Advocacy

Below is an article from the Mercury News site based in Australia. We have been asked by a rescue there to spread the word about this situation. A vaccine has been created that is able to prevent Myxomatosis, a fatal disease that effects bunnies, but their government is refusing to make it available. Please read the article below and then click on this Petition Link to help put an end to these unnecessary deaths.

A TASMANIAN animal sanctuary that specializes in rescuing rabbits from meat farms has been hit by the deadly myxomatosis virus.

Big Ears Sanctuary co-owner Jacqui Steele said she discovered two rabbits with symptoms of the disease at the Longford property on Tuesday and a vet confirmed they had contracted the contagious virus, which has a 98 per cent death rate.

Mrs Steele discovered five more sick rabbits yesterday and has grave fears for the rest of her more than 200 rabbits.

“These rabbits had already been through so much before we rescued them, so this is just really unfair,’’ she said.

“It is also so frustrating for us because we desex all our rabbits and vaccinate them against calicivirus but we can’t protect them from myxo ­because, even through a vaccine is available, the Australian Government won’t allow us access to it because it claims the immunity could be passed to the wild population.’’

Mrs Steele said the vaccine ban meant all domestic rabbits were at risk of the virus. “Rabbits are the third most popular pet in Australia and it doesn’t matter how vigilant owners are, their rabbit, even if kept inside, can contract this disease from mosquitoes,’’ she said.

“If this was happening to dogs or cats there would be outrage, but no one seems to be standing up for the bunnies.’’

Mrs Steele said there were ways the vaccine could be made available without ­impacting on myxo as a wild rabbit control measure. “If the vaccine was only available through vets for ­de-sexed rabbits that would prevent escaped domestic rabbits from mating with wild rabbits and creating wild myxo-resistant bunnies,” she said.

“Refusing domestic rabbit owners access to the vaccine is an unreasonable and archaic position.’’

Mrs Steele, who runs the sanctuary even though she is fighting terminal cancer, said the outbreak was a heartbreaking blow.

“There is no cure and no treatment — all we can do is euthanize the bunnies as the virus is confirmed because otherwise they face a cruel horrible death which can take up to two weeks — so for us it is a waiting game,’’ she said.

Myxomatosis symptoms:

 ■ Runny and swollen eyes

■ Hot and swollen ears

■ Swollen genitals

■ Lethargy