The RSPCA is highlighting the plight of an unwanted bunny from North Yorkshire who has spent nearly all his life in rescue waiting for a new home.
Oreo, who like the biscuit, is black and white, is the longest-staying resident at the charity’s rehoming centre in Great Ayton after arriving last October from a multi-animal household in Middlesbrough.
Reserved at first, the one-year-old – who has now been neutered – has come on in leaps and bounds since but is sadly being overlooked by potential adopters and is now the longest-staying residents at the centre in Yarm Lane.
His plight comes as the RSPCA has revealed that rehoming rates for unwanted rabbits in its care has plummeted, leaving many pets like Oreo searching for a new home for more than six months. Great Ayton Animal Centre currently has 18 rabbits, including Oreo, in its care.
Animal care supervisor Beverely Dunn, said: “Oreo was quite a shy guy when he first arrived, probably because of the large number of rabbits and other animals he was living with, but he’s come out of his shell so much he’s like a different bunny now. He really enjoys exploring and having a good run around. One of his favourite pastimes is playing with his toy ball that he loves throwing up in the air.
“He came into our care with another rabbit who has since been re-homed, but sadly Oreo is still here and he’s now our longest-staying resident. He’s a lovely-natured rabbit and we’ve all grown really attached to him, but he deserves to have his own family and we’d love to hear from anyone who’d like to welcome this very sweet chap into their home.”
A huge 48 percent rise in the intake of rabbits in 2022 compared to the previous year has been reported by the RSPCA, and with numbers remaining high, it is grappling with a rabbit crisis. The charity fears un-neutered animals are further contributing to the problem.
Meanwhile there has been a 42 per cent fall in the rehoming of rabbits from the charity’s national centres between 2019 and 2022.
Research has revealed there is also a lack of knowledge about the benefits of castrating or spaying rabbits in the early months after birth. Many owners also lack knowledge about identifying the sex of animals to prevent unwanted litters.
Burgess Pet Care – who the RSPCA partnered with for Rabbit Awareness Week, which ran from 26 – 30 June – has revealed a third of 1,600 people questioned during a recent survey thought rabbits did not need neutering, while 75 per cent believed there was no need to neuter rabbits if they were of the same sex.
Yet the benefits of neutering outweighs the very small risk of surgery and most vets are happy to undertake both castration and spaying procedures. If owners were to neuter their pets it would not only reduce the numbers of unwanted rabbits, but help them live longer, healthier lives. Around 80 percent of un-neutered female rabbits develop uterine cancer after the age of three.
Oreo’s ongoing search for a new home comes as the RSPCA launches its new ‘Cancel Out Cruelty’ campaign, raising funds for its animal welfare work. Animal cruelty peaks in the summer with three reports every single minute. The RSPCA’s frontline rescuers, volunteers and a network of branches are working tirelessly to save animals this summer but we can’t do it alone. Please help cancel out cruelty, visit rspca.org.uk/cancel.
