About 50 domestic rabbits found abandoned in Gwinnett neighborhood
Rabbits are known for many things: enjoying carrots, hopping around and sometimes delivering Easter eggs.
However, one of the most common bits of knowledge about rabbits is how — to put it eloquently — proficient they are at breeding.
Domestic rabbit copulation is causing a conundrum for Gwinnett County residents, where up to 50 bunnies were found abandoned over the last two weeks, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Four dozen rabbits were found in a Duluth neighborhood, and they were rounded up by a Marietta-based animal shelter, according to the news station.
Jennifer McGhee, who runs the Georgia House Rabbit Society, said they likely found about half of the domesticated rabbits. She said the other half were probably killed by dogs or coyotes.
“We see it every day. Phone calls every day,” she told Channel 2. “People are dumping rabbits. These guys we caught are lucky ... most aren’t so lucky.”
In many cases, she said people buy two rabbits for their children while thinking they bought two males or females. However, if they accidentally purchased one of each and they aren’t spayed or neutered, they could have about a dozen bunnies within a short period of time.
In 2015, McGhee said her organization took in 186 abandoned rabbits. She told the news station that abandoning domestic animals is illegal because they can’t survive in the wild.
“It’s abandoning a domestic animal, and it is illegal per the Georgia Animal Protection Act,” McGhee said. “If these people could be found, they could be prosecuted.”
Those interested in adopting one of the rabbits can apply here.
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About the Author
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.
