Two rabbits, a mother and daughter, have been rescued after their owners moved house and left them behind in the garden of a house in Brixton.
Lambeth Council contractors found the rabbits, a Dutch crossbreed and brown crossbreed, in their hutch at the empty property.
The rabbits, aged two and three, were taken to the Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria, London, where they were found to be unharmed and in need only of a trim for their very long nails.
The pair, which staff at the Blue Cross charity named Thelma and Louise, were given a health check and are now been at the Blue Cross rehoming centre in Lewknor, Oxfordshire.
Rebecca White, animal welfare assistant at Blue Cross Lewknor, said: “We do understand that people can’t always keep their pets. But if you’re struggling to cope please contact a charity for help or advice.
“Leaving pets abandoned can put them in serious danger.
“Rabbits can make wonderful pets, but most people perceive them as being low maintenance. This is not the case. Rabbits need correct diet, housing, interaction and handling. Without this they can become very ill, unhappy and even die.”
Last year 452 rabbits were taken in by Blue Cross pet charity, with nearly 50 of those found stray or abandoned.
Rabbits require the companionship of another rabbit or even a small group.
It is also important that rabbits are able to exhibit their natural behaviour so they must be kept in accommodation which allows them to hop, stretch and play. Blue Cross advises that a minimum hutch size for small or large rabbits is 183cm x 90 cm floor space by 90cm tall.
The rabbits were discovered before Rabbit Awareness Week, which this year runs from 17 to 25 June and aims to promote good rabbit welfare.
This year’s key theme is ensuring owners feed their rabbits hay and fresh grass to support dental, digestive and emotional health, as well as promoting the five welfare needs.
Blue Cross is a national pet charity, established in 1897, which, through its rehoming centres and animal hospitals, cares for 40,000 sick, injured and homeless pets each year.
For more information, visit www.bluecross.org.uk.
