RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) TRAP-NEUTER-RELEASE NOT JUST FOR CATS ANYMOREDiane McClure, DVM PhD, DACLAM, Frank Bossong, DVM, Eva M. Jaeger, BS, RVT, LuAnn Peterson, RVTVeterinary Ambulatory Community Service - College of Veterinary MedicineWestern University of Health Sciences309 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA

RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) TRAP-NEUTER-RELEASE NOT JUST FOR CATS ANYMOREDiane McClure, DVM PhD, DACLAM*1, Frank Bossong, DVM1, Eva M. Peterson, BS, RVT1, Luann Manley, RVT1Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service, College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA, 91766,USAABSTRACTThe Southern California community believed Long Beach City College (LBCC) was a sanctuary for abandoned pet rabbits. In 2010, a population of approximately 300 rabbits, a result of pet rabbits being dumped on campus over a 25 year period, was growing. The rabbits were causing significant property damage and other havoc at LBCC. Donna Prindle, a teacher in the LBCC Athletic Department, spearheaded creation of the Rabbit Overpopulation Task Force, a coalition of the LBCC community, Best Friends Animal Society and Western Universitys (WU) College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service (VACS). The Task Force organized resources to fund and implement a successful Rabbit Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program at LBCC. The Task Force and previous success with a campus cat TNR program at LBCC convinced the LBCC administration to allow the Rabbit TNR program to go forward. WU veterinarians and veterinary technicians adapted experiences with cat TNR for two major rabbit spay-neuter events with the WU mobile hospital on-site at LBCC. Veterinarians performed all surgeries, veterinary students assisted with pre-operative health assessments and post-operative recovery. A minimum of 3 days post-operative period emphasizing pain control and monitoring gastrointestinal function was essential for successful recovery prior to release or adoption. Over two events, 180 rabbits were trapped and 155 rabbits were spayed or neutered. Rabbits were either released or adopted to forever homes. 25 rabbits were triaged out of the Spay-Neuter events due to health concerns. These rabbits were housed and treated until they were well enough to go to surgery or to a forever home.This presentation will provide detailed insights into a Rabbit TNR as an effective component of free-living domestic rabbit population management control of a in a school setting.What happened to the other 25 rabbits?25 rabbits were triaged out of the Spay-Neuter events due to health concerns. These rabbits were housed and treated until they were well enough to go to surgery or to a forever home.

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Rabbit Overpopulation ProblemCottontails?

Cottontail rabbit image credit http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/entm/wildlifehotline/images/mammals/rabbit01.jpg

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Rabbit Overpopulation ProblemNot Cottontails

Abandoned Domestic Rabbits

Cottontail rabbit image credit http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/entm/wildlifehotline/images/mammals/rabbit01.jpg

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Rabbit Overpopulation Problem

LBCC is the Bunny College!Silver Martins * English Spot * Tan DutchWhite Rex * New Zealand white New Zealand BlackAgouti, White Tan & Black Rabbits

Cottontail rabbit image credit http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/entm/wildlifehotline/images/mammals/rabbit01.jpgLBCC.edu: 24,000 students and 112 acresMost common breed mixes on the campusI didn't count these up but I have the photos. Seemed like there were a lot of silver martins but there were also English spot, tan Dutch, white rex, New Zealand white, New Zealand Black, agouti, tan or black rabbits

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Abandoned Domestic RabbitsFeral free-livingDo not breed with cotton tailsNot wild, but abandoned pet rabbits

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Survival: Where? How?Locations protected from or with low #s predatorsCity ParksSchool & College Campuses ZoosAirportsBreeding fecundity Climate, food

MOST ABANDONED RABBITS LIVE A SHORT LIFE

Use brief bullets and discuss details verbally.6

HOW MANY? Kelowna, Canada - Est.1,500University of Victoria - Est. 2,000 plusOrlando, FL - Est. 1,000Garden Grove CA 500 removedLong Beach City College Est. 300-400

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Rabbit Overpopulation Problem

LBCCBunny College

Destruction & Death

Cottontail rabbit image credit http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/entm/wildlifehotline/images/mammals/rabbit01.jpgLBCC.edu: 24,000 students and 112 acres

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Rabbit Overpopulation Task ForceMulti-Sector Coalition

CoachFeral Cat TNROrganized fund raising, grants, donations$$$$$VolunteersMulti-sector Coalition

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Rabbit Overpopulation Task Force

Image 1: University of Victoria image from social mediaImage 2: Debbie Widolf from Best Friends.10

Rabbit Overpopulation Task Force

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Rabbit Overpopulation Task Force

Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service VACS

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Rabbit Overpopulation Task Force

Bunny Bunch Rabbit Rescue in Montclair, CA

Images from www.bunnybunch.org webpage.13

Rabbit Overpopulation Task Force

Municipal and campus security enforcement14

Rabbit Overpopulation Task Force

Bunny Bunch

Multi-sector coalition task force:InstitutionCommunityLocal & State governmentNGO Non-prophet for finding, housing, care rescue, adoptionUniversity15

Why TNR for Rabbits?A humane approachRescues are fullShelters are not able to care for the large numbersDomestic rabbits are the third most abandoned and euthanized animal after cats & dogs

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Neuter (and Spay) EventsAdapted cat TNR protocolsTraining vets, students, doctors and volunteersDrugsRecordkeepingTattoo

Expenses:$43/surgeryFood, misc. care items, extra vet visits, $300/weekHousing Space donated by LBCCCare of Ill Rabbits: Bunny Bunch & donationsWestern University 3rd year Internal Veterinary Medicine Rotation

Trap100 Rabbits

Hold

Set-up cagingMultiple days trappingTwo spay/neuter events

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Hold

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The Starting Line

Restraint, Physicals and Pre-op

Physicals and Pre-op

Vet student involvementfirst and second year veterinary students learned rabbit restraint, physical examinations, injection sites, anesthesia and postoperative recovery monitoring

Records - Scribes

Records

Health Assessment Triaged March3 severe syphilis2 pneumonia 3 unilateral eye lesions1 large draining abscess1 poor body condition score (BCS