Inky’s Journey: A SNORS story
In the United Kingdom, a staggering number of rabbits, exceeding 67,000 annually, find their way to rescue centres. These rabbits often arrive with complex health issues, consigning them to spend their remaining days in these facilities. Unfortunately, due to the high costs involved, rescue centres are sometimes ill-equipped to provide the necessary care for these rabbits, subjecting them to stressful environments that do not meet their specific needs.
Inky the Netherland Dwarf Cross
Founded in April 2015 by Sharon and Nick in Cheshire, SNORS (Special Needs and Old Rabbit Sanctuary) emerged as a sanctuary aimed at relieving rescue centres of their burden of caring for particularly old and special needs rabbits. The core mission of SNORS is to enhance the quality of life for these rabbits by offering better healthcare, improved living conditions and, when necessary, a compassionate end-of-life situation.
SNORS provides invaluable end-of-life love, care and companionship to rabbits that require an experienced home environment and may otherwise be deemed unadoptable. With the guidance of qualified veterinarians, these rabbits receive appropriate and timely medical treatment and suffering is never allowed to persist. In cases where the rabbits' quality of life deteriorates beyond recovery, SNORS, with veterinary consent, ensures they are humanely put to sleep. By offering a safe haven to rabbits who may otherwise never find a loving home, SNORS goes above and beyond to provide the utmost care for as long as the rabbits need.
Inky had been born with several health problems due to genetics
In November 2019, Inky, a Netherland Dwarf cross with a recessive gene known as Max factor, arrived at SNORS. Inky was the sole survivor of a litter with various deformities resulting from extensive overbreeding. His genetic disabilities including leg deformity, curved spine, eye problems, partial blindness, a lung mass and incontinence posed numerous health challenges.
Under the loving care of Sharon, the sanctuary's founder, Inky's life at the centre has been transformed. A specially adapted environment has been created to maximize his comfort with regular bathing and diligent attention to his specific needs. Despite restricted mobility due to hip deformities, every effort has been made to ensure Inky's comfort including the use of memory foam mats.
Inky formed a bond with another rabbit at the sanctuary, a female who shared his condition. However, due to Inky's non-neutered status, maintaining their friendship became challenging, as it caused significant stress for the other rabbit due to all the “attention” she was receiving.
Recognizing the best course of action, Sharon made the decision to have Inky neutered, a risky procedure due to his many complex heath conditions, but a necessary one given the circumstances.. After successfully navigating the operation, Inky faced another setback—an abscess-like lesion began growing beneath his skin, perplexing both Sharon and the veterinarians. Nonetheless, they conducted a surgical removal having to subject poor Inky to yet another stressful (but incredibly important) ordeal.
The removal seemed like a great success until the lesion began to grow back once more. Sharon felt helpless.
“The vets couldn’t offer any further suggestions of treatments to try and I was desperate for help.”
Desperate for a solution after the veterinarians could no longer recommend any further treatments, Sharon turned to light therapy as a last resort, a recommendation from the medical professionals. Initially trying a fluorescence biomodulation device without much success, Sharon scoured the internet and discovered Photizo.
Implementing Photizo's light therapy treatment on Inky, Sharon diligently applied it every day, an ongoing practice. Miraculously, within a short period the abscess began to diminish and eventually disappeared altogether. Thrilled with the results, Sharon expressed with us her joy and relief;
“SNORS were looking for a miracle when all conventional treatments for special needs bunny Inky had failed. We found Photizo online and thank goodness we did! It has worked wonders for Inky and we cannot be more pleased. An absolutely wonderful product that has worked amazingly well.”
The story of Inky and the dedicated efforts of SNORS Sanctuary exemplify the crucial role specialised sanctuaries play in providing compassionate care to rabbits with complex health conditions. By relieving rescue centres of their burdens and offering tailored support, these sanctuaries ensure that rabbits like Inky can live out their days in comfort and receive the exceptional care they deserve.
Thanks to SNORS, Inky is doing well and continuing to receive the highest quality of care.
You can aid SNORS on their journey to help rabbits like Inky by donating to the sanctuary or sponsoring a rabbit, click the button below to find out more.
Photizo Vetcare’s healing power will help to:
Stimulate the production of collagen. Collagen is an essential protein used to repair damaged tissue. It is the most common protein found in the body.
Increase circulation almost immediately. By helping to generate an increase in blood flow to the treatment areas the light therapy normalises and heals injured cells. By increasing blood flow more oxygen and nutrients are transported to the affected area, and waste products taken away.
Reduce oedema (swelling). Oedema has two components, liquid and protein. Researchers have shown that the lymph diameter and the flow of the lymph system can be nearly doubled with the use of light therapy.
Stimulate the release of endorphins which are the body’s own pain-fighting