Hundreds Of Rabbits Suffering Lonely Lives, Says Scottish SPCA
The Scottish SPCA is concerned that many pet rabbits in Scotland are “suffering in silence” with families who have become bored of them and is appealing for loving owners to offer a rescue rabbit a second chance.
Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said, “In 2014 we rescued a staggering 728 rabbits across Scotland and we’ve already taken in over 550 this year.”
The Scottish SPCA, which is holding its annual rabbit awareness week, said it was concerned hundreds more were living lonely lives in small hutches. It said they are intelligent, social animals, requiring lots of care and interaction from their owners.
Mike Flynn said: “One of the most common excuses we hear is that the children in the family, who asked for the rabbit in the first place, have become fed up now that the novelty of the new pet has worn off. Another reason is that the owner simply doesn’t have the time to look after their rabbit. One of the biggest issues is rabbits being left in a hutch with no interaction other than a brief visit from their owner to bring food and water. These poor rabbits are literally suffering in silence, living a miserable and lonely life.”
The Scottish SPCA hopes to rehome many of the rabbits it has taken in.
Rabbits are the UK’s third most popular pet, but are the most neglected.
If you are thinking about getting rabbits please do all the required research and adopt. They can live up to 12 years and require lots of time, attention, space, exercise and understanding.