RSPCA Medway West Branch

Hello :wave:

Does anyone have contacts here?

Thank you!

No contacts there but I did adopt a bunny from there before Christmas but sadly had to return him as he didn't bond with my doe . They seemed nice and helpful there tho x

Thanks for the info!

I'm interested in one of the does, they told me she is aggressive and unspayed.

I replied saying that I believe that she may be aggressive due to reaching hormonal maturity. Offered to pay for the spay and any medical treatment from that, haven't heard back yet but I was quite surprised with the reply.

Also told me she is a chewer and messy. so unsuitable for indoor living. Mentioned that we have a chewer too and provide him with stuff he can chew. Explained that its bunny proofed and that we've had an RSPCA inspection that passed with flying colours.

Feel a bit miffed to have been so shot down that quickly and surprised they don't spay but I'll wait for a reply

They only seem to neuter males there and I think it's down to funds. I did find it strange that I didn't have to have a home check tho :?

Freakinfreak said:

Thanks for the info!

I'm interested in one of the does, they told me she is aggressive and unspayed.

I replied saying that I believe that she may be aggressive due to reaching hormonal maturity. Offered to pay for the spay and any medical treatment from that, haven't heard back yet but I was quite surprised with the reply.

Also told me she is a chewer and messy. so unsuitable for indoor living. Mentioned that we have a chewer too and provide him with stuff he can chew. Explained that its bunny proofed and that we've had an RSPCA inspection that passed with flying colours.

Feel a bit miffed to have been so shot down that quickly and surprised they don't spay but I'll wait for a reply

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Not very encouraging is it. Thinking more about it, I suppose they would rather tell you all the bad bits so you know what you are taking on and less likely to return her. As you have offered to pay for her spay etc., I'm surprised they haven't contacted you.

bunbuns said:

They only seem to neuter males there and I think it's down to funds. I did find it strange that I didn't have to have a home check tho :?

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I suppose that makes sense, but my local rescue is funded by the RSPCA and spay/neuter all buns so bit weird!

Babsie said:

Not very encouraging is it. Thinking more about it, I suppose they would rather tell you all the bad bits so you know what you are taking on and less likely to return her. As you have offered to pay for her spay etc., I'm surprised they haven't contacted you.

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Maybe I caught them at closing time? It'd be interesting to see what they say, just found the email a bit short but maybe I'm reading too much into it!

Even if the bond didn't work, I'd happily deal with that as it means there's one less unspayed female out there!

Freakinfreak said:

I suppose that makes sense, but my local rescue is funded by the RSPCA and spay/neuter all buns so bit weird!

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Most RSPCA branches are independent of each other and independent of the main RSPCA that you see adverts for on telly. So they can have their own processes and procedures and unfortunately as most centres deal with all types of animals you very rarely find anyone with specialist rabbit knowledge.

My local RSPCA branch told me all their rabbits were outdoor ones and I couldn't have one if they were going to live indoors. I had to go to the centre manager and plead my case before they'd let me have one! Then I had to do the bonding myself as they don't have anyone that does it.

Kavanne said:

Most RSPCA branches are independent of each other and independent of the main RSPCA that you see adverts for on telly. So they can have their own processes and procedures and unfortunately as most centres deal with all types of animals you very rarely find anyone with specialist rabbit knowledge.

My local RSPCA branch told me all their rabbits were outdoor ones and I couldn't have one if they were going to live indoors. I had to go to the centre manager and plead my case before they'd let me have one! Then I had to do the bonding myself as they don't have anyone that does it.

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Ahhh, ok I understand. I had assumed that they were 'RSPCA Head Office' and then 'All other RSPCA offices', differing only by location, but just by looking at their websites you can see that there is much more segregation than first assumed.

I know that my more local RSPCA 'centre' gets funding, which includes vet bills and gives them some allowance towards helping less privileged families that need healthcare for their pets. I guess all of them are different!

At the end of the day, they'd end up with either A) One less rabbit to feed/home/look after and the donation they ask for or B) A spayed rabbit who they have had one donation for already, who would then end up with a second donation. Either way, they win, so in MY opinion they really have nothing to lose.

I send pictures to all the rescues I contact, and can send a vid of the area too and I find that this goes down pretty well if they are further than 30 minutes away as it's almost counter productive for them. We've had a RSPCA homecheck anyway so I'd assume, logically, that this would count for all RSPCA centres.

I have had that feeling with her that I had with Neo and Skye... regardless of final outcome, she'll be spayed and therefore happier and healthier. If I could ensure than donations would ONLY go on rabbit spays then I'd definitely donate to animal rescues.

Waiting game until they reply now!!!

