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I am glad it has a happy ending, but just leaving rabbits(some of them babies) outside in a box could have ended badly. It is getting cold. It is certainly too cold for the guinea pigs who were with them.

http://www.wggb.com/2014/10/29/over-20-r...rking-lot/

I understand that some of them are ready for adoption now. Why couldn't the owner just drop them off at the shelter?
I'm glad they were rescued.

An irresponsible act from the 'owner' to do that....

But, maybe there's more to this than meets the eye. Lots of animals have been abandoned by their owners since the recession kicked in. Lots of people have lost their jobs and lots of people still in work are only part time, on reduced hours, wage freezes and so forth.
Doesn't excuse that sort of behaviour but financial hardship, if the reason here, is something that could befall anybody.
I think you are right. The economic downturn has created problems for pet owners. There are now pet food banks in some areas. I just wish people who can no longer afford their pets would take them directly to a shelter. Putting them outside can end badly.

It is just fortunate that these bunnies and piggies were found before they could come to harm.
Financial hardship and splitting up of families are the main reasons we hear at the guinea pig rescue for giving up pets. They are closely followed by not having enough time for them or the kids got bored with them!!
I find the first two reasons acceptable but the latter two I do not. A pet should never be the sole responsibility of a child and if the adults are not prepared to put in the time and effort then the pet should not be brought home.
I find that guinea pigs (the pets I have most experience with) ask very little of us. Food and water of course, hay and a warm bed and a little of our time. The rewards from such little effort are many fold and wonderful.
All our piggies are happy, healthy beasties with cheerful dispositions and give back to us far more than any effort we put in.
There are many shelters and rescues where unwanted pets can be placed, at worst they could be handed in to the police, to just leave them outside in a box is cruel and inhuman.
Not defending abandonment of any animal, in any way, but I feel compelled to mention that [at least in my area anyway] shelters now charge a fee to drop off animals.
If a person cannot afford to care for a pet they most likely won't pay the $25 - $50 fee to leave their pet with the shelter.
Ironically, someone recently 'dumped' a domestic rabbit in the road near our house. he/she managed to find their way to our yard.
Initially, we tried to catch it but it would only run away.
It has since [about 2 months] been living in our pasture near our brush pile.
Recently, it has been associating with the numerous wild bunnies we have here.
I think it will be quite interesting to see if they breed.
The new bunny is black and white and quite large. Really stands out from the other bunnies, lol!
This was definitely a first for us. Have had our share of kittens and dogs dumped out here but never a bunny!!
Oh well, he/she seems quite happy, healthy, and content, living in our pasture.
Not to mention it is quite the conversation piece to friends who stop by and notice our new "free range" domestic bunny, lol!!!
I thought about the shelter drop off fees. I can understand why shelters do it, but it causes problems when money is the issue.

Still, there has to be something better than leaving the animals outside in a box.
That is in itself an issue, because the financial situation has reduced the income of animal shelters (i.e. donations) Yet when people no longer want or can no longer afford to keep their pet/pets, the local animal shelter is the first port of call.
Less income/more animals to care for, it's a crippling double whammy. Many shelters are really struggling, not that it isn't a struggle in normal times.
All the shelters are doing the best they can and fund raising and fees are a big issue.
Many shelters are aware of the economic issues people face and would still take the animals in even if the could not pay the fees. Anything is better than abandoning the animals outside.

Maybe they need to have a amnesty drop off day, where all drop offs are free.
Certainly the animals could have been "dumped" outside the shelter where they would be found quickly. Maybe there needs to be a street corner animal drop box that would be carefully monitored. It is a thought.
(11-04-2014, 03:30 AM)Knight of Albion Wrote: [ -> ]That is in itself an issue, because the financial situation has reduced the income of animal shelters (i.e. donations) Yet when people no longer want or can no longer afford to keep their pet/pets, the local animal shelter is the first port of call.
Less income/more animals to care for, it's a crippling double whammy. Many shelters are really struggling, not that it isn't a struggle in normal times.

I agree. And another thing is social instability. Sometimes people abandon their 'pets' because of drastic changes at home (divorce, moving home, new children....but a big one is landlords who will not allow animals in their rented apartments. Of course, I would rather have lived in a tent in the woods made with sticks and tarps, than given my Misty to a shelter....)
But not everyone can live like that, and people have complicated lives.

It is important for everyone to know that they can support animal shelters/rescues without having any, or very much spare money. Calling them on the telephone, and asking what they need.....sometimes it's old newspapers! Or old bedding/towels etc! People with very little can still help in their small ways.
If you can't donate to a shelter you can volunteer at a shelter fundraiser.
There are always ways to do things. Landlords can't kick you out because of pets in some places. People should be sure they can have a pet before they get one. Maybe an emergency pet food fund would be good in case you lose a job, the money would be for pet food.

Even when money was tight, I always fed my pets. I did take a job in a kitchen once so I could get fed. It wasn't much money, but it was lots of meals.

A shelter would rather waive the fees than see an animal abandoned.
People might not want to ask. It is hard to be short of money.

I like the tent idea, but it is too cold here.
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