NEWS RELEASE about EducationEnvironment posted on April 11, 2011 by Roslyn Cassells

Easter is coming and the rabbits in BC are dying

BCSPCA complicit in cruel treatment of homeless rabbits

by Roslyn Cassells

Bromadiolone poisoned young rabbit UVic 2010

Decapitated rabbit UVic 2010

HERE'S HOW THE RABBITS DIE

The BCSPCA's Cruel Attitude Towards Homeless Rabbits

Easter's coming and the rabbits are dying all over the province, in the most horrrible ways, and with the blessing of BC's largest animal welfare organization.  At UVic, where the administration has returned to their shoot to kill approach to abandoned domestic rabbits, the BCSPCA has twice approved of UVic's regressive, unsustainable, ineffective, and cruel rabbit control plans.  There was a brief about face last year, when the BCSPCA was targeted with a letter writing campaign and possible loss of donors, and they briefly retracted their support for the killing plans.  Once the media attention was on another topic the association reverted to type, reconfirming in the media their support for killing rabbits, even though they are fully aware that non-lethal population control programs are more effective, sustainable, and humane.

Where UVic and the BCSPCA have failed, others have stepped up to fill the void in concern for the welfare of rabbits.  Last month the District of Saanich became the first jurisdiction on Vancouver Island to pass meaningful bylaws to improve the lot of domestic rabbits in their jurisdiction.  Many jurisdictions in the lower mainland of BC have passed similar bylaws, and the South Saanich MLA tried to bring a private members bill to the BC legislature to ban the sale of fertile rabbits in pet stores.  Still, one wonders why the group hauling in all the cash in the name of the animals spends more time spending it on themselves than actually helping animals.  Approximately 10% of the massive BCSPCA budget is spent on direct animal care, and far too much, some would argue, on bloated senior executive salaries.

The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals should be advocating for the lives and welfare of rabbits and other suffering animals in this province.  Instead, the largest and best funded animal welfare organization has turned it's back on one of the most vulnerable species around. 

In addition to their initial and current support of the University of Victoria's plan to kill the homeless former pet rabbits on campus, the society even recommends how to kill them using cruel and regressive methods such as decapitation, gassing, blow to the head and strangling/wringing of their necks.

BCSPCA's "Feral Rabbit Position Statement" says: "If euthanasia is to be performed by agencies other than the BC SPCA, it must be
conducted humanely using a method approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Guidelines on Euthanasia" (see http://www.pdfescape.com/open/?1715525 link to the BCSPCA website for the Feral Rabbit Position Statement and http://www.pdfescape.com/open/?1715537 link to the AVMA website for the AVMA Euthanasia Guidelines).

It must be said that it absolutely inappropriate for the BCSPCA to refer to killing healthy animals as "euthanasia".  Euthanasia refers to mercy killing when an individual is suffering terribly and there is no possible further treatment or pain control available.  Killing animals in any other circumstance is simply convenience killing.  It is estimated that the BCSPCA kills 90% of domestic rabbits brought to their "shelters" and the BCSPCA affiliated Wild Ark wildlife rehabilitation center on Vancouver Island.  By and large these are healthy rabbits who should be cared for until adoption, release if native species, or relocated to sanctuary.

Here are the excerpts from the AVMA guidelines on euthanasia which pertain to rabbits:

Acceptable methods for killing rabbits:
"Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics, CO2, CO, potassium chloride in conjunction with general anesthesia" from Appendix 1 - Agents and Methods of Euthansia by Species

"Conditionally Acceptable" methods for killing rabbits:
"N2, Ar, cervical dislocation (< 1 kg), decapitation, penetrating captive bolt"  from Appendix 1 - Agents and Methods of Euthanasia by Species

under Inhalant anaethetics:
"Nitrogen (N2) and argon (Ar).:  Euthanasia is induced by placing the animal in a closed container that has been prefilled with N2 or Ar or into which the gas is then rapidly introduced. Nitrogen/Ar displaces O2, thus inducing death by hypoxemia."

