Freeads, Preloved and Rescues

I am probably going to get hung drawn and quartered now but here goes...
(Sorry in advance if I offend anybody)

I as a rescue a feeling under a hell of alot of pressure with all the ads for rabbits that keep appearing on RU, I thought RU was for getting help and advice for rabbits but it seems to be turning into a crusade to try and get as many rabbits off Freeads, Preloved or any other place that advertise rabbits.
As a rescue I would love to help every rabbit in the country and I am sure alot of the other rescues would too, unfortunately most rescues on here are all self funded and most of the money comes from our own pockets with very understanding o/h's doing extra work to help us run and keep helping the rabbits we can also with the help of fundraising that is done here and there which every rescue appreciates more than you will all probably ever know. We all have waiting lists for rabbits and guinea pigs to come in but for one reason and another we cannot take them straight away. In the last few months most of us rescues on here have all been scratching for the odd spare hutch so we can fit in an urgent case which to me as to come before someone who as just put their rabbit up for sale on one of the free ad sites, As a rescue we have to priortise what rescues come in and when. I think all us rescues wish we were millionaires :lol::lol:

I am not having a go at anybody but I just want people to understand that from a rescue point of view it doesn't mean we don't care about an animal if we don't respond to one of the threads asking for help with a rabbit on freeads, we will probably already have a more urgent case ourselves as we do not need to go looking for rabbits to rescue as they always seem to find us it would probably just be better if people saw ads on these sites to just email the advertiser with a polite email and mention RR to them.

Sorry Tamsin if I have over stepped the mark but just felt something needed saying

I completely agree.

I have spoken to Tamsin regarding the setting up of a "free ad co-ordinator" on the forum, where by free ads are pm'd to that person and then prioritised as to whether intervention is needed. That way Free ads would be kept off the forum and rescues would only need to be contacted in extreme emergencies

and i second that Kay ... i dont read the post about free adds any more cos i never have room to take them and it just makes me feel sick

i do understand what you mean, i have been guilty of this myself in highlighting a rabbit on there, i have taken on my two off preloved as no one on here could help and the idea was to then rehome them which has proved insanely dificult. but they can stay with me until such time but it does mean i have no extra room to foster for a rescue. i think tho if people can help any rabbits on the free ads that need helping they should. but they shouldnt expect a rescue to always be able to step in as you said you have to (sadly prioritise these cases.) keep up the good work with all rescues and anyone who saves one rabbit even is saving one more than woudl have been saved. also a lot of people who get from a free ad are caring people too i know that i have gotten buns off there before and i do know about rabbits and we should remember that not all people on the free ads want the buns for snake food or to give up within a few months.

Very well put Kay.

I think that many of the adverts posted on here do not link to rabbits in dire circumstances (though the P@H bunny may be an exception) and that rescues often have far worse cases waiting to come in....but they dont feel the need, or are in some cases restricted, from talking about them on here.

Rescues do not get huge discounts on vet fee's nor do they have limitless amount of cash lying about. Many are not even permitted an account at the vets so it is not in anyway cheaper for a rescue to get a rabbit medical attention than a member of the public, infact to take on some of these rabbits may be to the detriment of rabbits already at the rescue by swallowing desperately needed resources.

If you find an advert that you feel warrants attention it may be best to send a polite email directing the owner to RU and let them post themselves. Do not start a thread or encourage countless other people to email them. When people call me regarding rabbits now I give them the RR website address....I dont direct them to another rescue because I know they are all full, and that the owner has a good chance of rehoming themselves if the rabbits are healthy.

Keeping rabbits out of the rescue circuit by offering advice is the best way to help both the rabbits and the rescues.

If anyone would like me to write a template email to send to freead advertisers I would be more than happy to help.

I would also add that members should act with EXTREME caution when taking on a free-ad rabbit personally without rescue backing....you have no idea what potential diseases, illnesses or behavioural issues you could be taking on and you could end up in a dire situation yourselves.

Hugo's There said:

I completely agree.

I have spoken to Tamsin regarding the setting up of a "free ad co-ordinator" on the forum, where by free ads are pm'd to that person and then prioritised as to whether intervention is needed. That way Free ads would be kept off the forum and rescues would only need to be contacted in extreme emergencies

Click to expand...

