A stray rabbit found wandering in Stevenage has given birth to six cute little bunnies – prompting a Hertfordshire RSPCA centre to step up its call for owners to adopt the bouncing babes.
The charity’s Southridge Animal Centre, in Potters Bar, currently has 19 rabbits in its care and is keen to help them get a happy start to the year by finding them new homes.
Two of the rabbits were pregnant when they arrived at the centre, including one-year-old tan female Tilly, who was found in Stevenage – possibly after being abandoned – and arrived at the centre on December 13.
Soon after, she gave birth to six cuddly little kits.
Other bunnies recently bundled off to the RSPCA centre include Pancake, a tan-and-white female thought to be around a year old, who was found abandoned in a box in Bow Drive, Hook, Hampshire, on August 9 last year.
Soon after being taken in by the RSPCA, she also gave birth to three little ones.
Animal care assistant Lisa Obertelli said: “I suppose they say ‘breed like rabbits’ for a reason.
“We didn’t realise at first that when we took these rabbits into our care we were actually taking on quite a number more.
“This meant the number of rabbits we had in our care nearly doubled and we are now full to the brim and extremely keen to find permanent new homes for these lovely bunnies as soon as we can.
“The rabbits have come to us for a mixture of reasons - but most of them were abandoned, or found straying, likely because they were abandoned.
“They would make the right, responsible owner, brilliant pets and we urge anyone who is thinking of getting a rabbit to consider adopting one of our lovely guys and girls here, and giving them a happy home.”
Just before Christmas, the centre also took in Cracker, six month-old black-and-white male who was found abandoned in a box outside a garage in Potters Bar.
He was found on December 22, very unwell and with scabs on his face – but after being treated by a vet, he is now fighting fit and looking for a new hutch.
To find out more about keeping rabbits as pets visit the RSPCA www.rspca.org.uk/findapet.
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