Seven rescued rabbits perish due to poor health

Seven of the 222 rabbits removed from Bunny Magic Wildlife and Rabbit Rescue Inc. in Lusby last week have died.Lt. Steve Jones of the Calvert County Sheriff's Office said the more than 200 rabbits removed from the rescue were taken to the Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville, where some received medical treatment. Jones said all of the rabbits that were taken were in poor health and had "grooming issues."

"Where the rabbits were being contained [at the rescue] … was unhealthy," Jones said. "Some were underfed and not well taken care of."Jones said that seven of the rabbits have died due to being in such poor health. The rest of the rabbits will remain at the shelter until they are healthy enough to be adopted and the Calvert County State's Attorney's Office and Animal Control conclude their investigation, he said.

County officials executed a search warrant and removed the sick and injured rabbits Aug. 8 from the shelter after receiving a complaint July 24 from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that the rabbits were living in inhumane conditions.PETA was notified of the rabbits being kept in poor conditions by a whistleblower, and a PETA investigator then confirmed the conditions.