Target: Heath MacDonald, Canada Minister of Agriculture
Goal: Ensure domesticated rabbits are shielded from abandonment.
Pet rabbits have faced increasing risks in recent years. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is on a concerning rise. In two separate cases emanating out of Canada, individuals were convicted and sentenced to several years in prison for torturing and killing rabbits. But arguably one of the biggest unseen threats is the widespread neglect and abandonment of domesticated rabbits.
A region of Canada recently sent out an alert about the rapid increase of rabbits dumped in the wild, often around holidays like Easter. One organization alone had rescued nearly 100 rabbits. The prevailing theory is that people underestimate the amount of care required to keep a rabbit as a pet and – once the novelty wears off – these people abandon the animals in what they believe to be a native habitat. But domesticated rabbits have a hard time acclimating to the wild, and therefore mortality rates for abandoned pets are very high. Even if the animals survive, they can upset the balance of the ecosystems in which they are left.
Sign the petition below to urge more education about and oversight of the pet rabbit trade.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister MacDonald,
The Sudbury Bunny Rescue Room receives several reports of abandoned rabbits every week. Thankfully, they have been able to rescue 90 rabbits, but the number of former pets who have been lost is likely much higher. A lack of education about care for these animals has played a part in the troubling trend, as has a lack of regulation and guidelines concerning the commercial sale of domesticated rabbits.
More public awareness and more consideration of measures, such as the proposed Calgary ban on rabbit sales and proposed restrictions on rabbit breeding, are sorely needed. Demonstrate that Canada cares about rabbits as more than just a farm commodity. Take decisive steps to protect these vulnerable animals.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Gundula Vogel
