Government has apologised after a rabbit was left stressed and dehydrated after taking part in this year's Annual Exhibition.

Diego the black-and-white bunny, who belongs to First Fruits Daycare/Pre-school in Sandys, was treated for conjunctivitis in both eyes and put on a drip for severe dehydration after the three-day agricultural event at the Botanical Gardens in April.

First Fruits director Julie Pitt complained to the Department of Environmental Protection and has now received a letter of apology and an offer to pay the $79 vet's bill.

She told The Royal Gazette: "The conditions looked fine to me once I was there but, after I got the rabbit home, it was not the same rabbit.

"Our rabbit is very healthy. He's like a child to me. He wasn't alright. He was very weak because he was dehydrated and he had conjunctivitis caused by the straw."

In a letter of complaint to the director of Environmental Protection, Ms Pitt wrote: "This rabbit is a beloved pet of many children, docile and sweet, and it pained us greatly for him to endure an intravenous drip to replace lost fluids as well as medication with daily eyewash.

"The doctor informed us that both conditions were preventable with adequate ventilation and hydration for the former and not resorting to the use of sawdust for the latter.

"Of course we will never enter another exhibit in your show as a result of our experience but we shudder to think that this could happen to some other rabbit or animal."

Ms Pitt said yesterday she was pleased with the Government's response but hoped there would be better ventilation and more water for animals at future agricultural shows.

A Ministry of Environment spokesman said caregivers were on hand in the rabbit and poultry facility during all the hours that the animals were on display plus an hour before and after.

"They are being offered plenty of water," he said. "If dehydration is an issue it's not from not being offered water. There are people making sure they have got everything they need throughout the day."

The spokesman said the rabbit could have become stressed by being away from its normal environment and may have had a pre-existing condition.

He added that more than a hundred animals were exhibited in the rabbit and poultry area and Ms Pitt's letter was the only complaint.