ETA; Would it be fair to assume that, although they offer bonding, I am probably better off doing this myself as I'm not sure how I feel regarding their outlook on messy buns not being suitable for living indoors. I guess it's more a warning/suggestion about damage more than anything so perhaps I'm reading too far into things!

Freakinfreak said:

I suppose that makes sense, but my local rescue is funded by the RSPCA and spay/neuter all buns so bit weird!



Maybe I caught them at closing time? It'd be interesting to see what they say, just found the email a bit short but maybe I'm reading too much into it!

Even if the bond didn't work, I'd happily deal with that as it means there's one less unspayed female out there!

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Hope you manage to get this sorted ... So disappointing from your point of view and this rabbit could be on her way to her forever home. Look forward to a positive update.

Babsie said:

Hope you manage to get this sorted ... So disappointing from your point of view and this rabbit could be on her way to her forever home. Look forward to a positive update.

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Me too. This was my email, hopefully I didn't come across badly!

Hi Chantal,

Thank you for getting back to me.

From experience, I believe her aggression is due to not being spayed and reaching her hormonal maturity, I would be willing to pay for this through my rabbit savvy vet and also pay for the aftercare and any medical costs incurred through this.

I would then either bond myself, bring them both to you, or employ a local bonding company to do this for me. Through the whole ordeal I would happily provide updates and pictures, you could also have direct contact with my vet. Her name is Kezia and she is a small animal specialist with a lot of interest in exotics and dental work (both of which are great when having a rabbit!) based in Temple End (High Wycombe).

I have also been RSPCA inspected and passed with 'flying colours', she was very impressed with the house and my knowledge of rabbits. The house is rabbit proofed and is suitable for our chewer, the only things that the buns can get to are their toys. All our wires are duct taped to the floor (following RSPCA's concern of possible escape artist buns) and out of reach laid under the carpets. We have never had anything of our own chewed, except when we sit in our rabbit's side of the front room as he likes to chew shoes! We offer digging boxes and are happy for them to trash the bunny side of the front room - it's all just cute bunny behaviour to us!

Unfortunately the rabbit that we were interested in was not suitable and so the bond did not go through.

I really do believe we could offer a fantastic home for her and would really appreciate if we could perhaps have a discussion regarding this? I would happily visit with my 'bunny' bible of records for our current bun showing vet treatment etc.

Thank you for your time, I really appreciate it! I look forward to hearing from you either via email or on my mobile which is 07740 196 xxx.

Kind regards

I would remove your mobile phone number from your post.

Hope they get back to you and that lovely Neo gets a new friend very soon.

tulsi said:

I would remove your mobile phone number from your post.

Hope they get back to you and that lovely Neo gets a new friend very soon.

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Hey Tulsi, starred out the last 3 digits before posting

Thank you, it's difficult I'm loving so many buns but my other half is the one refusing them all! He doesn't have a huge amount to do with the buns except feeding in the mornings but I did promise him he can choose. Bad decision!!!

RSPCA Medway West Branch is where I got my Kizzy almost 4 years ago. I'm not sure that it's the same now, but back then it was in a converted house. Certainly not one of the purpose built centres you tend to see on the TV. I found Kizzy in my front garden and handed her over to the RSPCA in case her owner came forward and because I knew nothing about rabbits at the time. I kept phoning every few days to see if anyone had coming forward, sometimes the phone was answered - sometimes not. Sometimes I got someone helpful, sometimes not, I had lots of questions because I decided I would like to adopt her if her original owners didn't come forward.
I don't think they are well funded even though they come under the RSPCA banner, and possibly rely heavily on their volunteers who are probably chosen for their love and commitment to animals rather than their customer service skills. I almost gave at one point because one of the assistants was down right rude although I can't remember the details now. But looking back that was only one contact out of many so possibly it was me been over sensitive in reaction to someone who probably meant well but didn't have the greatest customer service skill/communication skills.

Don't give up - if you like the look of a particular rabbit be persistent - I was, and it got me Kizzy and my life has been so much better for having her in it.

Good luck with getting her.
We had a bad experience with an rspca rehoming centre. They kept saying they didn't advise us getting a rabbit with a young child. I couldn't make them understand that the rabbit was for me not him. But she just kept repeating herself.

Britannia said:

RSPCA Medway West Branch is where I got my Kizzy almost 4 years ago. I'm not sure that it's the same now, but back then it was in a converted house. Certainly not one of the purpose built centres you tend to see on the TV. I found Kizzy in my front garden and handed her over to the RSPCA in case her owner came forward and because I knew nothing about rabbits at the time. I kept phoning every few days to see if anyone had coming forward, sometimes the phone was answered - sometimes not. Sometimes I got someone helpful, sometimes not, I had lots of questions because I decided I would like to adopt her if her original owners didn't come forward.
I don't think they are well funded even though they come under the RSPCA banner, and possibly rely heavily on their volunteers who are probably chosen for their love and commitment to animals rather than their customer service skills. I almost gave at one point because one of the assistants was down right rude although I can't remember the details now. But looking back that was only one contact out of many so possibly it was me been over sensitive in reaction to someone who probably meant well but didn't have the greatest customer service skill/communication skills.

