Here's your chance SPCA...

Ban fertile-rabbit sales: SPCA
By Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist April 28, 2010

Some B.C. municipalities already ban selling unsterilized rabbits.
Photograph by: Bruce Stotesbury, Times Colonist, Times Colonist
A rare point of agreement in Greater Victoria's acrimonious rabbit wars is that a ban on selling unsterilized animals would be an effective way to stem the continuing abandonment of unwanted pets.

The University of Victoria, which is struggling to control a feral rabbit population that has ballooned to up to 2,000 animals, would like to see a legislated ban -- as would the B.C. SPCA, other animal-protection groups and some municipalities.

Other communities have already taken that step: Kelowna, which initially tackled a rabbit problem with a cull, and then moved to trapping and sterilization, now has a ban on selling unsterilized rabbits, while Richmond city council has voted unanimously to ban the sale of rabbits in pet stores.

However, things in Greater Victoria, with its patchwork of 13 municipalities, are never that simple. The Capital Regional District doesn't have the power to control rabbit sales, and the university campus straddles two municipalities -- Oak Bay and Saanich.

"The only way it could happen on a region-wide basis is for municipalities such as Saanich and Oak Bay to adopt regulations and then write to surrounding jurisdictions to see if they would do the same," said CRD chairman and Victoria councillor Geoff Young.

Young agrees the issue of abandoned pets is a concern and said it would be reasonable to limit sales of rabbits, provided official breeders are protected. Victoria plans to review its animal-control bylaw in June, and the bunny issue has already been raised.

Oak Bay Mayor Christopher Causton said his municipality would consider a bylaw if a proposal was brought forward by UVic or the SPCA. "I am sure council would look at anything to help our neighbours. ... The university has a major problem on its hands," Causton said.

However, Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard is not so sure it's municipalities' role to help fix a problem at the university.

"If UVic wants to make that request, we would review it and we would get legal advice," he said. "But, on a much broader view, when people ask us to do things to restrict other people's freedom or rights, we usually shy away if other solutions are available."

The university is developing a long-term strategy to deal with the bunnies, which have become a serious concern as they chew and dig their way through campus. UVic officials say the plan will have to include a cull. However they point to a ban on sales as a way of preventing the bunny boom from happening again, as most of the rabbits are offspring from abandoned pets.

The B.C. SPCA would like all municipalities to forbid the sale of unsterilized animals, with exceptions for legitimate breeders or organizations such as 4H clubs. The Victoria SPCA usually has at least 40 rabbits up for adoption -- all spayed or neutered -- and it's estimated at least 200 to 300 a month are waiting for adoption at SPCA shelters throughout B.C.