Scottish SPCA dealing with 'concerning' influx of rabbits in need of rehoming

A leading animal welfare charity say they are dealing with a “concerning” influx of rabbits in their care.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has seen the number of bunnies arriving at their centres increase with 81 currently being cared for.

Many of the animals in their care are also also pregnant, with nearly 300 baby bunnies born at rescue centres in the last four years.

The SSPCA said the rabbits are often “difficult to rehome” and can remain in their care for a number of months.

One bunny – Rio – has been housed at centres in Angus, Fife and Tayside for nearly a month and needs to be rehomed.

Rachael Maclean, Scottish SPCA rehabilitations operations lead, said: “Rio enjoys munching on his veggies and hay, and any prospective owner should continue to encourage him to consume plenty of hay to maintain his health and dental well-being.

“To ensure Rio’s happiness, he needs to be placed in a home where he can be bonded with a suitable rabbit companion, preferably a neutered female, providing him with a friend to share his space.

“While Rio could live with children of any age, it’s important to note that rabbits can easily become scared or stressed.

“Therefore, he would be best suited to a home with children who are accustomed to being around rabbits and understand when to give him the space he needs.

“These animals are so much more complex than many people give them credit for and have amazing personalities. We’d really love for them to find their forever homes.”

The SSPCA has taken in over 1,800 rabbits since 2020 into their care. Photo: iStock. iStock

The charity, since 2020, has has taken in 1,816 bunnies with around 87% of those arriving needing some form of veterinary treatment.

She added: “We currently have a lot of rabbits in our care.

“It’s hard to say why so many of these animals end up at our centres. However, we suspect that often they seen as an ‘easy’ pet and purchased for a child.

“In reality, rabbits are incredibly complex and social animals who need a lot of care, exercise and enrichment to stay happy and healthy.

“We would encourage anyone thinking of bringing a rabbit into their home to consider adopting. We have so many to choose from that we’re sure we can find the right fit for most homes.

“We have lots of single rabbits, some of whom are neutered, who could be bonded to an existing rabbit.

“Anyone looking to adopt a rabbit as a companion should make sure they follow proper introductions and have space available if the pair don’t get along.

“If you’re a new rabbit owner, and daunted by the prospect of bonding rabbits, many of our rabbits are already bonded into pairs or trios.

“Anyone who is interested in adopting a rabbit but has questions or concerns should give their local centre a call on 03000 999 999 or pop into centre reception for a chat with our team.”

All rabbits available for adoption can be viewed and applied for on the Scottish SPCA website.