Dear Ms. Whyte

I hope that you will receive my email with the understanding that I encourage children to learn about the world around them but I strongly believe that the sale of rabbits, chicks and ducklings at a sponsored school event is inappropriate.

1. As a volunteer for Small Animal Rescue Society of BC I was recently called to the Delta Hospital where nurses found a days old bunny orphaned and threatened by crows. The female had already been killed as had some of its siblings. I've spent much time researching bunnies and learning that they are very fragile. This male had to be bottle-fed and encouraged to eliminate. At 24 days of age, he still has to survive to 4 months of age before he's truly able to mature. Under the SARS mandate, he will be neutered.

I tell you about this bunny because of his probable history. He is not feral but a domestic animal whose parent was likely purchased in a pet store or at an event such as the East Kensington Elementary Spring Fair. The parent was dumped at Delta City Hall and has likely produced many offspring to join the hundreds of other bunnies onsite.

I believe that this is the fate for those animals sold at the fair. I believe that a subtle promise has been made to children that they are entitled to take home an animal/bird at 3 pm and parents will cave to their wants.

2. I'm confident that you are aware of the immense problem of domesticated bunnies released at the University of Victoria as well as the city of Kelowna and how the population of rabbits are being killed. The city of Richmond as well as Vancouver's Stanley Park and the municipality of Delta are also experiencing the unfortunate explosion of rabbits, all due to families making spontaneous decisions to bring unaltered animals to their homes and then quickly realizing the folly of those decisions, releasing those rabbits to city parks and agricultural land.

Please help us stop this cycle and exclude the sale of animals at the East Kensington Elementary Spring Fair. We need you as part of the solution... and to educate the children.

My best
Donna Toews