Around 100 bunnies were found in a wood in Chaddesley Corbett in November 2024, with the RSPCA confirming 80 were rescued alive and 23 had died in the wild.
A rabbit sanctuary in Dudley, Lucky Bunny and Friends Rescue, took in 56 of the rescued rabbits who at the time were in a “bad way”.
After taking to social media, their local efforts snowballed into a nationwide appeal to support the bunnies, with animal rescues and volunteers from as far as Eastbourne and Berkshire taking some of them in.
In total, nine animal rescues, including several local to the West Midlands, took in the bunnies and have been helping them on their road to recovery ever since.
Two weeks after they were found, the RSPCA issued an urgent health warning after discovering the bunnies who had been dumped were found to have a highly contagious disease known as Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD).
Sadly, several bunnies have died either due to complications after care or due to illness.
However, there have also been some new arrivals, with one of the bunnies named Blessing giving birth to four adorable, healthy babies.
The four babies are healthy and up for adoption (Image: Nicky Roberts / Jo Essex) Nicky Roberts, a collective spokesperson for rescues, said: “It has been a wonderful, continued response from the general public, that they are still interested and following up on the updates of the Chaddesley rabbits and following them through to their success stories is a testament to how important these rabbits are to people’s lives.
“The bunnies are all at various stages of wellness with many now ready to be rehomed.
“Sadly a few of the original 56 rabbits were lost along the way due to the conditions they were all kept in.
“I would like to say thank you to all nine rabbit rescues for the enormous rescue efforts.”
Karen Dandridge from Hug a Bunny Hotel in Camberley, who took in Blessing, said that she, her babies and two other bunnies are currently being fostered.
Three of the rabbits they took in died after they were rescued.
Elsewhere, Caroline Greenhill from Eastbourne Rabbit Sanctuary said that two bunnies are available for adoption, and another will stay at the rescue for the remainder of its life.
Berkshire Rabbit Rescue said two bunnies they took in, one with half an ear missing and another with a torn nose are being nursed back to health but are doing well.
Four bunnies from Greatfield Small Animal Rescue in Kidderminster are ready to be adopted, with two others who have “severe teeth and mouth abscess issues” expected to be ready to be rehomed later in the year.
Bunnies and Piggies in Need Rescue in the West Midlands said the nine rabbits they took in are still being nursed back to health and remain in quarantine after the RHDV warning.
Hannah’s Guinea Pig Sanctuary in the West Midlands confirmed five of their bunnies passed away, with two elderly bunnies set to live out the rest of their lives at the sanctuary and another two being available to adopt in February.
In Hertfordshire, the Rabbit Rescue Residence five rabbits will be ready for adoption at the end of the month and in Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Rabbit Rescue one bunny has already been reserved and another, who has no ears anymore, is ready to find a home.
Shrewsbury Rabbit Rescue added that one rabbit died, with another settled to live at the sanctuary.
Finally, Lucky Bunnies and Friends Rescue in Dudley confirmed the 10 bunnies in their care will be ready for adoption either in January or February, some as pairs after bonding with each other.
The RSPCA has confirmed that their investigation into the incident is ongoing but there are no updates.