Save the UVic Bunnies

Beautiful baby bunnies ready for a new forever home

2010-08-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

Tame, healthy, active baby bunnies ready for that fantastic new home. The $50 adoption fee will include a coupon for sterilization, a bag of pellets and hay to get you started. (it will require an application to be filled out and a contract to be signed.) For more information contact Kathleen at 250-995-2431 or go sites.google.com/site/bcpoodleandsmalldogrescue/

NO LONGER SUPPORTING EARS

2010-07-26T00:51:00.000-07:00

This blog will no longer be supporting E.A.R.S. for several reasons (which I would be happy to explain if you want to respond to this post.) Save the UVic Bunnies will still be supporting the rabbits of UVic in other ways and in the following days more information will be provided. I wish Susan Vickery the best of luck as all endeavours will help the UVic rabbits.

NOW WE REALLY NEED TO SAVE THE BUNNIES

2010-07-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

We have about 25 days to try to create a new sanctuary for the UVic bunnies. This requires land, funding and volunteers. If we don't succeed in this over a thousand rabbits will be euthanized.
PLEASE DIG as DEEP as you can into your pockets and help the bunnies. An organization "The UVic Feral Rabbit Rescue Organization" under the charity name E.A.R.S. has a website where you can donate directly. Every penny will go to those poor helpless creatures.

Here is the website:- www.earthanimalrights.org

PLEASE PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THE BUNNIES - Every penny helps.

AN INTERESTING LETTER SENT TO DAVID TURPIN FROM THE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE RABBIT COMMITTEE

2010-06-07T08:21:00.001-07:00

From: Jacque Olson
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 10:16 AM
To: 'dturpin@uvic.ca'
Cc: 'savetheuvicbunnies@yahoo.com'; Donna Prindle
Subject: Domesticated Rabbits

Hello President Turpin,

I am writing in regards to the situation your university isfacing with the population of domesticated breed rabbits and how we, here atLong Beach City College in California, have dealt with a similar situation.

Our college is succeeding in humanly controlling/removingthe 300 + rabbits that have been abandoned, or have procreated for generationson campus. None of our rabbits are of a “wild” breed, but aredomesticated pets. Having rescued the campus rabbits for over 10 years Ihave come to find that they are even more devoted to their humans than cats ordogs, have as much, if not more personality and are as smart as any other pet,so it is amazing to me why people continually abandon them.

A year ago our college formed a Rabbit Population ManagementTask Force to address the rabbit population. Severalvolunteers organized and coordinated contacts with Best Friends AnimalSanctuary in Kanab, Utah, Western University School of Veterinarian Medicine inPomona, CA and Bunny Bunch Rabbit Rescue in Monrovia, CA.

In March of this year we rounded up 100 rabbits to have amass spay and neuter event. Eighty rabbits were fixed in two dayswith the help of Western University who came on campus with four full time vetsand 12 student vet volunteers. Eleven of the rabbits gave birth to 47babies before the vets arrived. Out of this first bunch ofrabbits we were able to adopt out 109 rabbits and bunnies. Wejust had a second round up on May 25^th and 26^th and outof this second bunch (while waiting for the vets to arrive) , only one femalegave birth. We consider this a huge success, and have seen in a veryshort time how our system is working.

The response from the media and press to our humane approachhas been nothing short of stupendous. We were written up and wereon the front page of the Wall Street Journal (Vol. CCLV No 77), we were on GoodMorning America on Easter Sunday, we have received huge accolades from BestFriends Animal Sanctuary who is nationally known for their humane support andrescue of animals around the world. The approach we have adopted hasbrought such positive attention to our college, in a time when there is so muchstress from budget cuts and layoffs, that it is the one bright spot in ourfavor.

I hope that your university will think twice about “culling”the rabbits who are there at no fault of their own. I understandthat there is a group of people at your university who are willing to organizeand deal with the situation in a more humane way and I have to say that thisavenue allows all of us to sleep better knowing that we have tried tomake a difference in a positive way.

