Getting a straight answer
To the editor:
RE: Kelowna rabbit cull underway

What does it take to get a straight answer from Mayor Shepherd, Ian Wilson, the City's urban forester, and EBB Environmental Consulting senior Biologist, Oliver Busby? On June 5, 2008 the BCSPCA sent a letter to city council voicing their concerns about recent reports that inhuman methods of killing were being proposed. In part the letter states that,

"EBB has confirmed that they will use one of three methods to kill the rabbits:

Injecting them with dry ice,

Drowning them,

Gassing them."

BCSPCA confirmed, upon consultation with the BC Veterinary Medical Association, that the above killing methods are not acceptable and may violate provincial and federal humane legislation.

I'm sure that Mayor Shepherd and Ian Wilson would be happy to provide a copy of that letter to the media. Apparently the concerns of the BCSPCA and other animal rights groups were of no concern to city council. Upon pressure from the public and animal rights groups to reveal the methods EBB would be using Mr. Wilson granted an interview to Castanet, (see Castanet story #41121 dated Aug 13,2008.)

Rabbit cull methods revealed

In that article, Ian Wilson with the City of Kelowna said that three methods would be used. He claims that the first method would be live trapping followed by providing the live animals to rescue groups and wildlife shelters. Tell me Mr. Wilson, exactly how many live rabbits has EBB trapped and to which organizations have they been given?

"The second one is live trapping followed by lethal injection, which is akin to putting an animal down in a veterinary facility." He makes no mention of what type of lethal injection would be used and who would be administering that injection. Since EBB is already on the record stating that they use dry ice then I must assume that that is what they will be using. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, "the use of dry ice to kill an animal would cause significant suffering."

The third method is the use of an air rifle. Mr. Wilson claims that he is unsure of what projectile would be used. Isn't it your job Mr. Wilson, to know exactly what, when and how EBB would be handling the "job" you and mayor Sheppard are paying them to do?

Why would city council approve of the methods that would cause these animals undue suffering and pain? Why wasn't TRACS informed the cull had begun? What is city council and EBB afraid of?

I submit to you that city council and EBB do not want the public to know what methods they are using because they don't care that the animals may be suffering, they just want to be rid of the problem.

Val Schewe - Kelowna