Gypsy The Hit And Run Bun
X-rays confirmed the suspected injury. The poor bunny had suffered a shattered leg which had partially healed during her stay at county animal control. Since it was never pinned or set, the bone healed improperly. Sadly, because the bone was broken in so many places and the healing almost over, there was nothing that could be done for her except prescribe some bed rest, time and lots of love.
We at the Rabbit Center are doing our best to fulfill that job. Gypsy makes the loving part easy! She is one of the most affectionate buns we have seen come through our doors. She begs for attention when people walk by. She flops, she binkies, she sticks her nose through the grate of her medical pen. She is so animated that we can’t help but stop to pet her and give her the comfort and love she asks for.
The bed rest part, well, she isn’t quite following doctor’s orders there. In spite of her damaged leg, she manages to be an energetic and animated bun! Perhaps it is her age but she really has a lot of character and is so very expressive. For the time being she is confined to small cage in our medical area so her movement is limited.
Only time will tell how her leg ultimately heals. Sadly, the only two possible outcomes are 1) that Gypsy heals well and she retains use of her leg or 2) the deformity hinders her and the leg must be taken. Our fingers are crossed that when all is said and done, Gypsy keeps her leg and has full mobility. Given her level of excitement and her tendency to binky, we have hope that she will come through this with nothing more than a slightly misshapen back leg. We hope for good news at her next vet visit!
Gypsy serves as a reminder of the many dangers there are out there for an abandoned bun. It is a harsh reality but domestic rabbits just do not survive in the wild. Cars, wildlife, domesticated dogs, insects, parasites, heat and cold all conspire to make life impossible for the bunny that’s left to fend for itself outdoors. There is a saying within the rabbit rescue community that explains the point loud and clear, “Setting your rabbit loose doesn’t make them free, it makes them food!”
If you, or anyone you know, plan on turning their domesticated rabbit loose in the wild, please, PLEASE stop to think! Only a lucky few ever survive and even those that do bare the scars of their ordeal. The rest meet with an awful and usually painful death. If you have no choice but to rehome your rabbit, please read our section “Thinking Of Giving Up Your Rabbit?” for advice and suggestions.
Below is a picture of the lovely Gypsy. Please join us in hoping for her full and speedy recovery!
