"They said there was a cage nearby which had been covered with a bin bag," she said. "The rabbit had just been left in the road. It was just waiting to be run over."

She said although there was a bit of food and two carrots in the cage, it wasn't very clean and it looked as if it had just been dumped.

Miss Boyall who is a rabbit enthusiast, with four of her own at home in Lossiemouth, paid for medical care for the Dwarf Lop Eared rabbit which is about six months old, after it was brought into Moray Coast Vets.

As the vets doesn't have the facilities to look after strays, the rabbit was placed in temporary foster care in Alves but has since been moved to Piperhill Rabbit Rescue Centre, near Cawdor, and needs a new home.

"There are currently 33,000 rabbits in rescue," said Miss Boyall. "People get them without really knowing how to look after them, thinking they can just put them in a cage and leave them, but they need proper care."

She explained that the rescue centre, which is run by rabbit lover Caroline Urquhart cannot keep Cilla as it is over-run with the creatures and struggling for space and facilities, after recently agreeing to take another six unwanted rabbits.

"Rabbits make such lovely pets," said Mrs Boyall. "This one is really sweet and quite lively. It needs lots of love and lots of space, such as a garden or somewhere to run about. It could even be a house rabbit."

She explained that a lot of people buy a rabbit instead of a dog or a cat, thinking they will be easier and just put the animals in a small cage with no interaction. After a while, with no handling or space to run about, the animals, which live in wide open spaces in the wild, develop vices such as biting out of frustration.

"Any animal can cause disruption," she said, "but rabbits make lovely pets, they can be very affectionate. One of mine likes to sit on the sofa like a cat. They are very easily house trained."

Meanwhile, Mrs Boyall is encouraging people to find out more about rabbits and is hoping for a good turnout at an information day that she is holding at the Moray Coast Vet Group in Forres next week.

The event which is being held to coincide with National Veterinary Nurses Day will have lots of information on hand, plus the chance to handle some rabbits.

"I thought it would be a good idea to try and educate people about rabbits," she said. "Despite being the third most popular pet, they are still the most neglected.

The open afternoon on Thursday, November 16, starts at 2pm with displays, competitions and lots of educational information available about rabbits, as well as refreshments and a slice of carrot cake. Adults must accompany children and donations are welcome.

Further information about keeping rabbits as pets is available on the website http://www.rabbitwelfarefund.co.uk. Alternatively anyone interested in giving Cilla or another cuddly bunny a proper home should contact Caroline at Piperhill Rabbit Rescue on 01667404395 or 01667 404489.

t.mclaren@forres-gazette.co.uk

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