A DYING rabbit was 'callously dumped' in a Odiham hedgerow - prompting an appeal by an animal charity for information.

The RSPCA is appealing for information after a lethargic, extremely thin rabbit was found by a member of the public in a gap in a hedgerow in Hillside Road, near its junction with Cemetery Hill, on Sunday, July 2.

The rabbit, which had overgrown claws and was covered in faeces, was found in an open, grey pet carrier.

RSPCA inspector Nikki Denham said: “Despite the compassion shown by the member of the public who took the rabbit home and gave him immediate care the rabbit sadly died.

“We are now appealing for anyone who witnessed anything or knows who this animal belonged to to come forward.

“This rabbit was in very poor body condition. The spine and hip bones were prominent and claws overgrown, suggesting a lack of care and neglect prior to being callously dumped. The rabbit also had fly strike for which a vigilant owner should have sought vet treatment.

“Failing to meet the needs of the animal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is an offence and by dumping a domestic animal in the wild expecting it to be able to fend for itself is an offence .

"Domestic animals do not survive in the wild they have been born and bred in captivity and the wild is an alien environment to them and they do not have the skills at hand to survive. It is cruel and a harrowing experience for a living sentient being.”

In 2016, RSPCA centres up and down the country received a total of 1,029 abandoned small furries which includes rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, degus, rats, ferrets, gerbils, and mice.

This is up from the previous year when there were 984 abandoned small pets reported to the RSPCA. So far in 2017 that number is currently at 410.

Rabbits have the biggest cases of abandonments with 477 in 2016 and 153 have been dumped so far this year.

The RSPCA believes often these small animals are usually bought as a child’s first pet and then abandoned when the owners become bored or no longer want them.

If you have any information on how the rabbit came to be abandoned, call the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.