Volunteers jump into action to save 14 bunnies dumped in the Timucuan Preserve

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Northeast Florida bunny rescue is dealing with a surge of deserted rabbits after 14 bunnies had been discovered dumped within the Timucuan Protect on New 12 months’s Day.

Bebette’s Bunny Rescue, which has already rescued 13 of the rabbits, says the animals had been left within the wild with out meals or water.

Volunteers are nonetheless trying to find the final bunny.

Dumping home rabbits is a rising concern, with rescues like Bebette’s continuously working to save lots of deserted animals. Samantha Burns, the founding father of the rescue, explains the issue stems from misinformation and impulsive purchases.

“In Nassau County final 12 months, we had been in a position to go a ban on shops like PetSmart and Pet Provides Plus from promoting rabbits,” Burns stated. “It has actually helped folks focused on getting a bunny to hunt out the fitting training and assets.”

Burns hopes to see comparable laws enacted statewide.

Based on Burns, the biggest inflow of deserted rabbits happens after Easter, throughout what the rescue calls “Easter dumping season,” which runs from Could to August.

“Individuals will often get them as infants from the pet retailer or breeder, after which they notice that they’re not going to remain cute and small. Then their hormones kick in round 4 months of age, and so they begin pooping all over the place and spraying as a result of they’re not mounted, and simply getting hormonal,” Burns stated.

Spaying or neutering can resolve these points although.

Volunteers like Carol Resch have been aiding within the search to seek out the final bunny.

“They’re simply prey for no matter is out right here. They’ve been taken care of and don’t know discover meals or water,” Resch stated. “It’s heartbreaking. The rabbits had been coming as much as folks on the lookout for meals, love, and water.”

Resch advocates for stricter laws to handle rabbit gross sales and dumping.

“I’d completely prefer to see a ban on pet shops promoting rabbits and extra rules to cease extreme breeding and abandonment,” she stated.