Survey reveals plight of rabbits

4:02pm Monday 4th June 2007

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BOUGHT from a pet shop for around £20 and kept in a decrepit hutch, which was free, prior to being unwanted or abandoned just three months later.

That is the average experience for a rabbit in the South West, according to the findings of a new RSPCA survey.

Of the rabbits seen by the RSPCA in the region between April and October 2006:

• 69% did not have access to a run and spent 24 hours a day locked in a hutch.

• 50% did not have an adequate sized hutch.

• 32% of rabbits were living in old hutches, which they were given free from a friend/neighbour who had previously had rabbits.

In a bid to improve the living conditions for rabbits throughout the South West, the RSPCA is offering a limited number of brand new and suitably large rabbit hutches to existing rabbits owners who would not otherwise be able to afford them.

The hutches usually cost around £100 but will be available to successful applicants from the region for a donation of around £25, from their local RSPCA Animal Centre.

RSPCA regional manager Jonathan Silk said: "As a charity, we are not able to provide subsidised hutches for everyone that wants one, but we have purchased a limited number of hutches, which we can make available on a case by case basis according to need.

"We are asking the people for a donation of £25 towards the cost of each hutch, to demonstrate they are committed towards caring for the animal, but if there are people who really cannot afford that amount, they should apply anyway, and we may still be able to help them."

The hutches are only available for existing rabbits owners, and people wishing to apply for a hutch with a view to getting a rabbit to put in it will not be eligible.

The RSPCA has always known that there is a major problem with the way that some rabbits are bought and kept and this survey has highlighted how many are being kept in unsuitable accommodation.

Anyone wishing to be considered for a subsidised rabbit hutch should call RSPCA regional office manager Julia Woodman on 0870 7538107 or email jwoodman@rspca.org.uk The closing date for applications is August 1.