Week Twelve Reflection

I am truly happy with how my poster came together! I talked to Lee for feedback and he was quite happy with how I have articulated things so far. I am looking forward to my proposal han-in which is almost ready! Again, I just need some polishing and proof-reading to sort it out over week thirteen. This has been such a hectic but rewarding journey! :D I am glad I made it through the semester. WOW.

Poster

Week Eleven Reflection

I have been focusing on polishing my poster as of the moment. Everything I need are all ready. I just have the proof-reading left and design aesthetics for the poster and as well as the proposal. I have had a good talk with Kerry Ann as well in regards to the word count for the poster and as well as what we really need to show and tell.

Immersion: Findings

- Rescues cannot take animals without owner’s consent

- In instances where owners refuse to give up their rabbits, rescues can only hope for the best and try to assist the owner (if they are allowed) in taking care of the rabbits

- SPCA can step in only under certain circumstances

- Only when SPCA steps in and conducts the rescue operation can the rabbit rescue group assist and take custody of rabbits

- Rabbit meat farms exist in New Zealand

- In cases where breeders could not sell baby rabbits, some call the rescue and threaten to put down rabbits if they are not collected

- The rescue had to fend for at most 39 rabbits altogether at one time, requiring significant work effort and money

- The biggest number of rabbits come to the rescue usually 3-4 months after Easter or Christmas

- Some adoptions come back to the rescue after a couple months due to mis-match or inability to take care

- The maximum number of rabbits they had for this year altogether are 21 rabbits

- 8 rescue rabbits came back to the shelter within the last 3 months

- They get financial support mainly from regular donors and the Vegan Vault

- They are only able to adopt out baby rabbits when they rescue a pregnant female

- WRR will shoulder the fee for desexing the babies as soon as they are old enough to be desexed

- They are usually more cautious on adopting out babies because they have the tendency to be "wanted" when they are cute and cuddly-looking

WRR Itinerary - Trish/Kat/Bianca

Pick up Kat

Pick up Bianca

Visit Bob (Welfare Case) – cut toe nails and feed.

Check Nibbles (Welfare Case)

Pick up Snuggles and Emily (Sliverstream).

Pick up Primrose and Clover plus pen from Trish’s house.

Visit Peter in Kelson – site consultation and interaction with rabbits

Collect Willow from River - for foster rabbits and welfare cases in Waiwhetu

Visit Alison in Woburn - site visit interaction with kids and rabbits

Welfare check on Panipani and Shady

Drop Primrose and Clover to foster or trish’s house

Drop back Snuggles and Emily

Drop Kat/Bianca to train station.

Week 10 Reflection

I had a very busy week, I was busy getting in contact with Wellington Rabbit Rescue initially an interview but had an opportunity to actually spend the day with them over the weekend. I learned a lot although I only have 2 weeks left for the proposal. I feel like the experience was such an eye-opener and even though I have done research for my topic, I can say that it is very different from experiencing situations first hand. I had a hard time looking at the circumstances some rabbits were in and hope I wish I could help them. I know the rescue feels the same way but they can't do anything unless the owners give up the rabbit willingly or when SPCA steps up to do the rescue.

Wellington Rabbit Rescue Immersion

Spent the day with Kat and Trish driving around the Hutt foraging, helping new owners, taking care of neglected rabbits that are still with their owners, introducing rabbits to potential owners and meeting rabbits in rescue that are yet to be adopted.

Miss Kini is 12 years old and is being taken care of by Trish. She is bonded with a male bun named Nox. They stay outdoors during nice weathers but because of Miss Kini's age, they usually stay indoors at night and on cold days.

Bobby is a welfare case rabbit. He is neglected by his current owners and is left in a tiny hutch outside the house, usually with no fresh hay and clean water. WRR comes in every couple days or so to check on the Bobby and give him fresh hay and greens. Bobby's owners refuse to give him up and usually just ignore people who come to help them with Bobby.

Due to Bobby being locked up in the hutch, he is not able to do what normal rabbits should like dig, hop and scratch his nails against objects. His nails have grown so much that it has caused his paw to twist to be able to walk. WRR is slowly making sure to get his nails trimmed every week. They cannot cut it straight away as it may cause bleeding and injury to poor Bobby.

Snuggles and Emily are a bonded pair who are great candidates for a family wanting rabbits. They are good with other animals and are fit for the outdoors as well.

We took them to meet a family who could potentially adopt them. We had them meet the kids and other animals in the household, too.

Primrose and Clover were both adopted from WRR who just recently came back because the owners were not able to take care of them anymore.