Hello,

   Like most prey animals’ rabbits eyes are on the sides of their heads, so they can have a wide range of view, and however, helpful is only useful because of their speed. Outside of that physical characteristic they are vulnerable. Their teeth are small and few, their claws are only useful for digging, and their hearts are small and weak. Rabbits can be very timid and often suffer heart attacks due to fear. Cargo and baggage cars are too loud, and the handling of checked baggage is too rough! To put this in perspective the first time my rabbit Lulu visited the animal hospital she stomped her foot, which prompted the veterinarians to immediately check her feet for broken bones. These animals are extremely fragile and should never be placed in noisy spaces where they can be thrown around. They even dread the motion of a moving car. Our nervous animal friends will be calmer where they can hear and see their owners. What it means to rabbit owners like myself and our rabbits like Lulu is the absence of unnecessary death! So, please take a few seconds out of your day to help save our families lives!

   A common misconception is that rabbits are rodents. Rabbits are part of the Leporidae family in the order of Lagomorpha, which differs from the Rodentia family. They are herbivores, so their diets are completely plant based. Dwarf breeds are between 1-1/2 pounds, medium size rabbits are between 5-10 pounds, and giant breeds weigh around 16 pounds. In captivity they can live for around 12-years give or take depending on their health and environment. As prey animals they are extremely fragile and should be handled with care. However, prominent Canadian travel companies put rabbits in imminent danger by transporting them in cargo and baggage cars. This is inhumane and can result in death, which is in direct animal cruelty violation within Canada and the United States of America. Many rabbits travel in cat carriers and dog bags and should receive the same fair treatment awarded to their carnivorous counterparts considering they are more fragile. They are extremely quiet, they can be litter trained, and as crepuscular animals they sleep during the day. Cleanliness is of the utmost importance to rabbits, so naturally they groom themselves daily similarly to cats. As the third most popular pet in America and growing in popularity yearly misconceptions and barriers need to be broken, so rabbits can travel safely with their owners!

   Despite the Government of Canada stating, “all animals… must be kept safe from harm and injury when they are travelling by land, air, or sea”, they have the same guidelines as the American organization The Federal Aviation Administration, which permits airlines to allow pets in a cabin at their discretion, and pets stored in a cabin are considered baggage and must adhere to Sec. 121.589 under the Code of Federal Regulations. Canadian trains also adhere to these guidelines. However, any veterinarian or rabbit enthusiast knows rabbits should only travel in a cabin with their owner’s and should never be kept in cargo or baggage cars due to the motion and noise. There are several accounts of rabbits dying in cargo. The most notable case was Simon, a giant 3-foot-long show rabbit that passed away in 2017. Airlines need to ban the transport of rabbits in checked baggage, and the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT needs to enforce their travelling with animal’s guidelines and extend these guidelines to rabbits. Travelling with animals

   Please share this with friends, family members, politicians, policy makers, and business owners. 

Respectfully, 

Ms. Shade