RSPCA caring for 20 rabbits after a number were dumped in a country park

Ten pet rabbits were rescued by the RSPCA after they were dumped in a park in High Wycombe - and now mum has given birth to ten kits bringing the total to 20!

Volunteers from the RSPCA South Bucks Branch, supported by members of the public, rescued a family of eight rabbits that had been abandoned in Hughenden Park. The rescue operation spanned several days as the rabbits were located hiding in various parts of the park including in overgrown areas near the riverbank.

But a few days later another two four-week old rabbits have been rescued from the same location.

And the mum rabbit has given birth - to another 10 kits on Friday morning.

The eight original rabbits were found in an appalling state, particularly the mother, whose back leg muscles were severely underdeveloped—likely the result of being confined  in cramped conditions such a restrictive hutch with no room to move.

The rabbits are now being cared for by dedicated foster carers, but they will require further vet treatment and care and so the branch has  launched an urgent fundraiser to help pay for the treatment.

The rescued family of eight consists of six-year-old mum  Bianca (who has just given birth to 10 more)one year old dad Huey and their six kits—River, Bramble, Twig, Daisy, Dawn, and Sunny—who come from two different litters - with three approximately four weeks old and three around three months of age.

Karen Cruickshanks, Head of Branch, said: "A member of the public first spotted one abandoned rabbit on the loose last Wednesday night but, over the following three days further reports made it clear that an entire family had simply been dumped in the park.

"Our wonderful volunteers, aided by some incredible members of the public, managed to round up and rescue eight  rabbits – a mum, dad and their six babies.

"But now unbelievably another two more babies have been rescued and there are reports that there is also another adult rabbit out there - but they are currently proving evasive.

"So because this irresponsible owner did not get their rabbit neutered and then just discarded them like a piece of rubbish- we have another 20 rabbits in our care who will require neutering vaccinations and then rehoming.

"It beggars belief that somebody would abandon helpless rabbits like this. Domestic pet rabbits have no idea how to fend for themselves and, if it weren't for the kind member of the public who reported this to us, these animals would soon have died or been killed by predators.

The rabbits are now being cared for by our volunteer fosterers, who report that the mother was in a very poor state. Her back leg muscles are badly under-developed, suggesting that she has been kept in a tiny hutch or container with no room to move around or exercise. "What's more, her back and hind quarters were covered in urine, suggesting that her babies were squashed in with her so tightly that they had to lie on top of her.

"We are already caring for more than 100 animals at the branch including; 46 rabbits, two guinea pigs and 61 cats and kittens.  We don't have a centre or any animal welfare staff, all of our animals are in foster homes and our welfare and rehoming work is carried out by volunteers. 

"The next stage of the care for these rabbits will be to get them health checked, vaccinated and neutered and nursed back to full health before finding them new loving homes. For eight  rabbits, health checks, neutering and vaccinations will cost us £2000, without taking account of the additional costs of feeding them and any other medical treatments they require.

"For a small local independent charity like us, this is a significant cost. If you would like to contribute to getting this lovely family of rabbits on the road to a better life, donations will be hugely appreciated www.justgiving.com/charity/rspca-southbucks"

The abandonment comes as new figures released by the RSPCA show a staggering 64% increase in summer cruelty to animals over the last five years.

The animal welfare charity released the startling new statistics as part of its Cruelty Hurts Love Rescues fundraising campaign which coincides with the charity's busiest time as cruelty reports peak over summer.

In June, July and August last year the RSPCA received 6,322* cruelty calls to their emergency line last year which is one call every 10 minutes when the line is open.

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