Robin: a hard goodbye, and why it still matters

This morning, we said goodbye to Robin.

We want to share her story, because rescue does not always end with the happy outcome we all work towards. Even when the outcome is heartbreaking, the care still happens, the costs still land, and our volunteers and foster carers still carry it.

Who Robin Was

Robin was a female, indoor cross-breed rabbit. She came into our care on 3 December 2025, aged around 5 years and 8 months.

Her previous owner described a rabbit who struggled in a busy family home. Robin reacted strongly to handling, she guarded her space, and she found change hard. She also had limited time out of her enclosure, because it was difficult to keep everyone safe and to manage her environment.

When rabbits feel stressed or misunderstood, people often label them as “nasty” or “bad”. We saw something else. We saw a rabbit who needed calm, space, routine, and patient care.

Her Time In Rescue

When Robin arrived, she was a little underweight and she was not eating as well as we would like. We kept a close eye on her and arranged vet support as concerns grew.

Over the weeks that followed, Robin moved into foster care and began to show us who she really was.

Her foster carers reported binkies, flops, and a rabbit who was clearly enjoying space and safety. She chose her favourite spots, including sitting on a chair under a desk, watching the world in her own quiet way.

Robin did not find medication easy at first. Some rabbits will accept support calmly. Others panic, fight, and bite from fear. Robin fell into the second group. Her foster carers still showed up every day, adjusted their approach, and worked hard to make it less stressful for her. Over time, she began taking her medication more reliably when offered with herbs and greens.

This is the work people do behind the scenes. It is not glamorous. It takes time, resilience, and a lot of heart.

The Sudden Decline

In early February, Robin seemed to have a minor accident in her room, possibly a fall or a knock as she ran into her hide. Soon after, she became quiet and stopped showing interest in food.

We have a short video clip that shows the moment this happened. It looks like a normal binky or zoomie in a familiar space, the kind of everyday movement we are delighted to see. It is also a reminder of how quickly things can change. A simple knock or awkward landing can cause an injury, and that injury can escalate fast, even when there is no obvious sign at first.

Our team started supportive care straight away. When she did not improve, we arranged an urgent vet visit. Robin then declined rapidly, including signs of serious pain and reduced movement in her back legs.

She was taken for emergency, out-of-hours care. After an important overnight stay to ensure essential monitoring and focused medical care, the vet updated us the following morning to tell us Robin had passed away, despite their best efforts.

What This Costs, In Every Sense

When people hear “rabbit rescue”, they often picture hutches, cuddles, and happy adoptions.

The reality includes emergency calls, long nights, and making fast decisions when a rabbit crashes without warning.

It also includes the financial reality.

With an emergency out of hours vet bill exceeding £500, our overall costs to support Robin whilst she was in our care totalled £657.32.

Those figures sit beside our everyday running costs and the growing number of rabbits who need help.

The emotional cost matters too. Our volunteers and foster carers build trust with rabbits like Robin, especially the ones who arrive frightened, reactive, or shut down. When a rabbit starts to feel safe, it lifts everyone. When we lose them, it hits hard.

Robin was not “just a rabbit” to the people who cared for her. She was a life we tried to protect, a little soul who finally had space to be herself.

Robin, we are sorry we could not save you. Thank you for showing us your binkies, your flops, and your brave moments. You were loved, and you mattered.

How You Can Help

You can help us keep showing up for rabbits like Robin.

Right now, we are under extreme financial pressure. Emergency cases do not pause, and neither do the vet bills. When we cannot get ahead of costs, every sudden decline risks pushing us closer to a point where we cannot say yes to the next rabbit who needs us.

Our Emergency Winter Campaign is focused on keeping our rescue running through the hardest months, covering urgent veterinary care, essential supplies, and the day to day costs of keeping rabbits safe, warm, and supported.

If you can help today, please donate here:
Emergency Winter Campaign: https://belovedrabbits.org/emergency-winter-campaign/

If you cannot donate, you can still help by sharing this post. It makes a real difference.