Rehome a rabbit day at Ayr animal welfare centre

Jul 23 2010 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

Rehome a rabbit day at Ayr animal welfare centre

REHOME a rescued rabbit and give an abandoned bunny a second chance.

That’s the plea from Ayr’s animal welfare centre.

And staff at the centre are hosting their very first Rabbit Awareness Day on Saturday, July 24.

It’s hoped scores of people will hop along to the Mainholm base to learn more about rabbit care and meet some of the many abandoned, unwanted and neglected bunnies all desperately seeking a loving new home.

As well as the open day the Scottish SPCA is increasing its efforts to educate children about rabbit care through its new educational programme which is offered free of charge to all Scottish primary schools.

In 2009, the Scottish SPCA rehomed 505 rabbits and it expects to take in even more in 2010, with over 350 rabbits cared for in the first six months of the year.

Marion Hainey, manager of the Ayr animal welfare centre, said: “Lots of people are aware the Scottish SPCA rescues and cares for cats and dogs, but far less people know that we look after a huge number of small pets, and bunnies in particular.

“Rabbits are often given to children as gifts. They can be great fun at first but when the novelty of a new pet wears off the parents are often left to clean up and care for the rabbit, which can live for over eight years.

“This leads to rabbits becoming unwanted and many are handed in to our centres, abandoned outdoors or cruelly neglected.”

“There are so many homeless rabbits in this country that deserve a second chance. Buying a new pet from a shop or a breeder isn’t the only way to give a bunny a home.”

For more info phone Marion on 01292 265 975.