Regarding the article on rabbits in the Jan. 12 Leader (“New home for feral rabbits – Delta approves $60,000 neuter and relocate program”).
What a waste of taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. It is especially wasteful because of the needs of many of the less-fortunate in our community: those unable to work and those unable to find work.
Delta wants to spend $60,000 to neuter and relocate 500 rabbits? Is our society now at the point where animals are as, or more, important than people? This is totally disgusting. I have a better and cheaper solution and it would help poor people too. The rabbits could be put down using an air gun. Air gun pellets are so light the risk of ricochet is very low, yet very effective at close range.
I’m volunteering to put down the rabbits for a mere $5 each and it will be done safely. Air guns have a short range and if done carefully, outside of business hours, there would be no danger to people or other animals. Rabbits are most active in early morning or late evening when there are the least people around, making this the ideal time to do the culling.
The meat could be given to food banks. Rabbit meat is very nutritional and low in fat. Contrary to popular belief, rabbits are an agricultural animal, not a pet. Europeans consume a lot of rabbit meat. I know there are those who would object to making stew out of them, but all the meat in our food stores also came from animals that were killed. I’m not an animal hater either, I have a dog that I’ve spent a lot of money on to keep him healthy, and my daughter has a cat, but rabbits are not an endangered species, so put down the ones that are a problem.
I could save Delta council $57,500.
John Enns
Surrey