THUNDER BAY – Animal rights enforcement agents are appealing to the public for information after nine more injured rabbits were abandoned in two local parks.
Animal services alerted the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to two rabbit “dump sites” at Chippewa Park near Fort William First Nation and Fisherman’s Park in the Current River area.
The abandonments come a week after 15 injured domestic bunnies were discovered in Mission Marsh, some of which were badly injured.
OSPCA officer Jeremy Gardiner said the latest batch of abandoned animals are undergoing veterinary care and he expects the Thunder Bay District Humane Society will be preparing them for adoption soon.
“Some of them did have eye issues and upper respiratory issues,” he said.
“They have been treated for that. Some of it is from breeding. Some were missing eyes and missing ears as well.”
Gardiner observed the animals were not provided proper shelter or medical care and is speculating they may have been kept in small cages where they regressed to predatory behavior.
He’s appealing to the public for information that could lead his team to the culprits.
“Obviously, someone had a bunch of rabbits. Someone probably knows someone who had a bunch of rabbits and now they don’t,” Gardiner said.
“Hopefully, someone can just let us know and we can have a place where we can start looking.”
Anyone with any information can call 310-7722 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
