"No longer held as evidence," nearly 30 rabbits seized will soon go up for adoption

OZAUKEE COUNTY -- Nearly 30 rabbits seized from a dilapidated barn in Saukville on December 30th are no longer being held as evidence. They are now one step closer to finding new homes.

The Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office was called out for an animal welfare check, and officials found more than two dozen rabbits in terrible conditions -- without any food or water. The animals were living in a dilapidated barn in wire cages.

28 rabbits were rescued alive.



The owner of the rabbits is still the subject of a criminal investigation -- but on Tuesday, January 5th, she agreed to relinquish the animals to the Wisconsin Humane Society.

"Some of them have started to come out of their shells," Angela Speed with the Wisconsin Humane Society said.

Speed has been with the Wisconsin Humane Society for nearly a decade. She says she's never seen a case like this.

"Another unusual thing about the case is the rabbits have their names tattooed in their ears," Speed said.

Speed says the animals were found in cramped cages with feces piling nearby as high as three feet.

But there was some good news on Tuesday.

"They are no longer being held as evidence. We've been given the clearance to find homes for them," Speed said.

Ozaukee County sheriff's officials say a veterinarian report shows the rabbits are of adequate weight. However, most of the rabbits were found to have hair loss, scabs and infections.

The owner of the animals told FOX6 News this is all a misunderstanding.

"It was an unfortunate situation. We were getting out of that barn because it was untenable," the animals' owner said.

She said rabbits weren't fed due to the snow storm on Monday, December 28th that dropped a total of nine inches of snow in Milwaukee -- and a dead rabbit found by Humane Society officials was due to old age.

"It was dark. It had passed about three weeks ago and we forgot to remove it," the animals' owner said.

FOX6 News unveiled that the rabbits' owner not only cared for rabbits, but taught children as a project leader with the Ozaukee County 4-H program.

When asked whether she would like her animals back, the woman said: "They were going to be butchered in the middle of January anyways."

Humane Society officials say they're thankful the woman has agreed to give up ownership of the animals, preventing what could have been a messy custody battle.

The focus now is on finding these animals loving new homes.

"They are definitely going to need patient guardians. They are going to blossom in their own time," Speed said.

Humane Society officials say some of the rabbits will be available for adoption by this weekend.

The criminal investigation in this case continues.

No charges have been filed.