Locals help! Poorly buns in garden centre...

[Siona]

I went to Bay Tree Nursery (just outside Braintree on the Colchester bound A120) yesterday for the first time, and saw the pets corner buns. They had a baby one all by itself in a run, but it was dragging its back leg. :( I asked about it and the girl said it was 'unwell' and the vet was coming out. I didn't believe her then and now I really don't because having thought about it they are unlikely to pay out for vet care for a £28 bunny - it's not worth it to them.

There is also a giant Conti with babies, but she looks terribly boney, I could feel all the bones in her face and shoulders. Her eyes looked sore and red too. :cry:
I know she's not well, but now I'm wondering if those symptoms could be onset of Myxi :shock: and if so that means that all the other buns are exposed, as well as those of any people that touch her (including me!!!!) :shock: very worried now, but not sure what to do.
The RSPCA are notoriously bad round here so Im stuck. Can anyone help me or give me a second opinion? If there are any locals passing that way I'd really like if you could pop in and have a look at them.

THere is also a lame pig (a porky pig, not piggie) and all the animals are wallowing in mud and muck. Was NOT impressed! :(:evil:

[Jack's-Jane]

Despite your resevations about the RSPCA I still think you need to contact them straight away. If the Conti has Myxi then obviously urgent action needs to be taken. Give the RSPCA all the details and ask for the Inspector dealing with your report to contact you *today*. Dont be rude, but dont take no for an answer ;)
Then after the Bank Holiday weekend contact your local council's Environmental Health Department. They are responsible for licencing Petshops/Garden Centres enabling them to sell animals.

As hard as it is do try *not* to buy any of the Buns. To do so will not only remove 'evidence' but will also put any Buns you already have at risk. If you dont hear back from the RSPCA by late this afternoon keep calling them. Every few hours if necessary.

Poor Bunnies :cry:

Janex

[Siona]

That sounds like a good idea. I was half planning to go and confiscate the baby and take it to the vet myself, but that won't help the Conti :cry:

[Julia123]

Oh no - I'm sorry I'm too far away...sound like good advice from Jane - good luck x

[Siona]

I've rung, and been assured it's going forward as an urgent call and I'll be notified ASAP. *worried* :shock:

[bunnymadhouse]

poor bunnies ...i hope thay do go out and get treatment for the buns . :(

[Julia123]

I've rung, and been assured it's going forward as an urgent call and I'll be notified ASAP. *worried* :shock:

Good for you - keep us posted x

[Phoebesmummy9]

Please PLEASE contact your local RSPCA!
I'll prob get shot for saying this, but i went into a petshop when i was looking for my 2nd bun to go with Phoebe.. the petshop was appauling.. mouldy waterbottles,very little food, atleast 25 rabbits in a not so big pen. A friend who I used to work with knew the owner,and i mentioned 2 her i was going to contact the RSPCA because i was disgusted with the state of the shop. I was put off reporting... 6 month later they were closed down because things had got so bad. He's just recently been sentenced at court - a £3000 fine (or somethin like that), and banned from having a petshop licence for 5 years.
3 dogs died in the hands of this man
I'll forever feel guilty that I didnt report them!

[Siona]

The RSPCA officer has just rung me to say he's on his way there. :) Im a bit worried though because they obviously don't take notes properly, what he described back that he had been given from the office was nothing like what I'd said! :shock:
I had to tell him all over again before he understood, he never would have found the poor bunnehs going on what he'd been told!! :roll:

[chloaster]

That is good news so far!! Please let us know what they say.

[Siona]

Something seems a little fishy.....

THe inspector just got onto me and sad he'd been there. The Conti is being kept a close eye on now but they still have her. The little grey bunny with the bad leg has been taken away to the vet but he said that they claimed they weren't aware there was a problem with it??!!
I told them yesterday and was told that it was outside on its own because of it!!!!! :censored: liars!!!!

[Leanne]

So long as the Inspector knows they told you yesterday, he should know they are lying.

Did he say anything else?
Did he take it to the vet or had they?

I might be going past that way in the week so if I do I will drop in to see whats happening with them too and report them too if no change.
Not definate I will be going though :(

[jpp]

Just so glad that you tried to help.

[Siona]

He didn't make it clear whether he took it or they did. :(
He said the pig had been seen by a vet though, so thats ok.
I might pop in tomorrow or the next day actually. I'll leave it for a day or two though, so they forget what I look like. It's fairly obvious I sent them from the way I was poking around yesterday! :lol:

[Jay M]

Hi

I would definately keep an eye out and report anything that you think is not right.

A couple of years ago I reported a pet shop, that wasn't looking after the animals properly, eventually they got closed down.

I kept visiting, and check the animals, the person that ownered that pet shop seemed a little on the thick side, as they weren't suspicious. You could also buy something if you felt uncomfortable.

Jay M

[rabswood]

So long as the Inspector knows they told you yesterday, he should know they are lying.

Did he say anything else?
Did he take it to the vet or had they?

I might be going past that way in the week so if I do I will drop in to see whats happening with them too and report them too if no change.
Not definate I will be going though :(

Hope you get to call in Leanne and take a look too.

A while ago a forum member posted about a garden centre and reported it to the RSPCA who paid a visit and gave instructions for the centre to clean up their act. I checked it out about 3 weeks later and reported the less thn suitsble conditions that I discovered at the centre (no water. no hay, no bedding for tiny baby bunnies in with mum, goats ouside in a barron run with filthy water and no food or hay) to the RSPCA who went the next day and fed back to me that they would be contacting the Council so that the garden centre did not get their license renewed.

So a few 'forum' members working together really can make a difference to improve animal/rabbit welfare.

Rabswood

[raine]

Do we know what happened with the bunny they removed? Not sure that all branches "repair" bunnies that they deem non rehomeable. Do you know whether your local RSPCA has a non destruct policy?