Blackpool RSPCA searching for forever homes for three rabbits rescued from garden overrun with 99 pets

The RSPCA is highlighting the importance of neutering pets after 99 rabbits were found in a garden with their owner struggling to care for them all.

Three of them - Pumpkin, Sesame and Sunflower - are now being cared for at the charity’s Blackpool and North Lancs Branch rehoming centre in Stalmine.

The rabbits were living in hutches and home-made pens and many were loose after uncontrolled breeding had caused numbers to spiral out of control.

Their well-meaning owner is said to have acquired the rabbits from social media sites over a number of years after they were advertised as unwanted pets.

The bunnies were rescued from a property in Tyne and Wear by the RSPCA during several visits in June and were taken to the charity’s centres and branches up and down the country. 22 were taken in for rehoming by the Sunderland-based Pawz for Thought.

Ranging in age from babies to eight years old, they included continental giant cross breeds, mini lops and lionheads. The operation to get them health checked and transported involved over 20 RSPCA officers and volunteers.

Hannah Mainds, CEO of Blackpool and North Lancs Branch, said: "Pumpkin, Sesame and Sunflower have been on quite a journey but they are settled in and doing really well in our care. They are very gentle rabbits but they’re still learning to trust people and become more confident, which is understandable given their background.

“All of them are big foodies and love tucking into their hay. We know with patient new owners, who will let them settle at their own pace, their personalities will continue to blossom.”

Crossbreeds Pumpkin and Sunflower have both been spayed and are each looking for a home with a neutered male companion. Male lion head Sesame has been castrated and is looking for a neutered female rabbit for company.

RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor, who co-ordinated the rescue effort, said: “The owner had tried to separate the rabbits but this hadn’t worked and they were breeding uncontrollably because they hadn’t been neutered.

“The situation became untenable and this was something the owner recognised and wanted our help with. There is no suggestion the rabbits were being bred for commercial purposes.

“Although the majority had ear mites, which can spread rapidly if left untreated, the rabbits were in reasonable health. However, their living conditions were very poor and they couldn’t continue to stay like this.

“Getting help for them was our immediate priority and we will always try to work with owners in the first instance to achieve that. Logistically it was a huge job for the RSPCA involving a team of 22 officers and volunteers who came together to transport them far and wide. We’re also really grateful to partner organisations who assisted with rehoming.”

Although people’s intentions can be well-meaning, the RSPCA strongly advises against buying pets online or through social media platforms. They can be frequently linked to scams and irresponsible breeding and animals sold this way often suffer from hidden health issues, behavioral problems or are separated from their mothers too early.

Instead, use a legitimate animal welfare charity who will thoroughly assess, vaccinate and microchip the animals in their care and provide new owners with a full evaluation of the pet's history and personality.

Eloise Dicks, the RSPCA’s rabbit welfare expert, said: “Rabbits can reproduce at a very young age. They are pregnant for just one month and can have large litters, so numbers can rapidly escalate.

“Many people also don’t realise rabbits can become pregnant again within just a couple of hours of giving birth and an unsuspecting owner can quickly find themselves becoming overwhelmed with animals - as was the case here.

“The benefits of neutering outweigh the very small risk of surgery and we’d urge anyone who hasn’t had their rabbit neutered to speak to their vet about getting this routine operation carried out.”

It’s estimated there are around 500,000 - 700,000 rabbits kept as pets in the UK, yet they remain among the animals most vulnerable to poor welfare and neglect.

The RSPCA says it is crucial that prospective owners take time to fully research what these complex pets need, including their dietary and accommodation requirements.

Multi-animal cases are on the rise. Last year the RSPCA responded to 4,200 incidents which involved at least ten animals at the same address across England and Wales. There were 265 rabbits rescued from multi-animal households in 2025, a 20% increase on the year before.

The charity says cases of large numbers of animals being kept at one address can be linked to mental health struggles, the cost of living crisis or breeders operating with poor practices, and that even initially well-meaning individuals can often see situations spiral out of control.

To find out more about how to adopt Pumpkin, Sesame and Sunflower, and the other rabbits at the animal centre, go to the Blackpool and North Lancs Branch website.