South San Francisco (BCN)

And then there were 80.

The Peninsula Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported Friday a South San Francisco man who obtained two rabbits about two years ago for his son's school project didn't know what to do when the rabbits kept multiplying so he just tried to take care of them.

According to PHS/SPCA spokesman Scott Delucchi, the owner didn't know the animals could be spayed or neutered so he built a hutch in the yard of a home on Myrtle Avenue and provided food and water to the growing herd of bunnies.

The PHS/SPCA is not pursuing animal cruelty charges against the man because there was no evidence of neglect or mistreatment of the animals.

The owner agreed to hand over the rabbits so that they could be spayed and neutered. The PHS/SPCA took the rabbits just before noon on Friday and agreed to give three of the younger ones back to the owner once they were fixed.

The rest of the bunnies will be put up for adoption at a discounted rate as early as Monday. Instead of $40, rabbit adoptions are $20, the PHS/SPCA reported. Some of the bunnies can be viewed at http://www.phs-spca.org.

Summer is a challenging time for animal shelters nationwide since there tends to be an influx of unwanted rabbits.

"Many people acquire rabbits at Easter, then tire of the fragile companion animals months later when the novelty wears off or they realize they are unprepared to fully care for them,'' Delucchi said in a written statement.

The PHS/SPCA is asking for donations of extra large dog crates to be used as temporary housing for the rabbits. Crate donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.