Bunny money needed for rabbit rescue

15 June 2006

PAWS FOR THOUGHT: Volunteer Alison Anderson with a bunny

A RESCUE centre for abandoned rabbits which relies on charitable donations is asking animal lovers for support.

Briar Patch Rescue, Hainault, looks after more than 50 rabbits, 25 of which the centre is hoping to re-home.

Eve McCaffery, 28, set up the centre in February, but the mum-of-two, who has always looked after rabbits, took in her first abandoned bunny, Damaskinos, four years ago.

He was rescued by Eve after being dumped outside a pet shop in Chadwell Heath.

Her partner David named the albino after a vampire character from action movie Blade II, because of the creature's red eyes.

This year she decided to set up the centre, which vaccinates and neuters rescued rabbits.

The centre has become a full-time job for Eve, and the cost of feeding and looking after the animals has risen as the centre cares for more and more animals.

Alison Anderson, 32, from Upminster, who volunteers at the centre, said: "Rabbits are cheap impulse buys.

"People don't look into what they need to do to keep a rabbit happy or what sort of size housing they need.

"They are cute little bunnies in pet shops, but after four months they get hormonal and need to be neutered."

Alison said another common mistake made by pet owners is to keep one rabbit, when the animals, which are very social, thrive on the company of another rabbit.

She said: "They should be kept together, but it's important in terms of breeding to adopt a rabbit from a centre like this where they will have been neutered."

Sisters Pepsi and Shirlie, named after the 1980s pop duo, are ready to be re-homed.

Eve says the two black females were aggressive when they first arrived because they had not been neutered.

She said: "They were starting to fight because they were hormonal. They are very friendly girls now."

The centre has taken in British giant rabbits, which weigh more than 12lbs, but had been kept in hutches measuring only 4ft wide.

Rabbits should have plenty of hay in a hutch where they can easily move around.

Eve said: "Hay is the most important part of their diet. So many people don't feed their rabbits the right food.

"Even normal pet shop mixes have too much protein and not enough fibre."

To make a donation or find out more about fundraising for the centre, log on to www.briarpatchrescue.co.uk.