2) Constance Cwynar

I participated in the May 12 rabbit rescue on Bruno Street with Hayward Animal Control Officers. Following is what I observed.

The home, front yard and cars looked well kept. As I entered the backyard, I saw a large deck surrounded by well-tended foliage. These initial impressions of the property were a profound contrast to what I observed as I went deeper into the yard and saw the wretched areas where the Bruno Street rabbits lived.

The rabbits’ portion of the yard was deplorable. The entire area was filthy; years worth of waste, decomposing bodies and skeletons covered by a deep layer of feces. There was no indication that any section of the rabbits’ area had ever been cleaned or maintained.

Checking shallow burrows for occupied nests, I pushed mounds of feces aside and shifted rotting plywood. I found numerous bones and hides in several different areas, both inside and outside the dilapidated sheds. Rabbits had been left to rot wherever they died.

Inside one of the sheds was a smaller structure. The floor of the smaller structure was constructed of wooden slats. One of the officers called out that she could see two rabbits alive through the slatted floor beneath the structure. I crouched down to look inside. All the slats were thickly covered in putrefied feces. At the back were three large mounds. It was obvious they were intact carcasses. We later deduced that they had been thrown into this shed. (Perhaps these three pitiable rabbits died too close to the house so that the owners were forced to move them out of sight.)

The two rundown sheds provided little shelter from the elements. There was nothing provided for these rabbits where they could go for warmth.

I handled approximately six rabbits at the property. All were pathetically scrawny and malnourished as indicated by their thin and brittle fur. I saw no food other than random pieces of stale white bread.

Because the rabbits at Bruno Street were confined in such an unsanitary environment, deprived of proper nutrition, shelter and medical care, it is reasonable that we did not find any dying rabbits. In optimal conditions, rabbits who are ill or injured, and do not receive proper medical attention, death comes easily. Because the Bruno Street rabbits’ overall physical conditions were significantly compromised, trauma or illness would kill them swiftly.

The environment provided for the Bruno Street rabbits was deplorable. The property owners had no regard for the well being of these poor animals. The fact that these rabbits were easily visible from the rear windows of the house compels me to conclude that these people were knowingly cruel.

Constance Cwynar
May 17 2004

3) Yuri Ito

On Saturday, May 8th, I saw an E-Mail from Karen Courtmache alerting this Craig’s List (online community bulletin board) posting about 50+ rabbits being given away for free in Hayward area. I was astonished by the number of rabbits and the fact the they were giving them away for free which is clearly discouraged by the web host of Craig’s List for humane reasons.

Following Monday, May 10th, I talked to Karen on the phone and she told me that she went to visit the house and took two poor shaped rabbits. One of them had severely infected eyes and she thought he was blind. She also mentioned that she them to inspect the site.

On Wednesday evening, May 12th, I drove over to the site, xxxxx Bruno St. Hayward, with Han-Yu Loo, my co-worker and animal care technician at House Rabbit Society, to assist animal control officers to round up the rabbits. As I entered in to the back yard, I saw several rabbits in the fenced-in area and numbers of french bread on the ground which I thought very bizarre because bread is not considered a proper diet for the domestic rabbits at all to my knowledge. At House Rabbit Society, as animal care technician, I work closely with Dr Carolynn Harvey, DVM and our health director and educating public with rabbit’s proper diet is one of our focus.

I also say 5 large bowls of moldy water and a little stack of hay on the ground. I was again, concerned about their rabbit’s health because the hay left outside can get moldy easily and that would be a health hazard to rabbits along with dirty water.

So we began catching the rabbits starting in the fenced area with two sheds where the rabbits were seen. I assisted other who caught the rabbits in the net, untangling them carefully and put them safely in the carriers. As I took closer look on those rabbits and handled them, I noticed that how bad shape they all were. Most of them had severely chewed up ears and infected eyes, as well as the urine soaked, dirty, matted coat. Their nails were also overgrown and tearing everyone’s latex gloves. They felt very thin and light for their size. After catching several rabbits, I say a mummified rabbit on the ground which somebody pulled out of the shed. I went over the narrow space between two sheds assisting others catching few more rabbits. I walked into one of the shed looked like the storage trying to find more rabbits possible hiding inside. The shed was cluttered with numerous dusty objects and the floor was covered with rabbit’s feces and urine just like the ground outside and inside of other shed. The smell was overwhelming and it smelled like there may have been some dead animals.

