Why We Do It: The Heart Behind Rabbit and Rodent Rescue
- Team Nibbles
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
A Glimpse Into Our World
Why do we do it?
Why do we give up sleep, work through illness, spend our days elbow-deep in cleaning, admin, and care routines — all for animals many people don’t even notice?
Those of us in rescue get asked this, directly or not, all the time. And the answer is both simple and complicated: because we care, deeply. Because once you’ve seen what these animals go through — the cages, the neglect, the indifference — you can’t look away. You can’t walk past suffering and do nothing.
So we carry on. Even when we’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and running on fumes. Even when it feels like no one else sees what we’re trying to do. We keep going — for them. Because once you know better, you do better. And these animals deserve better than the world has offered them so far.
The Devotion That Drives Us
Rescue isn’t something you clock in and out of. It becomes your entire life. It shapes your routines, your relationships, your priorities. It takes over your home, your weekends, your thoughts. It’s not a job — it’s a calling. And that calling never lets up.
We plan our days around feeds, medication schedules, vet appointments, and cleaning rotas. We work through illness and grief. We skip holidays and sacrifice sleep. We battle through burnout, guilt, and heartbreak. There is no off switch. Because there’s always another message, another plea for help, another life at risk.
And still, we do it. Not because it’s easy — but because we know we’re often the only hope these animals have. We don’t have the luxury of looking away. That knowledge is what fuels us. It’s what gets us out of bed, day after day, even when everything in us is tired.
The Unique Reality of Rabbit and Rodent Rescue
Rescuing rabbits and rodents comes with its own set of challenges — ones that are often misunderstood or completely overlooked.
Unlike many dogs and cats, the vast majority of rabbits and rodents who arrive in our care aren’t just homeless — they’ve never experienced proper care in their entire lives. They come from cramped hutches, cages, and tanks. Most have been fed incorrectly, denied veterinary care, and given no space to move freely or express natural behaviour. Many arrive overweight, with long nails, dental disease, untreated illnesses, or showing clear signs of chronic stress.
For these animals, rescue isn’t a temporary holding space — it’s the first time their needs are truly being met. Larger, enriching spaces. Species-appropriate diets. Expert care. Compassion. Respect. A chance to feel safe.
That’s what makes this work different. Because when rescue is the upgrade, we carry the weight of knowing these animals have never had better. And we carry the responsibility of making sure they never go back to worse.
What It Takes to Do This Work
Rescue is rarely what people imagine. It’s not just cuddles and hay-filled photos — it’s graft. Constant. Exhausting. Often invisible.
It takes knowledge — of health, behaviour, nutrition, bonding, medication, cleaning protocols, and so much more. It takes vigilance — spotting the smallest signs that something is wrong. And it takes emotional strength — the kind you build slowly, painfully, through each goodbye, each failure, each moment you have to say “no” when your heart is screaming “yes”.
It’s early mornings and late nights. It’s cleaning pens, trimming nails, syringe feeding, and managing countless unseen tasks while trying to give each animal the care and attention they deserve. It’s replying to messages, organising vet runs, fixing broken housing, and juggling impossible admin loads — all while trying to stay upright through sheer force of will.
And that’s before you factor in the relentless financial strain. The fundraising, the applications, the worry. The pressure to do more with less, to somehow keep everything going when you’re running on empty — or face the devastating possibility of having to stop.
This work isn’t just hard. It’s consuming. But we do it because it matters — more than we can put into words.
Why We Keep Going
If it’s so hard — so relentless, exhausting, and all-consuming — why do we keep going?
Because we know what a difference it makes.
We see rabbits who’ve been forgotten start to come alive. We see shut-down animals begin to explore. We see a rabbit binky for the first time in their life. A stretch they’ve never had room for. A moment of trust from an animal who’s only ever known fear. We watch them go from surviving to thriving — and that is everything.
There is magic in that transformation. Not easy, shiny magic — but real, hard-earned change that comes from time, care, and commitment. And knowing that we’ve made that possible? That something we’ve built, something we’ve sacrificed so much for, has given an animal a life worth living?
That’s what keeps us going.
Because the truth is, there is no real break from this work. Not mentally, not emotionally. Even when the animals are cared for and the day’s jobs are done, the worries don’t stop. There's always something on my mind — a rabbit I’m concerned about, an email I didn’t have the energy to reply to, a bill that still needs paying. My thoughts never fully leave this place, because every corner of my life is connected to it.
And now, as we edge closer to the possibility of closing, you might think I’d feel a sense of relief — a chance to step away from the chaos, the responsibility, the heartbreak. The opportunity to do something else, something that allows for holidays, for sick days, for rest. But it doesn’t feel like relief. It feels like dread.
Because while my life might get easier, it won’t get better for the animals who will have nowhere else to go. The ones we won’t be here to help.
I can’t put into words what it means to see a rabbit happy — truly happy — or a group of rats playing, finally free to be themselves. The satisfaction, the quiet joy that comes from knowing their lives have changed because of something we did — that feeling is what lifts me on the darkest days, when the weight of running Nibbles feels too much to carry for even one moment longer.
Because I made the choice to start this rescue, lives that would have been forgotten have been seen, loved, and given a second chance. Not just one or two — but hundreds. And I know, without question, that their lives would have been very different if I hadn’t stepped forward.
That’s what keeps me going. That’s what pulls me through when everything feels like too much. Because this isn’t just what I do — it’s who I am. And no matter how heavy it gets, I will always carry that weight for as long as I can. Because they are worth it.
But We Can’t Do It Alone
Love drives this work — but it doesn’t pay the bills. No matter how much we care or how hard we work, we can’t continue without support.
Every rabbit or rodent we take in needs food, hay, enrichment, housing, and veterinary care — often more than they’ve ever received before. The standards we fight to uphold come with real, ongoing costs. And we simply can’t meet them alone.
If you’ve ever looked at what we do and felt moved by it — if you’ve ever wished you could help — please consider becoming a monthly supporter. Even a few pounds a month can change everything when enough people come together.
Because when you pledge, you’re not just helping us stay open. You’re giving these animals the second chance they deserve — and standing beside those of us who have made it our life’s work to give it to them.
Sign up today and be part of something life-changing. Your support means the world — to us, and to every animal we care for.
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