"Following loss of consciousness, vocalization, gasping, convulsions, and muscular tremors developed in some dogs. At the end of a 5 minute exposure period, all dogs were dead.88 These findings were similar to those for rabbits and mink....rats collapsed in approximately 3 minutes and stopped breathing in 5 to 6 minutes. Regardless of flow rate, signs of panic and distress were evident before the rats collapsed and died.85 Insensitivity to pain under such circumstances is questionable

under Advantages and Disadvantages for N2 (nitrogen):  "Advantages—(1) Nitrogen and Ar are readily available as compressed gases. (2) Hazards to personnel are minimal.
Disadvantages—(1) Loss of consciousness is preceded by hypoxemia and ventilatory stimulation, which may be distressing to the animal."

CO2: "Some burrowing animals, such as rabbits of the species Oryctolagus, also have prolonged survival times when exposed to CO2" and "Carbon dioxide is readily available and can be purchased in compressed gas cylinders. (3) Carbon dioxide is inexpensive"
CO:  "In a study by Ramsey and Eilmann,94 8% CO caused guinea pigs to collapse in 40 seconds to 2 minutes, and death occurred within 6 minutes. Carbon monoxide has been used to euthanatize mink and chinchillas. These animals collapsed in 1 minute, breathing ceased in 2 minutes, and the heart stopped beating in 5 to 7 minutes.
In a study evaluating the physiologic and behavioral characteristics of dogs exposed to 6% CO in air, Chalifoux and Dallaire95 could not determine the precise time of loss of consciousness. Electroencephalographic recordings revealed 20 to 25 seconds of abnormal cortical function prior to loss of consciousness. It was during this period that the dogs became agitated and vocalized."
"In a comparative study, CO from gasoline engine exhaust and 70% CO2 plus 30% O2 were used to euthanatize cats. Euthanasia was divided into 3 phases. Phase I was the time from initial contact to onset of clinical signs (eg, yawning, staggering, or trembling). Phase II extended from the end of phase I until recumbency, and phase III from the end of phase II until death.54 The study revealed that signs of agitation before loss of consciousness were greatest with CO2 plus O2. Convulsions occurred during phases II and III with both methods."
"In people, the most common symptoms of early CO toxicosis are headache, dizziness, and weakness...these signs may be followed by decreased visual acuity, tinnitus, nausea, progressive depression, confusion, and collapse. ..loss of consciousness may be accompanied by convulsions and muscular spasms."
Carbon monoxide must only be used in a chamber built and maintained to specifications.
Barbituates: (NONINHALANT PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS)

"The use of injectable euthanasia agents is the most rapid and reliable method of performing euthanasia" and "Intracardiac injection (heart-stick) is acceptable only when performed on heavily sedated, anesthetized, or comatose animals."

"Barbiturates depress the central nervous system in descending order, beginning with the cerebral cortex, with loss of consciousness progressing to anesthesia. With an overdose, deep anesthesia progresses to apnea, owing to depression of the respiratory center, which is followed by cardiac arrest...All barbituric acid derivatives used for anesthesia are acceptable for euthanasia when administered intravenously. ..Sodium pentobarbital (Euthanol) best fits these criteria and is most widely used..."

"Disadvantages—(1) Intravenous injection is necessary for best results and requires trained personnel. (2) Each animal must be restrained. (3) Current federal drug regulations require strict accounting for barbiturates and these must be used under the supervision of personnel" (with the relevant governmental agencies' supervision)... also "An aesthetically objectionable terminal gasp may occur in unconscious animals."

There is a serious risk to other animals due to secondary exposure to contaminated carcasses if not properly disposed of  by cremation.  Under Disadvantages: "(5) These drugs tend to persist in the carcass and may cause sedation or even death of animals that consume the body."

