Lake Country rabbit sanctuary temporarily ends public visits due to virus risk

The danger posed by a virus that has killed rabbits elsewhere in the province has prompted an Okanagan bunny sanctuary to go into lockdown.

The Warren Peace Bunny Sanctuary in Lake Country said on its Facebook page it will not be open to the public at Easter and “will be closed indefinitely until the outbreak has completed its course and is no threat to our bunnies.”

The sanctuary is instituting the precautionary public closure because it’s concerned visitors could potentially bring the fatal airborne virus, known as rabbit haemorrhagic disease, into its facility on their clothes or shoes.

The organization relies heavily on donations to care for roughly 300 rabbits from around the B.C. Interior.

“It’s really brutal for us,” Warren Peace Bunny Sanctuary founder Antoinette Monod told Global News. “We are a registered non-profit, we run 100 per cent on donations so that will affects us.”

It’s also concerned that temporarily closing its doors to the public could mean a drastic drop-off in those much-needed donations.

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The sanctuary said during the closure donations can still be made online via their Facebook page.

You can also donate at two Lake Country businesses.

“If you find it in your heart to help us out financially, we use Lake Country Farm and Pet for our feed, if you wanted to put some money down for some food for us or Tri-Lake Animal Hospital for our vet bill, you would know without a doubt that it’s going where it is supposed to go,” Monod said.

While it’s not known how long the facility will be closed for, it could be a lengthy closure as sanctuary operators wait until the virus has run its course.

“I do not believe we will be open for the 2018 season but I sincerely hope I am wrong,” Monod said.

The province said on Wednesday that rabbits with the disease have died in Nanaimo, the Comox Valley and Delta.

Watch Below: Deadly rabbit virus hits British Columbia.

0:37 Deadly virus discovered in rabbits

The ministry responsible said while rabbit haemorrhagic disease is “extremely infectious” for rabbits, humans or other animals can’t be infected.

“B.C veterinarians will have access to vaccinations for the disease in the coming weeks, and will be able to vaccinate pet rabbits. Pet owners should monitor their rabbits daily for signs of illness, and contact their veterinarian immediately with any concerns,” the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development said in a media release on Wednesday.

– with files from Klaudia Van Emmerik