Is it bad?

[JuniorxMyxLove]

My neighbors have like 7 bunnies. At one point they had a total of 15, but (thank god)they sent a lot of them to the shelter. Anyways, they kept them in the basement for a while. Then it was the garage. Then it was the side of the house, under a tarp. And now its in the driveway, under a tarp. Half the time they forget to put the tarp on. I was over there one day when it was raining, and they didn't have the tarp over the bunnies cages! The girl there was like, "eww I hate the smell of wet bunny!" and went inside! She didn't even put the tarp on! I'm over there a lot and I've never once seen them clean the cage. Also, I've never seen them interact. My friend says she loves them, but she can't even remember how many she has, or what their names are. They keep the bunnies out on the driveway all year round. They are never brought inside, or played with. In the winter, one of the 5&7 year old boy jobs are to crak the ice and thaw the bunnies water!
In their driveway, they have a bunch of crap on top of and laying around/against the cages. I think they've got 3 or 4 cages.

So, what I'm wondering is this: is this animal creulty? I know nothing about bunnies. For all I know, they could prefer to live outside in the cold. But is it bad? Should I ask my mom to call the shelter about this? Or is it perfectly fine?

[buttercup132]

YES it's animal curelty. Failing to provide adiquite shelter.
Sadly that's the only thing they can get in trouble for from what you have said. But maybe if animal control came they could convince them to surrender some or all of the bunnies. It's worth a try?
Do they even get hay?

[JuniorxMyxLove]

I know they did at one point (haha I was the one who introduced it to them) but now...? I really don't know. probably not. I know they don't get fresh fruits or veggies daily. I know thats bad for guinea pig, but for bunnies?

[Pawsitive Thinking]

That is definitely animal cruelty. Get animal control onto them as soon as you can - poor bunnies

[Karen]

Yes, it's bad. Bunnies need shelter, can get very sick if they get wet without a good place to dry off ... just not a good or healthy situation for them. If she "hates the smell of a wet bunny" it's probably because the cages are not cleaned enough - as bunnies don't smell if they are clean, and rabbits prefer to be clean. So it is absolutely neglect.

That's not even adressing the emotional needs of a bunny, the lack of socialization and interaction ...

Animal Control doesn't care about that part usually, but neglect is abuse.

[3muttsandaboston]

Rabbits do not NEED human interaction especially if they live with other rabbits. Also rabbits do better in the cold than they do in the heat. Mine both live outside in a large 10 ft x 3 ft cage and are very happy. They are mother and daughter and bonded. They do not need or want my human interaction at all. lol I think what they are doing is cruelty rabbit cages should be covered with that tarp at all times. 1. for shade from the sun 2. for a barrier from the cold and 3. shelter from rain and wet.

[JuniorxMyxLove]

okay, i'll talk to my mom about it tomorrow. She's more likely to do it now, because she's gotten so fed up with carpooling: they've forgotten to come pick me up, havent called to say my friend is home sick, etc...

I know there is an adorable bunny named Patches, one named Tuesday, and one named Coconut. They got rid of speckles, so I'm not sure what other bunnies they have. But they're all adorable.

[Genny]

That's sad It is cruel to have animals and not care for them properly. I have a rabbit and when I wash him off every now and then he does not ever stink~so the smell of the rabbits must be when it is raining all over their cage where they use the bathroom?? stuff like that.

Good Luck with helping all of them

[Marigold2]

Oh this is so horrible, horrible. Please report them. They should NOT be allowed to have any buns at all.

[IRescue452]

At the very least there should be a law in your area about animals having water at all times. WI is the worst state with animal laws but they do get taken away if not provided with water. Check town ordinances too about the poop all over and the smell. It may not be directly protecting animals, but laws about having a mess like that can be used to your advantage.

[buttercup132]

At the very least there should be a law in your area about animals having water at all times. WI is the worst state with animal laws but they do get taken away if not provided with water. Check town ordinances too about the poop all over and the smell. It may not be directly protecting animals, but laws about having a mess like that can be used to your advantage.

I agree with this too if you complain about the smell that might also help them get taken away.

They do not need or want my human interaction at all

I beg to differ with your statement of them not needing human interaction. That's like saying a dog doesnt need it either. They might be able to do without it but they are much better with it. Yours might not want anything to do with you possibly because they do live outside and have not had proper socialization.

[3muttsandaboston]

Mine were both raised from 6 week old babies and handled every day. Yes they hate to be held like 99% of all rabbits in the world. They love each other and prefer each other's company to mine. I do pet them and give them veggies everyday.

[JuniorxMyxLove]

i'm still planning on asking my mom. I went over to my neighbors house, and she was like I LOVE MY BUNNY. So I said we should take them out (bc i felt bad for them) and she was like...nah, lets go shopping. Her "favorite" bunny, Patches, didn't have the tarp on because she 'likes the sun.' And I asked her when she cleaned out the cage, and she said like once a month. And she doesn't clean any other bunny cages but patches. How often are they supposed to be cleaned?

[3muttsandaboston]

That rabbit really needs a tarp over the cage. Direct sunlight can easily cause rabbits to have a heat stroke. What type of cage is it that they live in?

[JuniorxMyxLove]

It's wire.