

Catching

[Tamsin]

Under UK law rabbits are regarded as the property of their owner. This means the same property laws apply to them as those that apply to a car or TV.

Although many rabbits are deliberated released by their owners (an offence under the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960) it is also possible a rabbit found straying has escaped. A lost rabbit is still considered the property of its owner, and all reasonable endeavours must be made to reunited the property (rabbit) with its owner.

In practical terms this could include:

Scanning for a microchip
Notifying local vets/rescues/police
Putting up adverts locally

When taking in a stray ask what attempts have already been made to find its owner.

The rabbit should be kept for a reasonable period before being neutered or put up for adoption to allow its owners time to trace it.

Criminal Damages Act 1971
This act makes it an offence to destroy or damage, without lawful excuse, property belonging to another. In terms of rabbits, destroy would include euthanasia and damage would include neutering. This makes it important to establish ownership of stray rabbits before carrying out neutering operations. Necessary veterinary attention or euthanasia on medical advice would be excluded.

[honeybunny]

We have been lucky in not having had to deal with many strays.
But we keep them for 7 days before even vaccinating..put adverts up in the area they were found..notify vets and other rescues.
We don't scan for microchip.
We have had one claimed and they did give us a small donation towards the buns board. We gave this owner advice on security to make sure the rabbit did not escape again.
They also signed a claim of stray form.

[Tamsin]

They also signed a claim of stray form.

What do you put of those?

What sort of thing to you do to check it's there rabbit?

Tam

[honeybunny]

We asked for a description..the bun that was claimed was distinctive so not easy to guess..on the posters we do not put a full description of bun..good idea not to put sex either ..also they gave us details of vet they used.

Our forms are quite basic...although carry all info needed.

[kayj]

I have stray forms for coming in and als release forms. I like Jill do not give a complete description of the rabbit or sex. I do ask on the release form for a voluntary donation towards the rabbits keep. My forms are basic but carry alot of info too.

[Sooz]

I wonder what % of owners dont actually know the true gender of their rabbit.

[Tamsin]

Does anyone mind posting an example of the forms?

[The Duchess]

Spammer above reported

[Lucy]

Tamsin, you may want to edit 2nd post to take police off the list of people to notify. They will not accept the details, not even for dogs now, so pointless ringing them.

[The Duchess]

Spambot above reported