Poor bunnies:

A Methuen animal adoption center is looking for donations and foster families for dozens of rabbits and 11 chinchillas that were recently surrendered to the facility.

The MSPCA Noble Family Animal Care and Adoption Center said Monday the most recent animal surrender is from a single pet owner who gave up 51 rabbits and the chinchillas.

Almost all of the rabbits have contracted Pasteurella, manifested primarily as an upper respiratory infection and commonly accompanied by systemic abscesses. Dozens of the rabbits have undergone surgery to repair abscesses found on their eyes, mammary glands and additional internal organs.

The disease is easily spread and the MSPCA’s staff has limited public access to its Rabbit Adoption room. The organization is seeking foster homes prepared to manage multiple medications and lengthy recovery times for the rabbits.

The past few months began what is notoriously the busiest time of year for adoption centers and shelters across Massachusetts as spring turns to summer. In just two months, six people surrendered more than 100 cats, kittens, rabbits and other small animals in unrelated cases to the MSPCA’s Methuen-based adoption center.

“The MSPCA’s four Animal Care and Adoption Centers create Massachusetts’ only network of open admission care providers for homeless animals,” said Mike Keiley, director of the Noble Family Animal Care and Adoption Center. “Since we operate the only facilities that will never turn away an animal in need, in these extreme cases of neglect we are capable of caring for numerous large surrenders.”

In all six recent cases, the animals suffered from conditions frequently seen in overcrowded homes, including respiratory illnesses, parasites and eye infections. Several cases were severe, including the need for the MSPCA veterinary staff to conduct emergency surgery to remove the eye from a 6-week-old kitten.

Financial contributions to the MSPCA’s Angels for Animals Fund, which provides medical care for animals at the adoption center, are also needed to help offset the mounting costs of recovery and rehabilitation. Click here to donate or contact the Noble Family Animal Care and Adoption Center at 978-687-7453.

The MSPCA is asking for the public’s help hoping that those who are interested in foster care may step forward. To learn more about the MSPCA’s Foster Program, click here.

All of the rabbits have been listed on the MSPCA’s “Available Animals” Web page to help them find homes more quickly once recovery is complete. Those interested in adoption are encouraged to click here to view the rabbits, including some uncommon breeds, and to fill out an adoption application at the Noble Family Animal Care and Adoption Center.