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Stanley died due to fight at rabbit boarding

This is shocking beyond belief :cry: I'm so, so sorry your poor boy was let down so badly by someone you trusted to look after him :cry: I would want the place closing down for sure, they are clearly unfit to operate as a bunny boarding establishment :( I totally understand you not being able to stand by and do nothing, you must be in complete turmoil, as well as being heartbroken :( I'm so sorry :cry:
 
Tuckerbunnies said:
As a boarding place ourselves and after reading this my Husband and I are absolutely disgusted at how your rabbit was treated and also heartbroken for you :cry:

Firstly no rabbit's should be able to pull fur or get to another holiday rabbit when in a run, pen or anything and that rabbit should have been taken to the vet's straight away, one of our own rabbits turned round and took a chunk out of her companion who kept humping her and my Husband rushed him to the vets straight away and he was put on antibiotics and metacam which is what Stan should have been on. The fact that they didn't bother to take him to a vet's is just sheer neglect.

Makes me wonder if they have any knowledge on rabbits at all , obviously not!!!!.

Did you sign a disclaimer at all ? our customers have to sign a disclaimer which gives us the right to take their rabbit's to the vet's if we feel they need vet treatment, or are sick and the customer has to pay any costs. All boarding places should have disclaimers for customers to sign.

If it was me I would consider suing them as this should not have happened.

I wish you were nearer as if you got any more rabbits and needed to board them I would give you a weeks free boarding as I am so very sad for you , get them sued !!!

xxxxxxx ((( hugs )))
Click to expand...


This is brilliant advise from someone who knows how to run boarding !! I Am so sorry you lost your boy xx
 
I would be utterly fuming and would most certainly try and go down the route of suing, or at least speak to a solicitor to see what they think. This must be so heartbreaking for you. Their story doesn't really add up and there is no excuse for not taking your rabbit to a vet immediately. I am so sorry this has happened to you :(
 
I'm so sad this happened. I would take it further just to stop it happening to someone else.
 
Thank you everyone for such lovely replies, it really is comforting.

Ill clear a few things up as a few people have asked: The boarding pens were only separated by one partition (e.g. wooden fence, or wire, etc. So when Stan got out of his area, he went straight into another buns area.

When the page Facebook messaged me, I also asked how the there bun was, and saw him when I went to pick Stan up as he was still there - he was completely fine (thankfully).

The fight happened earlier in the week (I think on the third day) which is also why I was confused at his shock being delayed, but I guess if he wasn’t eating and stuff it worsened over time :( plus he was stressed.

On one side, there was only a wooden fence separating Stanley and another enclosure (the one he broke into), he managed to squeeze in between the posts :(

Payment - I only paid the initial £25 deposit. We didn’t pay the rest (she did suggest us not paying) because we had to take him to the vet. I haven’t received the deposit back, nor have I get asked for it back. They also still have our full 6kg bag of nuggets, and when we collected his carry case - there was 2 of the 6 locks for the sides (top is detachable if you know what I mean) missing - she offered for me to keep it there, and I took him out of it when he arrived and put him in it when we left, so I don’t know what else they were using it for which has really annoyed me. We agreed to leave it there as the hay and case smelt like home so thought it would be comforting for him.

The other bun probably could have got into Stanleys bit, but he was a bit bigger so probably wouldn’t have got through the gap. Also he was more interest in the new female she was bonding him with than Stanley, so probably wasn’t interested in him.

When I mentioned the photos they were posting, they post them on their Facebook page, not sending them to me personally. So as we were looking at the page we were confused as to why they stopped including pictures of Stanley. They said they didn’t mention it to us as they didn’t want to ruin our holiday - I said OK because at that moment they had told me he was all fine.

I did sign a disclaimer and pay the deposit a week before we dropped him off (I will include a picture later) which stated we would be liable for vet costs etc…. so I don’t see why they wouldn’t have taken him to the vets. Ill also post the messages and contact we have had with them later and a picture of Stanleys ear injury (but some people might not want to see, unfortunately I only had a chance to take a photo after he had gone :( )

William - so sorry to hear you have experienced a similar thing, especially at the hands of someone medically trained. It seems also as with Izzy you were also deceived as to what had happened, and they didn’t give you all the information :( I truly know how you feel. Did you complain to the vets or report them or something, if you don’t mind me asking?

To everyone - The boarders say they have dedicated their lives to rabbits and guinea pigs, they also do some breeding with giant rabbits.

Eyeball Champ - thank you for that information, its been very helpful and I actually wasn’t aware of it. My boyfriend has found it useful and we will use it in our case. I too felt like we hadn’t been given the full story, I just wanted to know what happened. The thought of him being scared and confused breaks my heart.

