BC SPCA rescue 32 rabbits from downtown Vancouver home
Posted August 15, 2022 6:49 pm.
Last Updated August 15, 2022 6:51 pm.
BC SPCA animal protection officers have rescued 32 neglected rabbits who were being bred for profit from a downtown Vancouver home.
Eileen Drever, senior officer for protection at the BC SPCA, says the rabbits were being kept in unsanitary and inappropriate conditions.
“When our officers entered, the rooms smelled strongly of urine and feces,” Drever said in a statement. “The floor, windowsill, and bed were soiled and there were cockroaches and other insects crawling around on all the surfaces.”
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The room where the animals were kept was hot and unventilated, except for a window that had been left ajar, Drever says.
“The room was filthy and the levels of ammonia were high,” Drever said. “Many of the rabbits, who ranged from newborns to adults, had urine-soaked fur.”
Drever says officers found an overturned empty water bowl and there was some hay by a rabbit bed, but it was saturated with urine and feces and unsuitable for the rabbits to consume.
The rabbits are now currently being cared for in SPCA facilities across the Lower Mainland, Drever says.
Drever notes that this most recent rabbit seizure adds to an exploding bunny population in SPCA shelters.
“We have approximately 140 bunnies in our care right now, nearly twice the number we had at this time last year,” Drever explained. “We would love to find homes for these sweet animals and encourage anyone interested in adopting a rabbit to view their profiles at spca.bc.ca/adopt.”
Potential adopters can also find information and resources on the care and enrichment needs of rabbits on the SPCA site.
“In addition to adopters, we are in urgent need of foster homes for bunnies,” says Drever. “If anyone can help, we ask them to please visitspca.bc.ca/ways-to-help/volunteer to apply.”
