I started helping out at Fairly Beloved Rabbit Care a year ago as a Care Assistant and love every single minute of it. I have had my own bunny for 5 years and he is very much loved but I know he is one of the lucky ones.
A rabbit care assistant’s main role it to care for the bunnies who enter the network at our larger foster carer’s sheds in Lenzie or Falkirk, and look after them until they are either fostered or adopted out. The role is much, much more than cleaning out hutches.
Most of the rabbits that I have been caring for have often been neglected and shy away from human contact and even cleaning out can be a stressful and challenging time. I love spending time getting to know the bunnies, never rushing them and letting them come and trust me. There is nothing more rewarding than having a wee bunny on day one terrified and hiding in the corner of the hutch while you deal with them to seeing them poking their nose out the doors waiting for you and starting to play with all your cleaning tools, tossing them up in the air and sitting on your dustpan!!!
One particular case always warms my heart is Velvet. This bunny was the most nervous bunny I had seen. First day I met her, I spent time speaking with her and not touching her, within a few weeks she started to come forward and take an interest in what I was doing until she eventually let me touch her. I couldn’t stop smiling all night. This routine carried on until one night she jumped as I was cleaning the floor. I thought she had got a fright but oh no, every time I looked at her I was treated to a binky (an uncontrolled, excitable jump that rabbits do). For us rabbit owners, we know that this is a sure sign of one happy bunny. That is when I realised that I can make a difference to these bunnies lives. Patience and trust can conquer all.
Being a Care Assistant has allowed me to grow as a person and has challenged me in a lot of ways: learning how to hold bunnies, give them medicine and how to adapt all my silks to suit each bunny’s needs as every one of them is different and comes from a different background.
What I love about the charity is that I am not restricted to being a care assistant. I am a volunteer and I have been involved in a lot of different areas such as fundraising, awareness days, temporary foster of 6 baby bunnies (such a chore……..sigh), vet trips, clean up days……………the list goes on and on.
Most of all I have met a wonderful group of people who are dedicated to helping promote the welfare of these wonderful animals and I am proud to be part of the team
Would you like to join us? http://www.fairlybelovedrabbitcare.org/volunteer