Welcome to our Glossary, here we detail common phrases that we use as a rescue and what they mean to us.
We believe that the language we use is an important part of shaping people’s attitudes towards the animals that we care for and as such will use certain words over others that are more indicative of the way we wish for our animals to be treated. A couple of the most common word swaps for this is guardian/guardianship over owner/ownership and enclosure instead of cage.
The Bunnyjackpot Foundation Ethical Glossary
Adopt: a guardian will adopt an animal and they will become the sole responsibility of the guardian. The rescue will always be happy to offer advice and support throughout their lifetime including coming back into the rescue for whatever reason.
Foster: animals in foster are waiting be adopted. They may not be ready for a little while to be adopted until they are health checked, neutered and in the case of rabbits vaccinated. Fostering a small animal means that you provide them a temporary home, however they remain under the care of the rescue until they are adopted.
Sanctuary: we offer a home for life under the care of the rescue for any animal we take in that has life limiting illness and are unsuitable for adoption. We run a sanctuary sponsorship scheme to help pay for food and vet bills for these animals.
Sponsor: a monthly donation that helps us to pay for food and vet bills for those sanctuary animals in our care.
Guardian: the word we use instead of ‘owner’
Companion animal: the word we use instead of ‘pet’
Enclosure: the word we use instead of ‘cage’ meaning the area where a companion animal will live.
Self-rescue: to self-rescue is for a person not part of a rescue to take on an animal that they deem to need rescuing from the situation they are in. This is usually via internet postings. …..
Veterinary care
Exotic vet: a veterinary surgeon that has undertaken specialist training on the exotic species which includes any companion animal that is not a dog or a cat.
Rabbit or cavy savvy vet: a vet with a keen interest and additional knowledge in the veterinary care for rabbits or cavies (Guinea pigs). They are not specialists in exotics.
Vet Nurse: similar to a human nurse, they will be involved in the care of your animals but are not allowed to diagnose diseases, injuries etc or prescribe medications.
RVHD: rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease. Is a highly contagious, viral disease in rabbits that should be vaccinated against. It exists in two strains, RHDV1 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus) and RHDV2.
