Dr. Death Alert:
Rabbit Killers to Administer Lethal Injection

On the heels of air gun slaughter and stomping cruelty, the City of Kelowna Parks Department is endorsing the use of lethal injection to be used by EBB Environmental Consulting in its rabbit control program. Live-trapping and handing rabbits over to rescue groups is allegedly in the works, although TRACS has not heard from EBB on this. However, when rescue group availability runs out, the rabbits will be killed by lethal injection, a job usually performed by exotic animal veterinarians who are trained to perform the procedure humanely. (I have personally experienced a refusal from a small animal veterinarian when asked to end the life of a terminally ill rabbit. I was told that "rabbits are difficult to euthanize". A referral to an exotic animal veterinarian was made instead.)

But Ian Wilson of City Parks states, "EBB's staff have been trained and certified provincially to administer lethal injection, if that is necessary."

If exotic animal veterinarians (or at least general practitioners with years of experience) are required to do the job humanely, how can a crash course provided by the Ministry pump out technicians skilled in administering lethal injections to a species very tricky to kill? There has been no response to my question sent to Mr. Wilson on November 3, 2008--specifically, who in the Ministry one might speak with regarding their certification program? After an EBB employee was caught stomping a rabbit, should we trust the next strategy they propose to use? Lethally injecting the rabbits will occur behind closed doors, somewhere far away from the public eye.

The following are actions for rabbit defenders to take:

Contact Ian Wilson with Kelowna City Parks. Please ask him for details on the lethal injection certification program through the government. He needs to provide a contact name so that we can ask questions about the training program. Ian Wilson's e-mail address is iwilson@kelowna.ca . You will receive an automated response, but Mr. Wilson does read these e-mails and occasionally responds back. If he doesn't answer your e-mail, he can be reached by phone: 250-717-2757. Please advise me of any communications you receive from City staff.

C.c. your e-mail to: mayorandcouncil@kelowna.ca . Mayor Sharon Shepherd's office phone number is: 250-469-8687.

Thanks so much...on behalf of the bunnies!

Sinikka Crosland, President
TRACS