200 Rabbits: Rescue Begins at Overcrowded Gwinnett Property

Gwinnett Animal Control began removing pet rabbits from an overcrowded Grayson property Wednesday afternoon, and while no charges are expected, volunteers from an animal rescue group said the rabbits were living in cramped and filthy conditions.

Gwinnett Animal Control, Georgia Department of Agriculture and the rescue group Georgia House Rabbit Society removed some of the 200 rabbits that were found at Pet Parties Plus on Bennett Road, described as a petting zoo and party business, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The rabbit rescue attracted media coverage throughout metro Atlanta.

• RELATED: Rabbit Rescue: Overcrowded Gwinnett Property Getting Help

Police said Wednesday the rabbits were found after Animal Control received a July 22 complaint about excessive rabbits at the property. The person who called animal control reported receiving a free rabbit from the location. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the rabbit was from a cage marked “free rabbits,” and the animal became sick and lethargic soon afterward.

A volunteer with the Georgia House Rabbit Society told the AJC Wednesday he saw 10 to 12 rabbits in small cages and the animals were living in filthy conditions.

Police said when animal control visited the property on July 24, no county ordinance violations were found, so no citations were given.

“During the visit, animal control officers observed numerous pens with rabbits inside. Some of the pens were overcrowded which is a characteristic of animal hoarding. However, the rabbits appeared to be well fed and healthy,” Gwinnett Police public information officer Cpl. Deon Washington said Wednesday in a news release. “The animals were not living in filth and none of the animals were dead. The owner of the property requested assistance to reduce the number of rabbits at the location.”

The number of rabbits was estimated at 200, but the exact number was not known.

Edie Sayeg, executive director of the animal group, the Daily Post she believed the conditions showed “a hoarding situation,” and not simply a case of the owner letting things get out of hand.

Police said it is hoping the rabbits will be evacuated and relocated in the next few weeks.

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Note: File photo of rabbit above not from the Grayson property