Doomed local rabbit becomes 'cause célèbre' | People

A local rabbit is attracting lots of attention - and sympathy - from around the globe as word spreads that it is about to be put to death, even though many people have volunteered to give it a home.

A Pierce County Humane Society official decided to euthanize the rabbit after it bit a shelter worker a few days ago, sparking a controversy that has taken on a life of its own.

Calls and e-mails are coming in from as far away as London, pleading with Pierce County Humane Society Director Kathleen Olson to spare the rabbit's life.

But so far Olson refuses to back down, and is adamant that the bunny should be put to death as scheduled on Sunday. The Humane Society has even hired extra security to prevent any problems.

The controversy began after the rabbit, named Copper, was taken in by the Humane Society earlier this month.

According to shelter officials, the rabbit bit a volunteer in a way that was so harsh that the worker had to go to the emergency room.

Copper was quarantined, and Humane Society leaders say it has shown so much aggressive behavior, as they describe it, that it has to be euthanized.

Now local rabbit rescue groups say the shelter isn't giving a fair chance to the bunny - and they believe the animal should be rehabilitated and not killed.

"We just feel that he's probably just fine," says Matthew Parsons of Rabbit Meadows, a Redmond-based rescue organization. "It just happens to be an incident that was unfortunate - nothing more than that."

But Darcy Webb of the Pierce County Humane Society says Copper's bite was no ordinary case of a nervous bunny nipping at someone.

"Rabbits will sometimes bite and break the skin, but not to this degree," she says. "This was pretty amazing. But it is the policy of the Humane Society that an animal that is ... going to cause damage to people, then it can't be released."

Olson says the rabbit also has serious medical issues that were discovered when it was examined by a veterinarian.

"In the case of the rabbit Copper, the circumstance and severity of the bite, combined with its behavioral history, subsequent aggression, and serious medical conditions have made him unsuitable for adoption," Olson said in a prepared statement.

The rabbit is scheduled to be euthanized on Sunday - but opponents aren't giving up their fight. Hundreds of them have been jamming phone lines, writing e-mails, and calling up the director.

Sandi Ackerman of Rabbit Meadows says her group would like to have Copper evaluated by a veterinarian that specializes in rabbits.

But Olson says that the three vets at the shelter are fully qualified to treat Copper and that an outside veterinarian that is a rabbit specialist is also available.

Ackerman claims that Copper was well enough to frolic outside on Wednesday evening before he bit a volunteer and that suddenly he was deemed too ill for adoption and a candidate for euthanasia.

She says her groups would like to take Copper, but Olson says no.

The Humane Society would not allow photos of the rabbit to be taken because it is in quarantine.

The director says her decision will stand says the decision will stand - Copper will be killed on Sunday, especially after consulting with doctors and vets.