After catching three more rabbits, I went back to the open area and saw some bones piled up next to the dead rabbit. Again, I assisted others attempting to catch few more rabbits under the cabin outside the fenced area. Although we could see at least two gray, medium size rabbits under the deck, they would hide in the burrow underneath and it was out of our reach.

There was also one dark colored rabbit under the deck of the main house where I could only see by using a flash light. I notice that one of his eye is completely closed possibly due to the injury or the infection. Knowing his/her health is at high risk, I was hoping to catch that rabbit but unsuccessful. I sincerely hope that the “owners” will turn those we were unable to catch to animal control for the rabbit’s safety. While I was straggling to chase those three rabbits out to the open area, it became dark and we had to stop the rescue effort.

I heard from Karen that those people told her that they already gave 17 rabbits away to the self-claimed “breeder”. It was hard for me to think about what those rabbits fate would be, knowing how poor shape they were and what the use of those dirty, malnourished rabbits could be. Working at the animal protection organizations for years, I know well enough of ill fate of “free” animals. I could only wish they would not be used for the bait for the dogfight, live food animals or being used as breeding machine and deprived from the proper care and freedom which all companion animals should deserve.Even thought it may not be a crime by law to give animals away for free, I must say that it was an extremely irresponsible act of those people to let anyone take those rabbits for whatever the purpose might be rather finding good homes for them on their own or turning them to the animal shelter, at least.

What I witnessed over all was the pure neglect and negligence of those “owners” who let their animals suffer and die without providing necessary veterinary care or basic nutrient.The domestic rabbits cannot defend themselves in such open area against predators nor live peacefully together without being spayed and neutered.

At last, I must add that I also saw numerous small animal supplies on the ground of the back yard, such as water bottles empty, dirty, plastic crock bowls which made me wonder how many more animals those people might have had discarded in the past.

Yuri Ito
May 2004

Body embedded in hardened feces covering the floor/ground of the shed. Rabbit bodies, in all stages of decomposition, were found.

 

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4) Han-Yu Loo

On May 10, 2004 at 8:34 PM, I received an email message from Karen Courtemanche regarding a possible neglect/ abuse situation she saw involving domestic rabbits in Hayward, CA. Karen had already spoken to an animal control officer (Officer Sanchez). Karen’s email asked if any of the email recipients would be willing to assist in catching the rabbits, should the situation warrant it. In my email response, on May 11, 2004, I told Karen I would like to assist.

On May 12, 2004, I received a phone call from Karen letting me know that Hayward Animal Control will be at xxxxx Bruno St. in Hayward, CA between 6:00 PM and 6:30 PM. to assess the situation. Approximately an hour to an hour and half later, Officer Cara Taft and another officer informed the group of people who came to assist in the round up, including myself, that what they observed on the property warranted capturing the rabbits for the rabbits’ welfare.

As I entered the property, I observed that everywhere other than the areas where the rabbits were was pretty well-kept (see Picture 1). A couple of water bowls put out for the rabbits were green with algae (see Picture 2). The ground was almost completely covered with layers of rabbit feces which had, over time, hardened into solid sheets over the soil. I could peel off the feces and prop the sheet against the fences just like boards of plywood. On a few occasions when I was moving aside things to look for rabbits in hiding, what I initially thought were pieces of wood were actually hardened feces, sometimes with rabbit corpses embedded in them (see Picture 3).

The most disturbing thing I saw on the property were in or around a large shed in the backyard. Within the shed was what appeared to be a large dog house (see Picture 4). Just like the other rabbit areas, the floor of this dog house was caked with rabbit feces. There were lumps and masses on the wooden slats of the dog house. Upon closer inspection, those uneven areas turned our to be rabbit corpses. The dog house floor was covered with bodies. The bodies had decomposed to just skin, some fur and the underlying bones (see Pictures 5-9). Behind the dog house, still within the shed, was a fresher corpse (see Picture 10).

Finally, next to the shed, I saw Connie Cwynar uncover parts of a more recently deceased body (see picture 11). We did not dig further in that area, but I am certain there were bodies there. I am an animal care person at the House Rabbit Society headquarters in Richmond, CA, where I routinely take care of 30-40 rescued rabbits (all domestic). I have 14 years of rabbit care experience. I examine and handle rabbits every day and work with a veterinarian once a week. The rabbits I saw on the property were definitely not getting proper nutrition of care for their basic needs. They were being fed hay of dubious quality and pieces of bread. Bread should not be part of a rabbit’s diet. There was no other food put out for them.Every rabbit I captured that night smelled strongly of urine and feces, was underweight, had coarse/brittle fur, and ears with pieces missing. Many rabbits also had obvious eye conditions (white or cloudy eyes, inflamed eyelids, injuries around the eyes) and wounds on different parts of their bodies. Those injuries I could feel by simply running my hands over their bodies. In any case, I did not see a single rabbit out of the whole group who was in good health. I must emphasize that the signs of injury and ill health were very apparent without a detailed physical examination.

