Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue spent days preparing to take in more than 70 rabbits trapped in squalid conditions outside a Butler County home.

Workers gathered supplies and arranged for adoptions and transfers, with plans to execute a search warrant Saturday.

But, when the New Kensington rescue’s humane agent visited the property Thursday, all the animals had disappeared.

The property owners refused to say what happened to the animals, said Becky Morrow, president and medical director of Frankie’s Friends.

“I’m really worried that these individuals either inhumanely killed the animals or just dumped them somewhere,” Morrow said. “Because trying to find homes for that many rabbits — it really can’t be done that quickly.”

In a report to the Butler County District Attorney’s Office, Morrow detailed dilapidated cages, minimal protection from the elements and a complete lack of bedding, hay or drinkable water for the rabbits. The low temperature Jan. 14 — the day of the rescue’s first visit — was 11 degrees, with wind gusts of 18 mph, Morrow said.

“Due to the severity of weather conditions, it is my expert opinion that these animals were at imminent risk of serious bodily harm due to the high likelihood of hypothermia and dehydration,” Morrow concluded, noting that the conditions reached the standard for a third-degree misdemeanor.

The district attorney had not moved to prosecute the property owners as of Tuesday afternoon.

“We are hoping to soon hear about what charges we are able to file,” Morrow said.

Karis Brestensky, a veterinary assistant at Frankie’s Friends, joined the Jan. 14 visit to the property alongside humane agent Debbie Urmann and local law enforcement. Brestensky’s friends who lived nearby alerted her to conditions at the property.

“Upon arrival, you could tell they were hoarders,” Brestensky said.

The property owner also deprived goats and pigs of adequate shelter, food and water, though there were chickens that didn’t seem “in too bad of shape,” Brestensky said.

Growing up on a farm, Brestensky said, the conditions went against everything she knows about proper animal care.

“It was really sad to see how these animals lived,” Brestensky said.

If the animals were released into the wild, Morrow said, it’s unlikely they’ll survive for long.

“Domestic rabbits are not able to adapt to being out in the wild like (other) rabbits are,” Morrow said. “They’re not even the same genus of rabbits.”

Anyone who responded to a request for donations the rescue made last week can contact the organization to get their money back, the rescue said, though the contributions won’t go to waste.

Frankie’s Friends still has seven rabbits from a previous case. The rescue spays or neuters each rabbit that comes into its care, mindful of the animal’s prolific breeding tendencies.

The rescue has primarily provided shelter and veterinary services for cats since its founding in 1999. Despite this, Morrow said she felt an obligation to step in and take the pressure off other shelters.

These rabbits came from “very bad situations,” Morrow said, and “other rescue groups are just filled with rabbits already.”

Trained as a forensic veterinarian, Morrow often is called to crime scenes to advise on collecting evidence of animal cruelty. That’s how she encountered the first group of rabbits.

Rabbits require a constant supply of hay, special paper litter, food pellets and hands-on care, Morrow said. That’s a lot of work for eight staff members — excluding two who are allergic to rabbits.

It’s not cheap, Morrow said, and Frankie’s Friends continues to seek donations and experienced volunteers.

The ultimate goal is to revert back to caring for cats only, Morrow said. Each year, the rescue takes in about 500 sick or injured cats, rehabilitating them and finding them good homes.

“We have our hands full with the cat rescue,” Morrow said.

To that end, Frankie’s Friends has been reaching out to interested foster families. Underground Squeaks, a small animal rescue service based in Western Pennsylvania, picked up six rabbits Jan. 23.

Morrow, who has owned rabbits throughout her life, said she also might take one home for herself.

“They are the cutest animals,” Morrow said. “They have it all.”

People interested in donating, volunteering or exploring adoption can visit frankies-friends.org.

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