CottonTails® Rabbit and Guinea Pig Rescue
 Annual Report 2010
Charity Number 1078850
www.cottontails-rescue.org.uk

Established in 1993

Main Name:  CottonTails®

Working Name:  CottonTails® Rescue

Charitable Objects:  To relieve the suffering of rabbits and other animals who are in need of care and attention in particular by providing and maintaining suitable accommodation for the reception and care of unwanted rabbits and other animals.

To advance the education of the public in the care and ownership of animals.

General 

     This year has been particularly difficult as far as volume of unwanted rabbits is concerned, with a significant increase in people contacting me by email or phone to get their rabbit taken in.  This, combined with a definite downturn in people coming forward to adopt, has resulted in the waiting list expanding to several pages and no end in sight.  Apart from the usual reasons given such as the children getting bored with their pet, there have been many genuine cases of owners losing their homes and having to take rented accommodation with landlords that do not allow pets.          

     The CottonTails® website continues to go from strength to strength, and is a vital part of the charity’s ability to educate and inform on a local, national and international basis.  I am constantly thinking of new ways to get our message across and thus help to improve the lives of rabbits and guinea pigs by providing user-friendly information in as entertaining a way as possible. 

     CottonTails® once again took part in the Westbury Christmas Tree Festival in 2010, and this earned us some much-needed publicity for the charity.  The tree was well received, and our free information leaflets proved popular.

     The telephone advice line continues to be well used, with a great many callers phoning daily to request help. Requests for help or advice via email has continued to increase steadily throughout the year.       

RABBITS

Adoption timescale – This is calculated from the day the rabbit was actually ready for adoption after neutering and vaccinating.  70% were found new homes within 1 month, 21% between 1 – 3 months, and 7% over 3 months. See histogram below.

     In common with previous years, frequent occurrence of dental disease was encountered, with 19% of the intake found to have significant teeth abnormalities, a decrease of 13% from last year, possibly due to lower numbers of lionhead-type rabbits arriving at the centre than in the previous year, a breed particularly prone to dental problems.  Our neutering policy continued as before, with rabbits of both sexes being routinely castrated or spayed at reduced cost by the RSPCA veterinary clinic in Bristol.  Vaccination against VHD and Myxomatosis was given to all rabbits prior to adoption, as well as the routine 9 administration days of Panacur. This medication ensures that all rabbits are free from the common parasite E. cuniculi before they are re-homed.  We have continued with the policy adopted in late 2009 to administer a product called Advantage to each rabbit which ensures that any fur mites, fleas or lice present are safely destroyed.

     Our catchment area has proved to be relatively wide, with 55% of people adopting rabbits or guinea pigs coming from Wiltshire, 15% from Bristol, 13 % from Somerset, 10% from other areas and 7% from Bath.  For people who brought in their rabbit or guinea pig to us, 55% came from Wiltshire, 15% from Somerset, 14% from Bristol, 13% from other areas and 3% from Bath.

     A major project for 2010 was the rabbit Early Neutering Campaign, devised to highlight the importance of neutering rabbits early to avoid fighting, breeding and other social issues.  Many of the top UK rabbit specialist vets gave their support to the campaign, promoting the guidelines for male rabbits to be neutered from 12 weeks of age if sufficiently developed, and females from 16 weeks of age so long as they weigh at least 1 kg.  Letters explaining the Early Neutering Campaign were sent to all the vets in the UK, thanks to joining forces with a mail shot being sent out by the RWA/F at the same time.  This has been an excellent example of two organisations working together to promote good rabbit welfare, and I look forward to working with the RWA/F again in the future.  Further details of the Campaign are on our website.

The intake of guinea pigs for 2010 was 124. 

Sexes - Of the total intake, 49% were male, 51% females.  All single males were routinely castrated so that they could be matched with females and offered for adoption in pairs or as match-ups. 

Pairs versus singles – Unlike rabbits, the majority of guinea pigs (56%) were adopted as established pairs, the remaining 44% being adopted as match-ups for owners’ lonely guinea pigs.

Age – Of the total 2010 intake, 20% were under 12 weeks of age, 24% aged between 12 weeks and 1 year, 41% between 1 year and 3 years, and 15% over 3 years old – see histogram below.

Adoption timescale – Most guinea pigs (86%) were adopted within 1 month (calculated from the point that they were ready for adoption), the remaining 14% finding a new home within 3 months – see histogram below.

