NANAIMO REGION
Second staffer makes an exit from Lantzville Jedha Holmes, director of finance, is leaving a month after Twyla Graff said she is departing. A3
NANAIMO REGION
Budget drops
Hospice announces new executive director
What most agree on is that the Tories are aiming it at this fall’s election
Karyn French hired to direct activities of the non-profit that serves the dying and their families. A3
Coverage on Pages A5, A7
The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Wednesday, April 22, 2015
» Animal Welfare
CITY
SPCA seize rabbits found in ‘horrendous’ conditions
Cultural groups may see funding changes SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
Tina Heary, BC SPCA senior animal protection officer, holds one of the 50 rabbits rescued from a South Wellington property. Homes are being sought for the animals. [DARRELL BELLAART/DAILY NEWS]
South Wellington breeder may face charges DARRELL BELLAART DAILY NEWS
C
ruelty charges are being considered against a Nanaimo-area rabbit breeder investigators say kept 50 animals in “deplorable” conditions. BC SPCA officers says they found the rabbits stuffed in cages so small the animals had no room to move, with many malnourished and sickly and several dead. The animal protection agency got involved after receiving a tip from the public. “We certainly have enough information to recommend charges to the Crown,” said Tina Heary, animal protection officer with the BC SPCA. The breeder has not been charged, and as such has not been identified, other than to say it was on a semi-rural property in the South Wellington area. Investigators responded within hours of receiving the tip Thurs-
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“The conditions were horrendous. I don’t know how conditions can get so bad. There were animals next to diseased animals, and next to dead ones” Tina Heary, BC SPCA
day, and upon seeing the conditions the animals were being kept, a warning was issued to the owner. “The conditions were horrendous,” Heary said. “I don’t know how conditions can get so bad. There were animals next to diseased animals, and next to dead ones.” The breeder was told to improve the conditions for the animals or they would be seized, and the SPCA showed up two days later armed with a search warrant. When officers showed up
Saturday, Heary said that the conditions were bad enough the animals were seized. “There was excessive amounts of uncollected feces rabbits were forced to live in, while confined to small cages.” She said some cages were only large enough to fit a large-breed rabbit, with no room to turn around. “It’s always difficult when you have animals forces to live in unsanitary conditions and no opportunity to escape.” The animals were moved to the Nanaimo SPCA shelter, and veterinarians assessed them. On Monday many of the animals were moved to other Island shelters, taking the pressure off the Nanaimo facility. The breeder was raising the animals for food and to show. A small dog was also seized. “This isn’t the first time we’ve dealt with rabbit breeders who breed for the show ring and for their own consumption,” Heary said.
Those wishing to adopt a rabbit can view those that are still available online at www.spca.bc.ca. As cute as rabbits are, the agency has no intention to allow them to breed uncontrolled, driving up Vancouver Island’s already burgeoning feral rabbit population. “They all will be spayed or neutered,” Heary said. “We don’t want to contribute to that,” she said. “I haven’t done the math but if you take 49 rabbits and costs to spay or neuter, and medical needs, that’s a big vet bill, but we’re not going to contribute to (rabbit) overpopulation.” Darrell.Bellaart @nanaimodailynews. com250-729-423 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
Holocaust comments plague FBI director
Migrant who made it to B.C. recounts trip
Hungary has joined Poland in denouncing remarks which seemed to equate Poland’s and Hungary’s roles in the Holocaust with that of Germany. » Nation & World, A9
Sri Lankan man said dying at sea was worth the risk, and it’s the same chance that migrants heading from Africa to Europe are taking. » British Columbia, A8
Local news .................... A3-5 Markets ................................A2 B.C. news ............................. A8
Editorials and letters ..... A4 Sports .................................. B2 Scoreboard ........................ B4
Classified ............................ B6 Obituaries ........................... B6 Comics ................................. B5
Nanaimo council has sent proposed changes to how it awards cultural program funding back to committee to review the option of capping the amount of grant funding organizations can receive. The proposed changes that came before council Monday night were based on a review that launched in 2013 of how cultural funding programs were carried out in the city. One change includes awarding cultural grants on a merit-based model rather than the current formula, which requires groups seeking multi-year grants to have to have existed at least four years in the community. The current rules allow newer organizations to apply for up to $2,000 under a different set of criteria and reporting requirements. Under the proposed new program, all applications will instead be evaluated on merit, public or economic impacts of the proposal and relevance to city goals and priorities and feasibility of completing a project or program. Grant applications for specific events would also be tied to similar criteria. On Monday, some councillors had their own suggestions. Coun. Gord Fuller said he wanted to see specific wording in the proposed policy on how groups who do not get their funding approved can appeal that decision. Coun. Jerry Hong said he wanted to look at placing caps on both the amounts groups can receive and for how long they can receive funds from the city. “Giving, say, a bone to the dog to get them started is great, I encourage that, but I don’t want to be feeding that dog for the rest of its life,” Hong said. Coun. Wendy Pratt, who voted with Brennan and Coun. Ian Thorpe against sending the recommendations back for further review. “I really don’t see the need for putting restrictions on,” she said. Spencer.Anderson @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255
Crossword .......................... B5 Sudoku ................................. A2 Horoscope .......................... B6
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