A domestic rabbit riddled with BB gun pellets and favouring a broken leg had to be put down this week.

“The poor, little guy was suffering and trying to survive,” says Michelle Neufeld of Steinbach Animal Rescue, “and humans failed him.”

Neufeld responded to a citizen’s concern on Wednesday and when she arrived was able to confirm the caller’s suspicion. “She was concerned because it was obviously tame and it looked like it had an injured leg.”

On Thursday she took the rabbit into the veterinarian clinic where they began to understand the extent of its injuries. “His leg would have needed to be amputated, he had bad facial injuries and he had puncture wounds all over his body which they later realized were BB gun bullets.”

The decision was made to humanely euthanize the hurting hare as operating on them under anesthetics is often problematic.

“It’s sad,” shares Neufeld, “because people think it’s a cute little starter pet but they don’t realize how much work goes into having a bunny and so they just release them outside thinking they can survive on their own, but they can’t.”

Neufeld says her animal rescue often answer calls regarding domestic rabbits roaming in the area and chalks most of it up to ignorance. “People think that they can survive in the wild… well, Jack Rabbits can, not domesticated ones.”

Animal control is available to those that have wildlife issues and Neufeld recommends utilizing the service. For those that prefer to take care of things themselves she offers, “You could put up some fencing, but it’s hard to keep the wild ones away. They got to eat too.”

Neufeld has notified Steinbach RCMP and anyone with additional information is asked to call them.