25 Abondoned Rabbits Taken In By MSPCA-Angell from Massachusetts Home

MASSACHUSETTS - Twenty five rabbits were surrendered to the MSPCA-Angell on Dec. 10, marking one of the largest surrender of rabbits in the organization’s recent history.

It also prompted a weekend in January with adoption fees waived for families wishing to adopt these bunnies.

The rabbits — which range in age from six months to two years — are living at the MSPCA’s Jamaica Plain adoption center, bringing the population there to 47.

“We have so many rabbits that the room set aside for them is completely overwhelmed and we now have to house them in our two cat colony rooms, which means space for our cats is limited,” said Boston adoption center manager Alyssa Krieger, in a statement.

The large surrender comes at a time when the rabbit population at all three of the MSPCA’s adoption centers remains high, said the announcement.

The MSPCA-Nevins Farm adoption center in Methuen is currently housing 35 rabbits, which, according to director Mike Keiley, is about 25 percent more than normal for this time of year. “We’re also housing our rabbits in the cat colony rooms-spaces that are not at all designed for rabbits. We’re doing the best we can to ensure all animals are safe and comfortable, and hopefully adopters will step forward to open their homes to these pets,” he said in the statement.

The MSPCA’s Cape Cod adoption center in Centerville is home to nine, with five Angora rabbits having arrived only recently after they were rescued from a Truro basement.

“Our space is small and the animals are living closer together than they would otherwise,” said Cape Cod director Mary Sarah Fairweather in an announcement. “But, as always, we’re providing the highest level of care until we find them new homes.”

The MSPCA holds two days of fee-waived adoptions on Saturday, Jan. 16, and Sunday, Jan. 17.

All three adoption centers will waive the standard rabbit adoption fee ($75 in Boston and Methuen and $55 on Cape Cod) in an effort to place as many of the animals into forever homes as possible.

The MSPCA’s standard adoption qualifying process remains and adoption center staff provides adopters with individual counseling and rabbit care education.