CYPRESS : Rabbits to Continue Getting Care at Park

The Nature Park rabbits escaped eviction this week as the City Council narrowly voted to hire a temporary caretaker for the bunnies.

The council voted 3-2 to pay veterinarian technician Jose Lopez $1,200 to look after the 80 or so rabbits during the next six months.

In the first opposition to the rabbits since they became a regular council agenda item, Mayor Walter K. Bowman and Councilman Richard Partin voted against the proposal. Partin said he disagreed with spending money on the rabbits, especially when the city is facing a budget crunch next year.

“I hate to sound like I am against Santa Claus and motherhood but . . . this nice little touch is now a dollar item,” Partin said. He said the rabbits had already cost the city $17,000 in staff time and equipment, a figure disputed by pro-rabbit forces.

Before casting his dissenting vote, Bowman argued that the enclosed park on Ball Road is not the proper place to raise the animals.

“I have said right along that I don’t think it (the park) is conducive to rabbits,” Bowman said. “I think people are not looking at the rabbits’ point of view.”

The rabbits, many of which are abandoned Easter presents, have been in the spotlight since last year when neighbors living near the park complained the animals were escaping the park and eating neighborhood lawns. Animal lovers turned out in droves to protect them from being rounded up and killed.

In the face of public concern, the council voted to let the rabbits stay. Some rabbits were sterilized to keep the population manageable and sick rabbits were taken to veterinarian John Hardison, who treated them at a discount. Signs warning people against illegal rabbit dumping were also posted.

The “bunny experiment,” as it was sometimes called, was overseen by the Kinship With All Life Foundation, a nonprofit animal rights group. Group member Jean Sleeper volunteered as many as 40 hours a week caring for the animals up until she stepped down last month.

Since her departure, Lopez has been tending the rabbits. During his twice-weekly visits, he looks for sick or injured animals and takes them to the veterinarian if necessary.

Three Cypress residents have also volunteered to help feed the animals. One of the caretakers, Jack Swank, was so angry about the anti-rabbit votes that he asked the council to place the issue before voters.

“I challenge you to put the rabbits on the ballot,” he said, adding that he thinks the the public would prefer keeping the bunnies instead of the councilmen.

The rabbit issue will return to the council in six months. Until then, the city will continue providing the bunnies with alfalfa and also promote an adoption campaign to help trim the population.