Wonderland Wabbits has been established for almost a decade and every penny involved in the caring and rehabilitation of these gentle and innocent creatures comes out of the owners' own pockets, this on average amounts to between £10,000 and £20,000 per year. All animals taken in are neutered or spayed, this stops unwanted pregnancies, prevents fighting and protects females from uterine cancer. In addition, they are treated for parasites and receive two annual vaccinations per year that protects them against three lethal and prevalent diseases.

The past 12 months have been particularly difficult with more rabbits than usual needing veterinary treatment and operations. These have included numerous tooth extractions, eye removals, abscess treatments, x-rays, ultrasounds, lab tests and also increased flea, mite and worm treatments due to the milder weather as well as ongoing medications for some of the older or disabled rabbits. In addition, a heavily pregnant doe rescued last year gave birth to 10 babies. These rabbits were all due to be re-homed once all of the babies had been neutered, spayed and vaccinated. However, once this was done, it was clear how close they were as a group and they were moved into the sanctuary so that they could remain together as a family. As a consequence of the extra operations and mouths to feed, the veterinary and feed costs have escalated this year significantly. Vaccinations for all 51 rabbits in the Sanctuary will be due this March, each rabbit needs two types of vaccination; 'Nobivac' and 'Filivac', so that's 102 vaccinations in total. In addition, one rabbit requires an operation to correct the entropian on her eye and another needs a Papilloma removed from her ear, two more require x-rays and a possible ultrasound. If fellow animal lovers could spare a pound or two to help raise the (at least) £1,700 required to help cover the cost of the above, it would be amazing and very much appreciated.

The sanctuary side of the rescue is full and currently has 51 permanent residents, made up of a number of social groups of between 6 and 20 rabbits. All accommodation is well ventilated, extremely spacious and heated or cooled to provide an ambient temperature throughout the year. The rabbits enjoy large beds of mixed hay and straw and various wooden hides throughout the group areas and other toys and foraging opportunities to keep them entertained and physically fit. Their diet is kept as natural as possible with quality Timothy hay, wild fresh and dried forage and a small amount of high quality pellets. As they are crepuscular creatures, each group has 24/7 access from the internal accommodation area to large outside astro turf gardens where they can run, jump, climb and binky and come and go at the hours of the day that are naturally active. These individual gardens are wired underground to prevent digging out and surrounded by an 8ft tall anti-climb security fencing to keep out all forms of predators. In the daytime in Spring, Summer and Autumn, the rabbits can all enjoy free play in the adjacent 1/4 acre 'Wonderland Garden'. The garden was specifically created for them and has its own tree house, a hill in the shape of a rabbit, wooden floor maze, a play shed, things to jump on and off, areas to run at full speed and many metres of pipe and wire tunnels to explore. In Winter, the 'Wonderland garden' is taken apart for it's annual maintenance. It is hoped in the future that a new rescue area will be available for rabbit rehabilitation and boarding and possible open days. The new Wonderland Wabbits website will be coming later in the year as will the new improved Facebook page. Thank you in advance for your kind support.