Proving that Australia has an awfully long way to go, to match the compassion of the United States, Best Friends are this week reporting on their newest TNR program – and the big surprise is that they’ve expanded beyond the traditional ‘cat’ program!
The phrase ‘it takes a village’ took on new meaning at Long Beach City College this week, as the long-awaited trap/neuter/return (TNR) plan for campus rabbits began in a big way.
After months of planning, veterinarians and veterinary students from Western University used their spring break to come to Long Beach to spay and neuter campus bunnies in an effort to thwart a growing problem. In just two days, 84 rabbits had been spayed and neutered in Western’s mobile vet trailer. Best Friends’ Debby Widolf was on hand with other staff members to oversee and record the progress.
The program was the first known attempt at a mass TNR on rabbits in the country. Newspapers, radio stations and television crews were on hand throughout the effort to record the historic event.
Biologically, a desexed animal is a reproductive dead end. If the community around them cares for them, to suggest that they’re ‘better off dead’ is not only nonsensical, but a spiteful use of the powers of animal management.
The compassion of the community can be the solution to these owner-less pets.
