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Hope for rabbits not lost
July 12, 2013 ireport.cnn.com
Anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Last night I saw just such a group
come from all over the Lower Mainland to Richmond City Hall, to try and do just
that. This group was trying to change the life and world of one resident of
Richmond, one resident who was sick and suffering and living on the grounds of
City Hall. This group was trying to save the life of a dying, abandoned pet
rabbit.
The lives of the pets abandoned on the streets of Richmond are harsh. Whether
they are abandoned rabbits, cats, dogs or even guinea pigs, every day spent on
the street is a long, hard, struggle to survive. Sickness, malnutrition, injury,
pain, suffering and ultimately death is their fate. So what is being done about
this atrocity that is occurring on our streets, in our parks and on the grounds
of City Hall?
One would hope we could turn to government for help and support in abolishing
this tragedy that is happening right in front of us. But our leaders appear too
busy engaging in public spectacles of drinking endangered shark fin soup or
spouting off about shooting migrating Canada geese. This is not a government to
turn to for leadership and guidance on ending the reality of animal suffering
and abuse. “We just let them
(rabbits) live out their natural life cycle”, is the official word from City
Hall. What natural life would that be? A pet animal has no skills to live out a
natural life in the wild.
It is time for change to happen in Richmond. Basic humanity dictates that it
should not be acceptable for pet animals to be thrown out onto the streets like
trash and left to “live out their...life cycle” suffering with agonizing deaths.
Humans do not live alone in the world nor in this city. We share our world with
animals, and it is time we all acknowledge and take responsibility for the
obligations that come with sharing our world. It is time to recognize that
animals have rights too. The suffering of the dumped pet rabbits and other
animals in Richmond is on our hands. We have caused it, and only we can stop it.
As for the very sick pet rabbit abandoned at City Hall, it is with a heavy heart
that I report that the rescue of this sweet and innocent life came too late.
Sadly the little rabbit passed away during the night. There is some consolation
to be found in that this gentle soul passed on while being cared for and loved,
instead of dying alone and suffering in the bushes covered in maggots, which is
how she was discovered. Some consolation, but sadly not enough.
Another life has been lost. The life of yet another abandoned pet rabbit has
ended needlessly. One is left feeling saddened and disheartened at so much
suffering happening right in front of us. One wonders when will it end.
But despite my heavy heart and feeling of discouragement at being unable to save
the life of that beautiful, sweet, little rabbit, I do still have hope. When I
see how hard that group of thoughtful, committed citizens worked to try and make
a difference to the life of that poor, defenseless creature, I know in my heart
that it is possible to change the lives of all the abandoned rabbits.
So long as there are those that care enough to try and help make a difference in
the lives of the rabbits, there will always be hope and one day change for all
will happen. For in the words of
Robert F. Kennedy, "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve
the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny
ripple of hope...And...these ripples build a current which can sweep down the
mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
You see step by step, day by day, rabbit by rabbit, we really can make a
difference. Hope for our rabbits will never be lost.
Cindy
Howard, Richmond - letter published in Richmond Review, July 16th.
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