Letter: Misinformation on bunny 'hazard'
Times Colonist
Tuesday, September 09, 2008

As someone who has kept rabbits for many years, I am perplexed by the article "Bunnies are hazardous, UVic warns" (Sept. 6).

While I support UVic's efforts to curb its rabbit population and wholeheartedly oppose the abandonment of any species of pet, I am not aware of the "hazardous diseases" Neil Connelly claims are carried by rabbits.

Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits do not require immunization to combat infectious diseases.

No immunizations are required to transport rabbits across the border or to import them into Canada or the U.S. - simply a vet check. Other than the extremely rare tularemia, the contention that feral rabbits "spread disease," implying transferability to humans, is without basis. And while all mammals can contract rabies, it's almost nonexistent in rodent and lagomorph (rabbit) populations.

Raccoons, skunks and bats are the most common carriers.

Additionally, the suggestion to ban the sale of unspayed and unneutered rabbits "except to licensed breeders" begs the question as to how this could be accomplished. The breeders of any other species (dogs, cats) in the Greater Victoria area are not required to be "licensed."

As we have seen with the increase of spaying and neutering in these species, public education is the key, not simply more legislation in the form of "licensing."

We could start the education process with the spread of more accurate information.

Lois Fernyhou