Im a bit worried that it will go against me that I said it was OK he didn’t have a vet trip - but at that moment they told me he was ‘completely fine’ and so it didn’t matter really, but I did think they should have taken him for antibiotics/painkillers, and a check over etc. Just worried they will turn around and have to take my ‘first answer’ if you knoww what I mean. I also didn’t realise it was a big bit of his ear as they said it was the ‘tip of his ear’.

I will look into who we can inform (maybe council?) about the incident and see if they can get inspected. But then again Im worried they will just say its all fine, even though this terrible thing happened to my boy :(

I hope they can just reinforce their enclosures AT LEAST - to prevent this from happening to anyone else :( as MiniC and many of you have said. And that it does seem to be many mistakes rather than just one.

Tucker bunnies - I wish Stan had been at a boarders more like yours sounds. I just wish we never went away at all, or took up my sister’s late offer to house sit. Thought that having ‘rabbit people’ look after him would be the best way to go…and Stanley was so badly let down. I don’t feel like I could ever take my future bunnies anywhere away from home after this incident. Unfortunately as this was my first experience boarding it has completely destroyed us. However your place sounds so loving and caring, if you weren’t so far away from me I would have loved to take up your lovely offer. Thank you so much for your kindness xx

We will definitely be doing something about it, I just want to focus on the welfare of future bunnies at this place nd make sure nothing happens again and they fully understand their mistakes.


xxxxxxxx
 
This is all so sad :( binky free Stanley. Good luck taking this up formally, it really is not good how this has been handled on their part.

Can you PM me the name of the boarders? I'm also in St Albans.
 
Just to ensure this doesn't happen to anyone else, the boarders is called Fairbrother Farm and is in St Albans, Hertfordshire. I thought for a long time about whether I should post the name, but at the moment whilst their enclosures aren't fully secure I couldn't want anyone else to have a similar experience.
 
I wondered if it was them :( have heard mixed reviews and I'm not sure in their vaccination policies either

So sorry, no bun deserves this
 
I noseyed at their facebook page, and see what you mean about fence panels.

I notice they do have an option to leave reviews on their facebook page, and this is something I would consider, although if you're looking to progress legal action in any way, I would maybe run it past your solicitor.
 
sophiebssn said:
Thank you everyone for such lovely replies, it really is comforting.

Ill clear a few things up as a few people have asked: The boarding pens were only separated by one partition (e.g. wooden fence, or wire, etc. So when Stan got out of his area, he went straight into another buns area.

When the page Facebook messaged me, I also asked how the there bun was, and saw him when I went to pick Stan up as he was still there - he was completely fine (thankfully).

The fight happened earlier in the week (I think on the third day) which is also why I was confused at his shock being delayed, but I guess if he wasn’t eating and stuff it worsened over time :( plus he was stressed.

On one side, there was only a wooden fence separating Stanley and another enclosure (the one he broke into), he managed to squeeze in between the posts :(

Payment - I only paid the initial £25 deposit. We didn’t pay the rest (she did suggest us not paying) because we had to take him to the vet. I haven’t received the deposit back, nor have I get asked for it back. They also still have our full 6kg bag of nuggets, and when we collected his carry case - there was 2 of the 6 locks for the sides (top is detachable if you know what I mean) missing - she offered for me to keep it there, and I took him out of it when he arrived and put him in it when we left, so I don’t know what else they were using it for which has really annoyed me. We agreed to leave it there as the hay and case smelt like home so thought it would be comforting for him.

The other bun probably could have got into Stanleys bit, but he was a bit bigger so probably wouldn’t have got through the gap. Also he was more interest in the new female she was bonding him with than Stanley, so probably wasn’t interested in him.

When I mentioned the photos they were posting, they post them on their Facebook page, not sending them to me personally. So as we were looking at the page we were confused as to why they stopped including pictures of Stanley. They said they didn’t mention it to us as they didn’t want to ruin our holiday - I said OK because at that moment they had told me he was all fine.

I did sign a disclaimer and pay the deposit a week before we dropped him off (I will include a picture later) which stated we would be liable for vet costs etc…. so I don’t see why they wouldn’t have taken him to the vets. Ill also post the messages and contact we have had with them later and a picture of Stanleys ear injury (but some people might not want to see, unfortunately I only had a chance to take a photo after he had gone :( )

William - so sorry to hear you have experienced a similar thing, especially at the hands of someone medically trained. It seems also as with Izzy you were also deceived as to what had happened, and they didn’t give you all the information :( I truly know how you feel. Did you complain to the vets or report them or something, if you don’t mind me asking?

To everyone - The boarders say they have dedicated their lives to rabbits and guinea pigs, they also do some breeding with giant rabbits.

Eyeball Champ - thank you for that information, its been very helpful and I actually wasn’t aware of it. My boyfriend has found it useful and we will use it in our case. I too felt like we hadn’t been given the full story, I just wanted to know what happened. The thought of him being scared and confused breaks my heart.