Sincerely,

Jacque Olson

Academic AdministrativeAssistant

School of PhysicalEducation & Athletics

Long Beach City College

4901 E. Carson Street

Long Beach, CA 90808

(562) 938-4370

FAX (562) 938-4875

jolson@lbcc.edu

WHAT TO DO NEXT

2010-05-24T00:38:00.000-07:00

It's a sad and disgraceful time for the University of Victoria. Somehow they feel they can still justify killing over a thousand healthy innocent creatures and the questions still remains why? Oh yes I forgot about all those poor athletes tripping in the holes and falling on rabbit feces and contracting terrible diseases from them. Oh yes the hospital is full of athletes with their twisted ankles and rabbit diseases. Yes it's an epidemic and it certainly justifies killing them all. But also don't forget all those poor communities surrounding UVic that are having their gardens destroyed by the killer bunnies and yes don't forget all those poor people cannot afford to put fences around their gardens and perhaps they need to eat what is in their gardens.

Oh and is the University responsible for any of this - no of course not - this is wildlife gone out of control. Why has it gone out of control - oh yeah - the University allowed the rabbits to populate oh well for a few years (try 30 years) and as they are classified as wildlife - the Ministry of Environment allows the University to kill them all but they can't adopt them out to homes. Oh but weren't these pets that were dropped off by bad community members so therefore the University is totally not responsible for them at all. Yes they were pets but after one month they are classified as wildlife therefore they can now (according to the Wildlife Act) kill them as they see fit.
Oh but you kind University officials don't forget anyone who chases the rabbits with a dog or mistreats them will be prosecuted for cruelty because yes you guys are sooooo kind to the rabbits.

By the way they are now killing them kindly - with an injection in the ear. It is very difficult to find that vein in that ear so somehow I don't think it is so kind - are your sedating those rabbits as they squeak and squirm to their deaths holding them tightly to get this injection in the ear. By the way this "kind killing" what is the price tag for this? It can't come cheap if a certified vet using a lot of sedation is doing the killing. Hey I bet it costs the same as sterilization. Isn't that ironic?

I want to laugh at someone's remarks that it is emotional for all parties involved. Hey UVic how is it emotional for you? Please tell us - is it emotional trying to justify killing of innocent animals - the ones you used in marketing campaigns just a few months ago. Do you feel any tinge of guilt - can you sleep at night? I hope not - you have caused huge amounts of stress to those who want to find some way to save them but are more frustrated that there doesn't seem to be one intelligent person in the decision making process who wants to look at alternatives or show some compassion for these creatures. It is so matter of fact how you try so hard to whitewash what you are actually doing. (like you are pulling a few weeds out of the garden)

Well the publicity is traveling far and wide - across the nation. In fact, there was an article in the New York Times. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this was publicity that showed that like other famous institutions like Standford and Long Beach California, UVic was going for the progressive, compassionate intelligent approach to dealing with their rabbits..
But no UVIC looks like a University for hillbillies - the only option for solving problems is "kill em all".

UVic stop lying, stop bullying, stop killing, - Become an open-minded progressive intellectual university that Victorians can all be proud to be part of - DO THE RIGHT THING - STOP THE KILLING NOW.

Rally and information gathering for the UVic Rabbits

2010-05-12T23:56:00.001-07:00

Hi all:

A group of us are getting together on Saturday May 15th and will meet at City Hall at 1:00 p.m. to gather, rally, pass out information and march our way to the legislative building. Although we will focus on the imminent mass kill that is coming up shortly, we will also point out the infamous "poison boxes" that have been proven to be killing many babies bunnies in the last few weeks.

Come and be a voice for all the rabbits. Let Victoria know about the deceptions and the atrocities of the university. All are welcome.

If you need any further information email Kathleen at savetheuvicbunnies@yahoo.ca

letter to the BCSPCA

2010-05-08T13:21:00.001-07:00

Dear Mr. Daniell:

I am writing to you regarding the issue of the poison boxes that the University of Victoria is putting out all over the campus. Although the boxes may be for rats, many baby bunnies are dying as a result of these boxes. I would like to know if someone from your organization is investigating this and when this will happen.

Also, the press reports have reported the SPCA as having a very biased viewpoint that seems to support the cull of the innocent rabbits. Is this an appropriate response from an organization that is supposed to protect these innocent creatures? As a donor and supporter of the SPCA, I feel that this is not appropriate and needs to be addressed and rectified in the press reports as soon as possible.

