Abandoned rabbit is rescued from Airoli

A rabbit was rescued by Plant and Animal Welfare Society ( Paws) from Airoli bridge on Wednesday.

Sunish Subramanian, who is a volunteer with the organisation rushed to the spot after receiving a call from a passerby. “We got a call in the afternoon and the caller told us that the rabbit had come in front of his vehicle, following which he was taken to the side of the road,” said Subramanian.

It was after an hour- long search that the activist found the two-month old, male rabbit. “It appeared as though it was a pet rabbit that had been abandoned,” said Subramanian.

Animal activists at Paws said that it was an offence to abandon a pet under section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

“People buy pet when they are small, but as they become older or ill they are often abandoned. Not only is this cruelty, but also an offence under the act which covers pet owners who fail to provide their pets with sufficient food, water or shelter or abandon the animal when old or diseased, keeping it on a short leash and with insufficient exercise. This is a punishable act and the offender can be fined or imprisoned,” added Subramanian.

The NGO, which works for animal welfare then sent SMSes to find a home for the rabbit.

“We have often seen people lend a helping hand to abandoned animals. In this case too, it was adopted by a young man,” said Nisha Kunju, administrator of Paws-Mumbai.

The 2-month old rabbit that was rescued by activists.