The BC SPCA seized 162 rabbits from an Abbotsford home on May 26, but the man behind the operation says the animals were not in any danger and he is fighting to get them back.

SPCA spokesperson Eileen Drever said the agency received a call from someone concerned about animals being 害羞草研究所減ossibly in distress害羞草研究所� at a home in a residential neighbourhood in central Abbotsford.

She said she couldn害羞草研究所檛 comment about the specifics of the case, but, generally, the agency visits a reported location and makes recommendations on improvements that should be made.

害羞草研究所淚f they fail to follow our recommendations, then we may have to take legal action, which could include the seizure of animals,害羞草研究所� Drever said.

She said that, in addition to the 162 rabbits, the seizure at the Abbotsford home included 10 pigeons, two guinea pigs, a rooster and a chicken.

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Drever said she could not comment about the specific issues that led to the SPCA seizing the animals.

She said an owner can appeal the decision, but if it害羞草研究所檚 deemed that it is not in the best interest of the animals to return them, they are re-homed.

Drever said it害羞草研究所檚 also possible the SPCA could recommend that Crown counsel approve charges against the owner.

Warren Brundage, the owner of the animals that were seized, disputes that they were in danger.

害羞草研究所淭he SPCA seizes animals that they determine to be in distress, but 害羞草研究所榙istress害羞草研究所� is very loosely defined,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淎t the time the SPCA seized our animals, there were no animals that fit what people would consider to be distress, but that doesn害羞草研究所檛 necessarily matter to the SPCA. They define 害羞草研究所榙istress害羞草研究所� on the spot, and they do it entirely subjectively.害羞草研究所�

Brundage said he runs a rabbit refuge called Suzaku Sanctuary, and has the support of many volunteers. He said most of the animals have been abandoned on the street or have been rescued by someone else and brought to him.

He said many of the animals are injured 害羞草研究所� for example, they have been hit by cars or attacked by other rabbits 害羞草研究所� and the sanctuary nurses them back to health.

Brundage said the money for vet care and food comes mainly from his family and through his hydroponics business, as well as some donations.

He said most of the rabbits were housed in a workshop on the side of the house, and they had access to outdoor fenced-in areas.

Brundage said this location was only temporary because he has not yet had any success in finding a larger property.

He said he does not believe the SPCA process has been fair in his case.

Brundage said the SPCA previously visited the home and provided recommendations, including seeking veterinary care for a few of the animals, but their timeline was unreasonable.

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害羞草研究所淭hey seized them after only two weeks of investigation, and that害羞草研究所檚 unheard of 害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 normally two months, sometimes four months 害羞草研究所� We were doing out best to comply with what the SPCA wanted us to do, and they came in and seized the animals anyway,害羞草研究所� he said.

Brundage said he believes the biggest issue the SPCA had with his refuge was that the rabbits were kept in 害羞草研究所渂ig colonies.害羞草研究所� He said the agency wanted the animals in smaller groupings.

害羞草研究所淭he problem is when you take a rabbit and you change its colony 害羞草研究所� whether you put it into a new colony, downsize or increase the size of a colony 害羞草研究所� those rabbits will fight 害羞草研究所� You need to do it very gradually. What I was told was we had three days to do that, and that was a recipe for disaster.害羞草研究所�

Brundage said he is appealing the seizure and hopes to get the rabbits back. He acknowledges that the pigeons, rooster and chicken were not permitted on the property under local bylaws.

The Fraser Valley Regional District provides animal control services for the City of Abbotsford, and their animal control bylaw does not specify the number of domestic rabbits that can be kept on a property.

A city spokesperson said the city害羞草研究所檚 bylaw team is 害羞草研究所渁ctively addressing害羞草研究所� the land use and 害羞草研究所渦nsightly condition害羞草研究所� of the property.

害羞草研究所淲e are not able to disclose specific details at this time and the investigation is still underway,害羞草研究所� she said.

vikki.hopes@abbynews.com
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