By Derek Schlennstedt
They’re cute, they’re fluffy, they’re considered a pest; but rabbits are becoming a common domestic pet among younger families.
As rabbits become the easier pet option, Judi and Bryce Inglis at the Olinda Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage are concerned that a lack of regulations surrounding the species is resulting in higher numbers of rabbits being dumped.
Rabbits are considered a pest in every state of Australia, and although it’s hard for any rabbit lover to consider the idea of these creatures as pests – it isn’t domesticated, de-sexed rabbits that are the issue, it’s feral rabbits.
Domestic rabbits do not come under the Domestic Animals Act – the purpose of which is to promote ‘animal welfare and the responsible ownership of dogs and cats’.
This exclusion of rabbits is resulting in a lack of responsibility by local councils or state governments who are not required to include them in their Animal Management Plan. On top of this, large numbers of breeding rabbits being dumped is resulting in an overabundance at shelters which then forces many to be euthanized, Judi and Bryce said.
“Private organisations will generally say, ‘we don’t have the resources to go out and do anything about it’ and refer you to council, but then they’ll turn around and say, ‘it’s not covered by the act or not covered under our animal management plan,’” Bryce said.
“So you get these people calling both and going around in a circle, until they end up calling us.”
Yarra Ranges Council has stated that while rabbits aren’t included, rangers do exhaust all avenues in rehoming dumped rabbits and are currently re-evaluating their Animals Management Plan.
“The Domestic Animal Management Plan is required to be produced by all councils every four years under the Domestic Animals Act 1994,” Yarra Ranges Council director of Corporate Services, Troy Edwards, said.
“We are specifically required to address matters concerning cats and dogs in the plan.
“In preparing this plan, we have the opportunity to gather feedback from the community on how well it provides for cats and dogs and their owners, along with what finding opportunities exist to improve the experiences of pet owners.
“We encourage all residents with pets to have their say at yarraranges.vic.gov.au/lists/current-consultation,”
Under the Domestic Animals Act, only cats and dogs have laws surrounding breeding and microchipping.
It is for this reason that both Judi and Bryce are calling upon the government to act and include pet rabbits which Judi said would also reduce wild rabbit numbers.
“The increase of rabbits as pets is becoming more and more prevalent, and it has to be addressed,” she said.
“We need to include the pet rabbit in Animal Welfare Laws, to provide protection from abuse, neglect, uncontrolled breeding, dumping and release in the Australian landscape.
“The dumping of pet rabbits has seen an increase of strays in the suburbs adding to the feral rabbit problem.”
Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage is Victoria’s first and only no-kill rabbit rescue and recently opened a sponsorship program to sponsor a cage for their special needs rabbits.
Jason Wood Federal Member for La Trobe visited the rabbit orphanage on Wednesday 28 June and promoted the vital work being done.
“Local not for profit organisations like the rabbit Run-Away Orphanage do vital work for our community,” he said.
“I have always championed animal rights, and to me this is definitely something we have to get together as a community and support.”