Thank you for your time and giving me a chance to state my observations.

Note: Digital picture files will be sent to Officer Cara Taft.
        Included are 11 print outs of the files.

Han-Yu Loo
May 2004

Body found behind the doghouse.

 

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5) Christine A. Morrissey

5/11/04 (5:45):
I visited xxxxx Bruno Street, Hayward, based on a complaint (made by Karen Courtemanche) forwarded to me by Erin Williams. On behalf of East Bay Animal Advocates, I documented the conditions of the backyard of xxxxx Bruno Street. I was at the residence with Ms. Courtemanche and Ms. Williams for about an hour, capturing still photography and video footage.

In the backyard, I observed numerous violations of California State Penal Code 597.1(a). At least four rabbit had infected eye problems. A vast majority of the rabbits had matted hair. At least five rabbits had acute ear cropping. One rabbit had substantial genital swelling. Inside one of the rabbit enclosures, I observed the dead bodies of at least 4 rabbits. The male resident of xxxxx was present while I made these observations. This individual mentioned the rabbits’ diet consisted of bread and water. The water dishes were filled with dirty water. The ground the rabbits were living on consisted of accumlated fecal waste. Ms. Courtemanche and Ms. Williams provided the rabbits with carrots for consumption. After documenting, I decided to take three rabbits, requiring Vet care quickly. One rabbit was white (matted hair with cropped ears. The second rabbit was brown and black (matted hair with the infected genital). The third rabbit was gray and brown (matted hair with an eye swollen shut and cropped ears). I had the permission of the male resident to take the three resident rabbits.

5/12/2004 (7:15 PM): I entered the xxxxx Bruno Street backyard with the permission of the Hayward Police Department Animal Services Bureau. I assisted the Animal Control Officers with capturing the rabbits. I documented the backyard with still photographs. Again, I observed the conditions of the backyard.

Christine A. Morrissey
May 14 2004

Bodies in the doghouse. Everything is coated thick in feces.

 

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6) Andrew C. Page

On Tuesday May 11th, 2004 I was informed of a person who was neglecting numerous rabbits in Hayward by Erin Williams, my partner. I volunteered to assist in the collection of the rabbits.

On May 12th, 2004 I traveled to Hayward with the Hayward officers and numerous volunteers. I assisted in the collection of approximately 20 rabbits.The condition of the rabbits + their living situation was very poor. I personally collected 7 rabbits from a toolshed in the back-yard. I witness huge piles of feces + carcasses of dead rabbits, and the stench of dead animals was overwhelming. I found no water source + numerous rabbits appeared to be medically compromised. I, with the others, spend 2 hours removing the rabbits from the location, leaving some behind who were in impossible to reach places. In my opinion, the rabbits were seriously neglected based on the following items I observed:

1) Filthy living conditions w/huge piles of feces, numerous dead rabbits, lack of a clean water source, inadequate food source, bug infestation.

2) Improper medical care (some rabbits had injuries and had bloated stomachs most likely from being fed bread).

3) Overpopulation! The rabbits were clearly unaltered + seemed to have been left to breed.

4) Improper confinement – Numerous rabbits were out of the caged area.

Andrew C Page
May 13 2004

 

Between the floor slats, an animal control officer saw two rabbits huddling together. Both were caught.

 

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7) Phyllis Tenney

On Tuesday, May 11, I received an email from Karen Courtemanche, a fellow House Rabbit Society volunteer, relating that she had seen a posting on Craig's List about a location in Hayward where rabbits were being given away and that she had visited the home and been given two rabbits. She wrote she had immediately reported the terrible conditions to Hayward Animal Services and had offered to help if the rabbits were to be removed by Animal Services. I offered to help as well.

On Wednesday, May 12, Karen called me and said that Animal Services would be going to the location on Bruno St. in Hayward and that she would be going to help if the officers determined it necessary to remove the animals.

Karen, myself and several other House Rabbit Society volunteers and employees met near Bruno St and waited for Animal Services to arrive. After they did, and inspected the yard, they gathered us to go in and help go in and round up the rabbits.

