Adams, age 42 of Adelphia Street was ordered not to keep any animals, except for dogs for 10 years.

Adams plead guilty in Bridlington Magistrates' Court to causing unnecessary suffering to animals after 2 rabbits were found abandoned at her former address on St. John's Gardens.

The 2 female Lionhead rabbits, were originally bought for her daughter Amy Adams, age 21.  The 2 were locked in a hutch as Mrs. Adams moved to her current address less than 350 yards away.

Adams was left with the responsibility of caring for the rabbits after daughter Amy left home following an argument.

Adams took the dog when she moved but left the rabbits.  Adams made no plans for the rabbits, but had assumed her daughter would return for them.

10 days after the move one of Adams' colleagues, who was the original owner of the rabbits, decided to check on them hutch after learning that the house was empty.

Upon arrival Mr. Seagrave found the hutch dirty, no haw or straw, no food and water and one rabbit dead, the other was in a very thin condition.  Seagrave reported this to the RSPCA.  The live rabbit was checked by a Driffield vet who described it as very thin and found it to weight 2 kg less than an average rabbit of its breed.

  (Photo courtesy of the Driffield Post Times)  The surviving rabbit died 10 days later after contracting a bacterial infection.

Besides being ordered not to own any animals except for dogs for 10 years, Adams was ordered to pay a fine of 500 pounds, court costs of 300 pounds and a victim surcharge of 15 pounds.

Reference:

RSPCA

Driffield Post Times