Kelowna News

The City of Kelowna will ask for the Regional District and The Responsible Animal Care Society (TRACS) for input regarding the City's growing rabbit problem.

Urban Forestry Supervisor, Ian Wilson, says his report recommended going to the Regional District because the City of Kelowna does not have an animal control section.

"That's a regional function that is contracted to the region," says Wilson. "That's simply why it was suggested we go to the Regional District because of that animal control function."

City Councillor and Regional District Chair, Robert Hobson, says he's not sure if the Regional District is the right vehicle for this type of problem.

"I'm sure we could do it. I think we would need a regional bylaw because it sounds like they are going to spread," says Hobson.

"The City would also have to convince its neighbours on both sides of the lake maybe that they should contribute to some sort of regional function and that it is going to cost more money."

Hobson says the bigger issue is how to solve the problem.

"It's a question of whether you want to reduce them, in which case you would want to contract with somebody like the 'Starling Control Company,' to capture and euthanize them, or whether you want some long term maintenance program where people actually look after them."

He adds culling will probably be part of any recommendation brought back from the Regional Board.

"The inhumane thing was for people to let them go and let them breed in our urban environment. Something has to be done to get the population down."

Council also agreed that any discussion about the rabbit problem must also include prevention, which includes a possible bylaw that would prevent pet stores from selling rabbits that have not been spayed or neutered.

"There's three pet stores in town that do sell rabbits, and this would add significantly to the price of these pets," says Wilson. "None of them seemed to be too concerned because it was such a minor part of their business that they felt it would be reasonable."

Councillor, Carol Gran, added heavy fines should be imposed to anyone seen dropping off any animal in our community.

"It's cruel. It's the ultimate in cruelty," says Gran.

"What's even more cruel is for us to sit here and know that those rabbits are our there starving and freezing. But, what I don't want to see us do is spend a zillion dollars on this issue. We have enough people sleeping in our streets that we can't look after."

In 2007, during the height of summer, Wilson estimates there were as many as 2,000 in the Enterprise Way area alone.

"Do you have any idea the cost to neuter these animals,?" asked Gran.

Wilson says it could cost anywhere from $30 to $150 per rabbit.

"You multiply that by thousands and it's a fair amount of money that feeds a lot of homeless people."

Councilor Brian Given says regardless of what Council decides, the issue of what to do with the rabbits will be an emotional one with the citizens of Kelowna.

"Rabbits are pets and they're pets to young kids," says Given. "Rabbits are tied to nursery rhymes and stories and the Easter Bunny and all kinds of things that are very positive for children."

He says this is a very emotional button Council is pushing.

Given says he has seen on some weekends, as many as 20 people dropping food off for the rabbits at any one time.

Wilson says a bylaw prohibiting the feeding of these animals does not traditionally work.

TRACS has indicated it would favour a bylaw prohibiting the sale of unsterilized rabbits.

Wilson says TRACS has also said it is preparing a proposal which should be ready in February.

Mayor, Sharon Shepherd, says she would like to wait for that report before any decisions are made.

It is expected the Regional Board will come back with recommendations and costs within the next month.