Regards,

NNNNNNN

IS THIS WHAT IS TO COME??? WATCH OUT VICTORIA AND UVIC

2010-05-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

It is an unfortunate irony that at a time of year when rabbits are considered to be the symbol of hope and renewal, the University of Victoria’s administration chooses such a time to announce their plans to slaughter the feral rabbits residing on their campus.

As someone who was deeply involved in the feral rabbit situation in Kelowna, I can only sympathize with Victoria’s citizens who are, as yet, unaware of the possible disruptions and crisis to come. As history tends to repeats itself I believe Victoria’s citizens can expect to experience the following:

-Hot debate about rabbits, in the editorials, on the busses, in the streets, between neighbours. Expect some of those debates to become disturbances.

-Demonstrations and rallies, as those who believe there is another way besides the slaughter try to build support for a humane solution. The Wednesday, April 20th gathering at UVic is just the beginning of a long campaign. Expect the crowds to get bigger each time.

-Vandalism, as some citizens chose inappropriate ways to show their horror and frustration at the killings.

-Citizens risking life, limb and public and private property to rescue the rabbits, literally stealing them from the streets and campus. Expect some of those rabbits to be released in ‘nice places’ around town, creating an even larger problem.

-Citizens who will begin their own poisoning campaigns while other will show up at the killing fields with their own weapons, ‘just to help out’.

-Victoria becoming the butt of editorial cartoons across Canada and beyond. News editors love these stories, although your own media will become very tired of reporting about rabbits. Expect some important issues in the battle for the rabbits lives to go unreported even though the rabbit issue is likely to become the news story of the year.

- Tourists paying close attention to the situation while they are with you. Expect them to take their stories home with them.

-Victoria making the front page of PETA and other such sites, always good for worldwide publicity, prompting emails and calls from all over the world, and more everyday as word of the slaughter spreads. Wait until the desperate letters from schoolchildren start arriving.

-Exterminators being harassed and followed, with rabbits sent to ground or scattered before they can arrive.

-Exterminators caught (and perhaps even recorded) doing something so horribly cruel to a rabbit (like stomping a wounded animal to death) that the public outcry drowns out any cull arguments, the public demanding a humane solution, though not before Victoria is established as a killing ground on YouTube and beyond.

The previous list is not imagined, it is a partial telling of events that happened during the two years it took to resolve Kelowna’s feral rabbit situation. In the end, Kelowna adopted a humane solution of live capture, sex separation, foster programs for appropriate animals and sanctuaries for those remaining. Food, care and bedding are provided by a combination of public and private funds and volunteer labour. Of the original fifteen hundred feral rabbits condemned to die, more than one thousand were saved.

Unfortunately, Victoria is about to go through an ugly, heartbreaking chapter in its history for no better reasons than the ego and ignorance of those who have been placed in positions of responsibility for the lives and deaths of UVic’s feral rabbits. The rabbits only hope now is for Victoria’s citizens to realize, hopefully sooner than later, that a humane solution is not only available but also has greater long term benefits than any short sighted cull could ever produce.

To those who believe there is a better way, I ask you to add you voice to the debate, speak for those who have no voice.

To the citizens of Victoria, I again offer my sympathy, and I wish the City luck, as I expect it will need it.

Roxane Woldenga

Summerland, B.C.

BunnyLuv Rabbitry

www.lionheads.ca

URGENT - PLEASE READ

2010-04-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

MORE POISON BOXES HAVE BEEN FOUND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA. ALTHOUGH THE UNIVERSITY MAY CLAIM THESE BOXES ARE FOR ONLY KILLING RATS THE CHEMICAL THAT IS BEING USED IS HIGHLY TOXIC. HERE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS BEING USED:

Bromadiolone is an anticoagulant and may cause haemorrhaging if swallowed or following skin contact. Keep out of the way of food and feeds, their packaging and handling materials and keep out of reach of children and pets. Wear impermeable gloves during handling. Avoid mouth and skin contact. Wash splashes or spillage from skin or eyes immediately. Wash hands before smoking or eating and after using the product. This product is toxic to wildlife and pets; ensure that traps and baits are not accessible to non-target species Pre-mixed or prepared baits may resemble food or feedstuffs. Care should be taken at all times to ensure that such formulations cannot become mistaken for food or feed.

