Foster carer call-out: ‘If I have a thousand rabbits that need help how do I do it?’
Fancy curling up with a pocket pet this winter? Animal rescue organisation The Rabbit Sanctuary needs help as it tries to cope with rabbits forced out of families due to the housing crisis.
NSW
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Bunnies are being dumped and surrendered at a higher rate than ever before due to the housing crisis in NSW.
The Rabbit Rescue Sanctuary and Rabbit Adoption Centre has been struggling to keep up with demand.
Co-founder Kim Cooney said the state sanctuary could house 100 rabbits, but due to tough economic times about 1000 rabbits needed a new home. That’s a ten-fold unmet demand.
“People love their bunnies as companion pets but they’re losing their houses and ringing up crying because they can’t keep their pets,” she said.
“They can’t afford the rent or they can’t afford the mortgages, or they’re living in the car or moving back in with family and they can’t take them.”
So far this year, 981 rabbits have been surrendered to The Rabbit Sanctuary from welfare agencies, vets, members of the public and owners.
“If I have a thousand rabbits that need help how do I do it?” Ms Cooney asked.
She called out for more volunteers to help cope with the demand.
“There’s a desperate need for foster carers,” Ms Cooney said.
Foster carers can help provide rehabilitation and socialisation, Ms Cooney said.
The rabbits can then be adopted into loving families chosen by The Rabbit Sanctuary.
“I want to raise the cultural value of rabbits so they’re not sold as products or seen as disposable,” Ms Cooney said.
Releasing or dumping rabbits is punishable by law under the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and can result in a fine of up to $88,000. Rabbits are not able to legally be kept as a pet in Queensland.
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Originally published as Foster carer call-out: ‘If I have a thousand rabbits that need help how do I do it?’
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