Ottawa’s Rabbit Crisis

Sept 23, 2021 — The Ottawa Humane Society is alerting the community to a burgeoning bunny crisis in Ottawa and the province. Shelters across Ontario — and even in other parts of North America — are seeing a growing bunny population with few homes willing to adopt the rabbits.

Over the past decade, rabbit intake at the OHS has steadily increased — especially relative to the intake of other species.

Currently, the OHS has close to 20 rabbits waiting for adoption, a third of which are in the homes of OHS foster volunteers.

One contributing factor to the exploding bunny population may be new rabbit owners who purchased a rabbit and are unaware that like cats and dogs, rabbits should be sterilized. Doing so benefits the animal’s health and helps to control the domestic rabbit population.

“At the OHS, every rabbit is spayed or neutered before they’re adopted,” said Bruce Roney, OHS President & CEO. “Adopting a rabbit rather than buying is one way the public can help address the approaching crisis.”

The OHS never turns away an animal, but when the shelter population grows, intake may be delayed for a few days up to several weeks and potentially months to ensure resources are immediately available for animals in life-threatening emergencies. Constraints resulting from the ongoing global health crisis have resulted in a large number of rabbits currently on the OHS’s waitlist for admission.

“I do worry that if we’re unable to immediately admit a rabbit, that the owner might consider something drastic like releasing their pet outside,” said Roney. “This is possibly the worst case scenario as that rabbit has gone from being safe in a home on a waitlist to be admitted to the OHS, to being in danger and in immediate need of shelter care.”

For those who would like to help tackle the growing bunny crisis, consider adopting a rabbit from the OHS or becoming a foster volunteer.

If you are thinking about surrendering your rabbit, call the OHS at 613-725-3166 ext. 221. It may take some time before your rabbit can be admitted to the shelter, but waiting is a much better choice than the alternatives.

Media Contact
Ottawa Humane Society
Stephen Smith, Manager: Communications
stephens@ottawahumane.ca
www.ottawahumane.ca