A local rabbit rescue group is having to take extra precautions with its annual Easter fundraiser this year after a highly infectious virus spread from 麻豆传媒映画Island to the Lower Mainland.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is highly contagious and deadly for feral and domestic rabbits. popped up in Nanaimo and Comox in mid-February before spreading to Delta and Annacis Island.
鈥淭here was a sanctuary in Nanaimo that ended up taking a sick bunny in from the original infection point and they ended up losing 275 rabbits,鈥� said Sorelle Saidman, founder of . 鈥淓very last rabbit in the sanctuary died.鈥�
Rabbitats鈥檚 annual Easter Bunny Fest fundraiser is set for April 1, and while it would usually be a 鈥榤eet and treat鈥� event where attendees would be able to buy a cup of food and feed the rabbits this year, due to fears of the virus, people won鈥檛 be able to get close to the bunnies.
鈥淯nfortunately this year, we can鈥檛 have the bunnies that close to people so they鈥檙e just going to have to look,鈥� Saidman said.
Saidman said there haven鈥檛 been any new cases of the virus in the last few weeks but the society isn鈥檛 taking any chances.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all precautionary. This is an extremely volatile little bug so we have to make sure it doesn鈥檛 come anywhere near our bunnies because once one bunny gets it then they鈥檙e all pretty much gone.鈥�
The event will also include face painting, crafts, games and treats.
In addition to planning this year鈥檚 event, Rabbitats is on the hunt for a new home after unexpectedly having to leave its previous location in the Richmond Auto Mall. Since its inception five years ago, Rabbitats has been housing its rescued bunnies in empty buildings slated for demolition.
鈥淲hen there鈥檚 a developer that鈥檚 going to tear down a building, and we managed to do this at the auto mall for the last four, five years almost, we move into the building until they鈥檙e ready to tear it down,鈥� Saidman said, adding the society thought it would have a year at the last building but plans changed and the developer decided to renovate the space instead of tearing it down.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that maybe with all of the development going on in 麻豆传媒映画somebody might have an empty house or warehouse or something that they鈥檙e not going to be using for anywhere from months to a year,鈥� she said. 鈥淥nce the virus actually calms down we can look at moving the rabbits outside but right now we need inside space.鈥�
Saidman said Rabbitats is currently looking for permanent homes for around 100 bunnies. About 30 are currently living at Urban Pets store on Granville. The rest are temporarily housed in a trailer at the auto mall or in a horse stall in Delta. The society also has a sanctuary in South Surrey and rabbit foster homes throughout the Lower Mainland.
Sunday鈥檚 Easter Bunny Fest runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Urban Pets (8697 Granville St.) rain or shine. Entry is by donation.
Saidman said the money raised will likely be used for a vaccine for rabbit hemorrhagic disease, which has to be imported from Europe.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to cost us about $7,500,鈥� she said.