ACCOUNTS

RECEIPTS 

Diagram of Income

     Total income for 2010 was £17,598.19.  Gift Aid has again proved useful, providing us with over £2000 of extra funding which will be included in the accounts for 2011 as we apply for the award at the start of each year for the year just gone.  Gift Aid for 2009 has been included in 2010 accounts.  Several individuals and organisations have been invaluable to the continuation of CottonTails® financially.  I would like to give a very big thank you to each and every one who helped even in a small way, and my sincere apologies if I have omitted anyone from the list.    

Organisations:

Small Paws Rescue (£20)

Manor Farm Vets Open Day (£71)

Animal Affairs (£700)

Weston Coyney Pet Lodge (£110)

Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (£694.10)

Dilton Marsh Primary School (£17)

P. M. Mulholland Charitable Trust (£500)

Individuals:

Jane Merrick

Mr. and Mrs. Abbott

Mrs. Lesley Smith

James Arrowsmith-Brown

Juliette Cuss

Barbara Coe

Paul Derrick

Heather Hueston

Kate Hampton

Dr. Sarah Hewitt

Christine Muddiman 

Mrs. Pitney

L. G. Underwood

H. R. Green

Dr. Helen King, Mr. D. Critchley

Mr. and Mrs. Courtney

Mrs. Cheryl Heffer

Helen (Domino and Milly)

Andrew Wassen

Helen Timewell

Mrs. Terrence

Jenny Xavier

Ross Floyd

Victoria Carey

Helen Barsby

Mr. and Mrs. Semple (in memory of Warren)

Tim Jenkins (in memory of Arthur)

Liz, Heather and Ginnie Baker

Tony and Cath Curtis

Phillipa Myram

Hazel Lambert 

PAYMENTS 

 Diagram of Expenditure

Our total expenditure for 2010 was £21,190.62, ending the year with a comfortable buffer zone in our bank account.  Notable expenses included the purchase and fitting of new giant rabbit accommodation, the start of the lower hutch and run replacement programme, printing costs for the Early Neutering Campaign, and relaying of path linking rabbit and guinea pigs areas.  These extra expenses were the cause of our expenditure exceeding our income for 2010, but as our funds are in general good shape, it is not of major concern at this stage.

     Although we don’t take in large numbers of giant rabbits, when one or two giants or a very large litter does arrive, it has in the past been almost impossible to provide adequate accommodation for them, as our rabbit pens, although a good size, fall short of the size needed for such large individuals or groups.  When we came across a suitable ex-display fully insulated cabin-shed with large opening windows for sale, it seemed the ideal opportunity to address the issue, and it was duly bought and erected and has been in regular use ever since (as shown in photos below).

The replacement hutch and run programme is taking much longer than anticipated, but we made a good start in 2010 and are hopeful the project will be finished during 2011, together with the window replacements of the guinea pig shed as well as the carrier storage shed.   

A major project for 2010 was the Early Neutering Campaign (more about this in the rabbit information section), and the money paid out for printing costs to enable letter to be sent to all the UK vets has been well worthwhile. 

The severe winter 2009/2010 left the main path between the rabbit section and all other areas in a very uneven and dangerous state, and as the path is heavily used by volunteers and members of the public alike, major work had to be undertaken quickly to completely replace and lay new slabs to provide a better quality more resistant walkway.

Acknowledgements

     CottonTails® could not continue its valuable work if it was not for the excellent support from some wonderful people who have given help in various ways.  Sincere apologies for any omissions:

The Trustees for their continued support.

The RSPCA veterinary team headed by Damian Pacini in Bristol who carry out our neutering operations and most of our vaccinations, and without whom we could not continue.

Anne Mitchell of the RWA for her continued support, especially with the Early Neutering Campaign.

Dennyse, Hazel, Siobhan, Maria, Rachel, Ali, Francis and Claire who all took at least one turn to transport rabbits and guinea pigs to and from the vets in Bristol for neutering.

Carol and Barrie who continue helping to cleaning out on Saturdays and contribute so much to the rescue.

Steve Perry for giving us support in various ways, including advice on computer issues.

Jon Humphrey for his patience and support with issues relating to the web site, and Sue Hunter for enthusiastically providing suggestions for publicity and awareness campaigns.

My son Ben for continuing to care for the aviary birds, son David for taking on the rabbit water bottle duties, and youngest son Fraser for general chicken duties.

Last but not least, my husband Francis who not only provides the transport for the frequent waste disposal trips, medication collection from the vets at Codford, food and bedding pickups from the farm, and rabbit/guinea pig rescues, but also puts up with the inconvenience of living right in the middle of a rabbit rescue centre!

CottonTails® 2010 annual report written and compiled by Mairwen Guard, MBE, Trustee