Aylesbury RSPCA caring for two abandoned 'scared and cold' rabbits that were dumped in car park after Easter

The two rabbits were found in London just days after Easter Sunday and have been brought to Aylesbury
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The RSPCA is appealing for information after recovering two rabbits back to Blackberry Farm in Aylesbury

The rabbits were found abandoned in a car park in Highbury, nine days after Easter.

The rabbits, one male, one female, were taken for treatment at RSPCA’s Harmsworth hospital before being moved over to the farm.

The two rabbits now safe at Blackberry Farm in AylesburyThe two rabbits now safe at Blackberry Farm in Aylesbury
The two rabbits now safe at Blackberry Farm in Aylesbury

Harmsworth administration assistant Linden Guerzoni said: “These are lovely rabbits with seemingly no health conditions at all other than being scared and cold.

“A member of the public found them and brought them into us so we don’t know why they were left in this way. We would always urge people to do their research before taking on a pet and to reinforce that abandoning an animal is never the answer.”

In the last three months (January 2021 to March 2021) the charity has received reports about 150 abandoned rabbits, 78 dumped guinea pigs and 51 abandoned hamsters.

There were also 2,528 abandoned rabbits and other small pets reported to the RSPCA’s cruelty line since the lockdown began in March 2020.

With a huge surge in interest for pet ownership during the lockdown, the charity is concerned that some people may be buying pets on impulse - which can be a particular problem for rabbits over Easter.

Dr Jane Tyson, RSPCA rabbit and rodent expert, said: “We are urging people not to buy a rabbit, or any pet, on an impulse as sadly many people may not realise what is involved in caring for them. Small doesn’t necessarily mean easy and we’re already beginning to see the impact of the lockdown with owners struggling to care for their small pets and in some cases abandoning them. We’d always ask prospective owners to please do their research and make sure they have the time, money and resources to be able to care for that animal for the rest of their lives - which can be up to 12 years.”

Google searches for ‘Rabbits for sale’ rose from 23,000 in April 2019 to 40,000 in April 2020. There was also a 68% increase in visitors to the RSPCA’s Find a Pet website for rehoming rabbits (23 March -30 Aug 2019 compared to the same period in 2020). Searches for ‘Guinea Pigs for sale’ rose by 233% from January to July 2020 and ‘Hamsters for sale’ saw a 200% increase in July 2020 compared to the previous year.

For more information you can visit the RSPCA website here, the charity have a donation number which can be reached on 0300 123 8181.

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