The yard had two separate fenced areas and three structures. Rabbits were roaming inside and outside the fenced areas and had also dug burrows. I climbed into one of the fenced areas and we immediately began capturing rabbits using nets and our hands. The rabbits had dirty, matted fur. Some of them had eyes that did not look healthy and were possibly infected. At least one bunny I captured had a distended belly. We found a mother and two babies in a shallow burrow under the dirt inside one of the sheds. Inside this shed was a smaller house, like a child's playhouse. Inside the small house were the decaying bodies of two rabbits. Other dead and decaying rabbits were found in other structures.

There were several water dishes in the yard. The largest ones had water and rabbit feces in them. There was no fresh hay or evidence of rabbit food or fresh greens. There were slices of French bread all over the yard however, and a bag of baguettes leaning against a fence. Bread and water is not an appropriate or healthy diet for rabbits.

Inside the shed with the small house inside it we found two live rabbits under the floor. To get them out we had to tip the small house on its side. Inside the sheds the condition was very unclean with rabbit feces everywhere and cobwebs on the rafters.

When we left we believed there to be as many as three uncaptured rabbits who were hiding under the porch of one structure in the yard and under the back deck of the house. It was my understanding that the Animal Services officers were requiring the residents to bring the remaining rabbits to the shelter on Thursday morning.

Phyllis Tenney
May 12 2004

Another decomposing rabbit body, ear still intact. Note the piece of bread.

 

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8) Erin E. Williams

On Tuesday 5/11/04, House Rabbit Society (HRS) volunteer Karen Courtemanche called me at work (I am the HRS Shelter Director) to inform me of a potential neglect situation on Bruno St. In Hayward, I contacted Christine Morrissey who had recently completed training as a Humane Officer & the three of us agreed to meet at that residence that evening. We met at approx 5:30 at Bruno St. & entered the backyard, since the owner had given Karen permission to look for him there. I observed that the animals had no food or clean water, so we gave them carrots. At that time, the owners returned.

The man gave us permission to enter the fences area & to videotape & photograph the rabbits. All seemed terrified of us, & I observed the following: (we left at about 7:00)

• 15-20 rabbits, most had severe fur mats (which can be very painful). Many had their ears shredded or chewed off. Many appeared to have eye infections. Others appeared to have abscesses. In my opinion, their general health was severely neglected, & all of these serious issues are easily preventable. All of thee rabbits were filthy.

• The only food source appeared to be lettuce & white French bread loaves, a diet completely unacceptable to rabbits & likely the cause of digestive problems. The only water was filthy, full of algae & feces.

• General filth was everywhere, presenting a clear a clear danger to the rabbits. The ground was literally covered in feces several inches thick, & insects were everywhere. Rabbits were living in a machine shed piled with feces, old lawn mowers, cans of gasoline filled with what I presume to be gas, & other dangerous items.

• We saw approx. 10 corpses in various states of decay in the rabbits’ area, some half-buried in feces.

We returned the following evening (5/12/04) with humane officers & HRS volunteers, spending about 2 ½ hours catching rabbits. I saw additional corpses in various stages of decay as well as a rabbit skull. We attempted to find rabbits in burrows under a shed but only smelled an unmistakable stench of dead animas in at least three separate places. I am sure there were numerous dead animals that I did not see but could only smell. In the back area, fecal matter appeared to be more than a couple of feet thick, & the ground literally moved with the insect infestation.

Several of the rabbits who I handled seemed to be bloated, filthy, malnourished, scarred, & disfigured from fighting. I believe that we pulled 29 rabbits (24 that evening, 3 on Tuesday, & Karen pulled 2 Monday). At least three were left in the yard, & inside the house who the owner said he keeps in a bird cage.

I have never seen rabbits so ill-cared for & kept in such abhorrent conditions. Based on my experience working with & their guardians - & the horrible conditions I observed – the rabbits were clearly neglected, abused, denied basic medical care, & were suffering.

Erin E. Williams
May 13 2004

 

While hand-digging through the mounds of feces looking for burrows and nests, we found many skulls, skeletons and hides.

 

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These are the five marvelous rabbits taken from the Bruno Street property 
in the days immediately preceding the rescue...

 

Eileen	Janet	Lance

 

Toby	Ubu

  

Please, on behalf of these five rabbits and the rest

of their brothers, sisters, and cousins,

send your letter to the District Attorney today.

You cannot run away from awareness; you must some time fight it out or perish. And if you be so, why not now and where you stand? -- Robert Louis Stevenson

 

On behalf of the Hayward Rabbits, thank you.

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