Influencer abandoned her four pet rabbits in the woods and shared it on Instagram — then instantly regretted the ‘stupid decision’ after what followed
A popular German influencer sparked outrage after four of her pet rabbits were found abandoned in a forest, an incident she shared in a since-deleted Instagram post that quickly drew attention. The situation came to light on August 23, 2025, when the animals were rescued. It raised serious concerns about their welfare and safety. Followers and animal lovers criticized the decision, highlighting the responsibilities that come with owning pets. The forest north of Hamburg became the focus of the story, and the discovery of the rabbits months later reignited debates about pet care and the consequences of neglect.
As reported by PEOPLE on December 11, 2025, the rabbits abandoned by popular German influencer Alicia Vosgrau were found in Rantzau Forest and taken to Tierheim Henstedt-Ulzburg, an animal shelter that stepped in to help. Three of the four rabbits were rescued, while sadly, one did not survive after being left in the woods. The shelter strongly criticized her actions on Instagram, saying, “Releasing animals is never a solution. Animal husbandry means responsibility. You must already be aware of this before purchasing it and prefer to rethink the decision several times.” The shelter also filed a complaint with local authorities and said it expected the influencer to cover the costs of care and rescue, noting the costs were “in the four‑digit euro range.”
The influencer reportedly struggled to balance the demands of her family life, including caring for a newborn baby and supporting a husband who was experiencing burnout, as per Blue News. In a translated statement she shared on her social channels, she said, “This has been weighing on my consciee for a while now, but I haven't dared to address it myself until now because I feel incredibly guilty and ashamed.” She also admitted that two rabbits had already passed away under her care. She went on to explain how the family “had the incredibly stupid idea of releasing the remaining four rabbits into a wooded area, convinced at the time that they would be fine there.” Critics said these pressures showed that she should have sought a new home for the rabbits rather than abandoning them. Animal rights groups such as PETA also spoke out, saying, “Abandoning an animal is a criminal offense, and in the case of the influencer family, legal action must follow as a matter of urgency,” and calling for a ban on keeping animals under similar circumstances.
While two of the three rescued rabbits have since found their forever homes, the incident has sparked broader discussions about pet ownership and the responsibilities involved in caring for animals. Many pointed to how social media influence does not lessen the real‑world responsibilities of owners. Influencer Laura Maria Rypa also spoke out, saying that abandoning the animals was "not an unconscious knee-jerk reaction." The controversy also had professional repercussions, with major brands like Pampers and HolidayCheck reportedly ending partnerships with Vosgrau after the backlash, stating that ‘further cooperation is out of the question for us,’ as they could no longer collaborate with someone involved in abandoning animals.