Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 15th May 2023
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

RSPCA sees surge in pet rabbit cases
Last month, the RSPCA rescued seven rabbits abandoned in Manchester.

The charity took in more than 3,000 rabbits last year.

The RSPCA is calling on people to carefully consider whether they can commit to keeping pet rabbits, following a surge in case numbers.

Last year saw the number of rabbits arriving at RSPCA animal centres increase by 48 per cent compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 1,090. In addition, RSPCA branches provided help to 1,942 unwanted rabbits during 2022.

In some cases, overbreeding has caused problems, and so the RSPCA is calling on owners to neuter their rabbits to keep numbers at a manageable level. It is also advising people struggling to afford to keep their rabbits during the cost-of-living crisis to seek help.

Recently, on 20 April, an RSPCA officer rescued seven rabbits in Manchester which had been left in a cage and a cat carrier in an alleyway behind a house. The owners have not been traced, and after being vaccinated and undergoing health checks, the rabbits are being looked after at a private boarding home as they wait to be rehomed.

Animal rescue officer Lee Ferrans said: “Six of the rabbits were in one cage and there was another in a cat carrier. Neither the cage nor the carrier were large enough to accommodate them, although they probably hadn’t been living like that before they were abandoned.

“This is not an unusual job for our inspectors and animal rescue officers at the moment - I myself have dealt with three or four rabbit abandonments in recent months.”

Cases of pets being abandoned are continuing to rise. In April 2023, the RSPCA received 1,508 reports about an animal being abandoned, compared to 1,370 reports during the same month in the previous year: an increase of 9.6 per cent.

Mr Ferrans added: “People think it’s easy to look after rabbits, but there’s a lot more work involved. It may be the case that this large number of rabbits has proved to be too much for someone after they started off with just a couple.

“People need to neuter their rabbits and they also need to research what it takes to look after them properly before they take up ownership.”

 

Image (C) RSPCA

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.