Rabbits Dumped in Parks

Oh I know. I'm in California too (if you're in Southern CA, you've probably seen the latest 500 rabbits case on the news). The thing is, people have to get caught for it to be illegal. Shelters often have cameras at the gates so you can't just dump an animal there without checking in. But parks don't generally have cameras. It's a $1,000 fine if someone turns you in though and can prove it was you.

That's a good point. I think that's basically what happened in Australia. People who dump their pets certainly aren't doing research though. They just want to be rid of that animal as soon as possible I think. If they actually cared about it, they'd find the pet a home on their own or with some help rather than just dump it.

Sorry to have run on your discussion.I like all animals and can not understand why people abandon them.I just went on a rant about the problem in general instead of answering the question.

I see it as saying something that should be said to educate the world's population of the do's and don'ts of ecology and our environment. Good on you. +

And the 500 case started before Easter... I sure hope things don't get worse! You can already see the impact of Easter on shelters though. A lot of the rabbits are picked off by hawks, but then others stay and multiply. My Floppy was running around as a single, not part of a colony. Probably for one or two months before I picked her up. Amazingly, she was already spayed. But in most cases, the people that dump their rabbits just aren't the same group of people that spay/neuter them. I'm betting Floppy came from a shelter when they got her, that's really my only explanation for why she would have been spayed.

I think even people who would think it's absolutely disgusting to dump your dog or cat might even dump rabbits though. Rabbits just aren't held in the same "status" to some people. For example, many people adopt their dogs and cats from shelters and would never even consider buying a puppy mill puppy. Yet those same people will go to the pet shop and get their rabbit from the pet mill and not think a thing about it. Overall, I think pets are just too disposable in our culture. It sickens me how many people just get a pet on impulse and don't even think about what they're doing, then they give it away or dump it.

That's what a lot of people seem to think out here. Sometimes they even think that because we have wild rabbits out here, their rabbits will just go live with them. For anyone in California who wants to adopt or help out the 500 rabbits, there is more info about them at www.bunnybunch.org

There is a fine out here. $1,000 if you're caught. If you drive in the carpool lane, it's nearly $400 if you don't have a second (or sometimes 3rd) person with you. So a lot of people never do that one. Yet they'll dump a rabbit in a park. I actually talked to someone on the phone before who told me if I didn't take his cat, he would dump it in the foothills. I told him I'd be right over and get it, what was his name, address, and phone number? Then I told him, "Okay, I've recorded this message. If you don't provide proof that you've found that cat another home or taken it to the shelter, you're going to get a $1,000 fine for dumping the cat." I didn't actually record the message, but I think it scared him. Around here, the public shelters cannot refuse to take in animals. Private ones can, but the city shelters will always take in your pet, room or not (even if they have no clue what to feed it). They will also probably euthanize it in 3 days if they're that crowded, but they will take it in. Rabbits make nice pets when spayed/neutered, but I think the thing is, a lot of people think they are easy pets and a child could care for them. Rabbits can be expensive pets at times. They take up a lot of room and they live 10+ years. A lot of people don't expect that lifespan.

Our wild rabbit population seems to remain pretty constant. They get picked off by hawks and coyotes at roughly the same rate they multiply at I guess. That and cars.