A MAN and a woman who abandoned 90 rabbits in a wood in Chaddesley Corbett have been banned from keeping animals for life but have avoided jail.
After Kevin Lewis and Michelle Deakin dumped the animals, 23 of the rabbits were found dead at Chaddesley Wood, Tanwood Lane, in between Kidderminster and Bromsgrove, on November 11, 2024. The rest were found in poor condition.
Members of the public contacted the RSPCA and the charity brought the prosecution.
As well as being banned for keeping animals for life, Lewis, 49, and Deakin, 51, of Yardley Wood Road, Highters Heath, were both sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months at Birmingham Magistrates Court. Lewis was also told to complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity (RAR) days and Deakin 20 RAR days.
Lewis pleaded guilty to two offences under Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Deakin pleaded guilty to one animal welfare offence.
RSPCA Inspector Boris Lasserre attended the scene and, in a statement presented to the court, he recalled how he found numerous dead rabbits.
“Some were scattered individually, while others were in groups.
“I also found two live rabbits.
“I gathered up and bagged all the dead rabbits I could find and in total there were 23.”
A large number of the live rabbits were collected by members of the public, while 56 were taken in by Lucky Bunny and Friends Rescue. Some of the rabbits were presented with various health concerns and four – who were later looked after by a foster carer – had to be transferred to the Birmingham Animal Hospital at RSPCA Newbrook Animal Centre.
The defendants attended Newbrook Animal Centre four days after the discovery of the rabbits. As well as identifying themselves as the owners of the rabbits, they confirmed they had released them into the woods.
Insp Lasserre went to the defendants’ home and saw how the rabbits had been kept in two downstairs rooms.
A vet who examined 11 of the dead rabbits and two live rabbits taken to Newbrook Animal Centre by the inspector said most of the animals smelt strongly of urine and ammonia and almost all of them had skin tears and lacerations to their ears, scrotums and noses. Some of the wounds were severe, with one rabbit having lost most of an ear lobe and two with lacerations which had caused their testicles to prolapse. Many of the rabbits were underweight.
The vet described the wounds to be ‘traumatic’, adding they were due to infighting between the rabbits over territory, social dominance, mating or food.
“Their presence suggested that they had been kept in unsuitable social groups of mixed genders and ages and in poor housing which would have caused physical and mental distress for at least six to eight weeks.”
In mitigation, the court heard the couple used to take in unwanted rabbits and cats but had become overwhelmed and were in £25,000 of debt.
Both defendants were told to pay a victim surcharge of £154, with Lewis having to pay a contribution to court costs of £350 and Deakin £200 costs.
Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Lasserre said: “Financial hardship can be no excuse for abandoning pet rabbits like this as there are always other options.
“These poor rabbits were left to fend for themselves in the wild and it was shocking to see how many had been left to their fates.
“We can only thank the members of the public and Lucky Bunny and Friends who came to their assistance as a large number of live rabbits were taken to places of safety.
“Abandoned and neglected rabbits are an increasing problem and the RSPCA is seeing more and more coming into our care.
“Before considering such drastic action people should seek help and the RSPCA has a cost of living hub which is designed to assist owners.”
