BELEAGURED animal welfare workers are dealing with a “rabbit disaster”, it has emerged.

The region’s RSPCA centres were already under strain, as owners struggling with bills in the tough financial climate have been abandoning their pets in droves.

But that was before 88 bunnies were rescued from just one semi-detached house in Dorset.

Astonishingly, it took a team of officers five hours to remove all the animals which were discovered living in “horrendous” conditions including:

No water 

Little or no food 

No bedding

Cramped in dirty hutches

Now the RSPCA is urging animal-lovers to provide the rabbits new homes.

Poole and Purbeck RSPCA Inspector Graham Hammond said: “We now have an animal crisis in terms of the numbers of animals boarding within our care. This is a rabbit disaster, we were overrun before we picked up these 88 rabbits.”

One rabbit was in such bad shape vets were forced to humanely put it down. Two others died later in the rescue operation, earlier this month.

However, one rabbit has already given birth to six babies and vets believe at least another two are also pregnant.

“We’re expecting numbers to reach the 100 mark in the next few days,” said Inspector Hammond.

The inspector, who has worked in the RSPCA since 1999, said the case was the biggest, in terms of numbers of animals, he had ever dealt with.

He explained: “They were removed under the Animal Welfare Act.

“We don’t want people to just feel sorry for these fluffy bunnies and then be unable to look after them.

“There are some expensive set-up costs but once you have your hutch and your run, it is not expensive.”

How you can help.

The rabbits are currently boarding at the following RSPCA centres. If you can give them a home, please call:

  • RSPCA Stubbing Ark, Southampton, on 01329 667 541
  • Ashley Heath RSPCA Animal, Centre, near Ringwood, on 0300 123 0749
  • Taylors Animal Re-homing Centre, Kingston Maurward, on 01305 259 672
  • RSPCA West Hatch Animal Centre, Taunton, Somerset, on 0300 123 0747
  • RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centres, Chobham, Surrey, on 0300 123 0740