Release of pet rabbits in Dublin’s St Stephen’s Green criticised as ‘irresponsible’

The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) has described the release of pet rabbits into St Stephen’s Green park as “irresponsible”.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) spotted four rabbits in the park and captured them on Sunday. They were cared for by the park constables before being collected by the DSPCA on Monday morning.

DSPCA spokeswoman Gillian Bird said the four are lionhead rabbits which are exclusively kept as pets in Ireland. They would have no knowledge of how to deal with predators and could have been killed by urban foxes.

“These aren’t wild rabbits. A park is not a safe environment for them,” she said.

Supermarket wines: Two great Italian wines to try

---

Brendan O’Connor brings his contrary streak to a cosy conversation about immigration

---

John FitzGerald: An attempt to buy the next election with a giveaway budget would be a gross miscalculation

---

US student protests: Democrats are worried this is 1968 again

---

Ms Bird said it was unclear if all the rabbits released into the park at the weekend were caught.

A spokesman for the OPW said: “The OPW can confirm that four rabbits (three white and one black) were found over the weekend in St. Stephen’s Green.

“They were cared for by the park constables before being collected by the DSPCA this morning. A notice (including images) is currently advertised on the lost pet section of the DSCPA website.”