Ottawa Humane Society says lack of rabbit sterilization leading to potential population crisis
Posted Sep 23, 2021 04:20:00 PM.
The Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) is looking for residents who would like to adopt or foster rabbits as it deals with a backlog of admissions.
The OHS has close to 20 rabbits waiting for adoption, a third of which are in the homes of foster volunteers.
The shelter says it never turns away an animal, but when its population grows, intake can be delayed for a few days (up to several weeks and potentially months) to ensure resources are immediately available for animals in life-threatening emergencies.
Constraints, as a result of the ongoing pandemic, have led to a large number of rabbits being put on the OHS wait list for admission.
“I do worry that if we’re unable to immediately admit a rabbit, that the owner might consider something drastic like releasing their pet outside,” said OHS President and CEO Bruce Roney. “This is possibly the worst case scenario as that rabbit has gone from being safe in a home on a wait list to be admitted to the OHS, to being in danger and in immediate need of shelter care.”
Over the past decade, rabbit intake at the OHS has steadily increased — especially relative to the intake of other species.
The OHS explains that one contributing factor to the exploding bunny population may be new rabbit owners being unaware that, like cats and dogs, rabbits should be sterilized.
“At the OHS, every rabbit is spayed or neutered before they’re adopted,” said Roney. “Adopting a rabbit rather than buying is one way the public can help address the approaching crisis.”
Anyone thinking about surrendering a rabbit is asked to call the OHS at 613-725-3166 ext. 221.
