Rabbit Cruelty in Richmond

Halloween truly was a night of horror for Merle Vered, who came upon what appeared to be a group of teens, blowing up a bunny rabbit with a firecracker just behind Brighouse elementary school.

"We had been out trick-or-treating and were just crossing behind Brighouse to get to the fireworks display."

Vered noticed a group of what she thought to be teens and a lot of smoke. "I wondered if they were going to set the school alight."

As she and another parent, along with eight kids, got closer, the teens bolted. "We noticed something on the ground and the kids ran ahead to look."

They found a rabbit with its guts oozing out. "I don't want to be graphic, but there was a hole in its stomach," said Vered. There was also a bag nearby, which she thinks might have been used to carry the rabbit to the park.

She quickly tried to get the kids away. Another adult (she assumes he was the school janitor) seemed to be taking charge of the situation.

"It was very upsetting. Some of the girls started crying." In fact, she, too, burst into tears when she got home and her husband asked how it went.

What had been a great night was blighted by what appears to have been an act of senseless cruelty. Vered said she doesn't like to be the bearer of bad news.

"I'd rather read good news, but I felt I had to say something about this. I hope the schools can do something about talking to kids about treating animals with respect."

My children and I and a group of their friends went trick or treating and then decided to go to the fireworks display at Minoru Park.

So we took a short cut through the park adjoining Brighouse elementary school. We noticed a group of teenagers that appeared to be letting off fire crackers.

I was concerned because they were very close to the school. They let off another fire cracker and they all ran away as we approached them.

It was then that we noticed something on the ground -- to my utter horror and dismay it was a dead rabbit that had obviously become the victim of these teenagers. It had been literally blown up by the firecracker/s!

To whoever did this, if you perhaps read this or if you know who did this -- this is not a Halloween prank or a joke but obviously the act of a very sick, sadistic person/people.

You need help and my only consolation is I believe in karma and this will come back to you/them. How could anyone hurt an innocent and defenseless bunny, even if it was already dead? You need to respect all living creatures, both in life and in death.

I was very sad that my children and their friends had to witness and see such a tragic and barbaric event on an evening that was supposed to be a fun-filled night.

I hope those individuals responsible will do some soul-searching and realize that this kind of behaviour is sick and that they need help. It saddens and worries me to know that these people are living here amongst us!

Unnecessary abuse against all animals should not be tolerated. Animals were put on this earth to live just like us and they do not deserve to be killed for or tortured by people with no hearts. Animals deserve to live and be cared for.

There should be harsher punishments for people who abuse their animals or pets. Animals cannot protect themselves against us, it is our duty to protect them.

If anyone knows who did this senseless, heinous crime please do the right thing and come forward and report to the police.

This cowardly act of unspeakable cruelty perpetrated upon a defenseless little rabbit is much more than a juvenile prank. Intentional and malicious anti-social behaviours by individuals such as these mindless thugs ought to be of grave concern to all of us. Numerous studies have shown that kids who derive enjoyment from committing atrocities toward animals are likely to be violent to humans as well.

I cannot imagine the pain and suffering this rabbit endured and sincerely hope these teens are apprehended. We simply cannot close our eyes to this horrific crime.

The sadistic killers who participated in this cruel and deadly attack on an innocent and defenseless rabbit need to be caught. Research has shown that there is a definite correlation between cruelty to animals and violent crimes against humans.

I cannot erase from my mind the sheer terror and hell this rabbit must have felt before his or her life finally ended.

The above two letters were published November 6/07 with the title "Cruel Halloween prank appalls readers."

November 09, 2007

Don't dismiss suffering

Richmond News

The Editor,

Re: "Dead rabbit horrifies mom," the News, Nov. 2.

Regarding this cruel Halloween prank, let's not forget the animal that suffered.

Understandably, people are horrified that such acts of unspeakable cruelty toward animals often translate itself into human cruelty or abuse. But why is it that in our society, many people cannot react to or understand another living being's suffering unless it is compared directly to its effect on a human being?

For the rabbits in Richmond, the city and many of its citizens had no real concern for the feral rabbit population's welfare until it hit the farmers in the pocketbook. Why does our society dismiss the suffering of another living being until it affects them directly? How did we become so uncaring toward other living beings? Our solution is to get rid of the "problem" only once we become affected.

I commend the woman who brought the story of the rabbit forward. Hopefully, it will not have died in vain.

Lisa Hutcheon

Burnaby

February 29, 2008 Bunnies shot, maimed, left for dead. This is the title of a news article appearing in the Richmond News.

Two rabbits were shot and killed with a pellet gun over a three-day span late last week in Minoru Park. Another rabbit was injured so severely its leg required amputation. It's believed to be the work of a group of young males between the ages of 12 and 18, according to witnesses who frequent the park. There is a reward being offered to anyone providing information that leads to the arrest of these offenders.

This is senseless and horrific cruelty against vulnerable and innocent little critters, and cannot go unpunished.

Please report any acts of violence and cruelty to the authorities and be an advocate for animals - help stop the cruelty!

March 7, 2008 Minoru Park is surrounded by a number of high-rises as well as a hospital and seniors housing care centre. Evidently some of the elderly residents have complained to management about the homeless rabbits wandering into their gardens and eating their shrubs and flowers. A permit to cull/kill the rabbits from the City of Richmond has been requested. Here again, we have heartless humans who think nothing about destroying little lives, for something as petty as flowers being munched on.

March 9, 2008 We went to Minoru Park and saw a number of domestic, turned feral, rabbits. While some people were feeding the bunnies, they were very wary and quickly scampered off into the brush if one got too close. Several were chasing each other and two in particular, seemed to be rather territorial.

May 29, 2008 We continue to monitor the situation in and around Minoru Park. A number of baby rabbits have been spotted on Richmond School Board grounds, and two adults were struck and killed by vehicles late last night. Correspondence with Richmond City Hall confirms that as part of a broader wildlife management plan, there is a program in place that involves "selectively moving or euthanizing rabbits on public land where the population has become destructive." We were assured that animal control activities are conducted in a "professional and ethical fashion that focuses on addressing public health, safety and other concerns in a humane manner. " However, we cannot keep eradicating other species and destroying the environment to accommodate only human life.