WITH Easter just around the corner, the BC SPCA is urging the public not to buy bunnies as gifts.
Each year, SPCA branches across the province receive hundreds of abandoned rabbits after the holiday has passed and the excitement of a new pet has worn off and the reality of pet care sets in.
"The animals who are turned in at SPCA shelters are the lucky ones," said Craig Naherniak, general manager of humane education for the BC SPCA. "Many others are abandoned to the wild to fend for themselves. These domesticated rabbits often fall prey to predators such as coyotes, are susceptible to disease, or end up starving." Alternatively, he said, if there are no predators the rabbits may flourish and upset the balance of nature by multiplying into a serious overpopulation problem.