"Chloral hydrate depresses the cerebrum slowly; therefore, restraint may be a problem for some animals. Death is caused by hypoxemia resulting from progressive depression of the respiratory center, and may be preceded by gasping, muscle spasms, and vocalization.  Chloral hydrate is not acceptable for dogs, cats, and other small animals because the side effects may be severe..."

Potassium chloride with anaesthetic:  "Although unacceptable and condemned when used in unanaesthetized animals, the use of a supersaturated solution of potassium chloride injected intravenously or intracardially in an animal under general anesthesia is an acceptable method to produce cardiac arrest and death."  Under Disadvantages: "Rippling of muscle tissue and clonic spasms may occur on or shortly after injection."  "Administration of potassium chloride intravenously requires animals to be in a surgical plane of anesthesia characterized by loss of consciousness, loss of reflex muscle response, and loss of response to noxious stimuli"

under PHYSICAL METHODS:

"A penetrating captive bolt is used for euthanasia of ruminants, horses, swine, laboratory rabbits, and dogs."

"Cervical dislocation is a technique that has been used for many years and, when performed by well-trained individuals, appears to be humane. However, there are few scientific studies to confirm this observation. This technique is used to euthanatize poultry, other small birds, mice, and immature rats and rabbits....for immature rabbits, the head is held in one hand and the hind limbs in the other. The animal is stretched and the neck is hyperextended and dorsally twisted to separate the first cervical vertebra from the skull...Data suggest that electrical activity in the brain persists for 13 seconds following cervical dislocation, and unlike decapitation, rapid exsanguination does not contribute to loss of consciousness."

"Disadvantages—...(2) Cervical dislocation requires mastering technical skills to ensure loss of consciousness is rapidly induced. (3) Its use is limited to poultry, other small birds, mice, and immature rats and rabbits." and "Recommendations—Manual cervical dislocation is a humane technique for euthanasia of poultry, other small birds, mice, rats weighing < 200 g, and rabbits weighing < 1 kg when performed by individuals with a demonstrated high degree of technical proficiency. In lieu of demonstrated technical competency, animals must be sedated or anesthetized prior to cervical dislocation. The need for technical competency is greater in heavy rats and rabbits, in which the large muscle mass in the cervical region makes manual cervical dislocation physically more difficult."

 "Decapitation can be used to euthanatize rodents and small rabbits in research settings.
Disadvantages—(1) Handling and restraint required to perform this technique may be distressful to animals.83 (2) The interpretation of the presence of electrical activity in the brain following decapitation has created controversy and its importance may still be open to debate."
"Guillotines that are designed to accomplish decapitation in adult rodents and small rabbits in a uniformly instantaneous manner are commercially available."

from the preface:
"Welfare issues are increasingly being identified in the management of free-ranging wildlife, and the need for humane euthanasia guidelines in this context is great. Collection of animals for scientific investigations, euthanasia of injured or diseased wildlife species, removal of animals causing damage to property or threatening human safety, and euthanasia of animals in excess population are drawing more public attention. These issues are acknowledged in these guidelines and special considerations are described for handling animals under free-ranging conditions, where their needs are far different from those of their domestic counterparts. " 
How are their needs "far different", don't all animals deserve equal treatment for pain and suffering?  Why are the social conditions of specific groups of animals used as excuses for their neglect, and their inadequate and cruel treatment at the hands of the veterinary profession and the public?

