Bill's Rabbit Rescue Centre
From the Staffordshire SENTINEL
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Bill's Rabbit Rescue Centre From the Staffordshire SENTINEL |
| Rabbits galore hop it to Bill's
Bunny Farm Reporter |
A Man's best
friend is his dog. But, in the case of Bill Salt, it's
his rabbit! Bill believes that he runs one of the few
rabbit rescue services in the country. So when lost and
abandoned bunnies run, rabbit, run, it tends to be to him.
The aptly titled "Rabbit Rescue" was born in
1983 when Bill, of Westview Close, Leek, heard of
unwanted rabbits being set free in the wild. He said:
" I do not know what happened to those rabbits but I
would have thought they would have died, as the wild
rabbits would not have taken to them. So I decided to
start a rescue service." From small beginnings, the
service grew dramatically. People learn of his "Bunny Farm" by word of mouth and from the RSPCA. He said "I get people from as far away as Scotland and London contacting me, I take the rabbits in and give them out to good homes." Sometimes, the rabbits are so weak they can barely stand. In such cases they are fed on a special glucose diet to build up their strength. And Bill, 41, has plenty of experience on which to call. "I have kept rabbits for as long as I can remember. It is a hobby that I adore." |
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| Rescuer seeks rabbit homes Sentinel |
An animal rescuer has
found homes for scores of baby rabbits - but still needs
to find new owners for at least another 50. Bill Salt
took in a brood of 67 rabbits from a private home after a
woman, fearing she was about to be eaten out of house and
home, called him in. The original 67 became 88 almost
overnight and he has not stopped counting ever since. Bill, who runs a sanctuary at Leek, managed to find owners for the first litters, but is awaiting a new population explosion as more rabbits are born. He is expecting to need to find owners for at least 50 more over the next five weeks. Bill said: "I didn't realise when I picked up the original brood from the house in Cannock just how many rabbits I would end up with. The problem was many of the does were pregnant when I rescued them. They are still dropping litters and although the young aren't ready to go out to new homes just yet, I anticipate there could be as many as 50 more to come. I have lost count of how many rabbits there have been altogether, they have kept me too busy finding them new homes." Bill, who launched the refuge in 1983 after taking in an unwanted pet belonging to a friend, relies on public donations. He can be contacted on 01538 381117. |
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| Tender touch for orphans Reporter |
Three tiny rabbits who
lost their mother at birth have been kept alive and well
by a man who has been feeding them by hand. Rabbit carer
Bill Salt, from Leek, has been looking after the five-inch
baby rabbits since a few days after their birth two weeks
ago. When he took them in they were just two inches long.
The rabbits found their way to Mr Salt via three
different owners, none of whom were able to provide the
specialised care the rabbits needed. Mr Salt, who at one
stage cared for 170 rabbits at his home in Leek, has been
feeding them with a syringe and teat. He said: "There were four of them at first but the weakest one died. It's a very difficult rearing baby rabbits when they have got no mother and I am pleased that three of them managed to stay alive. I have been keeping them in a cardboard box because they are too small to let out yet. They have been feeding well and seem happy. All being well, we hope to find a home for them eventually. But it will have to be a very special home, with owners who will be able to take extra care of them. These aren't just normal rabbits - they are very, very special." Bill can be contacted on 01538 381117. |
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