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Rabbit Advocacy Animal Matters
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Gone from UVic, rescued rabbits lose financial support July 21, 2012 Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist Hundreds of former University of Victoria rabbits are living in sanctuaries, but financial support has dwindled and operators of two U.S. sanctuaries say they are not receiving the help they expected. "We are spending our mortgage money on these rabbits," said Georgeanne Lenham of the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch in Texas, where about 300 UVic bunnies are housed. Lenham estimates it costs $700 a month to care for the rabbits and said the workload is tremendous. Although rabbit-rescue groups continue to solicit funds for bunny support, they admit it's tough now that the rabbits are no longer in the spotlight. Laura-Leah Shaw, who two years ago arranged to send rabbits to Texas, said she is still raising money for their upkeep and is sending regular payments - some out of her own pocket. "I am still fundraising," she said. "We have given a tremendous amount of financial help. We realize they are doing a service and we are trying to be supportive." In Washington state, about 50 former UVic rabbits are at Precious Life Sanctuary near Sequim. The rabbits eat about $40 worth of pellets each week, but donations have been scant, said owner Ralph Turner. "Once the excitement of the rescue is over, that is it. The sanctuary is pretty much on its own," Turner said. "It's not cheap and it's quite a bit of labour. - I thought there would be a little more interest from the folks in Victoria." Sorelle Saidman of Rabbitats Rabbit Rescue said it's difficult to persuade Victoria residents to donate. "The Victoria population hasn't been supportive of either of the UVic bunny sanctuaries. We're getting most of what's needed from other sources and it's a struggle," Saidman said. "I remember trying to rally the troops last year to get Victoria work parties down to help at Precious Life - it's a very close ride by ferry - and got nothing." The bulk of the bunnies went to Susan Vickery's Earth Animal Rescue Society sanctuary in Coombs. Vickery has about 500 rabbits and most are expected to live for at least another five years. Each rabbit costs about $130 the first year, with sterilization, and then about $5 a month, Vickery said. Donations pour in while rabbit rescues are in the news, she said, but quickly dwindle afterward. "It's out of sight, out of mind." (see below; Vickery has misrepresented herself and the facts) Comment: Donations to the US sanctuaries greatly appreciated. If you donate through TRACS for the Texas rabbits a tax receipt will be issued. The Rabbit Advocacy Group has paid for some of the rabbits to be spayed or neutered, as Ms. Lenham claims not all were 'fixed' when they arrived. Rabbits escape sanctuary; killed by neighbour. Another attack; EARS deficient Visit our Pet Shops/Rabbits/Legislation Get involved! |