Surrey North Delta Leader
Bunnies taken from Surrey SPCA

By Black Press - Surrey North Delta Leader

Published: November 19, 2008 3:00 PM
Updated: November 19, 2008 4:49 PM Eight bunnies were stolen from the Surrey SPCA Sunday night, the second time in six months rabbit thieves have hit the local animal shelter.

The culprit(s) busted through the door of the SPCA's newly constructed "Bunny Barn" – located near the entrance to the facility on 152 Street – and made off with Pumpkin, Chaucer, Rocket, Leo, Runt, Coal, Baya and Charles.

SPCA staff are particularly concerned about Pumpkin, a lionhead rabbit, which is recovering from an ear infection and had been on medication.

The Surrey shelter had recently spent more than $2,000 installing a proper heating system in the rabbit habitats to make the animals more comfortable.

In addition, the SPCA points out, the rabbits were being cared for by volunteers acquainted with the specific social, emotional and physical needs of rabbits.

"Sometimes, people think they are doing the animals a favour by stealing them from a shelter," said acting branch manager Ryan Voutilainen in a news release.

"But what these people don't get is that we give them excellent care while they are with us, and we carefully screen adoption applicants so that care continues for the rest of the animals' lives."

This is the second time in six months that bunnies have been taken from the Surrey branch. A pair of adult lop-eared rabbits was stolen in late May.

Voutilainen is appealing to whomever took the eight bunnies on Sunday night to return the animals healthy and unharmed, with no questions asked.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the BC SPCA's Surrey Branch at 604-597-5655.