Im a bit worried that it will go against me that I said it was OK he didn’t have a vet trip - but at that moment they told me he was ‘completely fine’ and so it didn’t matter really, but I did think they should have taken him for antibiotics/painkillers, and a check over etc. Just worried they will turn around and have to take my ‘first answer’ if you knoww what I mean. I also didn’t realise it was a big bit of his ear as they said it was the ‘tip of his ear’.

I will look into who we can inform (maybe council?) about the incident and see if they can get inspected. But then again Im worried they will just say its all fine, even though this terrible thing happened to my boy :(

I hope they can just reinforce their enclosures AT LEAST - to prevent this from happening to anyone else :( as MiniC and many of you have said. And that it does seem to be many mistakes rather than just one.

Tucker bunnies - I wish Stan had been at a boarders more like yours sounds. I just wish we never went away at all, or took up my sister’s late offer to house sit. Thought that having ‘rabbit people’ look after him would be the best way to go…and Stanley was so badly let down. I don’t feel like I could ever take my future bunnies anywhere away from home after this incident. Unfortunately as this was my first experience boarding it has completely destroyed us. However your place sounds so loving and caring, if you weren’t so far away from me I would have loved to take up your lovely offer. Thank you so much for your kindness xx

We will definitely be doing something about it, I just want to focus on the welfare of future bunnies at this place nd make sure nothing happens again and they fully understand their mistakes.


xxxxxxxx
Click to expand...

You're welcome, hope it helps. There are solicitors who specialise in animal welfare law if you do decide to take the legal route. Hopefully you can avoid the stress of a court case though. I think you're absolutely right (and brave) to expect them to answer for this and hopefully prevent further tragedies.

You didn't know the extent of his injuries, you only had their word to go on. Absolutely unequivocally entirely their fault, not yours! No one in their right minds would take your first answer under such circumstances.

I hope they get closed down, and that you find some peace. Xxxxx
 
I just had a quick look at their website - and the first thing I noticed was that they have used chicken wire! No-one who knows anything about rabbits would use that.
 
sophiebssn said:
Thank you everyone for such lovely replies, it really is comforting.

Ill clear a few things up as a few people have asked: The boarding pens were only separated by one partition (e.g. wooden fence, or wire, etc. So when Stan got out of his area, he went straight into another buns area.

When the page Facebook messaged me, I also asked how the there bun was, and saw him when I went to pick Stan up as he was still there - he was completely fine (thankfully).

The fight happened earlier in the week (I think on the third day) which is also why I was confused at his shock being delayed, but I guess if he wasn’t eating and stuff it worsened over time :( plus he was stressed.

On one side, there was only a wooden fence separating Stanley and another enclosure (the one he broke into), he managed to squeeze in between the posts :(

Payment - I only paid the initial £25 deposit. We didn’t pay the rest (she did suggest us not paying) because we had to take him to the vet. I haven’t received the deposit back, nor have I get asked for it back. They also still have our full 6kg bag of nuggets, and when we collected his carry case - there was 2 of the 6 locks for the sides (top is detachable if you know what I mean) missing - she offered for me to keep it there, and I took him out of it when he arrived and put him in it when we left, so I don’t know what else they were using it for which has really annoyed me. We agreed to leave it there as the hay and case smelt like home so thought it would be comforting for him.

The other bun probably could have got into Stanleys bit, but he was a bit bigger so probably wouldn’t have got through the gap. Also he was more interest in the new female she was bonding him with than Stanley, so probably wasn’t interested in him.

When I mentioned the photos they were posting, they post them on their Facebook page, not sending them to me personally. So as we were looking at the page we were confused as to why they stopped including pictures of Stanley. They said they didn’t mention it to us as they didn’t want to ruin our holiday - I said OK because at that moment they had told me he was all fine.

I did sign a disclaimer and pay the deposit a week before we dropped him off (I will include a picture later) which stated we would be liable for vet costs etc…. so I don’t see why they wouldn’t have taken him to the vets. Ill also post the messages and contact we have had with them later and a picture of Stanleys ear injury (but some people might not want to see, unfortunately I only had a chance to take a photo after he had gone :( )

William - so sorry to hear you have experienced a similar thing, especially at the hands of someone medically trained. It seems also as with Izzy you were also deceived as to what had happened, and they didn’t give you all the information :( I truly know how you feel. Did you complain to the vets or report them or something, if you don’t mind me asking?

To everyone - The boarders say they have dedicated their lives to rabbits and guinea pigs, they also do some breeding with giant rabbits.

Eyeball Champ - thank you for that information, its been very helpful and I actually wasn’t aware of it. My boyfriend has found it useful and we will use it in our case. I too felt like we hadn’t been given the full story, I just wanted to know what happened. The thought of him being scared and confused breaks my heart.