Rodent bait used to exterminate mice and rats can also be deadly to dogs and cats. If you have pets then rodenticides should be used with extreme caution.

There are many types of rodent baits or traps on the market, most kill rodents with anticoagulants. Anticoagulants cause internal bleeding, the rodents bleed to death. If a dog or cat ingests the rodenticide then the poison will have the same effect on its body, without treatment the dog or cat will bleed to death.

Act fast – Rodenticide poisoning is very serious. Without treatment your pet will slowly bleed to death. The symptoms you'll see are lethargy, weakness, cold limbs, and pale gums. You may also notice bloody urine, blood in the stools, and nose bleeds. If you see your pet ingest rodent bait or suspect that it has, do not wait for symptoms to show, it maybe to late if you do.

Types of rodent bait – The active ingredient in most rodent baits are: brodificoum, diphacinone, warfarin, bromadiolone. These are the anticoagulant. There are other types of rodent baits that do not include anticoagulants but they are also poisonous to dogs and cats and should be avoided.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS INFORMATION THIS POISON IS VERY DEADLY AND WILL CAUSE GREAT SUFFERING TO THE BABY RABBITS. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO STOP THIS - WRITE THE UNIVERSITY, PRESS OR YOUR MP.

URGENT - PLEASE READ

2010-04-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

IT IS APPARENT THAT POISON BOXES ARE BEING SET OUT. THREE BOXES WERE FOUND AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY WITNESSES AT THE UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY IN THE TIMES COLONIST YESTERDAY CATEGORICALLY DENIED HAVING SET OUT POISON BOXES.

Day of Action Results

2010-04-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

The Rally for the Rabbits had many dedicated people speak about theplight of the UVic bunnies. In addition, a local petition was started and lots of information was handed out. Many thanks tothe Vancouver contingent for making the long trip to Victoria. Therewere two radio talkshows and a report on AChannel news yesterday aboutthe UVic Rabbits. Although the word is getting out, it seems that thereis a confirmed report that the culling has begun. If anyone seessomething suspicious to do with the culling, please report this to savetheuvicbunnies@yahoo.ca and please try to take photos and video as well.

Call to Action

2010-04-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

Come and be a voice

RALLY FOR
THE

RABBITS

Date: Wednesday, April 21

Time: 12:00 noon – 4p.m.

Place: The fountain (library)

WHY?

IF 1000 BUNNIES CAN BE EXTERMINATED WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT WHAT ELSE CAN HAPPEN?

THE BUNNIES ARE PETS LEFT HERE AND WILL BE KILLED IN A PAINFUL & TERRIFYING WAY

COST EFFECTIVE, HUMANE, NONLETHAL ALTERNATIVES ARE NOT BEING CONSIDERED

For more information contact:
savetheuvicbunnies@yahoo.ca

or roslyncassells@yahoo.ca

New Email and information on the Rally

2010-04-17T15:40:00.000-07:00

The new email is savetheuvicbunnies@yahoo.ca.

The "Rabbit Rally" will be next Wednesday, April 21 at noon in front of the library by the fountain. Please be there - check this blog for the information.

It's time to take action

2010-04-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

The KILLING is coming unless we band together to show that this is unacceptable.

WE HAVE TO STOP IT - AND GUARANTEE THIS WON"T HAPPEN!! Please write and email to the following people immediately and tell them you do not approve of this policy.

PEOPLE TO CALL/EMAIL:

Chancellor Murray Farmer and Chair Board of Governors Ray Protti
email Murray and Ray with questions and comments: usec3@uvic.ca

David H. Turpin
President and Vice-Chancellor
250-721-7002
email David with questions or comments: dturpin@uvic.ca,pres@uvic.ca

Ms. Gayle Gorrill
Vice-President - Finance and Operations
250-721-7018
email Gayle with questions or comments: vpfo@uvic.ca

Richard Piskor
Director - Occupational Health, Safety & Environment
250-721-8875
email Richard with questions or comments: rpiskor@uvic.ca

Tom Smith
Executive Director - Facilities Management
250-721-7592
email Tom with questions or comments: tomfmgt@uvic.ca