Officials with Bunny Run Rabbit Rescue say someone is shooting domestic breed rabbits with arrows and urges the community to take notice and demand action.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
ktaniguchi@medicinehatnews.com@@kellentaniguchi
Over the last two weeks, two domestic rabbits in the Hat had to be euthanized after being shot with an arrow, says Amanda Hennessey, president of Bunny Run Rabbit Rescue.
Hennessey says they received calls on Father’s Day and Canada Day from community supporters saying they found rabbits who have been shot with arrows. The rescue was able to catch both rabbits, which were still alive, and take them to Animal Medical Centre South in Dunmore, but both had severe injuries they couldn’t recover from.
The Medicine Hat Police Service confirms two reports have been filed by the rescue for each incident. The MHPS says its patrol and bylaw sections will review the reports and follow up as required to see if further action or messaging is needed.
“The problem is we’re not just dealing with rabbits here, we’re dealing with a person causing harm,” said Hennessey.
Hennessey says Medicine Hat has a problem with domestic breed rabbits that have been let loose and are now running at large and breeding in the city. She adds they are very different from cottontail rabbits, which are considered wildlife.
“We are very concerned about who is doing this. The first incident I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt and hoped someone was just shooting at a target in their yard and it went through their fence, but now with a second rabbit, I believe that these are very intentional and very upsetting,” said Hennessey.
She says they have traced the arrows online and believe it is part of a mini crossbow set which comes with 6-8-inch arrows.
“These went right through these poor bunnies, but what if that was someone’s child that it hit. We don’t know who it is and we don’t know how dangerous it could be,” said Hennessey.
She says there would be more of an uproar if this happened to a dog or a cat, but Hennessey says rabbits are pets as well and the same level of concern should be raised.
“I feel like people don’t really realize that rabbits, domestic breeds, are pets. It’s like a dog or a cat. They’re part of a family, I have three of my very own, plus I actually have 19 in foster care in my home as well,” she said. “They’re just like little puppies. They have personalities of their own. I feel like if this had happened with a dog or a cat then people would be much more concerned – I feel like this warrants the same reaction.”
Hennessey says people need to realize there is no place for animal abuse – it’s not fun. It’s not sport. It’s abuse, she says. She says it is important for the rescue to continue helping these domestic breed bunnies.
“We’re trying to help these rabbits because they didn’t ask for this. These are domestic breeds that people developed and therefore it should be our responsibility to take care of them. Second of all, it does mess with the ecosystem. They do kind of interfere with our natural wildlife with the cottontails, so it makes it harder for them to survive, too, because they’re fighting over resources and space.”
