Breeding frenzy leaves RSPCA desperate to adopt out dozens of bunnies

The RSPCA has been forced to set up make-shift enclosures to house them all.

“It’s more than we’ve ever had before,” RSPCA SA community animal care manager Sarah Dudley told 9News.

Two fertile bunnies are partly to blame for the rise at the Lonsdale RSPCA.

“We had a case where they had two rabbits that weren’t desexed and in about a space of four months that two became about 120,” Ms Dudley said.

The population explosion is a new record for the RSPCA, with numbers up 400 per cent from this time last year.

The shelter has more than 30 bunnies, with another 70 in temporary foster care, and is calling on families to consider adopting a little thumper of their own.

“They’re just so cute and cuddly and yeah why wouldn’t you want one and they’re so easy to have as pets,” RSPCA Lonsdale volunteer Karla Heuzenroeder said.

The RSCPA says it’s trying to help people see rabbits as normal pets.

“We’re really trying to encourage rabbits to be seen as members of the family much like our dogs and cats,” Ms Dudley said.

The cuddly companions are able to be toilet-trained and can even be kept in the house.

“Long gone are the days where we had them in hutches and people sort of didn’t interact with them too well,” Ms Dudley said.

“They make really good, really good pets.”

Some bunnies are happy to be adopted on their own but many, like Angel and Lulu, come bonded as a pair.

The two have been re-homed together so they have a fury friend to socialise with.

While it might be fitting to adopt a bunny for Easter, potential owners are being reminded of the long-term commitment involved with bringing home a new pet.