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Welfare and behaviour
observations
rabbit

Guidance on how to complete this form is available on The Link

 

ANIMAL’S DETAILS

Animal’s name

<<AnimalName>>     

AWD/animal reference number

<<ShelterCode>>     

TAILS number

     

 

REACTION WHEN APPROACHED BY A FAMILIAR PERSON

 

Date/initials

 

 

 

Fearful/nervous (e.g. is the rabbit lying flat to the ground with ears flat to back, eyes wide?)

Aggressive (e.g. rabbit folds back ears, points head forward and extends tail)

Wary/unsure (e.g. rabbit runs off and hides, thumping hind legs)

Interested/inquisitive (e.g. rabbit approaches with head and ears forward and tail extended)

Friendly/likes (e.g. rabbit approaches and rubs its chin over shoes, or circles continuously honking)

 

 

General comments

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

REACTION TO GROOMING

 

Date/initials

 

 

 

Scared/fearful (e.g. lying flat staring with eyes wide open, rapid breathing)

Tolerates

 

 

Calm/relaxed (e.g. lowers head and purrs, grinds teeth)

 

 

 

 

General comments

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

REACTION TO HANDLING

 

Date/initials

How easy was the rabbit to catch? Easy Moderate Difficult Almost impossible

 

 

 

 

 

Calm/relaxed (e.g. rabbit’s muscles are relaxed and ears not tight to the head, eyes look relaxed )

 

 

Fearful/nervous (e.g. kicks out with hind legs, may nip, rapid breathing, screams)

 

 

General comments

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

REACTION WHEN TOUCHING RABBIT’S BELONGINGS

 

Date/initials

 

 

 

Ignores/not bothered

 

 

 

Aggressive (e.g. points back ears, points head forward and extends tail)

 

 

 

General comments

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

REACTION TO HAND FEEDING

 

Date/initials

 

 

 

Takes food from hand eagerly Takes food from hand tentatively

Doesn’t take food from hand

 

 

General comments

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

REACTION TO NEW PEOPLE

 

Date/initials

 

 

 

Fearful/nervous/ wary/unsure Aggressive

 

 

 

Interested/inquisitive/ friendly/likes

 

 

 

General comments

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

REACTION TO CHECKING TEETH AND BOTTOM

 

Date/initials

 

 

 

Fearful/nervous

Calm/relaxed

 

 

General comments

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

REACTION TO NAIL TRIMMING

 

Date/initials

 

 

 

Fearful/nervous

Calm/relaxed

 

 

General comments

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

ANIMAL’S HISTORY

Refer to the Animal History form that should have come in with the rabbit.

 

Has the rabbit lived with other rabbits?

Yes No Not known Any details?

 

Has the rabbit lived with other animals?

Yes No Not known Any details?

 

Has the rabbit lived with children?

Yes No Not known Any details of ages?

 

 

HAS THIS RABBIT EXPERIENCED OTHER RABBITS WHILST IN RSPCA CARE?

 

Date/initials

 

 

 

Yes No

 

 

 

 

If yes, what was observed?

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

Use this form in conjunction with the Welfare, enrichment and behaviour action plan form; where you can document enrichment needed to improve the welfare and behaviour of the rabbit whilst in RSPCA care.

Last updated May 2014

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