Rabbit Advocacy Animal Matters

Trans-Canada median bunnies to get temporary digs  

August 29, 2015 Times Colonist 

The Capital Regional District Animal Shelter is offering to help with the rescue and relocation of a colony of rabbits living on a median at Helmcken Road and the Trans-Canada Highway. The shelter will house the rabbits as they recover from spay or neuter procedures, said Don Brown, CRD chief bylaw officer.  

Veterinarian Laurie Gaines and Erin Gray approached View Royal council in February with a plan to trap, sterilize and relocate rabbits living on the interchange median. There are an estimated 75 rabbits now living on the interchange.  

However, the pair had difficulty in finding temporary housing for the rabbits pre- and post-surgery. Brown said the rabbits will need one or two weeks of rehabilitation after the procedures. The animal shelter will be able to house about 20 at a time.  

The volunteers have raised about $7,500, which will cover the majority of the cost of the surgeries. Transportation to a sanctuary and ongoing support for the sanctuary is still required, so fundraising efforts continue. Gray said people have been very supportive and they are optimistic they’ll be able to raise the remaining funds.  

For more information or to make a donation, contact viewroyalrabbits1@gmail.com. 

Comment: Let’s get these rabbits to safety. People have been feeding them, but not because of the “cuteness factor” as the Times Colonist editorial position spouts, but because they don’t want to see them starve to death.

Update: February 12, 2016: The rabbits living alongside the interchange at Helmcken Road and the Trans Canada Highway in View Royal are going to be relocated to a refuge in the South Central United States. Transportation Minister, Todd Stone, says the Ministry has made a deal under which it will pay for professional trapping services, due to begin soon. A group of local philanthropists will fund spaying and neutering, as well as transportation of the several dozen rabbits to their new location.

Donations are being accepted at Hillside Veterinary Hospital in Victoria. For further information visit View Royal Rabbit Rescue on Facebook.

February 7, 2015 Rescue in offing for rabbits living at View Royal highway interchange

More history: In the cross-hares

Read more: BC government ratcheting up war against abandoned bunnies in Victoria interchange