Rabbit residency running out

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star - May 16, 2008

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MAURIE DEATON, Vernon Rabbit Rescue Founder, is hoping she’ll be able to continue using space at the Kin Race Track for rescued and surrendered rabbits waiting for adoption, like Sha-Anna, a rex breed.

jennifer smith/morning star

It wasn’t long ago that Vernon was running wild with approximately 300 feral rabbits.

Now, while you still might see the odd bunny hopping around, the feral population has been drastically controlled through the efforts of Vernon Rabbit Rescue.

The rabbits that are caught, as well as those surrendered, must be housed and taken care of while they wait to be adopted.

But finding a home that doesn’t interfere with neighbours has been a struggle for Vernon Rabbit Rescue founder Maurie Deaton recently.

“Our biggest barrier is the housing of bunnies,” said Deaton, who has been trapping ferral rabbits around town for four years.

She has approximately 50 rabbits at the moment, which are being cared for in several stalls at the Kin Race Track, with the help of a few volunteers.

But with Race Days quickly approaching, the Vernon and District Agricultural Society (which runs activities at the race track) has concerns about stall space which it needs for the event, the possibility of sanitary and smell complaints from jockeys and trainers as well as liability.

“We end up with people who know nothing about race horses or horse safety wandering around there,” said VDAS president Ed Woolley.

Anyone looking to adopt a rabbit is taken directly down to the stalls by Deaton, which Woolley says is great.

“We really try to be careful when we come into the barns,” said Deaton.

But often they return with friends and families to check out the bunnies, creating a liability issue at the track.

Staff at Greater Vernon Services, which operates the race track, approved the use of several stalls for the rabbits last fall.

There was an understanding that it would be a temporary solution, while GVS is investigating if the SPCA can make space for the rabbits for a permanent shelter.

In the meantime, finding a home for the rabbits continues to be a struggle. Therefore Vernon Rabbit Rescue is hoping to stay in the stalls at the track.

So do several GVSC members.

“I’m not prepared to evict the rabbits,” said director Pat Cochrane.

Woolley has offered a solution, which would keep the rabbits at the track but move them out of the way of the horses to space in behind the stalls.

“She wouldn’t have to move them that far, she would just have to have pens constructed,” said Woolley.

While that suggestion would need approval from the GVS Committee, as well as the City of Vernon, which owns the land, Deaton isn’t sure it is the best move, considering the costs to construct pens.

“I’m willing to look at whatever short-term solutions but really, being in those stalls whether they move us to the north end or keep us where we are is ideal.”

Ultimately, Deaton says if a home cannot be found for the rabbits, Vernon Rabbit Rescue will cease to exist.

“If they can’t find anything for us then the community is not supporting of us and then it becomes the community’s problem.”

GVCS chairman Gary Corner isn’t ready to let that happen.

“I think that we have a responsibility here. Maurie’s doing the work that other communities are paying big dollars for and she’s doing it on a volunteer basis.”

Anyone interested in helping Vernon Rabbit Rescue by adopting a rabbit or making a donation can call 558-7720 or 938-4411. Those who can no longer care for a pet rabbit are also encouraged to call and surrender the animal, instead of letting it loose.

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Rabbit residency running out

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