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Rictor · 05-22-2004, 09:25 AM

Charges laid in bunny-bashing

Kim Westad
Times Colonist

An 18-year-old UVic student has been charged with animal cruelty after a pregnant rabbit was punched to death at the university in February.

Such animal cruelty charges are rare, SPCA officer Hugh Coghill said Wednesday, and are usually laid when farm animals have been neglected.

But the charge of causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal also can be used in circumstances where a person kills an animal.

The last such charge on Vancouver Island was several years ago, he said.

"Some people may think, 'Well it is only a rabbit,' but this kind of incident is a serious concern," Coghill said.

A male student was walking near the Emily Carr residence building, just off Ring Road near the Student Union Building, just before midnight on Feb. 6 when he saw two other males just off the path. One man held a rabbit to the ground, punching it repeatedly, Coghill said.

The witness yelled out to them and they exchanged words. The two men left and went to a dorm building. The witness called the SPCA, who took the rabbit to the Elk Lake Veterinary Clinic.

The grey female rabbit, which weighed 2.5 kilograms and was near-term in its pregnancy, died soon after.

"A post-mortem report indicated that the rabbit died of injuries that were compatible with severe trauma," Coghill said. The rabbit was also vocalizing loudly, unusual behaviour that Coghill said may have been caused by pain.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the beating, Coghill said.

Campus security was made aware of the incident, said UVic spokeswoman Patty Pitts.

The SPCA said the person charged is a UVic student, but Pitts said that privacy issues prevent her from providing any information, including whether or not he is a student.

However, speaking hypothetically, Pitts said a student charged with a criminal offence could live in UVic residences or be evicted, depending on the nature of the charge.

"A person can be denied access to university residences if they have displayed threatening behaviour or if past behaviour is indicative of not being able to live in the residence environment," Pitts said.

Most residence students have left, as the main academic school year is over.

Hundreds -- if not thousands -- of rabbits run free on UVic grounds. Many of them are native to the area, but growing numbers are simply pets that have been let loose at the university by their owners.

Pitts said she isn't aware of any other incidents of violence toward the rabbits, although some students have been concerned in the past that dog owners bring their pets on campus to chase the rabbits.

"If anything, the rabbits are more likely to be fed (than hurt)," said Pitts.

The dumping of domestic rabbits on campus is a concern. The pets are often unable to fend for themselves, said Penny Stone of Victoria SPCA. Rabbits are territorial and often attack interlopers.

Judging by its colour, the rabbit killed was either a dropped-off pet or the offspring of one, Stone said.

The accused, who turns 19 on Nov. 12, is to make his first court appearance on the animal cruelty charge in Victoria provincial court on June 24.

Penalties for a person convicted of causing unnecessary pain, injury or suffering to an animal include a fine of up to $2,000, up to six months in jail and a prohibition of owning animals for up to two years.

05-22-2004, 09:25 AM
Rictor Old Timer Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 12,208	College students punch pregnant bunny to death Charges laid in bunny-bashing Kim Westad Times Colonist An 18-year-old UVic student has been charged with animal cruelty after a pregnant rabbit was punched to death at the university in February. Such animal cruelty charges are rare, SPCA officer Hugh Coghill said Wednesday, and are usually laid when farm animals have been neglected. But the charge of causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal also can be used in circumstances where a person kills an animal. The last such charge on Vancouver Island was several years ago, he said. "Some people may think, 'Well it is only a rabbit,' but this kind of incident is a serious concern," Coghill said. A male student was walking near the Emily Carr residence building, just off Ring Road near the Student Union Building, just before midnight on Feb. 6 when he saw two other males just off the path. One man held a rabbit to the ground, punching it repeatedly, Coghill said. The witness yelled out to them and they exchanged words. The two men left and went to a dorm building. The witness called the SPCA, who took the rabbit to the Elk Lake Veterinary Clinic. The grey female rabbit, which weighed 2.5 kilograms and was near-term in its pregnancy, died soon after. "A post-mortem report indicated that the rabbit died of injuries that were compatible with severe trauma," Coghill said. The rabbit was also vocalizing loudly, unusual behaviour that Coghill said may have been caused by pain. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the beating, Coghill said. Campus security was made aware of the incident, said UVic spokeswoman Patty Pitts. The SPCA said the person charged is a UVic student, but Pitts said that privacy issues prevent her from providing any information, including whether or not he is a student. However, speaking hypothetically, Pitts said a student charged with a criminal offence could live in UVic residences or be evicted, depending on the nature of the charge. "A person can be denied access to university residences if they have displayed threatening behaviour or if past behaviour is indicative of not being able to live in the residence environment," Pitts said. Most residence students have left, as the main academic school year is over. Hundreds -- if not thousands -- of rabbits run free on UVic grounds. Many of them are native to the area, but growing numbers are simply pets that have been let loose at the university by their owners. Pitts said she isn't aware of any other incidents of violence toward the rabbits, although some students have been concerned in the past that dog owners bring their pets on campus to chase the rabbits. "If anything, the rabbits are more likely to be fed (than hurt)," said Pitts. The dumping of domestic rabbits on campus is a concern. The pets are often unable to fend for themselves, said Penny Stone of Victoria SPCA. Rabbits are territorial and often attack interlopers. Judging by its colour, the rabbit killed was either a dropped-off pet or the offspring of one, Stone said. The accused, who turns 19 on Nov. 12, is to make his first court appearance on the animal cruelty charge in Victoria provincial court on June 24. Penalties for a person convicted of causing unnecessary pain, injury or suffering to an animal include a fine of up to $2,000, up to six months in jail and a prohibition of owning animals for up to two years.