"These guidelines are intended for use by members of the veterinary profession who carry out or oversee the euthanasia of animals. Although the guidelines may be interpreted and understood by a broad segment of the general population, a veterinarian should be consulted in the application of these recommendations." 
This appears to mean that the public, a trapper, a hunter, a grounds maintenance person can use these methods to kill animals.  It is only recommended that a veterinarian be consulted.

from General Considerations: 
"In evaluating methods of euthanasia, the panel used the following criteria:...(12) safety for predators/scavengers should the carcass be consumed."
and "Animals must not be restrained in a painful position before slaughter"
and "Ethical considerations that must be addressed when euthanatizing healthy and unwanted animals reflect professional and societal concerns. These issues are complex and warrant thorough consideration by the profession and all those concerned with the welfare of animals." (BCSPCA, BCVMA, MOE, RCMP, municipal forces and bylaw officers)

"It is the intent of AVMA that euthanasia be performed in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing drug acquisition and storage, occupational safety, and methods used for euthanasia and disposal of animals." 
What are the applicable provincial, federal, municipal, and regional laws and regulations regarding the killing of rabbits and the disposal of their bodies?" It has been reported for example that the SPCA on Vancouver Island, instead of cremating dead animals (including animals killed with phenobarbital (euthanol) which can cause secondary poisoning and death in scavengers), dumps the bodies in the Hartland Landfill near Esquimalt, a capital regional district landfill. This is where Tom Smith said that the bodies of the 104 UVic rabbits killed in May 2010 were dumped.

under Animal Behavioural Considerations:

"Animals that are wild, feral, injured, or already distressed from disease pose another challenge. Methods of pre-euthanasia handling suitable for domestic animals may not be effective for them. Because handling may stress animals unaccustomed to human contact (eg, wildlife, zoo, and feral species), the degree of restraint required to perform any euthanasia procedure should be considered when evaluating various methods. When handling these animals, calming may be accomplished by minimizing visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation. When struggling during capture or restraint may cause pain, injury, or anxiety to the animal or danger to the operator, the use of tranquilizers, analgesics, and/or anesthetics may be necessary. A route of injection should be chosen that causes the least distress in the animal for which euthanasia must be performed. Various techniques for oral delivery of sedatives to dogs and cats have been described that may be useful under these circumstances."

"Fear can cause immobility or “playing dead” in certain species, particularly rabbits and chickens. This immobility response should not be interpreted as loss of consciousness when the animal is, in fact, conscious. Distress vocalizations, fearful behavior, and release of certain odors or pheromones by a frightened animal may cause anxiety and apprehension in other animals. Therefore, for sensitive species, it is desirable that other animals not be present when individual animal euthanasia is performed."
under Human Behavioural Considerations: "Constant exposure to, or participation in, euthanasia procedures can cause a psychologic state characterized by a strong sense of work dissatisfaction or alienation, which may be expressed by absenteeism, belligerence, or careless and callous handling of animals."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
"The fourth situation is wildlife control. Wildlife biologists, wildlife managers, and wildlife health professionals are often responsible for euthanatizing animals that are injured, diseased, in excessive number, or that threaten property or human safety. Although relocation of some animals is appropriate and attempted, relocation is often only a temporary solution to a larger problem. People who must deal with these animals, especially under public pressure to save the animals rather than destroy them, can experience extreme distress and anxiety."

under Wildlife:

"Veterinarians providing support to those working with injured or live-trapped, free-ranging animals should take capture, transport, handling distress, and possible carcass consumption into consideration when asked to assist with euthanasia."

under Diseased, Injured, or Live-Captured Wildlife or Feral Species:

"Certain cases of wildlife injury (eg, acute, severe trauma from automobiles) may require immediate action, and pain and suffering in the animal may be best relieved most rapidly by physical methods including gunshot or penetrating captive bolt " (these methods are not used by wildlife rehabilitation centers or veterinarians)

reference:

Appendix 1—Agents and methods of euthanasia by species
Agents and methods of euthanasia by species (refer to Appendix 4 for unacceptable agents and methods.)

 
Species     Acceptable* (refer to Appendix 2 and text for details)     Conditionally acceptable† (refer to Appendix 3 and text for details)      
 
Rabbits     Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics, CO2, CO, potassium chloride in conjunction with general anesthesia     N2, Ar, cervical dislocation (< 1 kg), decapitation, penetrating captive bolt