Peter Rabbit had more to worry about than Mr McGregor: bored children owners

A rabbit was found dumped in the street with a heartbreaking note reading: “The children have lost interest, we didn’t know what to do with it.”

RSPCA animal collection officer (ACO) Jill Sanders was called to Dickenswood Close in Upper Norwood after a member of the public found the rabbit dumped in a box with the note.

ACO Sanders went to collect the brown and white male bunny on Thursday, 24 January – just four miles from the Baskerville Road, Wandsworth, home of Noel Moore, for whom Beatrix Potter invented Peter Rabbit and the villainous Mr McGregor, who wanted to turn him into a pie.

She said: “We were called late on Wednesday night by a local family who had found the poor rabbit dumped in the street.

“It looks as though he was abandoned sometime on the 23rd January and I’m keen to find out where he may have come from.

“I understand that family circumstances can often change and sometimes people are unable to keep their pets. But it’s not acceptable to abandon a vulnerable pet, like a rabbit, in the street like this.

“There are always charities and organisations who are willing to help when needed.”

The rabbit is now being cared for by the RSPCA’s Putney Animal Hospital. If no one comes forward to collect him then he will be rehomed.

ACO Sanders added: “Rabbits are often a child’s first pet and many families take them on for their children to take care of. While bunnies can make wonderful pets they are also a huge responsibility and it’s really important that parents are willing to commit to caring for them when their children, undoubtedly, lose interest.”

Anyone who knows where this bunny may have come from can contact ACO Sanders by calling 0300 123 8018.

For more information about looking after rabbits visit www.rspca.org.uk/rabbits. And to find out more about offering rescue rabbits a new home please visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet.

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit www.rspca.org.uk/give.