• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

PAH microchipping and vaccination vouchers for all bunnies

Lady Logamorph

Mama Doe
We are rolling this in the next couple of weeks but wondered with regards to rescues if/how it will help?

For instance if a rabbit is found abandoned and a rescue gets the owners details what can they do? Can the RSPCA prosecute for neglect etc.

Obviously it will help with regards to reuniting rabbits/owners when rabbits escape etc but what about if a rabbit is in bad shape maybe the rescue won't want to give them back.

Also all rabbits will come with a free vaccination voucher which can be done with their free health check.
 
Can't speak for other rescues, but RRR doesn't use PAH in-house vets, they use two specialist vets with no relation to PAH whatsoever. They also buy vaccinations in bulk from their vets and vaccinate on-site, not at the vets. RRR also does not microchip nor have the capability to check for chips, it's still so new to do this that many vets won't check strays for microchips and sadly many that do end up straying and getting lost are got by Mr Fox before a rescue can get to them.
 
Can't speak for other rescues, but RRR doesn't use PAH in-house vets, they use two specialist vets with no relation to PAH whatsoever. They also buy vaccinations in bulk from their vets and vaccinate on-site, not at the vets. RRR also does not microchip nor have the capability to check for chips, it's still so new to do this that many vets won't check strays for microchips and sadly many that do end up straying and getting lost are got by Mr Fox before a rescue can get to them.

Sorry I didn't mean it will help rescues as in using the voucher for vaccinations or the fact that the rabbit is microchipped as it will be the original rabbit owner that will get this done. I was wondering what would happen if a rabbit is found say wandering and has been abandoned. The rescue takes in the rabbit, checks for a microchip or gets a vet to. They get the details of the original owner and from there they will most likely contact the owner. I'm just wondering if it will help with prosecutions etc as there will be proof of the owner.
 
You'd have no way of proving a rabbit was deliberately abandoned (illegal) and hadn't just escaped (not illegal).

What would be really nice is if the chip info included place of purchase and P@H encouraged rescues to report in chipped rabbits so they could monitor which stores did well/badly on selling rabbits that turned up unwanted.
 
Sorry I didn't mean it will help rescues as in using the voucher for vaccinations or the fact that the rabbit is microchipped as it will be the original rabbit owner that will get this done. I was wondering what would happen if a rabbit is found say wandering and has been abandoned. The rescue takes in the rabbit, checks for a microchip or gets a vet to. They get the details of the original owner and from there they will most likely contact the owner. I'm just wondering if it will help with prosecutions etc as there will be proof of the owner.

I imagine the RSPCA could prosecute if they could prove the animal was abandoned deliberately (I.e in a box or something) rather than it having escaped. But whether they would or not is another issue, as it may not be feasible financially to pursue and the eventual sentence may not be worth the effort and funds required. The sheer volume of them and the difficulty of proof would also be an obstacle. Again, I don't know, I'm not connected with rescues or the RSPCA, I'm just speculating.

Also, I understand that the laws may have changed since this, but there is the issue that the animal is no longer at risk as it is not in the owner's possession. About 15 years ago we rescued a pony (with owner's consent) from neglect, but were then told that the RSPCA could not legally prosecute the owner as the pony was now getting the correct care and treatment (from us) and that we had to give the pony back when the owner requested. The owner requested her back when healthy again and sold her to the meat man. The RSPCAs hands were tied by the law.

I think it would help more in other ways - the rescue would be able to tell the neuter status and age of the rabbit straight away. And if rabbit was lost they could reunite him with their owner.

It also encourages the mindset that rabbits are a long-term pet and valuable enough to microchip. It will also hopefully encourage vaccination and also that first vet trip, which many rabbits never get, where hopefully the vet can give some good advice on other aspects of care or health. It definitely raises the issue of vaccination, which is great as many owners don't realise they need them.
 
That's what I was thinking Tamsin people would also lie and say the rabbit escaped etc but yes it would be helpful for determining age/neutered if this is recorded. I'm not sure if the microchip will show that the bunny was from PAH or not but I will find this out.

Nessar I expect that's still the case as the RSPCA still say not to remove/feed animals in need until an inspector arrives because if you feed an animal it has been fed so makes it harder for them to remove the animal. I had this once with my neighbour and their rabbit so ended up taking photos before I fed it as I couldn't leave it with no food.

Hopefully it will make people realise that they need vaccinations because generally people don't bother (apart from rabbit savvy owners) but if they get it done once and then get a reminder through from the vet then hopefully it will prompt them to take them back and get them health checked at the same time.
 
Back
Top