LEHIGH TWP, Pa. — Nine bunnies had the luck of a rabbit's foot when, officials say, they were rescued from an animal hoarder.
Now, they're looking for owners to cuddle and care for them.
- Nine bunnies are up for adoption after a hoarding case
- They were rescued by the Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team, which is like a Red Cross for animals
- Those interested in adopting can email Tiffany Murphy at tiffany18088@gmail.com
The rabbits were relinquished to Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team, a nonprofit organization that rescues animals, after police said they discovered a woman was hoarding 16 rabbits along with almost two dozen cats and two horses.
The rabbits were left alone in small cages without enough food or water, authorities said.
Six of the rabbits have been adopted. One of them died, presumably from malnutrition.
County Animal Response Team volunteer Tiffany Murphy and her son, Ash, have fostered the bunnies since the court case started in April.
Now that the case has been resolved, the rabbits are ready to hop into their forever homes.
“I think that people just need to have more love for bunnies and animals in general. So open your hearts, let a bunny into your house.”Ash Murphy
Ash, who is adopting one of the rabbits, said he recommended people adopt bunnies because they’re fun to brush and they provide emotional support.
“I think that people just need to have more love for bunnies and animals in general," Ash said. "So open your hearts; let a bunny into your house.”
Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team
Volunteers with the Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team rescue animals from natural disasters, road accidents and animal entrapments in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Brian Hite, public information officer for the organization, described it as the Red Cross for animals.
“Now, we're not the Red Cross, we're not affiliated with the Red Cross,” Hite said. “But if you think of the situations where the Red Cross actually responds to emergency situations, sets up shelters — that's what our primary goal is.”
Hite got involved in animal rescue after he saw all the animals left behind during Hurricane Katrina because most shelters would not let them inside.
“I think people take animal care for granted in an emergency situation. [They] often were not thought about until it happened,” Hite said.
“Animal responsibility is a commitment. It's like having a child. There's a cost and money aspect to it that people sometimes don't realize.”Brian Hite, public information officer for the Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team
Hite said his organization responds to three to four hoarding cases a year, but they are likely more common than that.
“Animal responsibility is a commitment; it's like having a child,” Hite said. “There's a cost and money aspect to it that people sometimes don't realize.”
Bunny abandonment
While Murphy encouraged people to adopt the bunnies, she also wants potential owners to do their research before adopting.
Bunnies are the third most abandoned pet, according to National Geographic.
Ash thinks the high abandonment rate is because people underestimate the amount of care rabbits need. They need a big cage, and their owners should let them run around in an enclosed area in the grass when it’s warm and in the house when it’s cold.
“A lot of people think they're like guinea pigs, when they're a lot more than that," Ash said. "They're almost closer to a dog than a guinea pig."
In an effort to prevent people from abandoning the rabbits, Murphy is asking potential adopters for references and giving them her contact information.
“That way if they did end up thinking it's too much work or getting rid of it, they can come back to us and we can find it another good home,” Ash said.
Despite the work it took to care for the bunnies, Murphy said she will miss them.
“They are very calming and they have a lot of love to give,” Murphy said.
Anyone interested in adopting one of the bunnies should email Murphy at tiffany18088@gmail.com with a message including which rabbit they may be interested in adopting.
