THE RSPCA have issued an urgent update about the bunnies that were found dumped in Worcestershire earlier this month.

On November 11, around 100 bunnies were discovered to have been abandoned in a wood in Chaddesley Corbett.

The following day, 80 of them were believed to have been found, with a rescue centre in Dudley, Lucky Bunny and Friends Rescue, taking in 56 of them.

A nationwide effort to support the bunnies followed suit, with rescues from as far away as Eastbourne travelling to the West Midlands to lend a helping hand to Lucky Bunny and Friends.

Sadly, the RSPCA confirmed 28 bunnies were found dead when discovered in the woods and spokesperson from Lucky Bunny and Friends, Nicky Roberts, said she knows of a further four who have died, despite the best efforts of the rescues who have been caring for them.

After conducting post-mortem examinations on the bunnies they found, the RSPCA have now issued a warning to anyone who has taken in any of the rescued animals after they were found to have a highly contagious disease known as Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD).

RVHD does not affect humans, but it is highly transmissible amongst rabbits and is usually fatal.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We are strongly advising that anyone who has picked up a domestic rabbit/s from Chaddesley Corbett wood to take the rabbit/s to be examined by a veterinary surgeon without delay.

“If people have picked up rabbits from that location, they should keep them separated from any existing rabbits they may have.

“It’s also important for rabbit owners to vaccinate their rabbits as this is the only way to protect them from some of the common serious and often fatal diseases.”

For more information about RVHD visit the Rabbit Welfare Association’s website.

Ms Roberts has also set up a Facebook group to provide updates and share information about the bunnies, which can be accessed here.