Tree (SOAD) used to do this when I first joined the forum but it gradually became less and less effective.

Sooz22 said:

Tree (SOAD) used to do this when I first joined the forum but it gradually became less and less effective.

Click to expand...

I thought Tree just posted all the free ads on PIN, I was thinking of keeping them off the forum altogether unless it was an extreme case, as I also think many of the buns on here are not in desperate need.

If you are happy to email advice to the people that advertise thats great

A fantastic post KayJ and one I whole heartedly back you on.

I'm afraid that I don't even look at the free ad's that appear on here anymore. I too find it much to depressing and can not find the space or funds to help these animals.

Hugo's There said:

I thought Tree just posted all the free ads on PIN, I was thinking of keeping them off the forum altogether unless it was an extreme case, as I also think many of the buns on here are not in desperate need.

If you are happy to email advice to the people that advertise thats great

Click to expand...

I meant to post a templat that members with concerns could copy & paste to advertisers they felt needed help.

Im afraid, contrary to popular belief, I dont have the time to do this myself. I never browse free-ads anymore.

I couldn't agree more. It must be terrible for the rescues to see all these adds highlighted. I think we've been through this a lot before, but I guess it goes in cycles. Tamsin has even posted a guide email for people to send to freeads. Unless the situation is really dire or a specialist breed that could end up with porblems I really don't think it's appropriate to post adds on here.

Sooz22 said:

If anyone would like me to write a template email to send to freead advertisers I would be more than happy to help.

Click to expand...

There's one here:
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=70739

TheWorm said:

There's one here:
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=70739

Click to expand...

There we go then, problem solved.

I agree 100% with what you have said Kay. It's not fair on rescues to feel pressure to take in animals because another forum member has rescued them when the rabbits on their waiting lists have been sat there patiently for a long time.

Would it be an idea to maybe have a thread in the moderated section so the rabbits that are thought to be in dire need can be highlighted? Or, like suggested before, someone who maybe does have time could be the free ad mod and respond to pm's by sending out the template email so the seller doesn't get bombarded?

Sooz22 said:

I meant to post a templat that members with concerns could copy & paste to advertisers they felt needed help.

Im afraid, contrary to popular belief, I dont have the time to do this myself. I never browse free-ads anymore.

Click to expand...

Sorry, I think you misunderstood me, I didn't expect you to look through the free ads. I never look at them myself, I personally think it's a quick route to insanity

I too agree.
I have offered to help transport the PAH bun as he did seem in genuine need..blind, overgrown teeth and snuffly....
but I never browse free ads and I'd advise everyone one here to avoid them too.

If you want to help, adopt a rescue bun from somewhere that does the job properly..that way rescues keep running and are able to help more animals,
you do not end up with a potentially sky-high vets bill ..and some people who have been carelessly breeding then advertise their "spares" on preloved, etc..don't get a helping hand.

Or fundraise for your local rescue/offer to help with cleaning, etc

Sadly we would all like to be able to save/help every bun..but we can't

Well I feel dreadful for highlighting that Nethie situation now

Sorry, I had no intention of causing Rescues to feel under pressure and *if* I had gotten the Nethies I would have dealt with them myself and not dumped them on a Rescue.

Janex

I agree to be honest free ads bunnies aren't all destined for horrid lives, I'm sure a good proportion off free ads go to good people who care for them. These buns could take up valuble space in rescues. I think ads for buns in real need are a different matter.

chloaster said:

Would it be an idea to maybe have a thread in the moderated section so the rabbits that are thought to be in dire need can be highlighted?

Click to expand...

That occurred to me, but I wouldn't like to be the mod who has to decide whether that particular rabbit is worthy or not, I'd feel very guilty.

I can see both sides of this. On one hand some of the rabbits on free ads are simply a case of the owner getting bored... but on the other hand there are some genuinely awful situations which might end up as cruelty cases if left unchecked (i.e. an un-neutered pair plus litter in one hutch).

I really don't think that rescues have any reason to feel guilty if they can't take these rabbits on though.

Amy