October - Rescue of the month is....

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Hunnybunny2007
Posts: 9045
Joined: 09 Oct 2011 11:55

October - Rescue of the month is....

Post by Hunnybunny2007 »

Hopper Haven

Hopper Haven is an animal welfare charity specialising in rabbits and guinea pigs. We aim to take in animals that are in need of a sanctuary place by reason of age, health issues or temperament.

We are based in Redditch, Worcestershire, and achieved charitable status over 5 years ago, but have been running more than 7 years.

We started as a rescue/sanctuary, but decided to concentrate on the sanctuary due to the high demand for spaces for so many elderly, ill and aggressive rabbits.

At Hopper Haven we aim to provide the best quality of life possible to our residents. This means they get the largest possible accommodation, the companionship of their own species, an appropriate healthy diet, and prompt and appropriate health care. Animals will only be put to sleep if their quality of life has deteriorated to the point that that is the only humane thing to do.

Hopper Haven has accommodation for 40 groups of rabbits, and 12 groups of guinea pigs. We currently have 117 rabbits and 53 guinea pigs.

For rabbits this comprises 10 sheds with attached runs, 3 stables in the barn, 5 hutches with constant access to their runs, and 32 large hutches in their own enclosures. We also have 4 8ft by 2ft bonding or boarding cages for rabbits. The variety of accommodation we have means that as an animals’ needs change so can their environment. For instance animals which need extra attention for any reason can be moved into the barn for closer observation without having to be put into a hospital cage and so can still have plenty of room to move around and can keep their companions with them instead of the group having to be separated. Our groups of rabbits vary from 2 to 4 members at present, although at one point we had a group of 12!

We can only manage a smaller number of groups of guinea pigs as they need to be brought into the barn for the winter. All of our guinea pigs live in either little villages or in hutches that are at least 6ft by 2ft, giving them plenty of room to move about. They are surprisingly active creatures, but all too frequently are given no room to move at all. Our groups of guinea pigs range from 2 to 10 members. Unlike rabbits there can only ever be one male per group (except in a male pair) which limits the number of males we can accommodate to 14 at the moment as we have only one male pair.

All rabbits and male guinea pigs arriving at Hopper Haven are neutered as long as their health allows it.

Hopper Haven gets no official funding and relies entirely on individual donations in order to carry on. If you are able, please make a contribution to enable us to continue our work. Resident animals are available for sponsorship and can be visited weekly on Saturday afternoons. This can conveniently be done by standing order.

Hopper Haven is run entirely by volunteers


Some of the hutch/enclosure set ups….

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To give you an idea of a weekly shop for the residents

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Thank you for taking the time to read about us.

If you’d like to know more please visit our website http://www.hopperhaven.org.uk and read the stories of each of our residents.

If you’re able to support us please look at the “Sponsorship” link.

We rely on donations to be able to continue what we do – any support is very much appreciated.
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Hunnybunny2007
Posts: 9045
Joined: 09 Oct 2011 11:55

Re: October - Rescue of the month is....

Post by Hunnybunny2007 »

I think your set ups are amazing :)

I'm so glad I don't have to do your shopping too ;)
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rabbitapril
Posts: 266
Joined: 12 Oct 2011 19:49
Location: Tyne and Wear

Re: October - Rescue of the month is....

Post by rabbitapril »

Your rescue looks fabulous :)
If I am ever homeless can I come and live there :)
bb mommy
Posts: 98
Joined: 20 Nov 2011 19:36

Re: October - Rescue of the month is....

Post by bb mommy »

Thanks for featuring us this month :D

Like many of the rescues and sanctuaries out there, we rarely get time to promote ourselves as looking after our residents is a 24/7 job, so any chance to show who we are is a great bonus.

Louise, who runs Hopper Haven, has such a wealth of knowledge and experience in rabbit and guinea pig care, it really is a shame she doesn't get the chance to blog and to share her knowledge, but her priority is the animals care first and foremost.

Donna has said that this is her favourite place, and besides being with my own bunnies, it's mine too. Its great to be able to see so many rabbits living in as close to a natural environment as we can give them. They have the chance to dig, to interact with their neighbours, to snuggle up to their companions, and have the space they need to just be rabbits. :x
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Hopper Haven Sanctuary www.hopperhaven.org.uk
Blackberry
Posts: 4193
Joined: 09 Oct 2011 17:04
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Re: October - Rescue of the month is....

Post by Blackberry »

Wow, I didn't realise you had so many residents!

Fab set ups :-bd
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susie bun
Posts: 3679
Joined: 14 Nov 2011 22:44

Re: October - Rescue of the month is....

Post by susie bun »

Loving the photos, especially the guinea pigs church! :-bd

I didn't actually realise Hopper Haven was a sanctuary. What a lot of bunnies and piggies to feed and care for. :-o
Spenser is pondering a new signature...
Camp Nibble
Posts: 134
Joined: 25 Oct 2011 16:36
Location: Leeds
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Re: October - Rescue of the month is....

Post by Camp Nibble »

Looks fantastic :-bd

We're very envious of the space you can give each lucky bun :D
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