yaretzi
Wise Old Thumper
I've posted before about this but the situation has become a bit more dire recently.
There's a farm near me who are keeping their bunnies and small animals in terrible conditions. A friend of mine works there and the days that she's there they at least get some basic food (hay, readigrass and an appropriate amount of pellets) along with water, but if she's not there they often don't have one or both. All the females are unspayed and a few of the males aren't neutered either. None are vaccinated. They keep having babies. Some animals are stuck in tiny hutches. There's one un-neutered male who's been stuck in an indoor cage for months and a giant male stuck in a chicken coop setup. Some are ill with quite obvious dental issues causing weeping eyes due to likely tooth root elongation. Veterinary treatment has been sought once or twice. The vet, who is primarily a farm animal vet, prescribed eye drops which are rarely given. Many have mites. Several degus have escaped only to be eaten by cats.
Many bunnies and other small animals have died in the time my friend has worked there from all sorts of reasons.
I called the RSPCA and they sent an investigator who found no problem.
My friend has handed her notice in after months of being totally ignored by her employer. I don't blame her - it must be heartbreaking, but it also means that nobody will look after the small animals or advocate for them at all.
What else can I do? Something really needs to be done. Not only getting these animals out but preventing this woman from getting any other small animals. Taking all the animals would be a massive undertaking but she would just get more. Her entire farm is overcrowded and there aren't enough funds.
There's 20 or more rabbits, 3 or so guinea pigs, 5-10 degus and 3-5 chinchillas. The guineas are fairly well off apart from there has been no provision of vitamin C for a long time. The degus have appropriate sized cages (on average) but are lacking mental and physical stimulation, and are in danger from the cats when the doors are left open. The chinchillas have been in an unheated barn all winter and a couple have died from exposure. There's 2 raccoon dogs kept separate in tiny shed/run setups, with no provision for the appropriate complicated care that they need. There are wallabies stuck in tiny shed/run (dog kennel type) setups too. There's also ferrets which are fairly well cared for afaik.
My friend has a friend who is linked to the nearest RSPCA branch, I think she volunteers there. My friend is going to speak to them soon. We're not sure if they can do anything.
This farm is really close to be geographically and it makes me feel sick to know it's happening so close by. I've been in tears over this so many times... something really needs to be done and I'm not entirely sure why it's come down to me and my friend to do something
There's a farm near me who are keeping their bunnies and small animals in terrible conditions. A friend of mine works there and the days that she's there they at least get some basic food (hay, readigrass and an appropriate amount of pellets) along with water, but if she's not there they often don't have one or both. All the females are unspayed and a few of the males aren't neutered either. None are vaccinated. They keep having babies. Some animals are stuck in tiny hutches. There's one un-neutered male who's been stuck in an indoor cage for months and a giant male stuck in a chicken coop setup. Some are ill with quite obvious dental issues causing weeping eyes due to likely tooth root elongation. Veterinary treatment has been sought once or twice. The vet, who is primarily a farm animal vet, prescribed eye drops which are rarely given. Many have mites. Several degus have escaped only to be eaten by cats.
Many bunnies and other small animals have died in the time my friend has worked there from all sorts of reasons.
I called the RSPCA and they sent an investigator who found no problem.
My friend has handed her notice in after months of being totally ignored by her employer. I don't blame her - it must be heartbreaking, but it also means that nobody will look after the small animals or advocate for them at all.
What else can I do? Something really needs to be done. Not only getting these animals out but preventing this woman from getting any other small animals. Taking all the animals would be a massive undertaking but she would just get more. Her entire farm is overcrowded and there aren't enough funds.
There's 20 or more rabbits, 3 or so guinea pigs, 5-10 degus and 3-5 chinchillas. The guineas are fairly well off apart from there has been no provision of vitamin C for a long time. The degus have appropriate sized cages (on average) but are lacking mental and physical stimulation, and are in danger from the cats when the doors are left open. The chinchillas have been in an unheated barn all winter and a couple have died from exposure. There's 2 raccoon dogs kept separate in tiny shed/run setups, with no provision for the appropriate complicated care that they need. There are wallabies stuck in tiny shed/run (dog kennel type) setups too. There's also ferrets which are fairly well cared for afaik.
My friend has a friend who is linked to the nearest RSPCA branch, I think she volunteers there. My friend is going to speak to them soon. We're not sure if they can do anything.
This farm is really close to be geographically and it makes me feel sick to know it's happening so close by. I've been in tears over this so many times... something really needs to be done and I'm not entirely sure why it's come down to me and my friend to do something
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