BC SPCA shelters on Vancouver Island are “hopping” on board to help 22 rabbits who were surrendered this week after their guardian was no longer able to care for them. “A member of the community came to us seeking help, and our staff have been working to ensure that all 22 bunnies receive the shelter, food and veterinary care they need,” says Breanne Beckett, the BC SPCA’s senior manager for the Victoria region. “Through our Drive for Lives animal transfer program we were able to move 13 of the rabbits to SPCA shelters in Port Alberni, Comox, Cowichan and Parksville, but we still have nine of the surrendered rabbits here in Victoria as well as 13 other bunnies who were already in care. We are urgently seeking foster homes where the surrendered bunnies can go to help with their socialization while they await adoption.”
Beckett says the Victoria shelter has also transferred several of its adoptable cats and dogs to nearby SPCA shelters so that the facility can accommodate its “abundance of buns”. “We are really focused on what the rabbits need to feel safe and happy, including keeping bonded pairs housed together, providing specialized diets and creating areas for exercise and play,” she says. “Currently half of our dog kennels have been turned into rabbit enclosures.”
Medical costs for the 22 rabbits are expected to be significant, with the animals requiring medical checks, vaccinations as well as spay/neuter surgeries. Anyone willing to help with care costs for the animals or to provide a temporary foster home is asked to please contact the Victoria SPCA at 250-388-7722 or victoria@spca.bc.ca.
Donate to help rabbits at Victoria SPCA
“We are so grateful to anyone who can help us provide these wonderful animals with the care they need as they await their forever homes.” She notes the rabbits will be available for adoption in approximately two weeks.
