ANIMAL lovers have banded together to support an animal sanctuary in Dudley caring for dozens of bunnies found dumped in woods.

Yesterday, the sanctuary was flooded with 163 Amazon deliveries from kind-hearted animal lovers containing essential supplies for the abandoned bunnies, found in a wood near Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire.

The donations came after a social media appeal following the discovery of 100 abandoned bunnies on Monday, November 11.

80 rabbits were collected on November 12, as well as the bodies of 23 bunnies who had died, according to the RSPCA.

Lucky Bunny and Friends Rescue, an animal sanctuary based in Gornalwood, took in 56 rabbits and said they were all “in a bad way”.

Nicky Roberts, a spokesperson for Lucky Bunny and Friends Rescue, said: “It’s shocking and incredibly upsetting.

“Somebody out there has been careless enough to do this and to leave all those rabbits out there.

“No matter the reason or backstory behind it, whether they left 10 or 100 bunnies, things like this shouldn’t happen.”

The bunnies need neutering/spaying and vaccinating as a minimumThe bunnies need neutering and vaccinating as a minimum (Image: Lucky Bunny and Friends Rescue)

Ms Roberts said the response from the public has been “incredible” and a “huge effort”.

The 47-year-old added: “Everyone rallied together so quickly, which has been brilliant.

“There are many, many animal lovers out there.

“The rescue has been inundated and simply don’t have the people or resources to help the bunnies alone.

“The general public have and can continue to really help.”

A number of the bunnies were also taken off their hands by other animal sanctuaries, both local to the West Midlands and from as far away as Eastbourne.

Hannah’s Guinea Pig Sanctuary in the West Midlands have taken on nine of the bunnies with Berkshire Animal Rescue, Eastbourne Rabbit & Guinea Pig Rescue and Hug A Bunny Hotel in Surrey taking a further 14 between them.

Shrewsbury Rabbit Rescue have taken in some of the bunnies and went out and searched for more in the woods yesterday, even deploying a drone.

Greatfield Small Animal Rescue in Kidderminster, Bunnies & Piggies In Need Rescue UK in Birmingham and The Rabbit Residence Rescue in Hertfordshire have also lent a helping hand in taking care of the bunnies. 

West Mercia Police have said they are aware of the incident and enquiries are ongoing, with the RSPCA confirming they are also investigating what has happened.