161 Rabbits Confiscated and Condemned to Die in Alabama

Over 200 neglected and malnourished rabbits and other animals were seized on January 29 in Lauderdale County, Alabama as a result of a cruelty complaint. While this should be good news, and was for the animals of other species that were seized, the rabbits’ situation became tragically worse, as if that were possible! The district attorney decided to send the rabbits to commercial rabbit breeders both inside and outside the state, to spend their lives breeding and in miserable conditions until death.

The scene was horrific. The animals were taken from the home of Patrick and Laura Sherwood, in the city of Florence, Alabama. All animals, including the 161 rabbits, were found in squalid and deplorable conditions. The Sherwoods are currently in custody at the Lauderdale County Detention Center facing animal cruelty charges, though the charges may not stick because Patrick Sherwood is a sex offender and the argument of mental instability might play a part in the defense of the Sherwoods’ treatment of their animals.

While the other animals, including horses, donkeys, llamas, dogs, cats, hamsters, and birds are either being cared for at the Lauderdale County animal shelter or are safely housed with the rescue organizations to whom they have been transferred, somehow the rabbits were not given the same chance for new lives.

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