Changes to legislation re keeping pet rabbits in Queensland

[Guest guest]

Hi,

The keeping of pet rabbits in Queensland is illegal yet pet rabbits are

Queenslands most popular illegal pet. Fines for the keeping of pet rabbits

in Queensland are, I believe about $3000.

 

Pet rabbits are a legal pet in all other States of Australia

 

The review of regulations governing the keeping of pet rabbits in Queensland

was said to have a deadline of the 7th of June.

 

However, submissions sent in now while the reviewer/consultant is still

examining the submissions will be taken into account.

 

I would suggest anyone with comments about the

Land Protection Regulation Review visit the web site

http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/pests/issuespaper.html

and print out the paper concerning the review of keeping pet rabbits for

comment.

 

Apparently there is a fax number on the review paper (pdf form) to send in

your

comments.

 

Some points to consider in the legalisation of keeping pet rabbits in

Queensland are

*Keeping pet rabbit sales out of pet shops

*Having licensed breeders knowledgable about rabbits and

with limits on the numbers of rabbits they may keep

*The sterilisation/desexing of pet rabbits

*Licensing owners of pet rabbits and microchipping pet rabbits

(to avoid the ease of dumping/abandoning pet rabbits)

*A welfare paper with the minimum requirements for keeping pet rabbits

(providing of adequate food and shelter and taking into account the special

needs of rabbits - eg rabbits can die of heat stroke in Summer and should be

kept out of the heat - the RSPCA recommends 27 degrees celcius as being

the temperature above which pet rabbits become uncomforable).

Rabbits may catch pneumonia.

*Fines for people found abandoning rabbits or breeding them without a

license etc

*Consider the impact on Queensland rabbits and vets under existing laws.

If a sick rabbit is taken to a vet, the vet most probably treats the rabbits

but could be under the threat of a fine.

*People with pet rabbits in Queensland may be hesitant at seeking veterinary

help because they fear the fines to the rabbits suffer.

*There have been rumours of some pet rabbits who ended up in shelters

being euthanased because the shelters did not want to face the possibilities

of

fines even though homes could be found for these rabbits in NSW as a last

resort.

*To see regulations governing the keeping of rabbits in other Australian

states see

Rabbit Information Service Website - note the relaxation of keeping rabbits

in

Western Australia

(see press release below) which states " " People have been allowed to keep

pet rabbits since 1986 and there has been very little evidence of domestic

breeds establishing in the wild and having an impact on agriculture and the

environment. "

 

For further information on the submission process contact

Elton Miller

Qld Land Protection Department

(07)3405 5525

 

Press release from Agriculture WA about change of regulations 2001

On the 1st of February 2001, Agriculture WA put our a press release

indicating that the " two rabbits per household " regulations had been

removed.

Here is that Agriculture WA News Release (Western Australia)

 

*********************************************************

Permits no longer required to keep domestic rabbits

*********************************************************

Permits are no longer required to keep domestic rabbits and commercial

rabbit breeds.

The Agriculture Protection Board (APB) has changed the classification

ofdomestic

pet and commercial rabbits to enable them to be kept by households without

restrictions.However, keeping wild rabbits is still prohibited.

Agriculture Western Australia animal pests project manager Marion Massam

said the deregulation

of domestic rabbit keeping requirements was more a practical arrangement.

" These changes mean that people no longer require permits, inspection

approvals or auditsto keep domestic pet rabbits or breeding rabbits, " she

said.

" People have been allowed to keep pet rabbits since 1986 and there has been

very little

evidence of domestic breeds establishing in the wild and having an impact on

agriculture and the environment. "

Ms Massam said there was little risk that pet rabbits or commercial rabbits

vaccinated

against the control agent Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) would result in

resistantpopulations in the wild,

" The vaccine used for RCD cannot reproduce in the host and therefore cannot

spread to otherrabbits, " she said.

" The level of protection against RCD from the vaccine may also wane over

time, which is why

pet owners and breeders need annual boosters. The offspring of the

vaccinated rabbits also

become susceptible to RCD at about 10 weeks of age, like the offspring of

non-vaccinated rabbits. "

Ms Massam recommeded that people continue to contain their rabbits in escape

proof,insect proof hutches to ensure their rabbits do not cause damage in

their

own or theirneighbours' yards, which would also reduce the chances of their

pets

catching Myxomatosis or RCD.

" It is also in the best that rabbits on commercial rabbit farms or for human

consumption are kept according to the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare

of Animals (Intensive Husbandry of Rabbits), " she said.

 

**************************************************

 

..You may keep only domestic or fancy breeds, not common grey (wild) rabbits.

..Some popular rabbit varieties are NZ white, Californians, Flemish Giant,

Chinchilla, Satins and English, German and French Angoras.

..Rabbits must be kept in an enclosure that effectively prevents them

escaping.