A distant branch of my family have bought a rabbit for their children. When I last met them, the children's mum was moaning that the kids never want to clean him out and how the rabbit is always biting the boy and that the girl only wanted to play with it sometimes
I was a bit surprised at the time, and had only just got into rabbits myself, so although I knew it was all wrong, I didn't feel able to speak up and sort them out. There are also family tensions which could deteriorate further if I am seen to be 'telling them what to do'.
The only way I can think of to give them advice is to get the kids a book for Christmas. Then I can be seen to encourage their hobby rather than be preaching. The hope of course is that the mum reads the book too ....
Can anyone reccommend a book on rabbit care that is suitable for children of around 8 that emphasises things like hay and neutering? Their rabbit is a young male in an outdoor hutch, so I'm not surprised he bites and wees everywhere making cleaning out more work.
I want to find a way to help them to help their rabbit. I don't think they're intentionally being cruel, but because they don't know why the rabbit behaves as it does, they can't change things. I will also be trying to find a way to offer to take the rabbit if they ever feel it is too much for them, but I think a book for the kids is the only way forward at the moment.
Please help!
I was a bit surprised at the time, and had only just got into rabbits myself, so although I knew it was all wrong, I didn't feel able to speak up and sort them out. There are also family tensions which could deteriorate further if I am seen to be 'telling them what to do'.
The only way I can think of to give them advice is to get the kids a book for Christmas. Then I can be seen to encourage their hobby rather than be preaching. The hope of course is that the mum reads the book too ....
Can anyone reccommend a book on rabbit care that is suitable for children of around 8 that emphasises things like hay and neutering? Their rabbit is a young male in an outdoor hutch, so I'm not surprised he bites and wees everywhere making cleaning out more work.
I want to find a way to help them to help their rabbit. I don't think they're intentionally being cruel, but because they don't know why the rabbit behaves as it does, they can't change things. I will also be trying to find a way to offer to take the rabbit if they ever feel it is too much for them, but I think a book for the kids is the only way forward at the moment.
Please help!