Wee Rabbit Kit Found Dead and Covered in Paint
I allude to this accident in my petition, and here is the substantiating photograph. That little rabbit had NO IDEA what paint was. Why were no prevention measures put in place to pre-empt accidents like this from occurring? Perhaps because our laws clearly state there are no laws in existence to protect outdoor or feral domestic rabbits*.
SOURCE: https://www.alberta.ca/rabbits-and-hares.aspx
1) Specifically, it states: "In Alberta, there are mountain cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hares, white-tailed jackrabbits (a type of hare) and a variety of domestic rabbit breeds." The language used here is unclear in that it is normalizing the fact that domestic rabbits are being included alongside wildlife.
2) "Domestic rabbits [can be differentiated from wild rabbits by the variety of colours and sizes and] are not protected by any of Alberta's wildlife laws."*
3) "Rabbits normally live only 12 to 15 months and in that time have approximately three litters of up to six young." I find this language minimizing and confusing. Is it referring to the mountain cottontail rabbit or the domestic rabbits? If its the latter, then I find it normalizes a 15 month lifespan which is misleading since domestic rabbits are known to enjoy 9 to 16 years in domesticity. In any case, it only states what their outdoor lifespan is and why, in a normalizing fashion. Also, feral domestic rabbits are having larger litters than just six young. Its closer to a range from six to ten young. It makes no mention of rabbits carrying two litters at the same time, which they do.
4) "In the city, rabbit and hare populations are kept in check by vehicles, weather, predators and other mortality factors." This is shockingly accepting of the brutality of killing off outdoor domestic rabbits by: traffic or vehicles; harsh, extreme weather given our climate in Alberta; wildlife predators preying on outdoor domestic rabbits. It also is very accommodating, accepting, and normalizing of outdoor domestic rabbit mortality. THERE IS NOTHING ACCEPTABLE ABOUT THE PREVENTABLE SUFFERING AND PREMATURE DEATHS OF DOMESTIC RABBITS WHO ARE OUTSIDE THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.