When rabbits must travel, RabbitWise® wants them to be safe and well cared for and the stress associated with travel kept to the minimum amount possible. Also, because rabbits cannot tolerate heat, may not choose to eat or drink while traveling, often do not like drafts, and prefer routines, the following policies and procedures are used by BGRR Conductors when traveling with rabbits:
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| CONDUCTOR RABBIT |
CLIMATE CONTROL
Allow the heat or the AC to circulate before placing the rabbit in the vehicle.
Keep the rabbit out of the direct path of the heat and AC blowers to avoid drafts.
Do not leave the rabbit in direct sunlight or in a parked car.
Never leave rabbits alone in a vehicle.
Do not leave the rabbit out of doors or in a temperature under 40 degrees F.
Keep the rabbit from coming in contact with exhaust and other fumes. Do not place the rabbit on the floor of a car for this reason.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
During travel, establish a routine of start and stop times, length of time in the car, length of time for stops, feeding times, and exercise times.
Because these rabbits are already very stressed, they should be handled as little as possible. Whether in or out of their carrier, they are not to be exposed to children, pets, other animals, or more people than necessary.
When out of the carrier for exercise, they must be supervised within an enclosed environment. DO NOT TAKE THEM OUTSIDE.
OVERNIGHT STAYS
Rabbits may not be left in a vehicle or their carriers overnight.
A puppy pen is to be used for containment during the night. Newspapers or old towels can be used as flooring in an area that won't be damage by rabbits eliminating, chewing, etc.
The carrier can be placed inside the pen to provide a private area for the rabbit.
Food, water, and litter boxes must be inside the pen and available to the rabbit(s).
Rabbits are to be kept isolated from other rabbits, pets, children, and persons other than the Conductor. This is to decrease stress for the rabbits and to insure the safety of others in the event of sick or unsocialized rabbits.
MEETING PHYSICAL NEEDS
WATERING
If using a water bottle in the carrier, check to see that it is functioning properly and for leaks. Fill the bottle to the top and mount it on the carrier. Give the bottle a light squeeze while tapping on the ball in the end of the spout. Stop squeezing but continue to tap the ball until you see bubbles rising up inside the bottle. This provides the proper vacuum for the rabbit to drink. The water bottle must be changed daily. Remember that most rabbits will not drink during travel. Even with a water bottle, offering water at all stops is a must.
To prevent water bottles from leaking, fill the bottle and then put a piece of Glad Wrap type over the top of the bottle before putting the sipper top on. Take it on/off when stopping for a watering break. You can carry the bottle separatly or hang
it on cage.
NOTE: Some rabbits will not drink from a water bottle. Make sure rabbits are also offered water from a crock.
FEEDING
Have hay (timothy, orchard grass, not alfalfa unless the rabbits are juveniles) available at all times.
Plan two stops per day specifically for feeding, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Offer vegetables (for travel, feed only romaine lettuce, endive, escarole, parsley, cilantro, fennel, basil, mint, and small pieces—no one than one tablespoon PER DAY—of carrots, apples, OR pears) at all stops.
Offer pellets that are the ones that the rabbit is accustomed to eating. These can be changed later at a less stressful time if they are not of sufficient quality.
Keep pellets and vegetables in zip lock bags. Keep the pellets cool and dry. Keep the veggies moist and cool. You may want to travel with a cooler or insulated carrying case for this purpose.
EXERCISE
Every four hours, rabbits must be removed from their carriers and given the opportunity to exercise.
So that they may hop about for about one half hour or so, place them in a small puppy pen indoors. Transition from carrier to pen, from carrier to carrier, and from pen to carrier must be done in a closed space such as a car, house, shed, etc.
ELIMINATION
Litter boxes may be used inside or outside of the carrier. Line the litter box with newspaper and/or litter (no cedar, pine, or clumping litter). Place hay on top.
Change the litter box at least once per day and more often as you see fit.
Litter boxes are to be cleaned with white vinegar before being given to a new rabbit to use. This is for infection control purposes.
TRANSPORT CONTROL
Use of carriers is MANDATORY. Each conductor must provide his or her own carrier. A carrier that opens both from the front and top is recommended for ease of handling the rabbit.
Each carrier must be large enough for the rabbit(s) to lie down and turnaround. Bonded, spayed or neutered rabbits may travel in the same carrier.
Carriers must be clean. Take fresh litter and/or newspapers, garbage bags, paper towels, white vinegar, and what ever else you think you need to keep carriers clean.
Before a new rabbit is placed in a carrier used by a previous rabbit, the carrier must be wiped down with white vinegar. This step is crucial for infection control and to prevent cross contamination.
If you're not using a litter box in the bottom of the carrier, line it with a clean towel. Bring a supply of clean towels if necessary.
Carriers must be secured in the vehicle. In cars, they must be placed in the backseat and buckled in with the seat belt. Place a rolled towel under the carrier to keep in level instead of tilting toward the back of the seat. In vans, trucks, etc. must be secured to the floor and/or walls of the vehicle so as not to slide when the vehicle is stopping or turning.
Transitions between carriers must be carried out in an enclosed space such as a car, house, shed, etc.
At no time is a rabbit to be loose in a moving vehicle.
AIR TRANSPORT
Prior to travel, help the rabbit get comfortable with the carrier by leaving it out and opened for him/her to explore. If the rabbit learns that it is a place of security, s/he will hasten to return to it after having to leave to pass thru security (see below). Placing an article that has your scent in the carrier may also be helpful in getting bun back into the carrier.
Airlines only allow a certain number of animals in the cabin per flight. Check with the airline for rabbit availability on the flight. Book the rabbit and then yourself. This means you will have to contact the airline by phone rather than making the arrangements on-line. Book early.
Each airline has their own requirements for flying with companion animals inside the cabin. Call well ahead of time to learn what these are. All airlines require that the carrier be stowed under the seat. Check on the specifications for the space under the seat. For example, the dimensions under the seat on Southwest Airlines are as follows:
Window seat: 18” W 9.5" H 18" D
Middle Seat: 19” W 9.5” H 18” D
Aisle Seat: 10.5” W 9.5” H 18” D
For air travel the carrier should be smaller than what is used for travel in a car. If it’s too large, the rabbit will be tossed around inside during turbulence. Do not place toys or other hard objects in the carrier for the same safety reason. Make sure there are sturdy handles on the outside of the carrier. Airlines require a health certificate from your veterinarian that is dated within 30 days of the flight.
On the day of the trip, you will need to bring the certificate of health, the fee for the rabbit’s travel, water, wet vegetables, and hay to offer him/her throughout the trip. At the airport, there is no curbside service if you are traveling with an animal. You will have to go in to the ticket counter. Traveling with a rabbit is a curiosity to most people especially children. The bun is already stressed enough so try to protect her/him from curious strangers.
Going thru security will require that you remove the rabbit from the carrier. You will have to carry the rabbit thru security and the carrier will be passed thru the security scanning equipment. It is very likely that your rabbit will be nervous, stressed, and frightened. A good precaution might be to put a harness containing identification info on the rabbit just in case s/he manages to escape. If s/he does become a runaway, the harness will make catching him/her a bit easier.
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