Animal charity says rabbits find‘worst rescue case so far’

ANIMAL rescuers have described finding a family of rabbits in North Wales as their “worst rescue case so far”.

The team at Jackson’s Animal Rescue were called on Monday, January 24 to find the animals crammed in a tiny hutch in dire conditions in Caernarfon.

Their find turned more and more heartbreaking upon their arrival.

A charity spokesperson said it was “the worst rescue case they have seen so far”.

They said: “A large mum rabbit and four babies were shut into the lower part of a tiny two tier hutch only 3 feet long. Dad was shut in the top half, and a rabbit was roaming the floor of the shed.

“They had no light. “The hutch was caked inches deep in poo, had no bedding, and no hay. Mum and babies are in a horrific state, and the smell from them almost made us actually be sick, and we have very strong stomachs. They are emaciated, soaked in urine so much that they were actually dripping, and very very smelly.

“Mum is only young herself, and likely pregnant again.

“We got them straight back to us in Mold, and immediately to our vets. We are doing absolutely everything we can for these poor babies, only eight weeks old and have only known absolute misery.”

The spokesperson added: “This case has absolutely broken our hearts, we have cried so much over this.

“They are safe, warm, dry, and have full bellies now, we are so glad that we got that call.

“These rabbits would not have survived a few more days.”

The team, who are renovating their second facility in Flintshire near Mold, had to convert their disused dog kennels into a temporary rabbit and guinea pig unit because of other recent animals in crisis.

Just last Friday, they had to take in 16 guinea pigs as an emergency admission.

“In June 2021 we opened our amazing rabbit facilities here at Jackson’s Place,” the spokesperson said.

“Within days, we were full, within weeks, we had a huge waiting list.

“Only seven months later, and the waiting list to rehome rabbits or guinea pigs to us currently stands at around 4-5 months wait. When we received the call today, we suggested seven other rescues to try, and none could help, all in the same situation as us.

“This is horrible, and we simply have to do more.

“Who knows, many of the rabbits on our waiting list could be living in similar horrific circumstances.

“We are going to work at expanding our rabbit facilities as soon as we can.

“We have to fight for them.”

The charity is appealing for donations from the public to help them fund additional facilities.