Pipp
Well-Known Member
This has been brought up before, but now we have a ton of snow on the ground and freezing temperatures expected to last quite awhile, and that can't be good news for the estimated 5000 feral bunnies in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond. I don't know if I should start trying to drop bales of hay to them on thesly (the civic authorities seem to think that feeding them is worse than turning them loose in the first place), or let nature take its course.
There aremany other colonies around here as well.This areis normally very mild climate-wise, and people really tend to just turn their pet rabbits loose. It's a much more difficult task than the Great Nevada Rescue, because at least those bunnies were all contained in one yard.
The rescue orgs are no help.SARS is basically a small group of friends who don't seem totrust anybody outside their group, and although they're doing a fabulous job rescuing individual rabbits, mice, rats, etc, they're run off their feet and can't handle what they've got much less this kind of a project. They also don't seem to be doing much of a job of lobbying for their welfare (or if they are, they're not telling anybody, which isn't exactly what 'lobbying' is about), or expanding their volunteer base, and their media relations are abysmal (judging from my own attempts to help as a media person).
The local HRS people seem to be doing a better job of organizing and are coming off as more professional (or at least proficient), but with their mandate, they are really only concerned with house rabbits, and don't have muchinterest in outdoor situations -- and this obviously will require that. I'm mentally at odds with the HRS because Idon't think that all rabbits have to be house pets, I just want to see them well cared for, protected and entertained. If hutch or yard bunnies have mates and enough room, I don't think they need human companionship, just protection and nutrition.
I'm really at odds with PETA because (as above) I don't think animals are better off dead than caged. And I think human/pet interaction is a wonderful thing -- if the above criteria is met. It's just instances like these where as much as I hate PETA, I really wish a body with their organization skills was around to motivate the public and media.
I may also be at odds with people on this board, judging from the reception that Fish2026 got when he asked about rescuing and releasing domestic bunnies on land set aside for a private wildlife sanctuary, although I would hope that the fact the bunnies are already released will make a difference. The thread was one of the few on RO that got a little heated.
(http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=14131&forum_id=1)
I'm very angry right now becausemany, many, manyformer pet bunnies will die in this weather, and noorganization stood upfor their welfare when they still had a chance.Last June the farmers launched their own campaign,lobbying the media and the gov't to get rid of the rabbits, and the only response wasa small handful of letters from a handful of advocates.There was zip in the way of pressure to save the rabbits, and I think the end result was that permission was given for them to be shot. None were rounded up,no place set up for them to go, which was unfortunate seeing as it was so soon afterthe Nevada peopleaccomplished so much --people are complaining that they prepared sanctuaries for the Nevada bunnies but there weren't any left!!The momentum was lost.
It's going to be an uphill battle, a whole new society will probably have to be formed and accredited, which will take a year, unless I can find an existing one with the same goals. I guess myimmediate interest has to bein a sanctuary -- I already contacted one gov't-related departmentin a position to donate land, and the idea of a controlled 'rabbitat' received a very warm reception.
Frankly I'd rather work on things that will nip the problem in the bud before it becomes a problem, mostly via an educational and advocacy organization that can:
-lobby the various levels ofgov't for verysevere rabbit-dumping penalties
-regulate (if not ban) and live animal sales in pet stores (starting with rabbits);pets mustbe 'adopted' by contract, and not 'sold'.
-educate pet owners viaa media and advertising campaign
- organize a major feral and domestic spay and neuter program
-lobby drug companies and research and educational institutions to develop animal contraceptives
Suggestion, comments, hugs welcome.
sas and the gang of 5000
There aremany other colonies around here as well.This areis normally very mild climate-wise, and people really tend to just turn their pet rabbits loose. It's a much more difficult task than the Great Nevada Rescue, because at least those bunnies were all contained in one yard.
The rescue orgs are no help.SARS is basically a small group of friends who don't seem totrust anybody outside their group, and although they're doing a fabulous job rescuing individual rabbits, mice, rats, etc, they're run off their feet and can't handle what they've got much less this kind of a project. They also don't seem to be doing much of a job of lobbying for their welfare (or if they are, they're not telling anybody, which isn't exactly what 'lobbying' is about), or expanding their volunteer base, and their media relations are abysmal (judging from my own attempts to help as a media person).
The local HRS people seem to be doing a better job of organizing and are coming off as more professional (or at least proficient), but with their mandate, they are really only concerned with house rabbits, and don't have muchinterest in outdoor situations -- and this obviously will require that. I'm mentally at odds with the HRS because Idon't think that all rabbits have to be house pets, I just want to see them well cared for, protected and entertained. If hutch or yard bunnies have mates and enough room, I don't think they need human companionship, just protection and nutrition.
I'm really at odds with PETA because (as above) I don't think animals are better off dead than caged. And I think human/pet interaction is a wonderful thing -- if the above criteria is met. It's just instances like these where as much as I hate PETA, I really wish a body with their organization skills was around to motivate the public and media.
I may also be at odds with people on this board, judging from the reception that Fish2026 got when he asked about rescuing and releasing domestic bunnies on land set aside for a private wildlife sanctuary, although I would hope that the fact the bunnies are already released will make a difference. The thread was one of the few on RO that got a little heated.
(http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=14131&forum_id=1)
I'm very angry right now becausemany, many, manyformer pet bunnies will die in this weather, and noorganization stood upfor their welfare when they still had a chance.Last June the farmers launched their own campaign,lobbying the media and the gov't to get rid of the rabbits, and the only response wasa small handful of letters from a handful of advocates.There was zip in the way of pressure to save the rabbits, and I think the end result was that permission was given for them to be shot. None were rounded up,no place set up for them to go, which was unfortunate seeing as it was so soon afterthe Nevada peopleaccomplished so much --people are complaining that they prepared sanctuaries for the Nevada bunnies but there weren't any left!!The momentum was lost.
It's going to be an uphill battle, a whole new society will probably have to be formed and accredited, which will take a year, unless I can find an existing one with the same goals. I guess myimmediate interest has to bein a sanctuary -- I already contacted one gov't-related departmentin a position to donate land, and the idea of a controlled 'rabbitat' received a very warm reception.
Frankly I'd rather work on things that will nip the problem in the bud before it becomes a problem, mostly via an educational and advocacy organization that can:
-lobby the various levels ofgov't for verysevere rabbit-dumping penalties
-regulate (if not ban) and live animal sales in pet stores (starting with rabbits);pets mustbe 'adopted' by contract, and not 'sold'.
-educate pet owners viaa media and advertising campaign
- organize a major feral and domestic spay and neuter program
-lobby drug companies and research and educational institutions to develop animal contraceptives
Suggestion, comments, hugs welcome.
sas and the gang of 5000