Dear Mayor and Council,

I was again shocked and horrified by the latest killing method that is being
implemented by EBB at the will of yourselves, Kelowna's City Council, the
"bolt method". I ask that you, Kelowna's newly elected Council, stop this
method of killing. I urge you to stop the killing of the feral rabbits
completely and work with the animal rescue organizations to implement a
humane way of dealing with the feral rabbits.

My name is Maurie Deaton and I am the founder of Vernon Rabbit Rescue in
your neighbouring communities here in Greater Vernon. I have been rescuing
rabbits from Vernon's streets for five years, ever since Vernon experienced
the first population explosion of abandoned and feral rabbits.

I have requested on several occasions to present to you, Kelowna's City
Council, on the successful, non-lethal methods that we use in Vernon for
feral rabbit control. I have been refused by Council to present as a
delegate at each of my requests.

I again request the opportunity to present to Council on the successful,
non-lethal methods that we use in Vernon Rabbit Rescue. In Vernon, we trap,
sterilize and re-home the bunnies and have done this for approximately 350
bunnies from our community.

We have had the financial support of our Vernon Council, both in 2007 and
2008 for a total of $7,000, to assist with the cost of spay/neuter of
Vernon's feral rabbits. This is a fraction of the $64,000 amount that your
Council has spent on your inhumane methods of managing the feral rabbit
problem. Our efforts have nearly completely eradicated the feral rabbit
problem in the City of Vernon.

The killing of Kelowna's feral rabbits is completely unnecessary and this
particular method is horrifically inhumane. I have handled literally
hundreds of feral rabbits thousands of times, and can tell you that this
method will not be successful on the first attempt, and will cause extreme
pain and distress to the animals.

As I said, the killing of these bunnies is unnecessary, feral rabbits
(unlike feral cats) are easily re-tamed and make wonderful pets, as the
hundreds of families who have adopted feral rabbits can tell you. Of the 300
to 400 bunnies that I have rescued in Vernon, only a small few have been
unadoptable, primarily due to the bunny's fear of people and not due to any
aggression. These bunnies that can't get over their distrust of humans,
often with good cause, are given sanctuary at our partner organization
Warren Peace Bunny Sanctuary in Oyama.

Again, please stop this inhumane and cruel destruction of bunnies. It isn't
too late to turn around this disastrous decision. Please step up and be the
heroes that Kelowna's people and bunnies need.

Sincerely,

Maurie Deaton
Vernon Rabbit Rescue Founder
250-558-7720
250-938-4411