Im a bit worried that it will go against me that I said it was OK he didn’t have a vet trip - but at that moment they told me he was ‘completely fine’ and so it didn’t matter really, but I did think they should have taken him for antibiotics/painkillers, and a check over etc. Just worried they will turn around and have to take my ‘first answer’ if you knoww what I mean. I also didn’t realise it was a big bit of his ear as they said it was the ‘tip of his ear’.

I will look into who we can inform (maybe council?) about the incident and see if they can get inspected. But then again Im worried they will just say its all fine, even though this terrible thing happened to my boy :(

I hope they can just reinforce their enclosures AT LEAST - to prevent this from happening to anyone else :( as MiniC and many of you have said. And that it does seem to be many mistakes rather than just one.

Tucker bunnies - I wish Stan had been at a boarders more like yours sounds. I just wish we never went away at all, or took up my sister’s late offer to house sit. Thought that having ‘rabbit people’ look after him would be the best way to go…and Stanley was so badly let down. I don’t feel like I could ever take my future bunnies anywhere away from home after this incident. Unfortunately as this was my first experience boarding it has completely destroyed us. However your place sounds so loving and caring, if you weren’t so far away from me I would have loved to take up your lovely offer. Thank you so much for your kindness xx

We will definitely be doing something about it, I just want to focus on the welfare of future bunnies at this place nd make sure nothing happens again and they fully understand their mistakes.


xxxxxxxx
Click to expand...

I really hope you get closure on this dreadfully devastating incident. It can't bring poor Stanley back, but I hope you will achieve justice in his name.

It's a selfless act too, and will prevent others from going down the road you did.

Sending hugs, strength and best wishes xx
 
I've just had a look on their Facebook page and I noticed guinea pigs in with rabbits when I scrolled down :( there is very flimsy chicken wire used on pens and metal pens with really nothing to stop rabbit's on either side nose nipping the other or seriously biting them. An ear could easily be bitten that way. :shock:

I noticed a rabbit guest who's abscess burst while in their care and they managed to get that to a vet so why couldn't they take Stan . It was there responsibility to look after him in their care and as far as I am concerned...they didn't!

I certainly won't be recommending them .
 
So many people think that boarding bunnies and guinea pigs is an easy thing to do....well it is if, in my opinion, you don't do it properly. There is so much to take into consideration than most people realise.

I am so sorry to hear about dear Stanley. And yes, in my opinion the boarding establishment was negligent. They seem to be doing so many things wrong.......

I've been doing boarding since 2002, sadly closing at the end of this month, August, and never had anything happen like this happen to any boarder whilst in my care. Many can charge a lot less than I do, but perhaps they don't have the experience that I have built up over the years and that can be reflected in the prices.

Once again, I am sorry for your loss. xxx
 
I am absolutely heartbroken for you. Poor Stanley. Having read what you have written, it seems this boarding place have a cavalier attitude to the emotions of their boarders. Animal carers must have an empathy with animals and should have dealt with Stanley's upset first, long before it got to the point where he was able to get out. I would have discussions with a solicitor and see if he feels they need a letter or some negative publicity.
So sorry for your loss. Bless you Stan. xxxx
 
I'm so sorry to hear about this. How sad:(

It sounds to me as if where they were really negligent was in not noticing how unwell he became. Rabbits away from home often get stressed, you have to watch them very carefully which isn't a trivial thing as they are not your rabbits so you don't have a baseline so they ought to routinely pay close attention let alone after an incident like that fight. I find it very difficult to believe that he actually was eating well and hopping about normally after the fight only to collapse like that days later.

Had you told them about the sludgy bladder? That is an extra risk factor too especially in the heat. They should have been watching his fluid intake carefully and intervened if necessary. Where rabbits have sludgy bladders it is often because they are poor drinkers to start with. The weight loss you describe was probably mostly fluid loss. It can be shocking how fast condition drops off when an animal gets dehydrated. I tend to give rabbits with sludgy bladders lots of extra fruit and juicy veg and picked grass to make up for lack of drinking. But they can go down hill shockingly fast if their bladder overfills and won't empty. I have one in the sanctuary at the moment I have to keep a very close eye on.

I once had a boarder escape and get into a fight and get injured. Rabbits can be extremely creative escape artists. He too went off his food but I was watching for it and dealt with it and he recovered. I felt so dreadful about it and apologised profusely and the owners were very understanding. I changed where I kept the boarders after that. They now go either in 8ft cages up on the wall of the barn or in stables on the floor where everything they do is highly visible so it is easy to spot problems and they cannot even see other rabbits. They do not go out in runs as the year I did move them into runs during the day more rabbits got stressed and went off their food. They seem happier kept in one place and the cages are big enough for acrobatics if they are so inclined (and they often are).
 
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