Sunderland charity looking to rehome rabbits after 99 bunnies found in garden following uncontrolled breeding

Sunderland animal rescue charity Pawz for Thought is looking after and helping to rehome over 20 rabbits after 99 of the animals were found in the garden of a Tyne & Wear home after uncontrolled breeding had resulted in the owner struggling to cope.

The rabbits were living in hutches and home-made pens and many were loose after uncontrolled breeding had caused numbers to spiral out of control.

Their well-meaning owner is said to have acquired the rabbits from social media sites over a number of years after they were advertised as unwanted pets.

The bunnies were rescued from a property in Tyne and Wear by the RSPCA during several visits in June and were taken to the charity’s centres and branches up and down the country, including 22 to Pawz for Thought.

Ranging in age from babies to eight years old, they included continental giant cross breeds, mini lops and lionheads. The operation to get them health checked and transported involved over 20 RSPCA officers and volunteers.

RSPCA officers said the case is a reminder to owners of the importance of getting their rabbits neutered.

RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor, who co-ordinated the rescue effort, said: “The owner had tried to separate the rabbits but this hadn’t worked and they were breeding uncontrollably because they hadn’t been neutered.

“The situation became untenable and this was something the owner recognised and wanted our help with. There is no suggestion the rabbits were being bred for commercial purposes.

“Although the majority had ear mites, which can spread rapidly if left untreated, the rabbits were in reasonable health. However, their living conditions were very poor and they couldn’t continue to stay like this.

“Getting help for them was our immediate priority and we will always try to work with owners in the first instance to achieve that.

“We’re really grateful to partner organisations who assisted with rehoming.”

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Eloise Dicks, the RSPCA’s rabbit welfare expert, added: “Rabbits can reproduce at a very young age. They are pregnant for just one month and can have large litters, so numbers can rapidly escalate.

“Many people also don’t realise rabbits can become pregnant again within just a couple of hours of giving birth and an unsuspecting owner can quickly find themselves becoming overwhelmed with animals - as was the case here.

“The benefits of neutering outweigh the very small risk of surgery and we’d urge anyone who hasn’t had their rabbit neutered to speak to their vet about getting this routine operation carried out.”