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Who's dumping rabbits hare in Massapequa Preserve?
"Since August, we have rescued approximately 20 rabbits from Seaford and the preserve near the Massapequa Railroad Station," said Nancy Schreiber, a volunteer with the Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group (LIRRG). The group is offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest of anyone responsible for the bunny dumping, which has also been reported in Hempstead Lake Park and Franklin Square. Schreiber said other dumped rabbits have been trapped and rescued from an Amityville schoolyard, Hempstead Lake Park and Franklin Square. Police and the LIRRG theorize that the rabbits are coming from one or two sources; they are being dumped either by a local breeder or breeders or by individuals who purchase them as pets, and then find themselves with litters of rabbits that they don't want. "Individual rabbit owners may not realize that domestic rabbits cannot fend for themselves," said Schreiber. "When they are dumped, they become victim to diseases, accidents, exposure and starvation." One disease to which they are susceptible, fly strike, is an infestation of maggots on the body that can literally eat them alive. It is a torturous death for these animals, said Schreiber. The large number of abandoned rabbits can also be the result of dumping by irresponsible breeders. Since rabbits reproduce prolifically and increase their numbers quickly, some breeders could be overwhelmed and dispose of the rabbits rather than spend money on feeding and caring for them. In addition, the rabbits being dumped could also be breeders' "rejects" who are the wrong color or size or who have a defect. Schreiber said that the rabbits they catch that are sickly are "humanely" put to sleep. The healthy rabbits are fostered, sometimes for years, until they find loving homes. Many of the rabbits caught recently are likely from a breeder, said Schreiber, because they have a similar appearance and genetic defect: one raised ear. They are also all white or brown or a mixture of the two. The Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is also concerned with the situation. "This animal cruelty case is as serious as the dog that was set on fire in Suffolk County a couple months ago," said Det. Matt Roper who is currently investigating the matter. "We have some leads that we are looking into, including eyewitness statements, that we hope will lead to an arrest and jail time." In one incident, a white male driving a white sedan was seen leaving some rabbits near the Massapequa train station on September 1. Anyone who abandons a rabbit can be charged with a felony, said Roper. But the problem also needs to be addressed through education, said Schreiber. "There is a terrible rabbit overpopulation because many people buy them for their children," she said. "They either lose interest in them or the animal has one or more litters because the pets aren't neutered. People should know that rabbits live for a long time, about 12 years, and require care; that being said they make wonderful, loving pets." "I can't imagine how any animal feels when it's been tossed away after knowing a home...even if it was just the warmth of its own litter mates," said Kathie Rokita, a rabbit lover from Massapequa and a member of LIRRG. "Its almost certainly giving them a terrifying death." Anyone with information on the abandonments, or who would like help rescue them is asked to call the Nassau County SPCA at 631-781- 2052 or to the L.I. Rabbit Rescue at 516-510-3637.
ATTENTION READERS: As a result of a production error, the schedule for fall sports in last week's issue was incorrect. The correct calendar is printed in this edition with our apologies.
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