State of the Matter
Wildlife is threatened, RHD misinformation in California and a ray of hope in Oregon…California
We became aware that educational efforts were being carried out in California by a government agency. This news first came to us when Coalition Co-Founder diane of The Sanctuary spoke with the director of her local animal shelter, who is a veterinarian. She asked if he was aware of RHD and he replied that information had been sent to him, though he could not remember the source. He further stated that he wasn’t concerned about RHD because his shelter, "sees only a few domestic rabbits occasionally." His emphasis on "domestic" gave the impression that he thought this disease was one that infected wildlife.The source of his confusion was possibly identified when the Coalition received a copy of a newsletter sent out by the CDFA, California Department of Food and Agriculture. The newsletter referred to the latest outbreak which occurred at a Zoo and Wildlife Center, (see Third Outbreak).
A presentation at a rabbit show in the same locality brought the fact that 4H clubs were also being educated to the attention of the Coalition.
The information being presented to 4H clubs has not yet been seen. A lot of good information is being released through the CDFA. However a lot of misinformation is being released as well. The publication can be viewed by clicking here. CDFA does have jurisdiction over rabbits imported into California. The current regulations hold no safeguards against RHD. In fact they are pitiful. Jurisdiction over companion rabbits by the CDFA is questionable. RHD is not on the CDFA’s list of reportable diseases or issues of current concern. The Coalition responded to the publication in a letter which can be viewed here.
We are urging all Californians to write to the California State Veterinarian and ask for protections against RHD. Please note, one of the Veterinarians in Dr. Breitmeyer is on our mailing list. That means that the State Veterinarian's office will know that we have asked readers to join in this action. Not writing to them will give them the impression that our efforts to safeguard California Rabbits are benign. Please put some time and energy into this.
Letters to the CDFA should be addressed to
Dr. Richard Breitmeyer
CA Dept. of Food & Agriculture
1220 "N" Street, Room A-114
Sacramento, CA 95814
You can write your letter here on our site and we will print and send it you - Click Here
Wildlife
The State of California is the home of five possibly endangered lagomorph species, the Oregon Snowshoe Hare, the Sierra Nevada Snowshoe Hare, the Western White Tailed Hare, the Pygmy rabbit and the Riparian Brush Rabbit. Research has been conducted that led to the discovery that European Brown Hare Virus can fatally infect cottontails. To determine if RHD could infect cottontails the issue was researched by Dr. Douglas Gregg of APHIS. According to a conversation we held with Dr. Gregg, the cottontails found not to be susceptible were the Eastern Cottontail. We know that RHD can be fatal to the European Brown Hare, (Xu, W.Y. Rev Sci Tech 1991 Jun;10(2):393-408). No studies we know of have been conducted to see the effect of either EBHV or RHD on these endangered species residing in California.CDFG, California Department of Fish and Game has jurisdiction over these endangered animals. The agency is extremely protective of California’s wildlife. In light of this the Coalition has sent a letter to CDFG asking them to work towards banning imports of rabbits into California from countries were RHD is endemic. We urge all Californian’s to do the same. Furthermore, we urge everyone to look into their states wildlife population and determine the risks RHD imposes and to contact their state agencies urging safeguards. Our letter can be viewed here.
Letters to CDFG should be addressed to
Department of Fish and Game
Wildlife and Inland Fisheries Division
Deputy Director, Sonke Mastrup
1416 Ninth Street
Sacramento, California 95814
You can write your letter here on our site and we will print and send it you - Click Here
Oregon
In Oregon, Senator Gordon Smith and Senator Ron Wyden were both educated through the efforts of Dr. Alvin Smith and Dr. Pat Iversen. Both Senators were individually given ninety minutes of material regarding Caliciviruses. During the presentation Dr. Iversen explained the pathology of RHD which he referred to as "the most dangerous virus on the planet." RHD was referred to as an example of what Caliciviruses are capable of. And just as RHD is a model of where other Caliciviruses can go, other Caliciviruses are a model of where RHD can go; anywhere they please. Caliciviruses once thought to infect only one species have been found causing infection in several. Including the "human Caliciviruses" Noro and Sapo which were thought to infect only humans were later found to infect cows and pigs.We urge all Oregon residents to follow up on the work of these scientists by urging their Senators to work towards creating safeguards at our borders, speeding up regulatory processes regarding new vaccine technologies which are being researched in Oregon, and treating RHD with the same respect the USDA affords Foot and Mouth Disease.
Senator Wyden’s address in Portland is
700 NE Multnomah St. Suite 450
Portland, OR 97232
Senator Smith’s address in Portland is
Portland Metro Office
One World Trade Center
121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250
Portland, OR 97204.
If you do not have time to participate in these actions, or other programs the Coalition is currently undertaking and yet you want to help, you can! Donations to the Coalition are greatly appreciated and will be utilized to fight for safeguards for your rabbits. Donate Now!
--Mahatma Gandhi, 1869 - 1948
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