A trustee at a rabbit rehoming centre has spoken of how ‘incredibly important’ it is to receive grants such as the £5,000 recently donated by Support Adoption For Pets.

The people at Rabbit Residence Rescue in Great Chishill were handed the grant to help the charity pay its ever mounting vet bills.

Trustee Cat Davies said: “These funds are incredibly important to us. It costs us a lot of money every month to cover not just feed and bedding bills, but all important vets bills.

“Before we re-home each rabbit, we make sure they’re healthy, vet checked, neutered and up to date on vaccinations.

“We have had several serious health problems to deal with recently, including major dental work and one poor bun has had to have her eye removed due to an abscess.

“Just for one of these operations can run into hundreds of pounds. To see a healthier rabbit at the end of it is worth every penny but we are only able to afford to do this thanks to donations.”

The rescue centre is based on a third acre plot of land where bunnies have large natural habitat areas to live in.

The charity works tirelessly to re-home rabbits across the local area.

Vet bills are the rescue’s biggest expense, costing more than £40,000 last year.

With the donation, the rescue expects to be able to fund the veterinary treatment of up to 50 rabbits.

Amy Wilson, charity manager at Support Adoption For Pets, said: “It is a real privilege to help an organisation that works so hard at rescuing and re-homing rabbits across Royston.

“The work done is fantastic and they will now be able to provide care for more rabbits.”

Support Adoption For Pets is an independent charity established by Pets at Home in 2006.

More about rabbit rescue at www.rabbitresidence.org.uk.