The Delta Community Animal Shelter has seen an increase in the number of rabbits being abandoned in our community. There are currently over a dozen rabbits looking for a home. We are encouraging people to consider rabbit adoption and for those who currently have rabbits to ensure they are spayed, neutered, and are under proper veterinary care.
Most people don't realize both the special veterinary care required and the length rabbits live – some up to 12 years. This leads to people getting rabbits when they are cute babies, often from backyard breeders or from people outside the reach of city bylaws. People who obtain rabbits from these scenarios are often not given a clear understanding of specialized care rabbits need. This leads to people quickly growing tired of their rabbit and abandoning them. As animal shelters are often full of ‘discarded’ rabbits, we often can’t help as quickly as we would like.
While the City of Delta has bylaw requirements limiting the sale of rabbits to approved rescues and requiring them to be spayed/neutered prior to adoption, we still see many intact male and female rabbits coming into our shelter. Most rabbits we receive are found after they have been abandoned in a local park or neighbourhood. This is not only illegal, it can also lead to negative outcomes for the rabbit including death from starvation and predation. Before our team are able to round them up, about half of the abandoned rabbits fall prey to coyotes and eagles.
If you know of places that are selling rabbits in Delta, please let us know by contacting the Property Use & Compliance Division at 604-940-7111.
For more information about available animals for adoption, please visit www.delta.ca/animalshelter.