The National Animal Welfare Trust, Bedfordshire is seeing an enormous increase in the number of rabbits needing homes at present with a 114% increase in unwanted litters of baby rabbits needing homes compared to before the pandemic.

Our centre manager, Carley Farr says Ive never seen anything like this. Were always full in the small animal house with rabbits needing homes, but Ive never seen so many litters of rabbits being brought in. Some just days old. Since the pandemic first hit weve received 46 babies which is a lot for our small centre - and its not slowing down.

Some rabbits, like Icy, were brought into our centre with a 5-week-old litter, a 4-day-old litter and shortly after arriving with us gave birth to another 5. A horrible situation for any rabbit to be put through, but Icy was just over a year old herself. Having a place like our centre is vital in providing somewhere for rabbits like Icy to go sooner rather than later to prevent them having any more litters and adding to the problem!

The centre is undergoing some vital renovations this year that were all really excited about. Unfortunately, however this means that our current small animal house needs to be demolished. Nicola Leach, fundraising officer explains Were really good at utilising what weve got as a small charity were used to that but to turn the space weve got into something suitable were needing to raise £1500 for materials and supplies. It is clear that rabbits need our help now more than ever. Weve got the skills amongst our fantastic team to look after and rehome these rabbits we just need your help with the space!