One hundred rabbits were rescued from a home in Granada Hills and the animal rescue agency is now desperately in need of foster homes.
The rabbits were rescued on Feb. 20 after a supervisor from the Los Angeles Animal Services Department contacted the Bunny World Foundation, an all-volunteer animal rescue, to ask for help rescuing a group of rabbits that had been found on a private property in Granada Hills after the owner asked for help once the rabbit population increased in his backyard.
The Bunny World Foundation is now struggling to take care of the animals on their own.
“I am extremely distraught having to witness yet another horrible backyard catastrophe,” Lejla Hadzimuratovic, founder and president of the foundation, said in a statement. “This was your typical situation where things got out of hand due to ignorance of rabbits’ gestation period, which is 28 days.”
Hadzimuratovic said, “When will people learn that it only takes two unfixed rabbits to create a tragedy of mass proportions and impose a hefty financial burden on Los Angeles rescue organizations operating on a zero budget? It’s heartbreaking to see many painfully neglected and severely matted rabbits living in filth, exposed to hawks, owls, coyotes, raccoons, other wildlife, and harsh elements.”
When volunteers from the foundation arrived at the residence, they found babies, nursing mothers, juveniles and adult rabbits running around in several yards. The majority of the female rabbits were pregnant.
“Once we arrived at the scene, we worked diligently to trap and sex as many rabbits as possible. The bunnies we encountered were mainly adults, with many pregnant and potentially nursing females,'' said BWF Adoption Manager Jane Stonnington, a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant.
“I can only imagine how many rabbits suffered in these horrific conditions and how many ended up dismembered by the predators. Domestic rabbits have NO business living outside. I am glad the homeowner contacted Bunny World Foundation and West Valley Animal Control.
“Unfortunately, the homeowner did not initially capture the first male and female when they were originally dumped on his property and have them spayed and neutered. The homeowner soon found out rabbits breed every 28 days, and litters get larger with every pregnancy.'’
Fifty rabbits were taken to the West Valley Animal Shelter on that day and volunteers from the Bunny World Foundation placed the babies into temporary foster care. The adult rabbits have been placed in six animal shelters throughout the city.
The Los Angeles Animal Services Department and the Bunny World Foundation said that the total number of rabbits could increase to 300 once the pregnant rabbits give birth.
The foundation said that this situation comes at a challenging time when local shelters and parks will be overrun with bunnies who have nowhere to go after the spring breeding and post-Easter dumping season.
Those willing to foster or adopt rabbits are asked to email [email protected], with “I will foster an LAAS bunny” in the subject line.
