PHOTO CREDIT: G. Becker, Calgary, Alberta
Good day. Sunshine! How are you doing?
I am writing to thank you for your support, to ask you to share this petition with others, and to continue the education and awareness necessary to end feral domestic lagomorph suffering.
How do we make people care? That is the question. It is a simple matter of recognizing these domestic creatures belong indoors, period.
I stumbled upon this position statement on Feral Rabbits from our neighbours to the west, B.C. What can we do, here in Alberta, to influence the Alberta government to publish their position statement?
Write me at yycrabbitrescue@gmail.com
Talk about this issue with your vet and everyone you know. Be someone who cares enough to take concrete action on behalf of these innocents. Why should adopting a rabbit be any different than adopting a dog or cat? Why do we discriminate against lagomorphs?
Kindly,
Lynda Wise, Ph. 587-353-3862
Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
Position Statement on Feral Rabbits
Non-native, domestic European rabbits that are free-living in the environment as abandoned pets, or offspring of such animals, are legally designated “feral rabbits” under the BC Wildlife Act. The BC SPCA still considers these rabbits as domesticated animals.
The BC SPCA is opposed to the abandonment of domestic rabbits into the wild, which is a criminal act under the Criminal Code of Canada¹ and an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act². The BC SPCA strongly encourages municipalities to enact bylaws that prevent the sale or adoption of unsterilized rabbits and manage free-living domestic (“feral”) rabbits.
The BC SPCA does not support the lethal control of free-living domestic (“feral”) rabbits for nuisance reasons (including culls). When control is needed, the BC SPCA strongly encourages the use of non-lethal, non-contact, prevention and exclusion techniques. In addition, the BC SPCA supports activities that aim to humanely trap, sterilize, and re-home adoptable rabbits in approved homes or sanctuaries that can provide for their needs for the remainder of their lives.
SOURCE: Position Statement on Feral Rabbits | BC SPCA