Editor:
Rabbit rescuers are sensitive to the predator risk. We want to protect people, rabbits and wildlife. Rabbit rescuers also want to save taxpayer costs and relationships.
To enable success, Canmore needs to change policy roadblocks.
1. Change bylaws to allow volunteer non-professional trappers
2. Invite all rescue groups to participate - especially ARC from U.S. – allow local rescue and external rescue groups to register volunteers and register with the town at no cost, no business license and no charitable registration required.
3. Begin to trap now – ASAP before more summer breeding and continue to trap non-stop 24x7x365.
4. Town buy 300 general use traps $15,000 (S&H, tax) at www.nextag.com/rabbit-traps/products-html (compare to Canmore sculpture $100,000).
5. Town provide secure spaces for separating male/female rabbits. Only spay females – half the work and save the money for long-term care.
6. Each group gets paid for rabbits trapped for relocation costs.
a) bi-weekly, pay $100 per rabbit trapped directly to joint trust account. Part of cost paid bi-weekly for front-end costs with any excess balance released to vets or receiving shelter when rabbits arrive.
b) all Internet donations via Canmore monitored website, all donations shared equally per rabbit paid direct to vets and receiving shelters.
7. Relax policies to make it easier for shelters to qualify and allow spayed rabbits transfer to U.S. shelters and rescue groups and to any qualifying shelters available in Canada.
Stay involved – be part of the solution. You can help us to protect residents, rabbits and wildlife. Working together, we can all achieve our goals.
Dan Onischuk,
Edmonton