Don't give up - if you like the look of a particular rabbit be persistent - I was, and it got me Kizzy and my life has been so much better for having her in it.

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Thank you for the insight, I've tried calling today, 4 times, and all kept going to voicemail which is disappointing and I have not yet had a reply to my email!

I'm concerned they took it badly but I'm sure it's just because they're mega busy

I'll try calling again tomorrow, when you called did you have more luck at any particular time? I've been to rescues before were the people working there were incredibly rude and sometimes it's not down to customer service skills it's down to personality so I would always find it difficult to not be upset like you were that one time manners cost nothing but I also understand they probably feel the stress through the rescue in terms of cost and the amount of work and effort that goes into it so can sort of see the point of view from both sides!

pollypocket said:

Good luck with getting her.
We had a bad experience with an rspca rehoming centre. They kept saying they didn't advise us getting a rabbit with a young child. I couldn't make them understand that the rabbit was for me not him. But she just kept repeating herself.

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Oh gosh... I guess they have lots of people trying it on that say it's for them and not their child! Sometimes they are too stringent for their own good but I can see why they are once bitten twice shy...

We had a neighbour once upon a time who decided to get/buy/steal (lol) a kitten for her 3 children. This woman was on a list that meant her children, home and herself were under slight supervision as she had a mental problem (read, psycho).
The kitten fell pregnant and at this point it was winter. The family went away, no catflap so no access to the house and as a result, we began to feed her and give her somewhere warm to stay. The family returned and she was so incredibly heavily pregnant she could barely walk!

She gave birth in our living room all over newspaper (I must have been around 16) that I'd lay down. Had sterilized scissors incase I needed to do anything to intervene and luckily she delivered by herself, 4 healthy kittens. We kept them for a day or two and the RSPCA were called by the neighbour. Before they turned up, she would smash on our door and scream through the letter box, one day she soaked my Mum with a glass of water and she called the police.

Anyway, as the RSPCA inspected her house they could not see any problems with it, (because she had arranged the visit!!!) and even though the police report and child safety reports were visible to them, they said that the cat is her property and needed to be returned.

About 3 months later the kittens and Mum were dumped outside a local vets. We had offered to take them in and feed them, look after them SPAY AND NEUTER them but because they could not get her on anything, these poor kittens and Mum were dumped. Mum was pregnant again.

The whole ordeal made me furious and resentful towards the RSPCA. I think there are so many individual branches that they cannot all act the same way, be policed the same way, etc.

We can offer a bunny a lovely home and as I've said in previous posts on here, we need to feel something when we see them, as we did with Neo and Skye (RIP little one ) and I've felt that again now.

Just want to improve a life so wish they'd work with me a little more. Patience I guess, wait for a reply to the email and try calling again tomorrow... I had just hoped someone maybe knew one of the volunteers, or was one, just incase!

Have u heard anything yet? X

Yes, spoke with the lady who runs it and have found out that she comes from a severe cruelty case so may be very difficult to bond as its a psychological problem that her and the others seem to have.
I've planned to donate to cover her spay as she is on the list to be done next, and hopefully get a positive update if it makes much difference to her aggression.

Its a waiting game I suppose thank you for asking x

I've had two rabbits and 4 guinea pigs from here in the past. They are self funding and rely heavily on volunteers. My Merlin was regarded as aggressive and they thought he would be difficult to bond. I took Jemima to meet him and it was love at first sight, he was devoted to her. He was still stroppy with humans though and it took about 2 years for him to become comfortable around us.

There are better rescues but they do their best with limited funds and I am sure they will let you re-home - just persevere with them. Looking forward to hearing the updates.

Jemima said:

I've had two rabbits and 4 guinea pigs from here in the past. They are self funding and rely heavily on volunteers. My Merlin was regarded as aggressive and they thought he would be difficult to bond. I took Jemima to meet him and it was love at first sight, he was devoted to her. He was still stroppy with humans though and it took about 2 years for him to become comfortable around us.

There are better rescues but they do their best with limited funds and I am sure they will let you re-home - just persevere with them. Looking forward to hearing the updates.

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Aww lovely to hear!

It's taken them about 6 months to gain her trust, even through bars she goes crazy at the other buns.

Hopefully after the spay she may calm down a little but unsure... some of the rabbits in the same situation have bonded but she seems to be the most affected by the ordeal so they aren't too sure!