February 26, 2007

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

5001 Angel Canyon Road

Kanab, UT  84741 

Dear Richard Crook, 

Thank you for sending Dr. Miller to Rabbit Haven.  We received a copy of his assessment on January 29, 2007.

 Dr Miller suggestion for using medicated feed creates some possible problems in that we are unable to monitor the amount of feed each rabbit consumes.  Dr. Mass has voiced concerns about under medication causing a “super parasite”.  Dr. Mass & Dr. Miller are still in contact with each other and are doing some further research.

 At this time we are in desperate need of help, as stated in Dr. Miller’s report.  We have lost to death or euthanasia, 21 rabbits.  Thirty two more are being held in the cages inside of our barn.  We have separated out an area for them since they are still contagious and we do not want the Rabbit Haven bunnies now living in the barn contacting the disease.  This has taken away our ability to take in any more abused and abandoned rabbits at this time.  We must feed, clean and medicate each of these rabbits daily.  Many have additional medical needs such as infected eyes, abscessed teeth, wounds and urine burns caused by the E.cuniculi.  These conditions must be treated as well.  This process consumes 5-6 hours a day.  This does not include the time to do the laundry created by the bedding, re-stocking the supplies and filling out each rabbit’s medical chart.  

We have approximately 18-34 more symptomatic rabbits out in the warren and more showing symptoms everyday.  Catching the “healthier” rabbits is not easy and if we do, there is no room or cages to them in.

 The rabbits that we are treating can be on Panacur for only three weeks regardless of their symptoms.  At the end of three weeks most of them are still symptomatic, i.e.:  wobbly, circling or unable to stand at all.  They can not be released back into the warren for two reasons.  First, there is no answer to the question regarding re-infection by E.cuniculi, can we treat them again? Probably not.

 Second, they will be bullied by the healthier rabbits and are not likely to get proper food, water or shelter.

 Currently they are residing in the cage space we have available. 

My plan to resolve this issue is to build an 11’x 22’ enclosed covered area attached to the small building within the warren itself.  There we can monitor the rabbit’s conditions, be assured of shelter and catch rabbits whose condition worsens.

This would also free up cages to bring more of the sick rabbits in to the cages within the barn.  As you can see, this situation is not going to be resolved quickly.  We are four months into this and see NO light at the end of the tunnel. 

According to our contract, we are to receive $4,500.00 for feeding, help in the warren and medical needs.  This amount has been exhausted and then some.

 Best Friends is the largest no kill shelter in the nation, surely you have resources far beyond ours to cope with this sad situation.  We had hoped to hear from you after you received Dr. Millers report, this has not happened.  We feel as though we have been set adrift in a leper colony.

 Because of the extreme demands on our time, resources and funds, we are finding it very difficult to care for our Rabbit Haven rabbits properly.  The progress on our new barn has come to a complete halt.  My volunteers and I are physically and emotionally exhausted.

 At this point I can see only three possible solutions to this very sad situation. 

1. Best Friends provides the much needed man power and financial support to see these rabbits through this devastating infestation.   This would include but is not limited to:

   1. Additional man power – 3-4 hours daily help with feeding, medicating, cage cleaning, laundry, etc.

   2. Vet runs, Dr. Maas’s office is 2 hours north of Gig Harbor in Bothell, WA.  He is well acquainted with the situation and willing to help.  Dr. Miller agrees he is uniquely qualified to treat these rabbits.  They need to be driven to his office and returned to Rabbit Haven for further treatment.

   3. Supply runs, Bringing supplies such as hay, feed, vegetables, medication, syringes, absorbent pads and laundry supplies to our shelter.

   4. Dump runs, the waste from cage cleaning (pads & newspapers) alone fills up two 30 gallon cans a day.  We go to the dump once a week at a round trip of 25 miles and a dump fee of $18.00.

   5. Labor & material to build a separate enclosure 11’ x 22’ as described earlier.  I can provide further details if necessary.  Labor $500, materials $1,000, feeders & hay racks $150.00

   6. Medical cost varies with vet cost, medicine & medical supplies.

2. Return all the remaining rabbits to Best Friends Sanctuary in Kanab Utah.  There are approximately 60 symptomatic rabbits and 90 healthier rabbits.  Best Friends would need to provide the transportation.

3. Euthanize all the rabbits that do not recover to a self sufficient level after the three weeks of treatment of Panacur.  Continue to maintain the healthier rabbits in the warren.  As a “No Kill Shelter”, this option is unattainable. Your people would need to make these decisions.

Clearly our preferred solution is the first one.  You have huge network of people and resources, perhaps the “Best Friends Brigade” could be contacted in our area.  We have contacted the Vet Tech & Vet assistant training facilities in our area as well as the vet offices in our area, Tacoma & Bremerton.  We have offered to pay for the help we are requesting but so far we have not had anyone interested.   

We have also lost three of our volunteers because they were afraid they could become infected or would bring E.cuniculi home to their own rabbits.  Perhaps this is a problem; we could not assure them it was not. 

We are very invested in these little guys and are willing to do everything we possible can to help them.  The scope of this situation is too large to handle on our own. 

We would like to hear from you no later than March 5^th if possible.  We need help ASAP and need to know if Best Friends is willing to help these rabbits along the rest of their journey from a bad start. 

Sue Brennan

Founder

P O Box 2268

Gig Harbor, WA  98335

Cc:  Dr Maas