Ottawa's Rabbit Crisis is at Critical Mass
July 24, 2023 — The Ottawa Humane Society is bursting with bunnies as close to 30 rabbits are available for adoption. In an effort find more homes for these hoppy friends, the OHS has declared July 23 to 29 “Rabbit Week” and is offering special promotions to people who adopt during the event.
“The increasing number of rabbits in our care is unprecedented,” said Stephen Smith, OHS manager: communications. “Since late 2021 we’ve been up to our ears in bunnies.”
The OHS has made Rabbit Week an annual event. Last year, 20 rabbits were available for adoption during the special week — in 2023, 50% more are looking for a home.
Smith noted that the OHS’s bunny abundance has little to do with a lack of interested adopters. “Eeyore and Pooh have been in our care the longest — they’ve been waiting since December. Compared to 2022 when we had rabbits who had been waiting for more than a year, the time it’s been taking for a rabbit to find their forever home is relatively low.”
It’s no surprise Ottawa has an affinity for the long-eared pets. They are smart, social and are comfortable in homes of all sizes. They can roam your home freely and can learn how to use a litter box.
The proliferation of rabbits is likely owed to online sellers offering unsterilized pets to unsuspecting buyers. Sellers may also be dumping their bunnies outdoors if they are not able to offload them quickly enough.
From July 23 to 29, adopting a rabbit from the OHS has additional perks. Adopters will receive a:
- More than 20% discount on their adoption fee;
- Free bag of hay;
- Farm Boy gift card to provide the first week of fresh veggies for their new rabbit; and,
- New best friend.
Rabbits adopted from the OHS also are spayed/neutered; an essential procedure that could cost a family hundreds of dollars.
Anyone interested in adding a beautiful bunny — or two as the OHS recommends (rabbits love to have a friend) — can find their new best friend on the OHS’s website.
Media Contact
Ottawa Humane Society
Stephen Smith, Manager: Communications
stephens@ottawahumane.ca
www.ottawahumane.ca