Ottawa Humane Society warns of 'rabbit crisis'
The Ottawa Humane Society is hoping you'll hop on over to adopt a new bunny, as it deals with what it calls a "rabbit crisis."
Close to 20 rabbits are waiting for adoption at the humane society.
“The Ottawa Humane Society is alerting the community to a burgeoning bunny crisis in Ottawa and the province," said the Ottawa Humane Society on Thursday.
"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."
The humane society says one contributing factor to the exploding bunny population may be new rabbit owners are unaware that like cats and dogs, rabbits should be sterilized.
President Bruce Roney says every rabbit is spayed and neutered at the Ottawa Humane Society before it's adopted.
The Ottawa Humane Society never turns away an animal, but when the shelter population grows, intake may be delayed for a few days or several weeks. The humane society says due to COVID-19 restrictions, a large number of rabbits are currently on the waitlist for adoption.
“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.”
Visit the Ottawa Humane Society's website for information on adopting a rabbit from the OHS or becoming a foster volunteer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.