A mother of five has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after a court heard she kept her rabbits in “filthy” hutches and failed to get them proper treatment for painful ear mites.

Sara Davis, of Brierley Hill, who had five rabbits seized by the RSPCA from her old home in Cradley Heath, will now also lose her two dogs, three cats and kitten.

Dudley magistrates also ordered her to do 50 hours community service and make a £200 contribution towards the RSPCA’s costs in the case, said to total £6,852, including boarding costs for the animals.

Davis, aged 31, of Bent Street, Brierley Hill, had admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a rabbit by failing to ensure the animal received care for ear mites between April 22 and May 20.

She also admitted two charges, between May 6 and 20, of not taking reasonable steps to ensure the rabbits were provided with a hygienic environment.

Mrs Gaynor Sutton, prosecuting, said the RSPCA was called in by someone who had bought rabbits from Davis, one of which had died and one which was very ill.

The RSPCA went to her former address in Meadow Walk, Cradley Heath, and found “filthy” hutches.

The inspector seized five of the 16 rabbits kept there and fed the rest. Mrs Sutton said two of the rabbits had severe encrustation of mites on their ears.

Mr Phillip Haycock, defending, said Davis was given two baby rabbits in August 2010 for her children but they multiplied and she began to take in bunnies that had been abandoned.

“She ended up with 16 rabbits and 10 cats,” he said.

“This was a case of neglect, rather than deliberate, sadistic behaviour.”

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